Blue Spring State Park Boat Tour Review: Is the St. Johns River Cruise Worth It? (Honest Local Review)

Updated March 2026

Wondering if the Blue Spring State Park boat tour is worth it? I recently did this tour and enjoyed it! I’ve grown up in this area and wasn’t sure if it would be worth doing, but I actually learned a lot about the St. Johns River and the local wildlife.

In this Blue Spring State Park boat tour review, I’ll share my honest experience, what to expect, and who this tour is actually best for. Most importantly, I’ll clarify one thing upfront: this tour is on the St. Johns River and not in the clear spring water.

Category	Quick Answer
Tour Length	1 or 2 hours (2-hour recommended)
Location	St. Johns River (NOT the clear spring run)
Water Clarity	Dark, tannin-colored river water
Wildlife You May See	Alligators, birds, turtles, deer, seasonal manatees
Best Time to Go	Weekday morning (winter for manatees)
Good For	Wildlife lovers, relaxed sightseeing, families
Not Ideal For	Close-up manatee encounters, clear water views
Worth It?	Yes — if you understand it’s a river eco tour

Check availability for the St. Johns River Nature Cruise at Blue Spring State Park

About Blue Spring State Park

Located in Orange City, Florida, about 45 minutes north of Orlando and just over an hour from Daytona Beach, Blue Spring State Park is one of the most famous freshwater springs in the state. It’s a perfect day trip from Orlando or Daytona Beach, and one of the best things to do if you’re visiting DeLand (right next to Orange City).

The park centers around a stunning, crystal-clear spring that pumps out over 100 million gallons of 72-degree water every single day. That constant temperature makes it a popular swimming spot in the warmer months and a critical winter refuge for manatees when temperatures drop.

If you’re looking for a full park breakdown, read my complete Blue Spring State Park guide.

Blue Spring vs. the St. Johns River (Important to Know)

Here’s something many first-time visitors don’t realize:

• The spring run (the turquoise water you see in photos) flows into
• The St. Johns River, a wide, slow-moving river that borders the park.

The famous boardwalk runs along the spring, where you can often spot fish, turtles, and (in winter) manatees in the clear water below.

The boat tour, however, takes place on the St. Johns River, not inside the swimming spring itself. So the experience is more like a scenic wildlife cruise through Old Florida wetlands.

Winter vs Summer

Blue Spring State Park is best known as a designated manatee refuge in the winter. From roughly mid-November through March, hundreds of West Indian manatees gather in the warm spring water to escape colder river temperatures. Swimming is prohibited to protect them, and the boardwalk becomes one of the best places in Central Florida to see manatees in the wild.

Outside of manatee season (summer), swimming is permitted! Kayaking and paddle boarding are also permitted in the spring run during certain times of the day.

The beauty of Blue Spring State Park versus some other Florida springs is the area feels more untouched. Being surrounded by woods and enjoying the tree canopy while you swim really allows you to enjoy nature!

Entrance Fees & What to Expect

Blue Spring State Park charges a per-vehicle entrance fee ($6 for a vehicle with two or more people or $4 for a single person vehicle), which is separate from any tour or rental costs. The park can fill to capacity on weekends, holidays, and especially during manatee season and summer, so arriving early is important.

Overall, Blue Spring State Park offers a mix of easy-access wildlife, beautiful natural scenery, and laid-back Florida vibes. Whether you’re visiting specifically for the boat tour or just exploring the park, it’s one of the most accessible ways to experience “real” Old Florida without driving deep into the wilderness.

Check availability for the St. Johns River Cruise – Blue Spring State Park

What Is the Blue Spring Boat Tour?

The Blue Spring State Park Boat Tour is a two-hour narrated wildlife cruise (one-hour tours are available at the park as well) along the scenic St. Johns River.

Unlike swimming in the spring or walking the boardwalk, this experience takes you out onto the river for a broader look at the surrounding wetlands and “Old Florida” landscape.

It’s a relaxed, educational eco tour designed for spotting wildlife and learning about the area’s ecosystem.

Where the Tour Takes Place

Even though it launches from inside Blue Spring State Park, the boat tour does not go into the spring run (clear water area) itself.

Instead, it cruises along the St. Johns River, one of Florida’s longest and slowest-moving rivers. This is where you’re more likely to see:

• Alligators sunning on the banks
• Ospreys and herons fishing
• Turtles lined up on fallen logs
• Manatees (mainly in cooler months)

What the Boat Is Like

The tour is typically conducted on a covered pontoon-style boat, which provides:

• Bench seating
• Shade from the sun
• Open sides for easy wildlife viewing
• A captain and guide who narrates throughout the trip

It’s stable, smooth, and ideal if you don’t want to kayak or paddle but still want to explore beyond the boardwalk. For my tour, it wasn’t very busy and we were allowed to move around the boat throughout the tour.

How Long Is the Tour?

There are one or two-hour tours to choose from, but I recommend the two hour boat tour as it’s a much better value! It gives you enough time to cover a good stretch of river without feeling rushed. While the one-hour tour has to stay close to the park.

The guide shares information about:

• Local wildlife
• The history of the St. Johns River
• Native plants

It’s very enjoyable and works well for first-time visitors, families, older patrons, or anyone who prefers a low-effort way to see wildlife.

Cost & Booking Basics

The boat tour cost is separate from the park entrance fee, so you’ll pay:

1. The per-vehicle fee to enter Blue Spring State Park ($6 per vehicle)
2. The individual ticket price for the boat tour

Spots can fill up during winter manatee season and on weekends, so booking ahead (when available) or arriving early is smart.

I booked the one-hour tour on arrival to the park. Simply head to the docks, and the small hut is where you can book a tour. However, if you want to guarantee a spot for a certain day or time, book early online.

Check for available dates and book early: St. Johns River Nature Cruise at Blue Spring State Park

Best Time for the Blue Spring State Park Boat Tour (St. Johns River Cruise)

I recommend the morning tour on a weekday in most cases. However, the best time for a boat tour will somewhat depend on the time of year. Regardless, the St. Johns River is very well preserved, especially near Blue Spring State Park, so the ecosystem is alive and well!

If it’s a super cold day, the afternoon tour could end up being better. Then again, it’s usually warming up in Florida quite early so the mid-morning option will still work.

Summer heat can be brutal, so I recommend the morning if you can, but the boats do have a covering to help with the sun if the morning isn’t an option.

Weekends can get busy on the river with boats, so I recommend a weekday. A lot of boat activity can make it harder to spot alligators and other wildlife. Weekdays are quieter on the river and the wildlife will be less shy.

Manatee Sightings

The tour is in dark water, not clear water, so seeing manatees in the river will not be as impactful. Of course, your best chance of seeing them in the river is once the day warms up a bit.

Once the day starts to warm up a bit, the manatees will leave the spring run for food. I did the 10AM tour on a cold day and saw quite a few manatees swimming or feeding (but you can’t see them that well).

Alligator Sightings

Alligators can be seen year-round and chances are high to spot them. In the winter, you’re more likely to see them sunning and trying to warm up. In the summer, they are far more active, so you may see them in the water or along the bank.

Birds & Other Wildlife

There are plenty of birds to see and the tour guide I had did a great job of pointing them out! We also spotted some deer hydrating along the river and turtles sunning themselves. While manatees and gators are big draws, I really enjoyed the birds more than I expected.

Entrance to the State Park Considerations

The St. Johns River Cruise – Blue Spring State Park recommends arriving 90 minutes before the boat tour. In part, this can be due to the issue of getting into the park during busy times. Traffic can get backed up and you will need to account for this.

When a cold front hits, Blue Spring State Park will get packed! I went on a weekday afternoon during a cold front and the wait was at least 40 minutes to just get inside the park. Since I don’t live far, I opted to return the next morning and thankfully got right in! However, when I left there was a long line of cars waiting to get in and it was a weekday!

Summer can be just as busy, since swimming is an option! Additionally, weekends any time of year can be busy!

Overall, I do recommend heading to the park in the morning. The mid-morning boat tour is great, it’s generally easier to get into the park close to opening, and you can enjoy walking the boardwalk along the spring run before the crowds arrive.

If you’re visiting during peak manatee season, I recommend booking in advance to avoid missing out: St. Johns River Nature Cruise at Blue Spring State Park

My Experience on the Boat Tour (Honest Review)

Since I don’t live too far from Blue Spring State Park, I ended up just booking on-site. I don’t recommend this if you’re coming from out of town, but it worked out for me.

I also booked the one-hour tour instead of the two hour since I grew up on this river. However, I think the two-hour tour is a much better value and I enjoyed the tour much more than I thought I would!

Boarding & First Impressions

I had tried to visit the park the day before on a Monday afternoon and the wait was about 40 minutes! So I returned the next morning and thankfully had no wait! Parking was easy for me, but it was packed when I left around 11:30AM.

Of course, once the park reaches capacity, they will have cars line up outside and let people in as others leave. Therefore, you should be able to find a parking spot regardless of when you visit.

I headed to the docks about 15 minutes before departure. A gentleman with an iPad checked us in and we boarded the pontoon boat.

Our guide had a microphone and greeted us. She had us seated as we left the dock, but once on the river, we were allowed to walk around.

Wildlife We Saw

We actually saw quite a bit of wildlife on the one-hour tour, but I think it was just a really good day! The two hour will definitely increase your odds and the boat will take you further away from the spring.

On a cold, winter day, my tour saw plenty of birds, some manatees feeding or swimming, deer getting a drink from the river, turtles, and a large alligator sunning on the bank.

• Alligators
• Birds (anhinga, heron, osprey)
• Turtles
• Manatees
• Deer drinking from the river

The Guide & Commentary

Despite growing up in the area, I learned quite a lot! The guide was great offering insight, facts, and explanations for the wildlife and ecosystem of the St. Johns River.

While I knew the St. Johns River flows from south to north, I learned it was due to a drop in elevation of about 22 feet!

I knew very little about the birds, and really enjoyed learning more about them.

Kid-Friendly

There were no kids on the tour I did on a weekday morning, but I think kids would enjoy it! However, the one-hour tour might be better for kids than the two hour one.

The boat is stable and there are guardrails, so overall it’s a safe experience, but if you have a climber it might not be a relaxing ride as a parent.

Comfort Level

The experience was very comfortable and I really appreciated that we didn’t have to stay in our seat. If the tour was fully booked they may have required remaining stationary, but I loved that we could move around.

The metal seats could get uncomfortable after a while, but since I was moving around the boat taking in different views, it was never an issue. The seats have backs, which made sitting comfortable when we wanted a break or we were pulling into or out of the dock area.

The pontoon boat has a covering, which is so important for the summer months!

Lakes can get choppy conditions, but the river should stay relatively calm since there is less surface area and plenty of trees around. Unless you get seasick very easily, it shouldn’t be an issue.

There are no restrooms on board, but you can use the ones at Blue Spring State Park before or after the tour.

Check availability for the St. Johns River Nature Cruise at Blue Spring State Park

Is the Blue Spring Boat Tour Worth It?

Overall, this tour is worth it, but you need to know it’s of the St. Johns River and not the clear water from Blue Spring. My tour guide mentioned how she has been on a lot of rivers in the USA, but the St. Johns River has one of the best protected ecosystems.

Since the water is dark, which I learned on this tour was due to the tannins of leaves and the roots of the cypress tree, you won’t see much in the actual water. You may see a gator or manatee swimming, but you will only see what’s at the surface.

✔️ Pros

• Easy wildlife viewing
• Relaxing
• Educational
• A good introduction to a healthy river/lake ecosystem in Florida

❌ Cons

• Price compared to just walking boardwalk
• Wildlife not guaranteed
• Hot in summer
• Not a tour of the clear spring water

⭐ Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5 | Overall, I give this tour 4.5 stars, because I learned a lot about the ecosystem I grew up around! However, it’s important to know this tour is of the river and NOT the clear spring water. If you want a boat tour experience involving clear spring water, head to Silver Springs and do a glass bottom boat tour!

Looking for a boat tour on clear, spring water? Check out my Silver Springs Glass Bottom Boat Tour Review: 30 vs 90 Minute Experience.

Boat Tour vs Just Walking the Boardwalk

The boardwalk is all you need for viewing the spring run and seeing the manatees in the winter. It’s a beautiful walk under forest canopy and since the water is clear you can see the manatees that seek refuge from the cold.

The boardwalk does not cost extra and is your best option to see manatees if visiting in the winter. In the summer, swimming is allowed in the spring run, but you can still walk and enjoy the views. It’s nice and shaded to keep it cool in the summer.

The boardwalk gives you views of the clear spring run water, while the boat takes you on the St. Johns River! They are completely different experiences! And you can see some of the river from the start of the boardwalk, but the boat tour will give you an immersive experience of this major waterway in central and north Florida.

Cost: The boardwalk comes with the cost of entry into Blue Spring State Park versus the boat tour which is an extra cost on top of the entry fee.

Wildlife visibility: The boardwalk covers the clear spring run, so you can see fish, manatees, turtles, and birds. The alligators do not typically venture into the spring, so if you want to see them you’ll need to utilize the St. Johns River Nature Cruise at Blue Spring State Park.

Effort required: The boardwalk requires walking, but it’s paved so if you have strollers or wheelchairs, it’s easy to explore. The path is relatively flat as well, making it easier. The boat tour offers seats, education, and will make every effort to locate wildlife. Overall, the boat tour is easier effort, but the walking path is beautiful and worth doing if you can.

Experience type: The boardwalk is of the clear spring water, and the boat tour is of the brackish river and lake water. Both areas feel intact and nature is well preserved. I love Blue Spring State Park for this, because even if you’re swimming in the spring, you feel part of nature while still feeling protected. The river is teeming with wildlife and while the experiences are different, both offer a serene natural experience.

Check availability for the St. Johns River Nature Cruise at Blue Spring State Park

What to Bring on the St. Johns River Boat Tour

If you’re visiting in the summer, don’t forget bug spray because mosquitoes can be brutal. In the winter, be sure to take a jacket appropriate for the day’s temperature.

Some sunscreen, especially in the summer, is still worth having on even though the boat has a covering. I would also say having water to drink in the summer is more important than having water in the winter. Got to replenish those electrolytes!

I wore a hat on my winter day tour, but it was for warmth not protection. Even though there is a covering, you’ll be on the side of the boat a lot to view the wildlife, so sunscreen and a hat in the summer will really help!

Bring a camera with a zoom if you want to take photos! Or simply sit back and take it all in!

• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Water
• Camera with zoom
• Bug spray (summer)
• Jacket (winter)

Check availability for the St. Johns River Nature Cruise at Blue Spring State Park

Who Should Skip It

I’d suggest skipping if you want a close-up manatee sighting, are on a tight budget, or expecting a tour on the clear water. Below I address each one and provide alternatives.

For Close-up Manatee Sightings – Kayak

If you want the possibility of getting close to manatees, I’d suggest a kayak tour or rental instead. I took my paddle board in November, just before it closed for the winter, and I saw manatees in the spring run!

Be advised, if you do want to paddle along the spring run, you are only permitted to do so at certain times. When I called, it was before 10AM and after 5PM, but double check in case of seasonal differences.

A tour should know the best place to run into manatees feeding in the river, so if you want to see them up close in the river, a tour is your best bet!

Book this Highly Rated Kayak Tour Just Outside Blue Spring State Park: Small Group Manatee Discovery Kayak Tour near Orlando

Budget Minded Travelers – Stick with the Boardwalk

While this tour is relatively inexpensive, it can add up if you’re a group. However, entry into the park is cheap ($6 for a vehicle with two or more people) and the boardwalk is a beautiful experience!

Clear Water Tour – Head to Silver Springs

If you are expecting this tour to be in clear water, you’ll be disappointed. For the best boat tour in clear water head to Silver Springs State Park! They are famous for their glass bottom boats and I did a tour recently. Check out Silver Springs Glass Bottom Boat Tour Review: 30 vs 90 Minute Experience to read all about it!

Alternatives at Blue Spring State Park

If you are looking for more information on visiting Blue Spring State Park, I have a full guide. If you don’t want to do the boat tour, consider a kayaking tour or simply renting them at Blue Spring State Park.

There are also hiking trails if you wanted to venture into the woods. Of course, in the winter it’s all about manatees and in the summer, swimming is the most popular activity!

• Kayaking the St. Johns River
• Swimming in the spring (when allowed)
• Hiking trails
• Visiting in peak manatee season

Blue Spring State Park Guide (By a Local): How to Enjoy in Winter vs Summer

St. Johns River – Blue Spring State Park Boat Tour

I hope this was helpful so you could decide if this tour is right for you! I really enjoyed the tour, but that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. If you don’t have time for the two-hour tour, the one hour option is good! Or simply walking along the boardwalk and enjoying the views is a worthwhile activity!

In the summer, swimming is fun, though admittedly the water is too cold for me. Regardless of what you decide, Blue Spring State Park offers so much beauty!