09/20/2026
Three day trips inside about an hour of Orlando — and one planning detail worth knowing before you get in the car.
🌿 Wekiwa Springs State Park — 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka. Open 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year. $6 per vehicle (2–8 people), $4 single occupant, $2 on foot or bike.
🛶 Blue Spring State Park — 2100 W. French Ave., Orange City. Same hours, same entry fees. Timing matters here: swimming season in the spring run goes through Nov. 14. After that the run closes to swimmers and the manatees move in — the park says hundreds of them gather there from mid-November through March.
🔔 Bok Tower Gardens — 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales. Open daily 8 a.m.–6 p.m., last admission 5 p.m. $20 adults, $10 ages 6–17, free under 6. Admission includes the 3.5-mile hiking trail.
The detail that catches people out: Wekiwa Springs and Blue Spring both require a day-use entry reservation now. There's no extra charge — you book park entry online, up to 60 days ahead, same-day if there's room — but turning up without one is a long drive for nothing. Blue Spring also reaches capacity and closes temporarily on busy days.
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The Nolan Group · Brokered by eXp Realty
