Yesterday, my friend, Lydia and I drove to Kelly Springs State Park for fun in the sun and a day of relaxation. The park is about 40 minutes from where she lives off of colonial. You get to bring your own food and drinks. They also have a concession area where you can just your own food and drinks. At the state park, they have a concession booth and a restroom as well. The park is open from 8 AM to 6 PM and I have a recommend staying at the full day. It was so nice and relaxing plus parking was only three dollars. 10/10 read more

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Pretty neat place and I thought it will be way bigger , but the swim area or use of a floating tube area is not huge , You neve to arrived super early as they only allowed 250 cars and then you can't enter after full capacity The sheriff will give you a ticket while u on the car line . They do have restrooms and concession areas where u can buy food , but there's a circle k near by . You can't bring in alcohol, and the price to get in is $5 per car . Just wish that it could be deeper , as it averages 4 ft all areas read more

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We stumbled upon Kelly Park during our exploration of Mount Dora FL. At first glance, it's a beautiful park for picnics and family fun. There is an entrance fee, depending on how many people are in your party. We paid $5 for 4. Parking is limited so get there early! Walking past the picnic tables we came upon a spring! Some googling told us it was rock spring, a mineral enriched spring. It was beautiful with its crystal clear waters. You can either bring your own tube or rent one from the Rock Spring Bar and Grill located 5 mins before the park. We rented our tubes and spent the morning drifting in the spring. It was a cool morning but the water was a perfect temperature. Before we left we used the bathrooms which was surprisingly clean for a public park! I highly recommend checking out this park when in Mount Dora! read more

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It's a family place you can camp, go hiking, but you have to arrive very early because they have limited space they charge 3 dll for two people and more than 10 people 1 dll for each read more

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We love this place!!! Get there EARLY, pack a lunch or bring charcoal and grill! Bring a float and a blower or rent one on your way in. (They do run out). They only let a certain number of people in per day. You can rent a pavilion for a party if you wish. Floats need to be less than 5 ft. The spring is beautiful, with fish, turtles ect. No digging, no fishing ect. Plan of floating and exploring! Don't bother bringing alcohol. They search coolers! read more

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It's a wonderful place for the family, more for tubing than swimming. I managed to swim around the little 'island' a few times. On one side, it was against the current and on the narrow side its with the current - the speed is unbelievable, -:) almost thinking of next olympics ha ha ha. A water snake swam by me. There is an outdoor shower. read more

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We got there 6:15 am on Sunday because last Sunday it was full at 9am and we couldn't get in. No joke, its very popular. Park is amazing and well maintained. Lots of lifeguards, staff and always a police onsite. Bring your own tube or rent before the entrance at king tube- $9 per tube. Loved the experience and how organized it is. The whole course down takes an average of 20 minutes read more

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My favorite springs to go to. Saw the cutest little otters. Water is clear and gorgeous and clean. Has to the nicest trails and seating areas, has great food choices aswell. read more

Kelly Park - Hiking Near Me - Apopka, Florida

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Great family day on a lazy river. Highly recommend. Very affordable but come early. You won't regret it.

This place is amazing. Clean. Water stays 70s. Plenty of room to walk, lay, relax. They have grills. You have to reserve in advance. Place fills up pretty quick. They don't have floats for rent in the park. You have to rent it outside the park. read more

Kelly Park - Hiking Near Me - Apopka, Florida

We went here in February (I know, I'm a slacker at posting). I found out about this place from a YouTube video and just had to go for my bday. It's a natural lazy River fed from the springs, with the clearest water you've ever seen. Only $3 for a car of 2 people, located just outside Orlando (Apopka). We tubed in Rock Springs, where the water is a refreshing 68 degrees year round (it didn't feel cold at all to me, even in February!) We had our own inner tubes, but just outside the park they have tubes for rent. When we arrived we were the only people in the park, but this was in February, and on a Friday. I guarantee it's not like that now (summer, over the weekend). They open at 8 am, but I've heard some people get in the car line as early as 4 am in the summer! There is a capacity of 280 vehicles and once reached, you can't get in until they let another 50 vehicles in at 1 pm. I also read the concession stand is not open in the winter, but it was, which I was very grateful for. There are picnic benches near the concession area, which is right in front of the "beach" where the run ends. Lots of people had staked out areas to sunbathe after we finished our first run, and would return to them after having their fill of playing in the beautiful water. The run itself is maybe a half mile long (don't quote me) and took us about 20 mins to float down. It was so pretty and we saw little minnows, but no other wildlife. We did the run twice and after eating and walking around a bit, the park was more full and we were ready to go. But if you brought kids here, I could totally see staying all day, especially if you're a tourist and need to take a day to have a break from the theme parks. I highly recommend this park and Rock Springs, and I plan on returning someday. read more

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A very fun, affordable, and beautiful park... **IF** you can actually get in. We've visited this park many times over the years. The run from the springhead to larger pool area is excellent. It has a strong current and great scenery. The pool area is huge, and then there is also a second slower run that continues on past the large pool area. This park is really beautiful and I would come here many times per year, if I thought I could actually get in. This park is in desperate need of the following 2 changes: Change 1 : Advanced Reservations. This is the year 2024 for crying out loud. There is no reason why you couldn't create a system where folks can book in advance, a ticket for entry. I would happily pay several extra dollars for entry, if I knew I had a guaranteed admission for the day/time I want to attend. Honestly, who the heck wants to wake up at 5 A.M. on their day off, so they can get in line at 6 A.M. just to try and enter the springs at 8 A.M.??? Change 2: A "one in, one out" policy. So, currently the place fills up at 9 AM, and that's it, no one else admitted entry for the rest of the day?? How asinine is that? We were denied entry and while being denied entry, car after car exited the park. What kind of sense does that make? A more common sense approach needs to be applied here. Lastly, the county deputy "guarding" the entrance was very rude and disrespectful. I doubt that we'll ever return unless serious changes are made to the entrance policies. Bummer.... read more

We had such a good time at this park. We came here Memorial Day weekend. The Park Rangers told us the day before that people line up at 6am to get into the park, which opens at 8am. We got there at 6:15 am and thank goodness we did or we wouldn't have gotten in. We rented tubes from a place 1 block from the entrance. We had so much fun tubing down the natural springs. The water was cool and refreshing. The springs are 68 degrees. The park has great facilities, bathrooms, bbq areas, covered pavilions, plenty of parking. I highly recommend visiting this park. read more

Kelly Park - Entrance to the park - Hiking Near Me - Apopka, Florida

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This park is fun for kids and family. I love to come here and walk around and enjoy the sightseeing.

This is my favorite spring in Central Florida. It's smaller than others but large enough to find a spot for a picnic or to lounge in the sun. The water is clear and I love tubing down the short river run. They also have concessions and grills. Come early on the weekends and during breaks. The park reaches capacity early. read more

Kelly Park - Hiking Near Me - Apopka, Florida

Such a gem. This park is absolutely breathtaking. It's well kept, the water is super clear and there's tons of fun stuff to do. They offer free grills and picnic tables, a volleyball net, kayaking, sand/beach areas and pavilions. You can bring your own grill as well. If you forget to bring a tube/float, they have them for rental for $9. You must rent at the bar up the street, BEFORE YOU ENTER THE PARK. They take your ID to make sure you bring your tube back, which is kind of annoying. But I'm sure the system works. Admission is roughly $3-$7 depending on how many people you have in your vehicle. Alcohol is not permitted. If you've thought about coming. Do it!!! So worth it. read more

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I came here with a group of like 20 people (5 campsites) for my sons bday. We stayed 2 nights/3days. In order to reserve a campsite you need to do so online 45 days in advance, trust me you want to mark your calendar for that 45th day because there is only like 26 campsites total, and they WILL get reserved very quickly. We had an amazing time camping, the lots are a nice size, they each can hold 2 tents and 2 cars. They have water, an electrical outlet and a fire ring. Another huge bonus is their bathroom facilities, they're spacious and very clean with hot water. (Not like your typical campgrounds where they're dirty.) The park also has large pavilions with grills that can be reserved or used, they're very spacious and nice. All staff were very polite and friendly and the spring is beautiful. It's not a big spring, maybe 20 minutes total to reach the end by tube. You can either rent a tube outside the park or you can bring your own. The kayak deck was broken so nobody got to go kayaking, but that has to be my only complaint. We were really looking forward to kayaking and some of us packed ours which is a mission to do. Overall, I would definitely come back. Highly recommend for camping. read more

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Lovely! An affordable option for a fun day out with friends or family. The entrance fee for a car with up to 8 people is just $5. We brought a cooler packed with non-alcoholic drinks and lunch. Can't wait to visit again. Make sure to arrive early as they shut the gates once the parking area reaches capacity! read more

I haven't been to Kelly Park aka "Rock Springs" in over 15 years! It was exactly as I remembered it with some helpful upgrades. RENT A TUBE OUTSIDE OF THE PARK - THEY DO NOT RENT TUBES INSIDE THE PARK! It is $3 for a car with 1-2 people and $5 for a car with 3-5 people. We went on a weekday so it was not very crowded. Lots of parking available. There is bathrooms, changing rooms and concession stand also. We really enjoyed tubbing down the river and hanging out in the "pool" area. We set up our stuff under the pavilion in the shade. Be warned the squirrels are not afraid of you. read more

Beautiful! I will say the actual river ride is about 20 minutes long so it's a very short ride but it's small and cozy which is a nice change. It feels very familiar here. There's a place called king tires or something like that up the road that rents the tubes for $8 flat. Cash only! Get here early as they have limited spots. We ended up being the last car allowed in. read more

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First let me tell you we came on a Monday morning at 830 and got in pretty easy because school just started back but from what I understand this is an extremely busy spring.. there's a place about a mile before park says last chance tubes so if you do not have a raft you brought in you might wanna stop at this spot and get one if you intend to tube on lazy river because the park concession stand does not rent any. It was $ 3 per person so we paid $6 for us two. Tubes were $9 each at the last chance so not bad price to have fun for day. There's a good size spring with a few streams leading down to it and past it a little way. It's got lot of big rocks and you could see fish in crystal clear water.. there is several areas where you can enter the water with stairs and railings..we had a great time.. also if you wanna take pictures I suggest getting the waterproof bag for your phone prior to coming.. the concession stand sells them if you forget but here I think we paid $17 so plan ahead.. also they sell burgers and fries and other food items but your allowed a small cooler so you can make sandwiches and bring them just make sure to leave your area as clean as when you came so we can all keep enjoying these beautiful spots! We had a great time. read more

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Heavenly! We went on a not-so-warm summer day during a rainy spell and walked right in without a wait. This was on a weekday. Had THE best time. We tried to go back on the weekend, and it was already full by 9am. Go during the week if possible! We loved the beautifully clear waters with the gently flowing stream from the cold pumping spring. So many gorgeous rock formations and birds to view as you float by. Most areas are leisurely, but some areas can get a little dicey! The swimming area is crisp and cool and has some algae or plant life in some areas that make it "dark" which freaked me out a little. I liked staying in the "blue" areas as most people did. The good news is that there are stairs with handrails to get in and out of the swimming areas, so folks with mobility issues will find that helpful. You can bring coolers, chairs, food and your own floats. Floats must be smaller than 5 feet long. It is really a fun family-friendly place where you can set up "camp" and stay the whole day. Bring your snorkel and masks! read more

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Kelly Park Rock Springs- Florida A nice little paradise gem you can find here in Florida near Orlando. Spent the weekend taking a break from city life and indulge myself into serenity. This park is great for the whole family. Lazy river you can enjoy. Only $5.00 ( or more depending how many people you have in the vehicle). You cant beat that. But I will say this: It's a very popular park to where you need to come super early if you want to enjoy this scenic read more

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I've been living in Florida for about 30 years and have never visited any natural springs. Insane right! Well that all changed yesterday . Kelly Park's natural springs was pretty epic! So beautiful. The park is so pretty. The water is crystal clear and super refreshing. It was the perfect day because we had overcast skies and decent it wasn't too hot. There was a short line getting into the park at about 9:30 AM on a Friday. Nothing too crazy. Once we got inside, parking was pretty easy and close to the water. You can bring your own inner tubes or rent them just outside of the park for a few dollars per tube. I love the way the park is set up. A huge parking lot and so much nature around you, giving you a full nature/Springs experience. The spring water and surrounding areas are stunning. Nature at its best. We got in at the beginning of the springs on our tubes and rode the springs all the way down admiring the beauty all around us. The water is crystal clear so you can see everything. There are signs warning you about possible alligators and snakes but although it's not common to see them here, It's possible. It is Florida . The state of Florida posts these signs near every body of water because you just never know. The perfect day at the springs would be to pack a picnic basket and plenty of water/beverages to stay hydrated. Bring something to sit/lay on when you're not in the water. Bug spray and sunblock is highly recommended. Leave your valuables in your car because most people typically leave their stuff on land as they go through the springs. The park also offers canoeing which we didn't get time to do but I'm definitely doing that on my next visit. They also have a small beach area at the beginning of the springs specifically for children which is really cute. I highly recommend this spot and will be back soon! read more

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Our ultimate goal was to hit every spring in the Orlando area to kayak. While Kelly park didn't offer that, the decision to see Kelly park was one of the best decisions on our trip. One of the main attraction of Kelly park is to go tubing. Personal tubes are allowed as long as it meets the five feet or less requirement. The park does not rent out tubes but there is a local bar 5 minutes outside the park that rent tubes for about $8-$10. The start of the river can be discreet. Instead of going to the main swimming area behind the snack bar, go in the direction of the volleyballs courts where there will be stairs that will lead down to the very picturesque beginning. I have been loving blue, crystal clear water and this spring delivered. The river is a short 30 minutes to complete. Take the trail back to the start and complete it all over again. I could spend a whole day here but three hours sufficed before it started raining. The park closes at 6 PM and we went during December. We didn't have any trouble getting into the park but I read that its a must to get to the park early during the summer as the lines to get into the park can get long and its not a guaranteed. read more

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What a great time hiking at the park and heading down the water! We had a really nice day! The Park is great for Families & very clean. read more

I absolutely love this natural springs park. If you could avoid going on the weekend, I would highly suggest that. My first attempt on a weekend, the park has full at 7:20 am. Mind you, the park opens at 8 am. Apparently the people who are in line are there VERY EARLY.... I mean rooster crowing early! Those early birds get vouchers and once they are gone, that's it. The nice sheriff maintaining the park area let us know when we had attempted to get into the line for the park which was still early for a Saturday morning. My other two visits were on weekdays. Those were perfect. One weekend was a girls trip, and the second was a family trip because I liked it so much. The springs have a natural lazy river with a paved, cement path making it very easy to walk. There is a part of the path when you get out at the other end that is dirt. I would suggest wearing water shoes. While most people tube down the lazy river, a lot of others use a mask and snorkel to explore the water. If you do this, please be very careful as I have seen many people with raw skinned knees from hitting rocks or whatever else. The water is a refreshing 68 degrees which isn't really an issue with how hot it is in Florida. The first drop in the water will wake you up though. There is a concession stand, restrooms, some picnic areas, and plenty of space to set your area up. The park is very good about not allowing overcrowding. I love that. There is some cool wildlife. I have seen a deer, different birds, and fish. I haven't paddleboarded there, but where the springs end for tubing there is a bridge and on the opposite side I've seen the kayakers and paddleboarders if that is more your speed. read more

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One of my favorite places to go it's affordable great way to spend a hot day!! The water is crystal clear you can see the fishes turtles woodpecker's Deers be careful there have been some alligators spotted....jk read more

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Super super clean water and cool. You can rent a tube ($7) outside the park or bring your own. The fee to enter the park will be based on how many people in your vehicle, we're 2 people and we paid $3. We went on Tuesday around noon and there're a lot people, I guess weekends might be really busy. It's a natural park, they have people to check around the park, however, you might still see some wild animals so be careful and stay away from bushes and jungle. I saw one small snake (about 1 ft long) swim crossed the creek. read more

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Tried four times and never gotten in here for one reason or another. Imma stop trying

Beautiful place to visit. It's a crowded and very popular place. Admission is three dollars per car. Lots of shade. Water is beautiful. Bring your tube if you have one, otherwise, you can rent a tube down the road a ways. recommended as one of the secret hidden spots of Central Florida. Do visit! read more

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Experience of a lifetime. Perfect clear blue waters, beautiful jungle surrounding, calm park, plenty of places to picnic. read more

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Love Kelly rock springs wish I would have taken pictures but because of the tubing I left everything in the car . Bring your own tune or before entering there is somewhere to rent one. You tube down a spring it's so nice crystal clear water. So much fun did it a few times. Then you can chill at the bottom. read more

It's a fun area for swimming and picnics. I looked for walking trails and there wasn't much. Maybe two or three that we could find and one was the heavy traffic trail for swimmers to go from one end of the spring to the other. I would definitely go for swimming though, just not if you're looking for long walks. The park itself was cleanish. Facilities were really out of shape though. Of the five bathrooms at the parking lot, only one worked. The line was so long and it was a disgusting mess inside. Two of the other bathrooms were locked with no signs or park attendant around. You also have to pay $5 for entry to the park. They don't rent tubes there so bring your own beforehand if you plan on tubing down the spring. It's an okay park overall. read more

In the words of my friend, this is the closest place to paradise! My new favorite spring, Rock Springs/Kelly Park seems to have it all - indoor and outdoor amenities, food, a great campground, clear water, various accessible ramps and stairs, along with a natural lazy river! The vegetation is lush and there aren't many fish specifies. The ones that are there are small schools that keep their distance most of the time. It's a great spot for underwater photography and snorkeling where it isn't too shallow. The actual mouth of the spring is inside a cave off-limits to visitors, but you can still see it from afar. The trails go around the camp and finish at either ends of the recreational areas. There are entrance fees, but they aren't high or individually priced, making it cost effective to bring larger groups! My only suggestion is to come as early as possible since it gets full fast! read more

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We came all the way from Texas and I was excited to go however I don't think we'd be back. Our first mistake was going on Memorial Day. Way too crowded! We got in line at 6:30am and the line was down the street. The park opens at 8am however we didn't enter the park until around 8:30am. If you have no tubes there is a place right on the corner to rent tubes (we were charged $9 per tube) We decided to try the tubing (which there are no signs to tell you which way to go) luckily a lifeguard helped me find the path. The water is cold however you get used to it. YOU DEFINITELY NEED SHOES! Tons of rocks at the bottom. A group of (obnoxious) teens were making a scene and splashing around yelling "shark" and no lifeguards stopped them even though they were doing this around small kids. The current is strong in some spots and unfortunately two young kids were swept away from their parents and were crying and screaming this happened to my daughter too (luckily a woman stopped her) so definitely tie your tubes together if doing this with young kids. I think this place is worth the visit on off season maybe read more

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My fiance and I recently visited Kelly Park and Rock Springs and it is GORGEOUS! We walked the Kelly park loop trail. We want to come back and enjoy tubing at the spring and tanning on the shore because it looks like an awesome experience. Entrance was $3, I think that's the price for up to 5 people, but don't quote me. There is a concession stand with a large variety of hot food from burgers, fries, and even funnel cake! The trails have beautiful views of the spring and a large variety of wildflowers. While walking the trail we looked behind us and even saw 2 deer walking down the patch behind us, it was a magical experience! I would definitely recommend this park for any nature lover and I will DEFINITELY be back! Rating from F to A+++ I give it an A+++! read more

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Went on an off season day and loved it because we got the whole park to ourselves...played volleyball kids swam around the entire water trail....water was crystal clear and blue! So so gorgeous....we love the FL natural springs...this was our first time here and would definitely return but not in the summer because one can only imagine how packed it would be! Lucky for us going in February was perfect! Cold water didn't stop kids from swimming and jumping in! read more

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Disney is not the only magical place in the Orlando area thanks to this enchanting little spot just to the north in Apopka, FL. And unlike Disney, it won't break the bank! $5/carload for 3-8 people is a steal for a relaxing day at this beautiful park. There's plenty of places to picnic while enjoying the lush tropical surroundings. The highlight of the park is the clear, blue natural springs that's warm enough to enjoy year round. Floating down the water in December? We did that! And loved every minute of it! read more

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This is hands down one of my favorite places to come. When you arrive, you can either go to where the concession stand is or straight to the beginning of the spring. It's basically a lazy river. Bring your own tube if you don't want to rent any. If you don't want to or don't have any tubes, there is a bar at the corner of the main street that you turn off. You'll see lots of tubes and signs saying it's the last chance to get tubes. They are right! There's no other spot to get any. The tubes there are $7 for all day but they do require some type of ID or something that makes you come back to return their tube. If you bring your own float, make sure it's not too big. There are a lot of people who are tubing and swimming, so just be mindful of everyone else. Try to get there early because they will put a stationed cop car at the front blocking people from getting in. It's a great place to have a picnic or just relax all day. The river itself lasts about 15 minutes. You'll come across a bridge that blocks you from going all the way down stream. If you want to continue going down stream, you can go next door to kings landing and rent kayaks or canoes (which will be in my review for kings landing but you'll want a reservation for that bc they do sell out). From this bridge, you're able to get out and walk back around. My advice is to buy a water resistant bag that you can keep your things dry like your car keys, phone, etc. just don't expect to not get your stuff wet! Use lots of sunscreen, it's Florida! You'll want some water shoes because when the stream is done, you have to walk on the hot concrete. I use a hat too to help keep the sun out of my face. Peoples most feared concern is gators..to answer your concern, yes, there is a possibility of seeing an alligator. You're less likely to see them because the water is so clear and gators prefer deep/murky water. Further down stream (passed the bridge) the water eventually turns murky and there are gators (you don't see this water being in Kelly Park). They are able to swim upstream though. Last time I came here, a man and his son did notice a baby alligator. Being a Florida native, I was always taught there's at least one alligator in every body of water here in Florida. I have also seen snakes, fish and turtles in the water. Other people have said they've seen otters. The point in me saying this is not to scare you off but to make sure you are alert and aware of what's in the water! I typically go down the stream multiple times. There will be people swimming around you and keep in mind the stream goes at a decent speed. If you decide to leave, there's no reentry. There are bathrooms, lockers, and food..all that you would need. read more

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