Wekiwa Springs State Park is located in Central Florida about 20 minutes north of Orlando at the headwaters of the Wekiwa River. The nearby community of Apopka (the Indoor Foliage Capital of the World) provides all the usual services (groceries, fuel, laundry) for you to re-supply between trips.
It’s amazing that this kind of wilderness exists so close to a major metropolitan area—lucky for you! Wekiwa Springs State Park would be a fantastic place to stay if you want to experience a more relaxed, natural atmosphere yet not be too far from the excitement of the Orlando-area attractions of SeaWorld, Disneyworld, Universal Studios, etc.
Activities: Wekiwa Springs allows you to glimpse the vistas where Timucua Indians hunted and fished before the arrival of Europeans. Enjoy a picnic to take in the sights and sounds of nature then swim around in the cool spring water. Take a hike, go for a bike ride or ride your horse along 13 miles of trails winding through the park. Visit the Wekiwa Springs Activities webpage for trail information, and download the trails map PDF to familiarize yourself with the general area. Park management recommends bringing water, a compass and map when using these wilderness trails.
You can paddle along the Wekiva River and Rock Springs Run in a canoe or kayak to see the scenery from a different angle. Canoes can be rented at the park from the concessionaire Nature Adventures and guided tours are available. Download the canoe map PDF to get a general idea of your potential routes when planning your trip on the waterways.
Canoes on the Wekiwa River in central Florida.
You’ll have plenty of chances to view wildlife since the park is home to fox squirrels, wild turkeys, and Florida Black Bears, to name just a few. Please use caution and take care to maintain your distance from these larger animals. Remember—never feed wild animals, no matter how cute or small. Stop by the Nature Center on your way in for a free self-guided tour to get familiar with native wildlife and learn about their habitat. The center is open on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 3:00, and is located next to the concession stand.
A family of wild turkeys cross the road in Wekiwa Springs State Park, Florida.
If you’re part of a large group, the park has two pavilions (each with capacity of 100) that can be rented out for special events. Each pavilion has water, electricity, a double charcoal grill and picnic tables. View Wekiwa Springs pavilion details or call (407) 884-2008 to make reservations.
There are many more fun things to do and see at this park. Since I can’t cover them all here, please visit the Wekiwa Springs State Park activities webpage for complete details!
Camping Info: The Wekiwa Springs State Park has 60 gravel RV campsites in a wooded area at the front of the park. Back-in sites measure 35’x 60’, but please be advised that sites may not be wide enough to accommodate large slideouts. Each site has water and electrical hookups (20/30 amp service), as well as a fire ring with grill and a picnic table. There are no sewer hookups but the dump station is located at the campground. There are two restrooms with showers. ADA accessible sites are available by reservation. Last year’s rates were $22 per night. Please call (407) 884-2008 to make reservations, as the park does close when it reaches capacity.
Cool Feature: The park provides a Lending Library where you can borrow books about the area’s wildlife to help your little campers understand more of their nature experience during your nightly story time.
Pets are allowed as long as they are kept under the owner’s control at all times and do not disturb other visitors or park wildlife. A pet fee of $2 per animal per day is required. Pets are not allowed in swimming areas. You must pick up after your pet and dispose of droppings in trash bins. Read the park’s pet policies for full details.
If you’re from the Apopka/Orlando area or have visited Wekiwa Springs State Park in the past, please chime in with your stories and tips! Your insights can help others have a fantastic trip.