At a very cool 68 degrees all year long, Rock Springs boasts the most refreshing spring in all of Florida. Kelly Park/Rock Springs is an Orange County operated park located in Apopka, Florida. It shares some of its boundaries with Wekiwa Springs State Park and Rock Springs Run State Reserve.
Park Admission costs $3 per vehicle for 1-2 people; $5 per vehicle for 3-8 people, and $1 for additional person or walk-ins. Unfortunately, your furry friends are not welcome in the swimming area or at the campground.
This park offers swimming, picnicking, volleyball, camping, hiking, and tubing. If you are looking to kayak or canoe, just follow the main road further down to Camp Joy. They have plenty of rentals available for $45-$55 for the day. Bring your own kayak and launch for $3 for 2 people, or $5 for 3-5 people. They just ask that you show up before 11am since it is about a 4-hour trip.
Tubing is by far the favorite activity among Kelly Park/Rock Springs visitors. No need to bring your own, tubes can be rented right on sight for a couple of dollars each for the day. The bathroom facilities are clean and well-managed, and the snack bar hosts some delicious treats. Grab yourself a snow cone at the end of the day.
In the Spring and Summer months the park fills up quickly, get there early! I suggest snagging a campsite as soon as possible. Reserving a campsite at Kelly Park is simple. Send an email to [email protected] and someone will respond within 24-hours. Make sure to provide your name, number of camp guests, number of cars, and the dates of your visit. A staff member will call you to get payment information. Please note, bookings can only be made 45 days in advance. Trust me they go fast.
1 day is not enough to explore all that Kelly Park has to offer. I highly suggest hiking the Kelly Loop. The hike is about 3 miles in total, but you could loop around for hours seeing various ecosystems and flora. The loop gives you a feeling of getting lost, but you are just looping around the park in and out. I had a blast seeing the famous central Florida sink holes and ending all the way at the tip of the spring.
Next time you’re looking for a sweet summer spot to camp and cool down check out Kelly Park/Rock Springs. You won’t be disappointed.
Love,
Nature Girl
