Wakulla Springs
Wakulla Springs, Florida · on Wakulla River · Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- spring
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $6
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Wakulla Springs
Wakulla Springs is the centerpiece of Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park near Tallahassee, Florida, one of the world's largest and deepest freshwater springs and the headwater of the Wakulla River. A standout among Florida's places to swim, this spring-fed swimming hole has an official, designated swim area at the spring's edge with a bathhouse, outdoor shower, and a 22-foot diving and observation tower, one of the few high dives still permitted at a Florida state park.
The spring sits within a 6,000-acre wildlife sanctuary of pine forest, bald cypress wetlands, and hardwood hammock in Wakulla County. The spring basin itself plunges roughly 180 feet and has average outflow around 400,000 gallons per minute (up to 860,000 gpm), forming the headwaters of the Wakulla River, which flows south to the Gulf of Mexico. The historic 1937 Wakulla Springs Lodge, built by financier Edward Ball, overlooks the swim area, and the site has a long human history, with 54 identified archaeological sites spanning Paleoindian (~12,000 years ago) through 20th-century occupation.
Swimming at Wakulla Springs
Swimming is confined to a designated, roped-off area of the springhead described as a spring-fed swimming beach with cypress trees along the shore. The water is a constant, brisk 69-70 degrees year-round. A 22-foot diving/observation platform is a signature feature, drawing swimmers who climb up to jump into the cold, deep water. According to a first-hand account, water clarity has declined in recent years, with algae now covering much of the once-white sand bottom and visibility far short of the historic 70 feet, though the spring remains swimmable and popular in summer heat.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Tallahassee, head south on US-319 or US-98 and follow signage to the park at 465 Wakulla Park Drive, Wakulla Springs, FL 32327.
Parking: Park-operated lot on site at the state park entrance (465 Wakulla Park Drive).
The hike in
No hike is needed to reach the swimming beach - it's a short walk from the main parking lot/lodge area to the designated, roped-off swim spot at the springhead. Separately, a nature trail leaves from the lodge parking lot and leads to a small spring-fed stream in one direction and a cypress hammock in the other, but this is a side nature walk, not a route to the swimming area.
Confirmed via first-hand visitor account (floridarambler.com) that swimming access does not require hiking.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Swimming is confined to a roped-off, designated beach area with a sloped sandy/algae-covered entry rather than a drop-off, and a first-hand account notes it's 'almost all kids' at the site, many working up courage to jump off the 22-ft tower. Caveats: water is a constant chilly ~69-70F year-round (can shock small kids), lifeguards are only posted during summer months (not guaranteed spring/fall/winter), and American alligators are present in the broader spring/river system (though not typically in the fenced swim area).
Parking
Paid, $6 per-vehicle park entrance fee (covers parking); free for ages 3 and under
Single park-operated lot at the state park entrance (465 Wakulla Park Drive), shared by swim-area, lodge, and boat-tour visitors.
Restrooms
Yes
Bathhouse with restrooms and an outdoor shower located roughly 100 yards from the swim area (per prior park research).
Water clarity
Varies with season and flow
Historically famous for extreme clarity (glass-bottom boat tours, visibility once cited near 70 ft), but a 2020s first-hand account reports clarity has declined: algae and vegetation now cover much of the once-white sand bottom of the swim area, and the deep 70-ft visibility is no longer typical. Water is still described as swimmable and popular in summer heat despite the murkier appearance.
Hours
8:00am to 7:00pm/7:30pm daily (park entrance hours; seasonal variation reported)
On the water
Restrictions: Private/personal watercraft (kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, motorboats) are prohibited inside the state park boundary - the only boats on the spring/river within the park are the park's own guided tour boats (glass-bottom/riverboat tours, ~$8/adult, 2-mile/45-min loop).
Paddlers can rent from an outfitter just downstream and paddle upstream on the Wakulla River to the state park boundary line (not into the swimming area or spring basin itself), then turn back.
Rentals nearby
Canoes (2- and 3-person), single and tandem kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and bikes; also offers guided kayak fishing trips and eco-tours, with launch directly from their own dock (no shuttle needed) onto the Wakulla River, paddling upstream toward the Wakulla Springs State Park boundary.
Prices: Kayak (single): $30/2hr, $40/3hr, $50/4hr, $70/24hr. Kayak (tandem): $45/2hr, $55/3hr, $65/4hr, $85/24hr. Canoe (2-person): $40/2hr, $50/3hr, $60/4hr, $80/24hr. Canoe (3-person): $55/2hr, $65/3hr, $75/4hr, $95/24hr. Paddleboard: $35/2hr, $45/3hr, $55/4hr, $75/24hr.
6527 Coastal Highway, Crawfordville, FL 32327 - on the Wakulla River, roughly 4 miles downstream from Wakulla Springs State Park · 9:30am-5:00pm daily, year-round
What regulars say
The clearest candid, first-hand account comes from one recent visitor, who reports the swim beach's bottom has shifted from white sand to algae-covered in recent years, that the water is a bracing ~70F year-round, and that the crowd skews heavily toward families with kids working up nerve to use the diving tower.
Backstory
The lodge was built in 1937 by DuPont-family financial manager Edward Ball; his trust transferred the surrounding lands to the State of Florida in 1986. The spring has a documented human presence going back approximately 12,000 years, with 54 archaeological sites identified in the park, and the spring basin has yielded prehistoric bones of mastodons, giant sloths, giant armadillos, and camels.
Wakulla Springs: FAQ
Does Wakulla Springs charge a fee?
$6 per-vehicle entrance fee to the state park (free for ages 3 and under); boat tours are a separate paid add-on, cited at $8/adult by a first-hand visitor account.
Is Wakulla Springs kid friendly?
Swimming is confined to a roped-off, designated beach area with a sloped sandy/algae-covered entry rather than a drop-off, and a first-hand account notes it's 'almost all kids' at the site, many working up courage to jump off the 22-ft tower. Caveats: water is a constant chilly ~69-70F year-round (can shock small kids), lifeguards are only posted during summer months (not guaranteed spring/fall/winter), and American alligators are present in the broader spring/river system (though not typically in the fenced swim area).
Do I need to hike to reach Wakulla Springs?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Wakulla Springs?
Single park-operated lot at the state park entrance (465 Wakulla Park Drive), shared by swim-area, lodge, and boat-tour visitors.
When is the best time to visit Wakulla Springs?
Summer, when Florida heat makes the constant ~70-degree spring water most appealing; winter visits may see swimming restricted due to manatees using the spring as warm-water refuge.
What are the rules at Wakulla Springs?
Swimming permitted only within the designated, marked swimming area near the spring; lifeguards are on duty during summer months but not guaranteed year-round; swimming can be restricted in winter when manatees are present in the spring. Park hours are 8:00am to 7:00/7:30pm daily.
What water body is Wakulla Springs on?
Wakulla Springs is on Wakulla River, a natural spring verified in USGS hydrography data.
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