Kelly Park — Attraction in Apopka

Summary: $3 entrance fee, get there at 5 AM. Wear water shoes and bring floats if you want to go down the run.

Note, 5 AM is for weekends and when school is out. If school is in session on a weekday, you can show up at 7:45 and get in with no issues. For multiple people, entrance fee is $5.

Going on a weekday right before or after Summer break, when school is in session, is worth it! Wildlife is abundant and it doesn't get super crowded. For reference, the trip I am reviewing was the last Thursday in August 2025.

Line at 8:00 AM was about 10 cars, 6 minute wait. Plenty of parking, try to park close to the restrooms if possible. I observed a flock of wild turkeys in the parking area. Since the sun wasn't on the swimming area yet, I hiked some of the trails as a warmup and saw two deer.

Rock Springs has a handful of trails that are good if you just got out of the water and need to thaw. Remember, the springs are 72°F year-round, so you'll want to get plenty of sun to stay warm. One trail runs from the swimming area to the head of the spring, where the water flows out of a rock (hence the name). Another runs the border of Kelly Park alongside Wekiwa Springs State Park. You may see deer, turkeys, raccoons, gopher tortoises, or the occasional black bear on these trails.

If you're interested in doing the full run, here's the deal: a sidewalk leads from the swimming area to the head spring, you can get in either at the spring (faster rapids) or past the bridge depending on your preference. If you don't have a wetsuit you'll want a float so you don't hit the rocks (a couple spots they are close to the surface) on the way down. The first half of the run has all the rocks and faster currents, then splits into two parts approaching the swimming area. If you're on a float take the right fork as it's wider. Once you get past the swimming area, the second half has a pebbly bottom and no large rocks. It's about 4 feet deep and 15 feet wide the whole way to the end. At the end of the run there's a bridge, past which swimming is prohibited. To get to this part you'll need to kayak up the run from Wekiwa. Crossing the bridge will bring you to a sidewalk that leads back to the swimming area.

There's a lot of water life too: on my trip I saw an otter, great egret, largemouth bass, sunfish, mosquitofish, and a turtle. Bring a waterproof case for your phone if observing the fish appeals to you! A GoPro works too.

If you decide to go during the Summer months, be warned it will get packed and you will not see as much nature. When a lot of people are in the swimming area the algae on the bottom gets kicked up and can be on the surface where the current isn't present. Also know that if you leave your food unattended, a raccoon will most likely make off with it!

Be safe, respect nature,...

I went to three different natural springs in the area and this one was my favorite! It's magical here, I didn't want to leave. The key tip is to GET HERE EARLY, because they don't let any more people in once the parking lot is full. I arrived 20 minutes before the 8 am opening on a Tuesday and there was already a big line! I spoke to someone else and they arrived around 9:30 and were able to get in, but I arrived around 10:30 the Friday before and they were turning people away, you couldn't even wait for someone to leave. The woman at the gate said on the weekends, folks start lining up at 5 am!

You want to make sure you bring a tube or something reasonably sturdy to float in and/or snorkeling gear. I rented a tube at the bar before you enter the park - the process works okay but feels a little sketchy. I'd also recommend water shoes to protect against the sharp rocks in the upper portion.

The spring acts like a lazy river and it's in two parts. You can actually see (but not enter) the rock cave where the spring emerges and the top entrance and that upper half of the stream has lots of big rocks to navigate - I bruised my butt pretty good on one of them, and I tried "walking" down the river once and really banged up my legs then. If you have snorkel gear and can lie face down, you can kind of mitigate that some. In the middle is a wide, shallow pool, perfect for kids and families. Then the lazy river part continues on down to a final get-out point. The pool and the second half of the stream has more of a sandy bottom that feels better barefoot.

I just can't tell you how beautiful it is here, it's like paradise! The water is cool and clear, and there are beautiful trees and greenery on the sides, little streams that flow into the river, it's just amazing. Once I got in at park opening and found a place for all my stuff, I hopped in the river right away and was the only one on it, save for another guy snorkeling! It was idyllic.

There's a spot right by the start/cave that you can jump (feet first) and be in over your head, but the rest of the stream is around waist-high or less on an adult. If you want to do some proper swimming, head over to Wekiwa Springs nearby. It's easy to do both in one day IF you reserve your spot online at Wekiwa first. It's good all day, so hit Rock Springs at opening, then use your reservation for Wekiwa later in the day. Highly, highly recommended, there are lifeguards everywhere, bathrooms and snacks available, and plenty of room for families. It can only get so crowded before they close the parking lot, so crowds are less of an issue. (Tho it does get crowded - a whole school group arrived during my...

Absolutely beautiful, stunning and fun spring. The water was absolutely perfect on a hot day, and even with plenty of people using the spring there was lots of wildlife to be seen. You can walk right up to the head of the spring and float down a good half mile before getting out and walking up to do it all again or there are two shallow wading areas where you can swim and play like a regular swimming pool. The water was shallow the day we went as we haven’t had much rain lately so the run was a little close to the rocks near the head of the springs. If you are on a tube you should be fine but if you are floating down solo- which lots of people do- be prepared to encounter a few rough spots. I’m not sure if on other days the water level gets higher with more rain but I would imagine it would. Either way the run is super fun! You can bring your own float as long as it isn’t larger than a one man tube. The park itself does not rent tubes, but there is a spot just down the street that does. There is a concession stand to purchase food and a few minor items like Tylenol, goggles and first aid materials. The concession stand sells mostly grill items like hotdogs and hamburgers, fries and drinks and they do have ice cream. There are plenty of picnic tables to find around the area to enjoy your own packed lunch as well! No glass containers or alcohol allowed. The bathrooms were fairly clean and not super busy. There are showers outside but not inside. The bathroom was handicap accessible. Bring a lawn chair, your towels, and perhaps some water shoes if you don’t want to risk a stubbed toe or scratched foot. And towards the middle of the day the day the bridges get really hot so I suggest water shoes and pick up your babies! There are also nice trails to walk but be careful there were some ticks. Make sure to check yourself before leaving and or bring bug spray. Camping is also available at the park but you must make reservations prior to coming. They are ALWAYS full so make sure to make them plenty in advance. In addition this park is first come first serve and is 1$ per person to get in. The park fills up quickly so you will want to get there well before they open!

Overall it was a beautiful, fun,...