Silver Springs State Park | Ocala / Marion County Florida

Website

5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, Florida 34470

(352) 261-5840

Virtual Tour

Overview

Discover the charm of a historic Florida attraction and the crystal clear beauty of one of the last uninhabited spring runs in the state at Silver Springs State Park. As the largest, first magnitude artesian springs ever discovered, visitors have long been captivated by the springs’ natural beauty and vibrant clarity.

There are many activities to choose from at Silver Springs from Glass Bottom Boat tours, wildlife viewing and kayak and canoe trips to camping, nature trails and the Silver River Museum. Silver Springs State Park offers 5,000 acres of outdoor fun. Explore on 14 miles of mixed-use trails, go kayaking or canoeing, and enjoy park facilities including a playground, campgrounds, picnic areas, grills, and more.

Don’t miss the glass-bottom boat tours through the crystal clear waters of the artesian springs. The glass-bottom boats allow you to see the beautiful underwater ecosystem up close and spot alligators, manatees, fish, turtles, and more!

The Main Entrance
5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, FL 34488
Enjoy the headspring from a viewing deck, walk along the river on paved trails, see the ornamental gardens and enjoy an easy stroll through ...the Real Florida. Visitors can enjoy a meal from the restaurant with a view of the spring. Glass bottom boat rides and canoe and kayak rentals are offered through our concessionaire. There is a $4 per boat launch fee if you bring your own canoe or kayak at the headspring launch. There is no land access from the water along the river and in the headspring area except at the canoe and kayak launch ramp.

The Camping Entrance
1425 NE 58th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34470
Visitors can paddle down the crystal-clear river (there is no fee to launch from this ramp, but there is a half-mile hike to launch area), hike or bike along one of the nature trails, or just sit and watch the wide variety of birds and wildlife. The picnic area features three pavilions available for rental with grills and a playground nearby. For overnight stays, the park has a 59-site full-facility campground and 10 modern cabins. Reserve a cabin or campsite online or call 800-326-3521 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.

The camping entrance of the park is home to a pioneer cracker village as well as the Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center. The center is operated by the Marion County School District in cooperation with the park and is open to the public on weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the museum is $2 per person. Children under 6 admitted free. The ranger station is located at this address. Please note, any packages sent to campers should be mailed to this address.

The Equestrian Entrance
2 miles east on SR 40 from the Main Entrance
The Silver Springs State Park horse trail traverses a wetland habitat. Expect areas of mud and standing water along the trails. Summer seasons feature biting insects such as deer flies and mosquitoes; please dress and plan accordingly. If you do not have your own horse and want a guided horseback ride, contact visitor service provider Cactus Jack's Trail Rides. They offer guided horseback tours on the fantastic trails of our neighboring Florida state park, the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross-Florida Greenway.

Please visit the park’s website for a complete listing of activities and events. Call the ranger station at 352-236-7148 for assistance or Silver Springs State Park at 352-261-5840 when planning your visit to the park.