Hi there!
According to Florida State Parks, there are over 1,000 springs in Florida!
And there are some Florida springs that are popular for swimming and snorkeling.
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Many springs in Florida are said to have a water temperature of around 72 degrees year-round.
Although 72 degrees is on the cooler side, in terms of water temperature it can still be considered “warm” enough for swimming… for some people!
This means that as long as you can handle coming out of the water wet to a cooler air temperature, then you can go swimming in Florida springs any time of year – summer, spring, fall, and even winter!
That said, a water temperature in the upper 70s or lower 80s is an ideal water temperature for swimming for most people! And for some people low 70s is definitively NOT swimming temperature!
So, it really depends on your tolerance for colder water and just how much you want to go swimming in the Florida springs!
So if November, December, January, or February is the only time that you’re going to be in Florida, even with the cooler air temperature, then you may want to visit a Florida spring as a unique Florida activity!
If you’re driving down to Florida, then you may also look to see if there’s a spring on your route that won’t be too long of a detour!
For example if you’re driving from Jacksonville to Orlando or from Destin to Orlando, there are a number of springs that you can make an excuse to stop off at, including the Ocala National Forest springs!
So, if a Florida spring (or 2!) is on your list of things to do in Florida, then here is a quick list of extra things you might want to bring to Florida with you!
These things aren’t necessarily Florida essentials, but they are more so things you might want to bring anyway!
Planning a trip to Florida springs and beyond
- Best springs in Ocala National Forest
- Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park
- Fanning Springs State Park
- Wekiwa Springs State Park
- Gilchrist Blue Springs campground
- Best things to do in the Florida Panhandle
- Best campgrounds in the Florida Panhandle
- Best things to do in Southwest Florida
- Best things to do in the Florida Keys
- Destin to Orlando road trip
- Tampa to Miami road trip
- Miami to Key West road trip
See below for the list of what to bring to Florida springs!
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Side note!
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!
I have a lot of 30-90 second Florida outdoor travel videos. A few of them might be on this page. If you can't see the video directly below, it might be because you have an ad blocker. Save the Florida outdoors video playlist to watch on youtube later!
👆 Ocala National Forest. Read about it: Things to do in Ocala National Forest
What to pack for Florida when you’re going swimming in a Florida spring
Swimming in the Florida springs is actually a pretty minimalist activity!
Really, all you need is swimwear and off you go into the springs!
But, for a few extras…
What are 5 things that you might consider the most for swimming in Florida springs?!
1. Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask with snorkel
In many of Florida’s springs, you will be swimming with marine life that lives in the water.
Bring along snorkeling gear to help you see underwater so you can see them as you’re swimming!
Or, as an alternative to snorkeling gear, the easiest thing to throw in your Florida beach bag (err… Florida springs bag…) is a pair of swimming goggles you already have.
If you’ll be buying new goggles, then make them the clear kind! That way you will get the best view of the underwater life!
To be very simple, and to take up less space in your luggage, you can bring along a regular pair of swimming goggles like these.
A note on wearing swimming goggles for snorkeling
If you’ll be wearing swimming goggles, it does mean that you’ll have to come up for a breath often, unlike if you’re wearing a proper snorkeling mask which serves as your breathing equipment as you swim around so you don’t have to come up for air.
So if you don’t want to have to come up for a breath every time you need to breathe, and instead want to be able to look for fish and more of the underwater uninterrupted, then you’ll want to get proper snorkeling gear that comes with the snorkeling mask and snorkel (the thing that allows you to breathe while you’re underwater).
Shop snorkeling gear for Florida
- Snorkeling set like this one or this one
- Swimming goggles
If it’s swimming season right now where you live, you can probably buy snorkeling gear at your local Walmart.
2. Waterproof phone case
And not only can you see the underwater life of the springs with snorkeling gear, you can also capture those underwater moments with a cheap waterproof phone case like this!
A waterproof phone case can be great for taking pictures underwater.
Getting a camera float like this one to go with the phone case can be a good precaution just in case you let go of your phone when you’re in the springs!
See more about what to pack for Florida springs: How a cheap waterproof phone case works
Shop for a waterproof phone case for Florida
3. Sunscreen
If you’re not used to the strong tropical sun, you might be surprised just how easily you get burned!
Don’t take your chances, and lather up before you head out into the sun for your day’s activities, and throughout the day as you continue to be in the sun!
Ideally, you’ll go for sunscreen to help with the marine environment. There’s such thing as reef-safe sunscreen which can be good for swimming in the Florida ocean and the Florida springs.
Shop sunscreen for swimming in Florida
4. Swimsuit or swim clothes
If you want to go with what you already have without buying anything new, then you can wear a swimsuit that you have.
But you may also consider buying a swimming shirt or rash guard.
A swim shirt makes it so that your skin is more protected against the sun.
This means that you don’t have to bother with putting on so much sunscreen too… and don’t have to bother with reapplying sunscreen every so often. (Although it would still be good to apply sunscreen to other skin that’s exposed to the sun!)
Swim shirts can be perfect for snorkeling, swimming, other water activities, and even if you will just be out in the sun.
These sorts of swim shirts are designed with UV protection.
See more about what to wear swimming in Florida springs:
5. Water shoes
Tons of people (most people?) go swimming in the springs barefoot.
But if you’d rather not do that, then water shoes can be the perfect shoes to wear for your trip to a Florida spring.
You can swim with water shoes no problem.
If you’ll also be headed to the beach during your trip to Florida, then water shoes can also be perfect for the beach too.
This will protect your feet if you accidentally step on something sharp (like shells!) as you’re going for a walk on the beach or walking into the ocean.
Shop water shoes for Florida
- Popular water shoes for swimming
- Popular water shoes for women with thicker soles
- Popular water shoes for men with thicker soles
- More popular water shoes for men with thicker soles
More for your Florida road trip:
- Best Marco Island beaches (for shelling!)
- Best Captiva Island beaches (for shelling!)
- What to pack for shelling in Florida
6. Personal float!
You might be going to springs where you can stand comfortably without any issue.
But you might also be going to springs that have deeper water where you can’t stand!
Be sure to bring along a personal float or swim buoy!
This way if you are in deeper water you won’t have to constantly be treading water!
And those are some ideas on what to pack for Florida!
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask with snorkel
- Sunscreen
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case
- Personal float
More for your trip to Florida springs and beyond:
- Best springs in Ocala National Forest
- Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park
- Fanning Springs State Park
- Destin to Orlando road trip
- Jacksonville to Orlando road trip
- Naples to Miami road trip
- Miami to Key West road trip
HAPPY PACKING FOR FLORIDA!