Hi there!
One of the best things to do in Ocala National Forest is to see some of the prettiest springs in Florida!
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 in Central Florida a 1.5 hour drive or so north of Orlando.
And what can be a perfect stop inside Ocala National Forest?!
One of the springs recreation areas!
There are many “recreation areas” in Ocala National Forest!
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If you’re looking to go to Ocala National Forest because you’ll be driving through for a quick (or longer!) stop, you will want to choose 1 or 2 of these recreation areas.
Depending on your interests, you can go for swimming, snorkeling, hiking, camping, or just take in the views!
I spent some time in Ocala National Forest doing all of the above, plus camping, and here’s what you need to know!
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1. Silver Glen Springs
Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area
Silver Glen Springs is one of the best things to do in Ocala National Forest if you want to see pretty springs with amazing water color!
You can swim at Silver Glen Springs.
🐠 Side note! If you're doing any type of swimming, like at the beach, for snorkeling, or at some springs, here are things you must consider packing for Florida!
You can find these things on Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate.
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel
I also like to go swimming with a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.
How to save money on your trip
I tend to use booking.com or hotels.com to look for the cheapest hotels. You can also try the expedia hotels site (good for car rentals too) or see if you like any of the vrbo vacation rentals.
Search for the cheapest car rentals at the airport.
/end side note
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And if you bring swimming goggles or snorkeling gear to Silver Glen Springs, you might see tons of fish underwater!
👆 Bring a waterproof phone case so you can take video and pictures of what you see underwater when snorkeling in Ocala National Forest!
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🌴
2. Lake George Trail
Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area
Lake George Trail is around 2 miles round trip and your “destination” is views of the second largest lake in Florida! (No springs to be seen on the trail, though.)
You’ll find this trail at Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area.
If you want a nice hike through the forest surrounded by classic Florida scenery, then you can do the Lake George Trail!
You will take the path down to Silver Glen Springs, and before you arrive at the springs, you’ll see a sign for Lake George Trail.
So you can make it a hiking + snorkeling kind of Ocala National Forest trip by going to Silver Glen Springs!
Go for a hike, and then as part of your post-hike recovery, you can go swimming in the springs!
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3. Spring Boils Trail
Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area
Spring Boils Trail in Ocala National Forest is around a half mile round trip and your “destination” is a bubbling spring!
This is another trail at Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area.
You will take the path down to Silver Glen Springs, and then once down at the springs, walk off towards the right and continue on the trail.
If you want a chance to see a bubbling spring (aka “spring boils” or “sand boils”) then you can walk the short trail from Silver Glen Springs!
They are called boils because it looks like it’s boiling.
It is said that this is the beginning of a major spring in the making, and it’s likely what Silver Glen Springs looked like 1,000 to 2,000 years ago!
You can’t swim at the bubbling springs you see at the end of the Spring Boils Trail.
This is another way you can make it a hiking + snorkeling kind of Ocala National Forest trip!
Go for a hike, and then as part of your post-hike recovery, you can go swimming in the springs!
Although, the Spring Boils Trail is more like a leisurely walk since it’s relatively short.
Why Silver Glen Springs is one of the best places to visit in Ocala National Forest
If you go to Silver Glen Springs in Ocala National Forest, you can see one of the prettiest springs in Florida, hike through a beautiful forest to the second largest lake in Florida (more views!), and do a leisurely walk to see bubbling springs! This makes Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area one of the best places to visit in Ocala National Forest!
4. Juniper Springs
Juniper Springs Recreation Area
You can swim at Juniper Springs.
You can go camping in Juniper Springs Recreation Area at the Juniper Springs campground. There’s a trail to the springs from the campground.
5. Juniper Springs mill
Juniper Springs Recreation Area
Juniper Springs is the picturesque spring that has the churning Juniper Springs mill as part of the backdrop.
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.
👆 Ocala National Forest turtles: Spot the turtle!
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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6. Fern Hammock Springs Trail
Juniper Springs Recreation Area
Fern Hammock Springs is located in Juniper Springs Recreation Area.
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 Ocala National Forest!
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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.
👆 Ocala National Forest map for Juniper Springs Recreation Area: 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.
You can’t swim at Fern Hammock Springs.
Where to see alligators in Ocala National Forest?!
👆 Ocala National Forest alligators: Spot the alligator!
You might see an alligator in Ocala National Forest at Fern Hammock Springs!
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Why Juniper Springs is one of the best places to visit in Ocala National Forest
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! This makes Juniper Springs Recreation Area one of the best places to visit in Ocala National Forest!
7. Alexander Springs
Alexander Springs Recreation Area
You can swim at Alexander Springs.
You can also go scuba diving at Alexander Springs.
It is the only scuba diving spot in Ocala National Forest.
You can go camping in Alexander Springs Recreation Area at the Alexander Springs campground. There’s a trail to the springs from the campground.
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8. Salt Springs
Salt Springs Recreation Area
You can swim at Salt Springs.
You can go camping in Salt Springs Recreation Area at the Salt Springs campground. There’s a trail to the springs from the primitive campground. (There’s a modern campground too.)
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See more about Ocala National Forest:
Swimming in Ocala National Forest
Yes, you can swim in Ocala National Forest!
There is a designated swimming area for several of the Ocala National Forest 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.
This means that in theory, you can go swimming at the Ocala National Forest 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 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 could be areas of a spring that are shallow enough that you can stand.
And there may also be areas that are deeper where you can’t reach the bottom.
👆 Add a personal float or open water swim buoy to your Florida springs packing list! This way if you are in deeper water you won’t have to constantly be treading water!
See more for your trip to Ocala National Forest:
Can you drive through Ocala National Forest?
You can just drive through Ocala National Forest, and it will be free.
But to see the best of Ocala National Forest, you will want to make a stop (or 2!) at a paid entry area to see some of the prettiest springs in Florida!
Florida national forest springs
Among the things that Ocala National Forest is known for is the beautiful springs.
The Florida Park Service says that Florida is home to over 1,000 springs, and you have several beautiful springs to choose from in Ocala National Forest.
There are 4 “springs” recreation areas in Ocala National Forest:
- Alexander Springs Recreation Area
- Juniper Springs Recreation Area
- Salt Springs Recreation Area
- Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area
The best springs in Ocala National Forest are Silver Glen Springs and Juniper Springs!
This means that the best places to visit in Ocala National Forest to spend 1-2 hours (or more!) are Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area and Juniper Springs Recreation Area.
More below on why! (It’s more than just the springs the recreation areas are named for!)
No matter which recreation area you choose, they all have a picnic area that can make for a perfect spot to eat your food with VIEWS! (Pick some picnic food or prepared food at a Publix grocery store on your way to Ocala National Forest!)
Cost to visit Ocala National Forest
There is no fee to drive through Ocala National Forest.
Each of the Ocala National Forest springs recreation areas require separate entry fees. This means that you can’t pay for one of the recreation areas and use the same pass to enter a different recreation area.
The cost to go to the Ocala National Forest springs will vary depending on which recreation area you go to.
There is also a weekday rate and a weekend rate.
Most of the Ocala National Forest springs recreation areas are $8 per person on weekdays and $11 per person on weekends. See current fees.
Camping in Ocala National Forest
If you’re driving through Central Florida and you think that Ocala National Forest would make a good break-up spot for an overnight, then there are several campgrounds in Ocala National Forest.
Out of the springs recreation areas, the ones with campgrounds are Alexander Springs, Juniper Springs, and Salt Springs. (I have stayed at all 3.)
There is no campground at Silver Glen Springs.
The Salt Springs campground is the only campground with modern facilities (aka electricity at campsite).
While the other Ocala National Forest campgrounds don’t have electricity at campsites, they do have modern bathrooms and showers.
If you are camping in one of these Ocala National Forest recreation areas with campgrounds, there is no additional entry fee for you.
And that’s a bit about Ocala National Forest!
HAPPY DRIVING THROUGH OCALA NATIONAL FOREST!
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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!