Hi there!
If you go to Juniper Springs in Ocala National Forest, you can see beautiful springs, see a historic mill in a beautiful setting, and do a leisurely walk to see more beautiful springs with a chance to see alligators! You can go camping too.
This makes Juniper Springs Recreation Area one of the best places to visit in Ocala National Forest!
It can make for a perfect stop as a part of an epic Florida road trip if you will be driving through the Orlando area.
Or you can make it a day trip from Orlando!
It’s located a 1.5 hour drive or so north of Orlando.
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The main attraction of Juniper Springs Recreation Area is Juniper Springs.
According to Florida state parks, there are over 1,000 springs in Florida!
So a “very Florida” thing you need to do during your Florida road trip is a stop for some Florida springs… and Juniper Springs Recreation Area can be perfect!
There are many “recreation areas” in Ocala National Forest, and Juniper Springs Recreation Area is one of them!
For more Ocala National Forest springs, you can choose from Juniper Springs, Silver Glen Springs, Alexander Springs, and Salt Springs. You can also choose from more springs near Orlando.
1. Juniper Springs
The main attraction of Juniper Springs Recreation Area is Juniper Springs!
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Juniper Springs is the picturesque one with a mill in the background.
Make a trip to Juniper Springs Recreation Area just to see the amazing water color of the springs, or experience it more by getting in the water!
There are many people who sit around the spring.
There are also some picnic tables around the springs so you can make it a picnic with views of Juniper Springs.
Stop by the Publix grocery store before you go to Ocala National Forest! You can find grab-and-go food there, or you can pick up your favorite picnic items.
Can you go swimming at Juniper Springs?
Yes, you can swim in Juniper Springs!
There is a designated swimming area for Juniper Springs.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the water temperature of the Ocala National Forest springs are a constant 72 to 74 degrees year-round, and this includes Juniper Springs.
This means that in theory, you can go swimming at Juniper Springs any time of year.
In terms of water temperature, the 70s can be considered warm enough for swimming for many people!
As long as you can handle coming out of the water wet to a cooler air temperature, then you can go swimming in Juniper Springs any time of year – summer, spring, fall, and even winter!
It really just depends on your tolerance for colder water and just how much you want to go swimming!
There are areas that are deep water where you can’t reach the bottom.
So you might consider bringing a personal open water swim buoy or another kind of float so you don’t have to constantly be treading water!
See more for your trip to Juniper Springs Recreation Area:
2. Juniper Springs mill
Juniper Springs is the picturesque spring that has the churning Juniper Springs mill as part of the backdrop.
You can also go and walk around Juniper Springs to see the other side of the mill.
And then if you look in the direction that the water from the mill flows, then you can see some bubbling springs here too for some more Ocala National Forest spring boils!
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Where to see turtles in Ocala National Forest?!
You might see turtles in Ocala National Forest at Juniper Springs!
Right near the mill at the border of the designated Juniper Springs swimming area seems to be a turtle resting spot!
I saw turtles in this spot in the afternoon and the following morning too.
ð Juniper Springs turtles: Spot the turtle!
3. Fern Hammock Springs
For more springs in Juniper Springs Recreation Area, there is Fern Hammock Springs!
You can’t swim at Fern Hammock Springs.
To get to Fern Hammock Springs requires a short hike.
And Fern Hammock Springs is another spot where you can see bubbling spring boils in Juniper Springs Recreation Area!
While the normal way to get to Fern Hammock Springs is by walking a boardwalk, this is closed and it’s unclear if it will open up any time soon. (As of May 2022.)
But you can still get to Fern Hammock Springs by taking a trail that goes through Juniper Springs Campground.
You can also start this campground trail near Juniper Springs.
ð Juniper Springs Recreation Area map: How to get to Fern Hammock Springs. You can find this map near the Juniper Springs bathroom and take a picture of it. Or save the image above to refer to so you know which campsites to look for in order to find the trail to Fern Hammock Springs! Look for campsites #22 and #10.
Where to see alligators in Ocala National Forest?!
ð Juniper Springs Recreation Area alligators: Spot the alligator!
You might see an alligator in Ocala National Forest at Fern Hammock Springs!
4. Juniper Springs campground
There is a campground at Juniper Springs Recreation Area so you can go camping near Juniper Springs!
It’s one of the campgrounds in Ocala National Forest that you can go camping near springs!
You make reservations through recreation.gov.
Cost to go to Juniper Springs Recreation Area
You can just drive through Ocala National Forest, and it will be free.
But to go to Juniper Springs Recreation Area, there is an entry fee.
The cost to go to Juniper Springs Recreation Area is around $12 per person on the weekend. See current fees.
And that’s a bit about making a trip to Juniper Glen Springs Recreation Area!
I went to Juniper Springs Recreation Area in May 2022. Your experience may vary!
- Ocala National Forest springs
- Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area
- Salt Springs (Ocala National Forest)
- Salt Springs campground
- Gilchrist Blue Springs
- Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park campground
- Florida Caverns
- Florida Caverns State Park campground
HAPPY VISIT TO JUNIPER SPRINGS RECREATION AREA!
FLORIDA TRAVEL TIPS
Here's a sample 2-day drive from Orlando to St Augustine to Amelia Island!
In the morning head to Blue Spring State Park to see manatees (winter only).
Then drive along the A1A through Flagler Beach.
Then stop by Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
Then stop by Fort Matanzas National Monument
And then stay overnight in St Augustine!
The next morning, watch a St Augustine sunrise!
Then you can continue your drive up north, stopping by the St Augustine Lighthouse, maybe Anastasia State Park, maybe a St Augustine food truck, maybe historic St Augustine including Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.
Continue the drive on the A1A and stop to go shelling at South Ponte Vedra Beach, and then onwards to take the Mayport car ferry. (The ferry is closed through early May 2023, check for updates.)
Then stop by Big Talbot Island State Park to go to Boneyard Beach (short hike).
And then finally... you've made it to Amelia Island beaches!