Hi there!
If you go to Salt Springs, you can go swimming and camping in Ocala National Forest!
Salt Springs Recreation Area is one of the many springs in Ocala National Forest.
Ocala National Forest can make for a perfect stop as a part of an epic Florida road trip if you will be driving through the Orlando area.
It’s located a 1.5 hour drive or so north of Orlando.
📌 Save this post for later! Save on Pinterest! 👈📌
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 Salt Springs Recreation Area can be perfect if you are looking for some swimming and modern camping along the way!
Ocala National Forest springs: Ocala National Forest recreation areas
There are many springs in Ocala National Forest, and one of the them is Salt Springs!
There are “recreation areas” surrounding Ocala National Forest springs.
For recreation areas in Ocala National Forest with springs:
- Alexander Springs Recreation Area
- Juniper Springs Recreation Area
- Salt Springs Recreation Area
- Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area
Explore the map.
Below will focus on Salt Springs Recreation Area!
See more about the other springs: Ocala National Forest springs
Swimming in Ocala National Forest springs: Swimming at Salt Springs
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the water temperature of Salt Springs are a constant 74 degrees year-round.
This means that in theory, you can go swimming in the Ocala National Forest springs, including Salt Springs, any time of year.
In terms of water temperature, mid-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 at Salt Springs in Ocala National Forest 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 in Ocala National Forest!
There is a designated swimming area for Salt Springs.
You will find stairs to get into the springs.
Day trip to Salt Springs Recreation Area from Orlando or Disney World
If you’re staying in Orlando or you’re staying at Disney World for more than a few days, then you can make it a day trip to Ocala National Forest.
Orlando to Salt Springs Recreation Area is about a 1.5 hour drive. (map)
Disney World to Salt Springs Recreation Area is also about a 1.5 drive. (map)
Florida road trip to Ocala National Forest
You can also make Ocala National Forest a part of your Florida road trip as a stop along the way if you’re doing a drive from Jacksonville to Orlando or Tallahassee to Orlando for example! (Or in the opposite direction!)
You can make Ocala National Forest your last major stop before going to Orlando.
See about making it a Florida road trip from Pensacola to Orlando with lots of nature stops.
For tent camping and RV camping (and van camping, car camping…), there is the Salt Springs Campground that you can stay at!
There are some campsites from which it could be reasonable to walk to Salt Springs, as there’s a trail to the springs directly from the “primitive campground” of Salt Springs Campground.
Otherwise, you can make the short drive of a couple of minutes to the Salt Springs parking lot, or bring your own bike and you can bike there! There’s a bike rack at Salt Springs.
Cost of swimming in Ocala National Forest at Salt Springs
In order to go swimming at Salt Springs, you’ll need to enter the Salt Springs Recreation Area.
So the cost of swimming at these Florida springs is the cost of entry into the Salt Springs Recreation Area.
It’s not free to go to the Ocala National Forest springs.
The cost of entry to Salt Springs Recreation Area is around $8 to $11 per person for a one-day pass.
There is no separate Ocala National Forest entry fee.
👆 In 2022, the cost of going to Ocala National Forest at Salt Springs was $8 per person.
If you plan to make this a year of going to Ocala National Forest springs a lot, then there is also the Ocala National Forest Recreation Area Pass.
What to bring to Salt Springs
Swimming in any of the Ocala National Forest springs can be a pretty minimalist activity!
Wear your swimsuit and you can be off swimming in Salt Springs!
But it’s also a good idea to bring swimming goggles or snorkeling gear so you can see underwater at Salt Springs!
For some more ideas of what to pack for Ocala National Forest springs, also see: What to pack for a trip to the Florida springs.
There is a bathroom and changing room at the Salt Springs Recreation Area.
There are also outdoors showers at the Salt Springs Recreation Area.
The boring safety message for swimming in Ocala National Forest at Salt Springs
In short, take care! There are no lifeguards at Salt Springs.
There are alligators in Ocala National Forest.
According to the US Forest Service:
Alligators are present in Ocala National Forest.
They are an important part of Florida’s ecology and may be found wherever there is a natural body of water.
They have a natural fear of man, but may lose that fear by being around people especially if they are fed.
When this happens, alligators can be dangerous.
For this reason, alligators should not be fed or engaged in any way.
There are manatees in Ocala National Forest.
Across Florida, manatees are known to swim to springs as a “warm” place to be in cold weather.
So your best chance of seeing manatees at Salt Springs is in the winter.
Manatees aren’t known for threatening humans, but it’s possible that YOU can threaten the manatee!
So also take care not to do anything to threaten the manatee!
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:
Salt Springs is an important warm water refuge area for Florida’s endangered manatees.
Manatees cannot survive long in cold water.
In cold weather, they travel to warm freshwater springs or the warm water outflow canals of power plants.
On very cold days, manatees remain submerged as much as possible to avoid exposing their bodies to the cold air.
As the temperature rises, you may see manatees basking in the sun.
Manatees that are disturbed while resting or trying to stay warm may move into water that is too cold for them, which may lead to cold stress or death.
Please avoid disturbing the manatees in this area so that they can use their stored energy reserves to survive.
More below about a trip to Salt Springs in Ocala National Forest!
🌴🏊♀️
Now…
Trip to Salt Springs in Ocala National Forest
My trip to Salt Springs and Ocala National Forest was March 2022.
Your experience may vary!
Getting to Salt Springs Recreation Area
Salt Springs Recreation Area is on google maps.
The entry for Salt Springs Recreation Area is right off the main road.
Then once you have paid the Salt Springs entrance fee, you can look for a sign and follow it to the swimming area.
This will take you to a parking lot.
Trail to Salt Springs swimming area
And then once you have parked, you can head toward Salt Springs! It will be obvious.
You will start walking.
First you will see the Salt Springs Store. (It may or may not be open depending on season. In summer, you can expect it to be open during the day!)
Then once you pass the Salt Springs Store, you can take the trail directly down to the springs.
Or, you can head over to the bathroom facilities. Again it will be obvious.
Whichever way you go, you will see Salt Springs as it will be right there!
You will also see tons of picnic tables around.
Salt Springs swimming area
Once you are at the Salt Springs swimming area, it is kind of like an outdoor swimming pool!
And that’s a bit about the Salt Springs swimming area!
See more:
- Salt Springs Recreation Area camping
- More Ocala National Forest springs
- What to pack for a trip to Florida springs
More things to do near Orlando:
- Kissimmee swamp tour for a chance to see alligators
- Lake Louisa State Park for lakes and glamping
- Wekiwa Spring State Park
HAPPY SWIMMING AT SALT SPRINGS!
There are partner websites included in this post. I may earn a commission.