Most people head straight to the beach on their Florida vacations (and I don’t blame them), but there are so many hidden gems to explore! Living in Tallahassee has led us to look a little further past the hour+ road trip to the nearest beach or to the longer roadtrip to the Destin area. And instead, we’ve found some pretty awesome state parks in Florida. One of our favorite finds has been swimming at Madison Blue Spring State Park.
About Madison Blue Spring
Madison Blue Spring is a popular swimming hole and spring but was once used as a fresh water source. The swimming hole is surrounded by a limestone basin that’s 82 feet wide and 25 feet deep then opens up to a stream as it hits the river. It has clear blue water over the hole that turns more turquoise as it merges with the Withlacoochee River.
- Hours: 8am to sundown every day of the year
- Cost: $5 entrance fee per vehicle (at the time we went, they were upgrading their ticket booth and only accepted cash)
- Location: 8300 NE State Road 6, Lee, FL 32059
Once you get further into the water, you can see dual colors as the spring clashes with the river. You can pretty clearly see the divide between the turquoise water of the spring and the brown water of the river.
Madison Blue Spring also happens to be internationally known for its cave diving system. So far, there has been over 26,000 feet of passageways explored within the underground system.
How to Get There
This state park is located in the north of Florida just past Madison and north of Lee (two towns I’d never heard before). From Tallahassee, it’s about an hour directly East. From Jacksonville or Gainesville, it’s about1.5 hours away.
Things To Do
Go Swimming/Tubing
Madison Blue Spring is definitely a swimming spot! There are two entrances that get you into the water. The main stairs lead right into the blue hole, which is the deepest area. Lots of people had brought snorkeling gear to snorkel around the hole.
You can also walk around to the other side for access to the stream if you don’t want to be over a 25 foot hole. There aren’t stairs on the other side–more of a dirt slope that leads into the water but this area is shallow and rocky, so you’ll want to watch your step/hold on to something. There’s also a little bit of a current that can pull you towards the river.
One of the popular things to do here is to bring a float. Yep, you’ll see them everywhere and if you don’t bring one, you’ll wish you had. It’s a great place to just relax in the water. During the weekends in the summer months, you might find a vendor selling them, but it’s best to just bring your own.
And be forewarned: spring water is COLD. You’ll want to aim for visiting on a nice sunny day so it helps combat the cold water.
!! Important to know: The limestone that surrounds the spring is protected so it’s prohibited to climb, jump, walk etc on the limestone walls.
Take a Nature Walk
If you want a break from the water or want to explore some more of the surrounding area, there’s a nature trail near the river. It’s a bit hidden and a pretty short walk but takes you through the woods along the bank. If you enjoy bird watching, bring your binoculars along too.
Go Cave Diving
There’s a large cave system beneath Madison Blue Spring for experienced divers to explore. And evidently there are three entrances into the caves. One of which is a hidden stairwell several hundred feet from the main area that leads into a small hole in the ground. To go diving here, you must be certified for cave diving–open water and other certifications will not suffice.
Facilities
- Picnic Tables–located near the entrance/parking lot
- Restrooms
What to Bring
- Swimsuit
- Towel – I usually bring a quick dry towel!
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Water Shoes – the stream is a little rocky and if you go from/to the blue hole to/from the river, you might want them. (These are my fave!)
- Float (optional) – lots of people bring one to get on at the main stairs which puts you right over the deep hole. Plus, it’s fun to float in the river.
If you plan on making a day of it, you should plan on bringing your own food and water too.
Things to Know Before You Go
Are animals allowed? Yes and no. Pets are allowed in the picnic area but not around the swimming hole. So, unless you plan on chilling at the picnic tables all day, I’d leave the pets at home. Though I will say, some woman had a pet raccoon that she had in a HARNESS ON HER SHOULDER in the spring. So, you know…there’s that. Weird things happen in Florida…but probably don’t bring your pet raccoon either.
How far is it to the spring? Someone asked me on Instagram if it was very far to get to. The answer is no. It’s about 20 steps from the parking lot.
There also are not many places to sit around the edge which is probably why people bring floats.
Are there alligators here? Like all Florida springs, there are likely alligators in the area at Madison Blue Spring State Park. They typically leave people alone and keep their distance but it’s still a Florida spring. Just be aware of your surroundings.
Madison Blue Spring is a fun place to explore for a few hours. It’s easy to miss a lot of these places in Florida but the springs are a great way to see another side of this beautiful state!
PIN IT FOR LATER
Love the pictures!!
What camera did you use for the “Swimming at Madison Blue Spring in Florida.” picture?
Hi! That was actually with my (very) old camera, a Nikon D3100 and basic lens. The rest on this post are mostly from an iPhone. I use a Sony A7C now!
Do you have to know swimming to get in this water there is any shallow areas here
If you float and get to the river
Want to know the risks for kids and not strong swimmers
How do you track aligator activities
Any place to shower , bathrooms close by ??
You can enter into the spring over the blue hole which is deeper, or walk around to the other entrance which puts you into the shallow water. The water flows in some areas and it is rocky in the shallow part, so I’d recommend water shoes. There are bathrooms but no showers I believe. For alligators, they can always be present in springs but they tend to stay away from people.