Kelly Park Reviews

Be there EARLY on weekends I mean early otherwise you will miss a great opportunity to see nature at its best.

I was there just yesterday 07/08/2016 meybee use to be safe water is not clear meybee use to be clear is scary, water is cold there are lifegards but what they will do really. The water in some places is so dark or green that i hurt my self because not able to see the rocks inside the water after going one time down he river game chills i really thinks there are gators the way the water looks i donot recomend to go in the water the only thing i like about kelly park is the grill area you can relax there is enought play areas

For a site that allows public camping I was very impressed with how well taken care of the park was.They have public grills, bring charcoal and food. They do NOT have an ATM and they do NOT accept cards, bring cash! Tube rentals must be purchased and picked up prior to entering the park, with that said the owner of the concession stand is also the owner of the tube rental place - if it's a slow day and he has enough staff to cover they will bring some in, be nice about asking for this favor. The water from the springs is 72 degrees year round and there is a nice bit of space to set down a towel or blanket near the swimming / playing areas to relax. State parks do not permit alcohol on property... The spring water pool is amazing and open, the path is about a 1/4 of a mile and is easily walked if you didn't want to rent a tube you wouldn't hate your experience!

It had been a few years since my last visit to a Florida spring and I was dying to go this year, but after the summer rush and before cooler weather. I ran across this venue (Kelly Park) in online research and it had rave reviews. It wasn't too far from home, so I had to check it out.

We visited last week (mid-September) on a Thursday, hoping for less crowds (as school was back in session). We rented tubes from the bar & grille on the way in (put them on the roof for the short drive to the park) and arrived shortly after the park opened, around 8:15 a.m. It was beautifully serene with maybe only two other cars in the lot at that time. The air temperature was unusually cooler than normal that morning, so we choose to walk over to the water and around the beautiful park to get acquainted with the layout during the next hour.

I found the path that led to the head of the spring (behind the pavilions), a short walk down a beautiful path in the canopied forest. We made our way into the cool spring water and onto our inner tubes and had a wonderfully peaceful float down the spring to the end, about 20-25 minutes. As we passed the swimming area, it was filling up with people and kids, but our ride down the spring wasn't crowded at all (at that time).

Once we reached the end, we walked back around the other side of the spring, following the path back to the mid-section, by the pavilions. By then the park was getting busier, with people setting up picnics and some starting to barbecue.

What a treat to visit this beautiful park! I've added it to my favorites list, and next time will plan to stay for a picnic after our tubing run and make a day of it, but probably not during the summertime due to the crowds. I also want to visit Wekiwa Springs State Park, which is within the vicinity.

I love this place the water is a perfect temperature on a hot day and floating down the spring with a water proof speaker brings strangers together if you’re playing good music. Definitely recommend bringing food and water shoes.

Had an awesome time tubing down the river. Water was refreshing. Irises growing along the bank were gorgeous. So much fun. A definite must do !!!

The water is cold but warms up in the shallow areas. This is a natural spring with a rushing current that spans out to a calm swimming area. Wear water shoes and bring an inner tube or floating device. You can also rent the tire inner tubes at places outside of the park area. Beach chairs, coolers, etc. can be brought down to the beach. There is public restrooms with changing areas.

Great place to g in the off season. Not too busy and can rent tubes up the hill at the pub. A little restaurant down there would have been awesome!

the walk to water is a challenge for handicapped. Love the atmosphere and the springs are beautiful! Some cool clear water.

Today was my birthday..my family and I spent the day here. Twas a wonderful experience for a low price. We rented tubes from a nearby establishment and went down the river twice. This is a very slow and relaxed ride. No raging rapids or rocks or anything. Water temperature was perfect. The weather was 87 and was nice. We hiked one of the trails, Saw deer and a tortoise.. and swam in the swimming area.

One piece of advice..don't rent the tubes. As it is a relaxed ride any floatie will do you don't need the heavy duty stuff. Kickboards, noodles, rafts..all work fine.

There are outdoor showers and regular bathrooms..but separate changing areas would be a nice plus. Its a long wait for bathrooms at the end of the day.

Everything is kept clean and pretty. A beautiful spot to spend outdoors. Don't bring alcohol..we were caught and had to dispose of it.

We had a fabulous time floating the river today. We rented tubes for $7 a piece outside the park. If I had it to do over again I would just buy some cheap $7 tubes from Publix and take them home with me. As my title says it’s the best thing to do in Orlando. With that being said I might add I really don’t like amusement parks. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants an outdoor family activity that doesn’t involve some sort of theme park.

We love this place which not many Brits know about.
We buy snorkels, rings and a pump from Walmart. Works out cheaper as we do a few different parks and beaches.
It's $5 a car to get in then that's it! Total bargain.

U park up and find your spot then chill all day. The lazy river is amazing but be warned it's cold when u first get in lol.

Crystal clear and u feel so fresh getting out as it's a natural spring. Few little fish and turtles to see.

We don't bother with shoes but some do. Just need to be careful on the first part of the run as a few rocks.

If there early u see plenty of wildlife. Seen beavers, deer, raccoon, snakes Etc. No gators though.

There are toilets and showers there. Loads of bbqs and tables with seats.

Also a shop selling food and Ice cream and other bits u may need ie phone cases for water.

It's about 45 to 50 mins drive from the disney area and u pay about $4 tolls each way.

Very relaxing lazy river, bring your own tube! Concessions available for purchase. Nice playground for small children. Grills for cookouts. Saw 2 deer hiking around the trail. Be very careful around the water the rocks are very slippery. Great place to spend the day. The park fills up quick in the summer time. Get there early!

It has a decent current, I went there and had a great time. The lazy river is about 30 minutes long but it doesn't get boring to redo it while you laying your tube absorbing the beautiful sun. The water is clear and fresh, it has an area that's more shallow and has sand around the water for them to play...on the complete opposite side, which is where one starts the lazy river from it has a very deep area, great for jumping into the water.

I love this Park! I have been coming here since I was young. I am super paranoid with any bodies of waters in Florida since we have so many gators. This is one of the few places I get into without worry. There are lifeguards on duty all the time and they even check the water. Because the water is cold and clear, the gators steer clear of it. You can go all the way to the beginning where the mouth of the spring is located. You can jump in there and get on your float, it's about 15 feet or if you are not a jumper you can always enter a little bit further down at another entrance where it's calmer. You will float for about 30-40 minutes depending on where you get out and your pace. When you get to the area where the kids congregate and it looks like a pool area, keep in mind this is only half way. A lot of people get off there thinking that's the end but in fact there is a lot more to go. You can bring your own floating devices, or you can rent tubes before entering the park...the cost is somewhere around $8-10 to rent, I can't recall since I now bring my own. There is a kiosk which you can purchase hot food like burgers, hot dogs, fries etc. You can bring your own food but alcohol is not permitted. The restrooms are not bad considering it's in a natural park and around water, they do clean them a couple times a day. There are also hiking trails through here, though in speaking with the Park Ranger, he told me that the animals truly come out and are interactive, when the park is not full around winter. He said that's his favorite time of year there. During summer, the park is quite full since the kids are out of school and people flock to the park to cool off and it is a good way to not spend a lot of money, since you only pay about $5 per car. If you come during summer PLEASE keep in mind it gets very full so you have to be there well before the park opens...I normally go about an hour before the park opens and line up to make sure I get in, since they do close the park when it reaches capacity. Do not fret, if you don't want to get up so early, around 2pm or so when people start leaving they will start letting people back in, but obviously the time varies depending on the day. All in all this is a really fun place to come spend the day while in Central Florida. My husband has a travel account in Instagram and he has a quick video of Rock Springs aka Kelly Park. His name is Travel_walkthru it will show you the natural beauty of the park. I had some really pretty pictures I could have uploaded here but apparently the quality is a bit too high for what this site allows. I would definitely look up that account to see the video...its just so pretty!

Very disappointing, Traveled 3 1/2 hours to get there by 9:15 to find out the park was closed because it was full. Not happy at all.

Rock Springs is one of Florida's most lovely, pumping 26,000 gals. per minute from its limestone base into a succession of lime rock pools eventually into two large swimming areas. A volleyball court, concession building, numerous BBQ pits and plentiful trails make this a wonderful destination for a family, couple or by yourself, especially if you enjoy nature photography. If you're into kayaking/canoeing, go to nearby King's Landing to rent or launch your boat and enjoy the 8 mile run to the Wekiva River.

A "gem" of a place. 200 +plus acres of wilderness and wildlife. 17 +plus miles of nature trails. A campground for campers with tents. A concession stand and a natural rock spring with crystal clear and cool water to get out of the central Florida heat! A natural lazy river with connecting tidal pools for swimming. Park admission is inexpensive: 1 or 2 people per vehicle is $3.00 per vehicle, 3 to 8 people per vehicle is $5.00 per vehicle. Lifeguards are on duty around the lazy river and tidal pools. There is abundant wildlife to be seen throughout the park.

This was a beautiful, and relaxing experience. The park is spacious, clean, and the water is gorgeous and around 68 degrees. The employees were helpful. Arrive early in the summer or risk not getting in (Between 6-7 AM). Bring chairs or a blanket, and tube, or rent one just outside the park to use for your float down the springs. Bring your own food and drinks or buy from the snack bar. More than enough picnic tables or just sit out on your blanket. Very very shady in parts of the park. No alcohol or pets allowed. There were two of us and admission was $3.00. Best deal of the entire vacation!

We came many years ago and had the park to ourselves. Saw a lot of wildlife. Not this time even though we came early. Get your tube at the bar if you don’t have one. Magnificent water and clean paradise.

Beautiful. Clear. Blue. Amazing. Saw deer, fish, turtles, birds, tubed, swam. So clean. Great picnic areas, grills, concessions, playground, restrooms , outdoor spigots and showers, no trash ANYWHERE! Get in line about 6 am and wait! Worth every second. Not expensive. Lovely place!!!! Did not see and snakes or alligators. Everyone was friendly and happy. No wild behaviors. Great for families. Shallow water. No worries.

The park may have been ok, but it was full of youths and gangs playing loud music, smoking weed and being threatening. The park needs security on days like this.
Didn’t feel safe so we exited quickly and won’t return.

While in Orlando, I was looking for some places to photograph. Tripadvisor and Yelp mentioned Wekiva Springs, but I decided to check out this lesser known park first.

Arriving at 9am on a weekday, I had the park all to myself. I'd never seen what is essentially a local park with a crystal clear small spring fed river. It appears to be between 3 to 4 feet deep, with extra shallow areas of about one foot of depth (I think for children), that appear to be carved out and bordered by a concrete wall and picnic area. There are several places with ladders that allow you to climb into the river for swimming.

It had several trails but most were closed because the attendant indicates several trees were down and hadn't been removed

I had only a short amount of time, so I explored probably no more than 3 or 4 acres. But it was gorgeous because I had it all to myself and it was so calming watching the water slowly go by.

A groundskeeper told me the best part was where the spring popped up so I headed over there (less than a three minute walk). It was a nice collective pool area with sand and rocks at its bottom. The idea I believe is you float or snorkel from this spot along the lazy little river.

Be very careful where you walk around the shoreline, near the spring head, I squarely put my foot on a rock and there was no traction (wet moss covered I think), slipped into a small crevice scraping my knee and putting a little gouge in my leg.

Two women came with snorkels, they confirmed people usually start at the spring head and float or snorkel down. There was a reasonable amount of parking, but I was told on summer days they have to stop admittance early when the park fills up.

Most places you hear about rarely live up to the hype, Kelly Rock Spring does! This is now one of my top three favorite springs in FL. The city has done a magnificent job of maintaining this park and keeping it clean.

First things first! Get there *EARLY*, this is a must y’all!! The park opens at 8am and durning their peak season they are full and at capacity by 9 or 10 am.

Secondly, the lazy river is perfect! If you have been to Ichetucknee and Gennie Springs you know that you have about 2-4 hours on the water. If you have little ones or just want to get out it’s not always best. The entire spring run here at Kelly Rock take about 30 mins, maybe.

The staff was great and it wasn’t to crowded. Again I love how clean the park and water was. We will definitely go again.

The water is a brisk 68 degrees. You have to arrive early to get in. Bring a picnic lunch and snacks. This is very very enjoyable for a fun family outing , very low key and relaxing

My family and I met there for a little family reunion. We got there at 9:00 am and there was no line to get in though there were hardly and tables left when we got there. When the park is full they won't let you in regardless if u have family already in there. They will however reopen and let more people in around 3:00pm. Summer months are extremely busy! The park has nice walkways and a decent size swimming area/ areas. You can take your tubes or floats at the beginning of the spring and float all the way back to the main swimming area. If you have water shoes I would wear them because the rocks are rough and sharp. We even found a couple pieces of glass. You can bring your own float but it can't be very tall, I think around 5 ft at the most or you can get one Rons tubes for $3.00 for the whole day. Bring your own goggles it's cheaper! My kids loved looking for sharks teeth! They do have some to rent but the are $5.00 for 3 hours. We cooked out but the do have food there but the price isn't cheap. Oh and there is no alcohol aloud at the park.

Love the lazy river, nature and swimming hole. $5 for 3+ carload, rent tubes for $7 outside gate! We got to the springs early and it was on a weekday, so we got in fine, but it filled up quick and a daily maximum visitation has been determined: 280 vehicles will be allowed entry each morning starting at 8 a.m., and an additional 50 vehicles are allowed in after 2 p.m. with afternoon parking pass.We saw otters, deer and snapping turtles. Bring mask and snorkel for you and the kids too to view underwater and the crystal clear sandy riverbed and rocky shelves. Water shoes are helpful too since you have to push off some of the rocks and walk the path back to the start of the lazy river (we tubed down 4 times and ate lunch after 2 times). Should have brought some bug spray, but it wasn't too bad. People set up chairs and bring coolers, no alcohol allowed. The concession stand is nice and good prices. The fish sandwich was outstanding and a very large portion of fish.

There is no reason to get here early. There was a line right when they opened, but there is plenty of parking. There is no swimming due to Covid. The only thing to do is have a picnic or walk a 2 mile trail that gives you a look at rock run spring, Kelly spring, and the river. Entry is $3.

A few things to know before you go:

If you go on a weekend and do not arrive early, you may not get in. They are only allowing 140 cars in at a time right now. If you can’t get in then you can come back after 1:00. It is $3 for a car up to three people, $5 for more than three people.

We rented inner tubes at the corner to the park. They are $7 each for the day. They can deliver to the park but the guy who is supposed to do that called off so we stacked them on the top of the car and had no problem transporting them. You may want to stop and just purchase tubes at Target or Walmart and save some money. We saw a few people with pool noodles or rafts ( they cannot be bigger than 5 ft). Also bring bug spray and water shoes.

As it was our first time there, we did not know where exactly to start. There is a concrete pathway, just follow the signs to the head of the trail.

There is no easy or graceful way to get into the water. Our group chose to go to the entrance to the left. The rocks are very slippery and one person fell in, lost a shoe, and got pretty scraped up (found the shoe about an hour later!)

The trail takes about 40 minutes to go down. About a ten minute walk back. There is a nice beach at the halfway point. Watch out for rocks in the middle of the stream.

I am giving it a terrible rating not because of the park. I'm giving it a terrible rating because too many people go there now it used to be a place only locals knew about and enjoyed.

Please. If you are not a local (And no you people that live in those new developments nearby that moved here from up north are not locals you are transplants) Stay out of the park ok?

People who actually grew up here can't enjoy the place anymore because of how over crowded it is all the time. I've gone there and been turned away at the gate because the park was at max capacity. I used to be able to go mid summer as a child and hardly anyone was there. Now? I try to go in the winter when the river is not full of people.

Also for the love of god stop leaving diapers in the water and all over the park? That's disgusting.

Arrived at 8:45 AM on Tuesday, Oct 8 and was afraid we’d be too late but there was only one other car in the parking lot! It is so beautiful. My kids had a wonderful time. There is water shallow enough for a toddler to run around in and deep enough (3-4 feet, may be deeper in places) to swim in. It has a sandy bottom. The current is stronger than I expected so watch little ones if they get in the swifter water. The water is calm in the shallow parts. We saw a lot of fish, squirrels, lizards, 2 deer and a few turtles. This is an excellent way to spend $5 and several hours. There are lots of picnic tables and plenty of ground for picnics. The water is cold but so worth it. Bring goggles. Bug spray is not a bad idea either. There are outdoor showers at the building next to the walkway to the swimming area. My only complaint is the restrooms. They were disgusting!

Awesome and cheap way to spend a day! Water is cold but you get used to it easily. Water shoes are a plus! Good times and will go back!!

I really love Kelly Rock. It is so beautifull and yet so close to Kissimee. It offers a wonderfull place to relax from those busy themapark days. I could fill my entire vacation with parks like this. The water is cristal clear, it's really clean (so is the entire park). There is loads of wildlife from turtles to racoons, birds, ... And it is really cheap. It can be busy though. We went there 2 years ago and there was hardly anyone in september and this year, also september but in the weekend is was pretty busy. It didn't bother me that much though, there was still plenty of space in and outside the water.

We just visited the hot springs for a half day and found it to be lovely and relaxing. You can stop at the corner burger bar joint and rent tubes for $7 each and buy sandwiches (or you can bring in your own floaties). We arrived at 1pm and had no problem getting in (but it was a thurs--maybe the weekends are busier). Super organized park with lots of places to find shade and the lazy river itself is beautiful. Water can be cooler than expected (dont expect a steaming hot spring) but on a hot day its very nice. Nice concession stand with all the basics (burgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes and ice cream). Only downside are the no-seeum biting flies -- you dont really notice the bites until the next day -- just spray some bug repellant before you head in and you should be fine. Nice shallow areas for kids to play in safely. Leave your wallet in the car so you can be free to go down the lazy river all together :)

Florida has many such springs in the Northern half but one that is appropriate for family has to be Kelly Park, within an hour drive of Orlando. Such clear shallow and flowing undergrounwater water with plenty of fish, Floridians are such lucky people. This place will be packed with people come the hot summer months so do come early in the day like 8am or avoid the hot summer months completely. For those visiting Orlando wishing to skip the crowd and money gouging theme parks, this is a perfect place costing only $5 a car, spend a quiet day instead swimming and tubing. This will certainly be a day to remember for the entire family. We love this place and will certainly be back for more next in Orlando.

Containing Rock Spring, which feeds Rock Spring Creek, this is a delightful little county park run by Orange County. The campsites and restrooms are kept clean and there is a food concession in the park. Carloads of locals rent large truck and tractor inner tubes just before entering the park and tube down from the spring boil to the end of a long wooden boardwalk. There is also a nearby canoe livery where you can rent a canoe for the day and take a relaxing trip down Rock Spring Creek which joins the Wekiwa River just before the take out. At the take out, the livery service will then pick you and your canoe up and transport you back to the starting point. We've canoed many spring fed rivers in Florida. This is among the best we've seen as long stretches are under a tree canopy, wildlife abounds along the winding river, and there is at least one great pull-out where you can have a picnic. A great day spent in an "old Florida" setting. Give 'er a try.

It took two hours to get there, and they were closed for some camp sign up. It would be nice if they had the decency to post things like this on their website. I have wanted to drive up for almost a year and half and I go, and the place is closed. We went to another spring but it was more like a watering hole used as a community hole. Very disappointing.

Nice area , a little difficult for elderly to get pool lagoon area. Beautiful clear water , you can see the fishes swimming around you.

Better than any other park in the area! Great swimming and floating down the 1 mi springs.
Recommend highly. Enjoy!

Been coming for years with my family. The water is so nice on a hot day. If your tubing the current is perfect to take you down not too fast but not too slow it's about a 3 mile run and in the middle of the run opens up to more of a swimming area, but you can float on by and continue down the run. If I did have anything to complain about it would be other visitors that stand and block up the run or are walking against the current not giving you much room to get around them. There's picnic tables with grills all around the parking areas and off to the side of the bathrooms. They do have a small food court if you don't want to BBQ. If you do not have a tube or float they do rent them down the rode from the springs. This spring does fill up very fast so during peak season you need to show up right around opening time. Once park fills up which is usually about noon, they will give u a number and tell you to come back at a certain time- so just watch your timing, afternoons are sometimes better but it is florida so weather comes into factor.

Fabulous place to go.
Hardly anyone here which was a bonus. Crystal clear water, warm too on a February afternoon.
We saw otters, deer and turtles.
It's only an easy 15 min tube float but we did that 6 times as it was so nice.
$5 entrance for all of us... bargain!

A friend recommended this place, so figured we’d try it out when we were in the area. Was totally worth it - a very relaxing afternoon floating on the water. We brought our own floaties, but if you want to rent one you can do so at the bar just outside of the park for a small fee.

Had a lovely day at Kelly Park.

Get there early, I arrived at 0730 in the middle of summer at the weekend and there was already a long long queue, but got in fine.

Park was really clean (bar the toilets) and pretty, with lots of places to sunbathe when not tubing/swimming in the beautiful water.

We got there before it opened, to make sure we got in that day. We were first in line at the gate. What an amazing and beautiful place. On of our most memorable adventures! We will certainly try to visit again, the next time we are in Fl.

My wife and I visited today and were not really impressed. Tables and grills not close to swimming and long walk to the main swimming area. There is a small swim area near the parking but very crowded with kids. I like some of the other springs in the area much better.

this park you can bring your own tube own float there is no tram you walk from end to end.so you can go as many times as you want.

This is a fantastic summer spot for locals and tourists alike. We live in Orlando, and Kelly park is a nice natural spring that's good for tubing and swimming. Be aware that in the deeper parts of the swimming area, there are rocks and uneven surfaces it's easy to bang knees and shins on, so swim with care. Tubes are available just before you enter to rent for $5. There are easily accessible restrooms and a place to grab a quick bite if you didn't bring your own. There are also loads of picnic tables and areas to relax. We would highly recommend packing a cooler of goodies and enjoying them. For families, there is a small beach that's great for children. The water itself is chilly at first, but you quickly warm up moving around and in the FL summer you will want it to be cool! There is no major current here (it's just enough to move you down the river), so it's great for kids and relaxing. They do have caution signs posted about wildlife (alligators), but the main swimming channels are so crowded with people, you're not likely to see one anywhere near them. Also, the majority of the water is very clear and you can see straight to the bottom everywhere except the deeper swimming water.

Tubing with friends and family loads of fun. Nice relaxing day with great places to have a picnic and spend time with family.

This place is amazing! So beatiful and peaceful. We needed a day off from Orlando and went here. I read about it on Trip adviser and thought we should give it a chance.
About 40 min ride from Orlando you find this place. You can bring your own bathrings or borrow (rent, Im not shore because we hade our own)
The water is the clearest I've seen and the nature is so beautiful.
You can go by the stream in the water about 1 mile and we saw turtels and a lots of fishes along the way.
You only pay for the parcet ticket (we were 6 pers and payed 5 dollar) so all the beuty and all the fun is for free!
Dont miss this place, you gonna love it!
(Sorry for my bad english:) )

We needed a break from working on the house and decided to take a picnic lunch and just relax for the day. The springs are so refreshing and it's very relaxing there. We spent an entire day here and it passed quickly. I would recommend renting a tube for the day.

This place is amazing. It’s a must visit. Tubing down the lazy river was awesome. The wild life you see while in there is beautiful. My son rated it a 7 which is more like a 10. He’s hard to please. Advice is to get there early. They open at 8am, but can be at capacity within 1.5 hrs.

I loved this park we got our rubes from kings And since it was only two of us it was 3bucks to get in. We had no lines and no Trouble parking . We had a 5 min walk to the start (the cave) and about a 25 min float (please be aware that the bottom of the river ranges in different depths. So if you're like me thinking you don't need a tube you will be crossing paths with rocks... over all great trip.. lots of area for picnics.

It’s all that and more!
As my visit was February 9 with an expected high of 77, I didn’t know how crowded it would be! We watched a video warning us of very crowded waits to get in… they only take the first 250 cars. I panicked a bit and rushed to get there by 9:30 am and… we were the fifth car!

We rented tubes for $9 each… ( big black adult kjnd,,, fortunately found two in the huge pile with smaller holes for 7 year olds. But at $9 each? I would have been better buying two cheap-o ones somewhere and bringing them. ( but as I’m from out of state, where would I have found them in the Orlando area? )
They were so bulky, one fit in the rental car truck and the second literally was in the front seat with me, obstructing my view somewhat… but then, we only drive another mile or two (and slowly) and once at the park, they were terrific!

We first took at bit of a walking tour…to the spring head where the water felt downright toasty! Not the 68 degrees stared for some reason. We had a marvelous walk across the stream meandering through the lovely palms and high trees, chased a few wild turkeys, and set our dear down next to the sweet beach area downstream a bit.
As it was not at all crowded, we spread our boughten food ( a Laura Ingalls Wilder word) all over a private picnic table.
The grounds are immaculate with just a few parking places in each section by picnic tables… not one giant lot. Very cozy.
The playground was lovely too.
The birds sang, the playing kids enjoyed the sand and water, and the cost was just $5 to get in ( plus the tubes for $18.)
Highly recommend!

Nice, well kept beaches and picnic areas, concession stand available. Bring floats and rafts, great lazy river areas, nature trails

This park has it all. There is a spring run for swimming when it starts again that you can float down with tubes if you want. There are trails to walk and see Florida at its best. Rest rooms and food when the park opens fully. Try it with the whole family.

I was so pleased with our trip to Rock Springs in Kelley Park. The tent camping spots are spacious and well kept. The breathtaking spring head is a casual stroll from any camp site. Although the cavern is inaccessible, there are great viewing spots all around and you can swim just outside of the rocky cave entrance, all the way down to the beach area a bit down stream. We traveled off site to the nearby King's Landing to launch our kayaks and had an wonderful time! Great birdwatching!

Very nice place. Very small place with very short tube ride. Must bring own tubes or rent them outside the park, bring them in by car yourself and carry them to beach area which can be a long walk from parking. Three small beach areas easily accessible. Water is spring fed so cold when first entered but you warm up after getting in. Not enough picnic tables. Nothing to do but tube and swim in very shallow, moving water. Not conducive for teenagers. Cost is $3 for a car with 2 people and $5 if more than 2 people.

Beautiful river, fun day with the family. Make sure you arrive early so you can get in. Rent a float on the street and have fun all day in the springs

Drove two hours to get there, arrived at 8am, waited in line for an hour, then turned away due to over capacity 😲

We camped out here for two nights. It was a little noisy, as college students seem to gravitate to this spot. However, the grounds were well kept and the staff was excellent. We will return--with earplugs for another weekend adventure.

Great campground on a weekday off season. The bathhouse was exceptionally clean and the staff was very nice and welcoming.

If the lazy river is your favorite feature at a water park, Kelly Park takes this to a new level! Fed by a natural spring, Rock Springs allows patrons to float through mangroves viewing turtles, fish, and other wild life in their natural habitat. 2/3 through the float, the spring empty into a natural pool where you can float, exit, or continue to the end. In addition to floating the river, you may also canoe or take a glass bottom boat in a separate section of the springs. Finally, there are hiking trails, picnic areas, and a beautiful campground that is quite reasonable! As a side note, if you are staying at the campground, you have unlimited admission to the springs, guaranteed. This is a big deal since the park only allows a certain number of guests each day, often filling to capacity by 8 AM during peak season.
Pointers:
~Bring your own tubes to float. The only tube rental place is about 3 miles from the park.
~Get there super early if you are not camping at the park.
~Bring a picnic lunch, or enjoy the concession stand with typical burgers, dogs, and ice cream
~Be prepared to see wildlife. We saw multiple turtles, fish, birds, and even a snake. Alligators are not unheard of, but we saw none while we were there. If you don't bother them, they won't bother you.

I recommend this park for nature buffs, water lovers, and photographers. Great for couples and families.

I think the best time to go is during the week as the park closes at capacity relatively quickly on weekends. This was my 3rd attempt and finally was able to during a weekday.

Well worth it.

It’s a rip off, the tubes are old and dirty. The staff is rude and they up charge you. The grill smells awful, like grease and cigarette smoke.

Today we went to kelly park. This place is cheap to get in and we rented tubes for $7 at the Rock Springs Bar and Grill. It was a chilly day but we decided to give this place a try because it was our last day in Florida. The trees blocked the wind and we ended up staying pretty toasty in the sun. We floated down the springs a couple times and the water was clean and refreshing. The only thing that I would say that would need work would be the bathrooms. The women’s bathroom smelt like pee. I also didn’t like that there was a few teens that had nasty language. This is family friendly environment but there was a few teens that were disrespectful. I will be returning again next year.

We went to rock springs Saturday. We arrived at 7:30 am. And has about 150 cars in front of us. There was an officer driving by and handing out tickets to every car in line. He said we could leave line and come into the park at anytime once it opened. Once he passed them all out, he left, and no one else was able to enter the park until later that afternoon. We watched and he ran out of tickets by 8:15am. If you are going on a weekend, be sure to get there before 8 if you want a spot.
Once we were inside, the park was very nice. The water is clear and cold. It hit capacity but didn’t feel overly crowded. There was plenty of shade trees and a huge sandy area for the little kids to play in. We had a wonderful family day, and I would definitely recommend checking this park out! Even our 10 month old had a great time tubing. Free family fun.

Kelly Rock/Rock Springs offers one of the prettiest springs in Florida. I did not want leave. At the rock where the water spurs out it is so pour we were drinking it! Water was nice and cool, very refreshing. Entire area was clean and nice. Went in September, better to go during the summer. I bought my own tube. Saw a turtle (that a kid step on by accident) and a bunch of fish.

Skip this park. Very over crowded and limited parking. Often closed for poor water quality. Wait line to enter ruins experience.

We went to Kelly Park on a Friday. Not many people during the day. Very relaxing to float down the river. You do have to rent a tube outside of the park. We got ours from a Bar and Grill just up the road. Rental was $5 for all day. Great place to picnic and float on the river with the family.

visited here for a morning walk and did the 1.5 mile loop which was an easy trek but could be better signposted.
The spring water is crystal clear and folks were tubing down the river from the spring head down to the pool area. You can sit around the pool area and just laze or have a dip in the 68 degree water. Very refreshing!!
There are showers and a toilet block plus concession at weekends.
$3 entry for a car inc 2 people (think it's $5 for more)

Stunning place! Natural lazy rivers with crystal clear water. Bring your own tube and pump to blow it, or rent one outside the park. There is a Designated swim area shallow enough for little kids. Playground on site. Picnic tables and charcoal grills available on a first comes first served basis. Arrive before 6am and get in line! We arrived at 6am and were #68 in line. We walked all the way to the gate and the first 5 cars spent the night there, they said. The lady in front of our car said the last time she came she was there at 6am and didn’t make it into the park. There is a limited capacity. You are warned! Come as early as you can to guarantee you can come in. Enjoy the cold water

Many people go to the beach when they visit Florida but the natural springs also deserve a visit! For those visiting Orlando consider spending a day at Kelly Park/Rock Springs which is a gorgeous county park only 40 minutes north of Orlando.

Kelly Park has a beautiful natural spring with crystal clear water perfect for tubing and there is a pool like area as well for those that just want to play in the water. You can also rent group campsites or pavilions (perfect for birthday parties/family reunions). I saw several families skip renting a pavilion altogether and set up their own pop up tents and bring their own grills to BBQ and relax for the day in the picnic area.

It’s also very affordable. Only $3/vehicle for 1-2 people and $5/vehicle for 3-8 people.

Kelly Park is extremely popular, especially on the weekends. The park opens at 8am but during the weekends people line up way earlier. We got there around 630am and weren’t even near the entrance. Only the first 280 vehicles are allowed in. Shortly after we arrived a police officer gave us an entrance ticket. It said:

“You are receiving a numbered ticket. You must have this ticket to enter Kelly Park. If you need to leave the line that is OK, you will still enter the park whenever you have the ticket. If someone cuts the line it is fine, they will not enter without a ticket, do not fight with them.”

The park itself does not provide tubes. A local business right outside the park will rent them to you for $7/tube. They must be making a killing because they had hundreds of tubes and many cars were renting from them. We purchased our tubes from Walmart the day before. Mine was $5 and my husbands was $12 cause he didn’t trust my tube to handle his weight although the reviews seemed like it worked for big men too. We inflated both tubes with our mini car air pump that we plug into the cigarette lighter. In the parking lot I noticed a lot of other people who brought their own tubes did the same.

We spent the entire morning at Kelly Park floating the river and it was truly awesome. The water was refreshingly cool and I even saw an otter floating down the river with us. The water is so clear you can see straight to the bottom! It takes about 25 minutes to float from the start to the end of the run. Bring water shoes because there are rocks at the bottom of the river and they hurt. Also you will have to walk on the pavement back to the start of the run if you want to float again so water shoes are highly recommended.

After lunch we went 5 minutes down the road to King’s Landing to kayak down a different portion of Rock Springs. We booked a two hour guided tour through Get Up and Go Kayaking because they have the clear kayaks and the aesthetic of their kayaks appealed to me. The regular yellow kayaks at King's Landing are more affordable though and will give you access to the same clear emerald colored river.

Arrive early 7:30am, there are a lot of people visiting this park. If you don't have an inflatable ring, at the entrance you could rent each ring for 7$. Bring your food to make a picnic.

Spent the day there with my family and had a fantastic time until the usual Florida rains came in the afternoon. Would and plan on going back there this summer.

Excellent Family Fun Day. Beautiful and easy going.Water was clear and staff was friendly. Tubes are available outside facility to rent or bring your own.

I gave this park 3 stars only because of the actual spring. The spring is crystal clear, clean, and cool. It had beautiful scenery. The camping though was mediocre at best. They have soooo many rules. You can't pick up dead sticks for the fire, they make you buy fire wood. They don't allow dogs or pets, the showers are dirty, and you are on top of other campers. I'll definitely be looking for other camp grounds to go camping at, with my dog.

Kelly Park is one of my favorite places in Florida. Palm trees, live oaks draped with Spanish moss, CRYSTAL clear water with a white sandy bottom and a tube run that is SO MUCH FUN it will bring out the kid in everyone!

This county park is so popular you need to know the 411 before you go...
In the summer vehicles start queing up as early as 7am. The park only allows 300 cars per day and believe me...they meet that quota every day during the summer and every weekend practically all year round. If you are not one of the 300, 50 lucky vehicles can get a voucher to come back at 2:00pm (which is what we did on a Saturday in September). After the park lets in the 300 that is all they will allow except the folks with vouchers.

Note: Unless you have your own "tube" stop by "Rock Springs Bar & Grill" home of the "Tube King" and rent a tube ($7 for a full day per tube) as you don't want to miss tubing down the incredible run at Kelly Park. You can't miss it...on the right just before you enter the park.

The waters at Kelly Park are truly CRYSTAL clear and there is a lovely walk to the "Put In Place" that is located near the head of the spring. The azure water and huge limestone rocks here are just like a tropical paradise. Leisurely float down the run (the current is perfect) and take in the beautiful scenery. Once you reach the end of the run you step out on a padded ramp and then walk back to the main swimming area and repeat! The walk itself is quite lovely and is adorned by beautiful ferns.

I saw many people snorkeling down the run which is something I would like to try on my next visit. The swimming hole is beautiful and kids were having a blast!

This is a GREAT place for families...bring your picnic lunch and cook out on one of the many grills provided which are nestled amoung the beautiful live oaks.

If you don't want to cook...check out the snack shop which has a great menu and chat with the owners Rip or Debbie who have worked at the park for 32 years! Their menu is quite extensive...hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, etc. even funnel cakes! They also offer SNOW CONES and ICE CREAM TREATS! Prices are very reasonable...$3 - $5 for most food items...you can even buy a bag of ice.

Again...this is family fun at it's best! There are so many places to picnic and the grounds are lovely. There is a play area and a campground adjacent to the park that has approx. 25 sites.

Kelly Park is a challenge to get in but believe me...it is worth it! The park is open all year (except Christmas Eve and Christmas) and I have heard that if you can go during the week when the kids are in school there are only 30-40 cars per day.

Note: Purchase some "Water Shoes" - I got some really cool ones on Amazon that really help when stepping out on the rocks to enter the "Run".

I hope you have as much fun as I did!

KD

We drove 1 hour and arrived at 1pm. Park closed due to capacity so we went to Wekiwa Springs. Went back next day -- drove an hour again but this time got here at 9am. Park closed due to capacity full. Find out you need to arrive by 630am to get in line for the park opening at 8am. Ridiculous!!! Now at Kings Landing .....

We took a day away from the parks to drive to the park and swim the springs. Was week of Christmas and place was quiet. 68 degree water was great and crystal clear. Teenage boys had fun and we stayed a few hours before kayaking nearby river. Would suggest to all - take food as there are plenty of picnic tables and areas to hang out.

I love Kelly Park. I have been going to this park for over 30 years. It has only improved. It fills up very early on Holidays but most leave around 1pm-2pm you can have a late cookout with family and still have 4-5 hours to spend. Get there very early or wait till after 1pm and give it a try.

This was amazing. Yes the water was cold but it wasn't too unbearable. The water was so clear. Our boys had so much fun tubing and snorkeling all day. The food at the concession was much better than I anticipated and not expensive. This was a very fun and inexpensive weekend for all of us. The best part we stayed at the campground and could just walk over in the morning and not fight the crowds. The campground was very well kept and clean. The best place for us to rent the tubes was at the Rock Springs Bar and Grill (good food and inexpensive)

We come to this park every time we can. It's beautiful to spend a whole day. Arriving early is always a good idea, we were able to see some animals and the water is always fresh.

We're new to the area, and when we saw pictures of Kelly Park, we were so excited to have been invited to a party there.

BE AWARE that you should arrive as early as possible on summer weekends and holidays - they do close the park to admission once it has reached capacity!

As for us, we went at noon on a Wednesday and May and had no issues. :)

There's a great sandy, shallower area for people with young children, but my bigger kids and I loved tubing! There's a deep swimming hole at the start of the springs/"river" (maybe 12 feet deep?) and a lot of people hang out there and use goggles or swim masks to see how gorgeous it looks under the surface. The current flows well and is a lot of fun for tubing - bring your own (less than 5 feet in length or diameter) or rent one for $3 right outside the entrance to the park.

My only complaint was the biting flies that seemed to come out around 2PM - so stay in the water if you want to keep them off. :)

I can't believe we were able to enjoy this place for $5 for our entire family. A total bargain!

Fantástica visita ao Kelly Park. Since the park has a limited number of vehicles that enter every day, we arrived at 6am in the queue, and there were about 20 cars in front of us, so we entered without problems. The park opens at 8am, and we saw that between 6am and 8am the queue grew a lot. The park is very organized, clean, and safe, plus a cheap ride (US$5 per car with 6 people in our case). We swim in the natural pools and the lazzy rivers almost all the time, the nature of the place is really wonderful. Follow my tips, especially for Brazilians and foreigners who want to visit the place.
- Arriving early in the queue - being the visit in the summer and on weekdays, arriving at 6h was more than enough. But I believe that from 7 a.m., depending on the day, it can be risky to reach the vehicle limit.
- Take your boys - at walmart we bought round boys (tubes) for $5 each, and a 12v pump (air pump) that connects to the outlet for $15, and it worked super well. You can locate the boys in the entrance queue, but they are black boys, and maybe you won't be so cool in the photos
- Take a picnic table if you go to stay for lunch - the tables are occupied by people who leave towels and coolers, already booking for when they go to make a picnic. I saw that there were free tables for picnics in different places even at lunchtime, so it's not something you should worry too much
- Bring snacks and drinks - I recommend bringing a cooler with things to eat and drink, you can take to the swimming areas and be calm enjoying your stay. I saw that the concessions store had soft drinks, and even sandwiches like hamburger and others. I didn't get to try it, but it seemed very good
- Bring swimwear, t-shirts with UV protection for example, because the water is cold - especially early in the morning, you can feel cold in the water
- Water shoes can help - it is possible to walk or with shoes, on the paths to the beginning of the lanes (lazzy rivers), the path is concrete, so it is possible to walk without shoes. But the best thing is to wear shoes that can get into the water. If you wear Hawaiian-style slippers, you will have to carry them in your hand or in some bag passing the river.
- Bring cell phone with plastic protector to the natural pools and lazzy river, because the landscape for photos are amazing, and taking photos from inside the lazzy rivers makes all the difference
- Bring some towels to save a place for you to settle near the pools - I saw it is very safe, everyone leaves their things and go to the lazy rivers, it seemed pretty safe
- If you like diving, don't forget to wear your diving mask - the crystal clear waters greatly favor diving
- At the end is all more or less close, you walk 10 or 15 minutes to get from the parking lot to the pools and to the beginning of the lazzy river, then you can go smoothly with children and people who need accessibility. The paths are concrete floor, clean, and marked.
Just good things to talk about Kelly Park. It's worth it!

Second visit here this October having previously visited last July. A hidden paradise away from all the hectic parks and busy attractions in Orlando. Come here rent a ring or buy one from Walmart like us and float down this crystal clear fresh water river. Best tip is to bring goggles & an underwater camera/case and swim down, in a couple parts the current picks and you can gain abit of speed its great.
Underwater shoes are a must as it is very rocky and rough under water and at the beginning the rocks are covered in moss so are very slippy. There are big signs saying Alligators are in the area and it can put some people off, i wouldn’t like to swim if the river was quiet personally as it can be pretty eerie & you never know if your being watched, but if the parks busy we go down it time after time. Parking was cheap and there is a food place, toilets and showers aswell as picnic tables and barbeques to use which is really nice. Ive been to Wekiva Spring and prefer this place its much more fun. Another tip is after you’ve been here all day and in need of some lovely bbq food stop by Porkies Orginal Bbq on the main road about 10 mins from here, very tasty food and good selections of sauces to accompany your meal.

We went during Memorial Weekend. The park opens at 8am and we got there at 8:45am. We were turned away due to over capacity. They gave us a voucher to return at 1pm. The park is very nice and there is plenty of space to BBQ and picnic. Great for families. I would recommend going prepared to spend the whole day there. Besides tubing down the river, there is not much else to do so a picnic with a group is perfect. The water is CRYSTAL clear and absolutely beautiful. But its not a park with tons of activities.

The park is amazing, everything I saw and read about it is exactly as described. The water is very clear, warm and it felt as if we were in the wild. The only scary part is the signs about the alligators and the fact that I saw what it seemed to be an alligator coming towards me while I was on my tube(my husband said it was log floating towards me) which I don't believe him.... this scared the bejesus out of me. But this didn't stopped me from going a couple of time down the lazy river. I truly loved this place, my kids loved it and well be back pretty soon.

Rent a tube or bring your own. Kelly park is a full day of picnicking, grilling and floating down the lazy river in a tube. You can find sharks teeth, hike or just have fun with family and friends

We went to go tubing. There is a rental place before you enter the State Park ($5 entry fee). The tubes are the big black ones with angled air valve you can pick yours they are $5.00 each and you leave you ID. We had to hold then out the window for the short drive. Very slow river. Narrow river 15-20 feet at most across and 3-4 feet deep at most. Short walk with tubes to floating area. Nice and relaxing.

This place was great. For 1-2 people you pay $3.00, 3-8 people you pay $5.00 for the carload 9 people and over is a $1.00 each person extra If you want to go the gate opens at 8am you have to be in the first 280 cars going in then after 2pm they allow 50 more cars in. Once the capacity is full no one enters the park. they have bbq areas and if you want bring your own lunch sit closer to the springs. They have concessions with tables as well No umberellas, floaties for kids arm,inflatables no bigger then 5ft, small kids need vest on or you can rent them there. Tubes can be rental at the enterance for $3.00 small and $7.00 large for all day. So bring your chairs,coolers ,lunch,towels, sunscreen ,cameras and water shoes for a day of fun. Sorry they don't allow any alcoholic beverages or glass bottles

Where to begin? This is the most beautiful park. It is the perfect size and difficulty level for children. We saw an otter last week! Bring a tube or rent one outside the park. Only bad thing is the park closes when at capacity- which can happen pretty early on weekends, summer, and holidays.

This park is beautiful. The water is crystal clear. They have a concession stand with food and drinks. The park reaches capacity very quick so its worth showing up early to have the day there. If you want to float down the lazy river in peace before all the people and loud kids show up be there early and go immediately to the water, you should get at least two passes in the river before the crowd get bad. It well worth the trip at least once to experience the river!

The ride on the tubes was nice (make sure to lay ON the tube and not IN it as you hit the underwater rocks and that hurts!). It is quite busy though so don’t expect so many animals encounters.

The park is well-kept and clean, however to busy to my taste. It felt as a swimmingpoo, and I preferred the quiet location of King’s Landing much more.

A nice, relaxing spring with plenty of natural things to do. Before you get to the park, stop by one of the places on Rock Springs Rd. and rent an inner tube. TOTALLY worth the $5-$6. You can float down the entire Rock Springs Run and your own pace. On hotter days (and weekends) the park can fill up, so check to make sure they're not at capacity.

Kelly Park is a beautiful place to explore for a day, and located inside of the park is the real gem: Rock Springs. This is such a great experience, the crystal clear water is 68 degrees which can seem really cold but its refreshing. Most of the spring is 1 - 4 feet deep so it's not as cold feeling because the sun does take the edge off. If you'd like to see more, the link to my blog is in my profile. Love the lazy river, the current pushes you along in your float or you can walk through. Great for younger families since it's no dogs, no alcohol and no large float policy keeps the vibe less partyish.

Very popular with locals, crowded. The campers like it. If you bring an inner tube, you can tube the river. The water is 69 degrees, and the rock springs run is relaxing. The path is paved the length of the run. The water besides being warm is crystal clear, there are very interesting limestone formations. If that does't float your boat, have a picnic.

1 to 2 passenger vehicle = $3 to get in to the park. Beautiful, tree canopy to keep you cool, covered picnic tables as well as picnic tables spread out amongst the trees, park benches scattered near the water’s edge to place your belongings or just sit and look at the water, trails, and a place to bring tubes and float down the river to the ‘pool’ area. There weren’t lifeguards there the day we were there and I am assuming there aren’t any since I did not see any chairs present. Bring a blanket to bask in the sun, have a picnic, relax, etc, Restrooms are available as well. VERY nice park. The spring pours forth plenty of water for you to drift nicely down the river to the pool area. Water is clear and quite chilly at 74 degrees year round. Great for families of all ages.

Amazing natural lazy river with super clear water. Feels like you are floating through a tropical oasis. We were there on a weekday in March and it was very busy so get there early. We brought our own tubes. There are lots of picnic tables and restrooms were clean.

Nice campground with space between sites. Very clean facilities. 5 minute walk to beautiful, fun springs. Want to go back!

What a beautiful day at Kelly Park/Rock Springs! At the gate they told us that if we decided to use the lazy “river” we could go back out and get the tubes. (Rent by the day or buy them) On a busy day they do not let you re-enter. There are plenty of picnic areas all over the park. Very clean. Volleyball courts and horseshoes.....Trails are kept up. Plenty of shade if you prefer. The water is beautiful. I don’t think you will be disappointed!

Beatiful beautiful. Probably the best slring park in florida. Come with your family it is so much fun. Crystal clear water. It has a deep part which the best part of this spring. Bring beach shoes it makes it easier. Also rent a tube it is so much fun.

The spring was crystal clear, shallow and not toooo cold. We rented tubes from Ron tubes but since we were not a large group we had to pick them up and then bring them back - not a huge big deal as it was just down the road. We did have to tie them on the car on the way to kelly park and on the way back to Ron's.

We brought our own cooler with subs from Publix so I can't comment on the concession food.

We spend the entire day at the park until about 4PM. We went on a weekday which we were told is MUCH slower than a weekend, and the park closes pretty early on weekends due to them filling to capacity.

We saw otter swimming right near us, fish & turtle. Deer in the woods-we were told that a baby alligator was swimming in the spring just a few days before. Apparently the life guards told us that they check the spring for anything larger than 4'. We were happy we didn't see any. :)

We would definitely go back on a week day again... enjoyed the day and the spring.

My friends and I discovered this place last year when we couldn't get a campsite at any of the places we would normally want to go. We fell in love with that first visit - even if it was raining cats and dogs in Feb. 2014. We returned this year and had another wonderful time, made even more wonderful by the perfect weather.

Kelly Park has pretty much everything you could ask for from a good camping location. Forget something? Grocery stores, fast food, and WalMart aren't far away. Get up in the morning and decide you want to take a dip to cool down from the bright sun? The springs are right there - and not nearly as crowded as Wekiwa or other popular locations. Want to go tubing or kayaking? Just head down the street. Want to just hang out by the fire all day? Sites are spacious, there is a fire ring, pole with hook for your lantern, and a picnic table. Forget wood? Buy 25+ pieces of pleasantly burning wood for $10. Wanna go on a hike? Loop around for 3-5 miles on very gently rolling terrain with great views of the springs. Beware though, alcohol is flat out prohibited at this park, unlike state parks, where it is only prohibited in public but you are free to drink at your site. Another interesting difference is that you can have both a camper AND a tent unit at a campsite, so no needing to get an extra site for your friend who doesn't quite want to rough it :-). We will continue to come to Kelly Park often!

We had an absolute blast at Kelly park, Very family friendly. Water is shallow, but quite cold, as it comes up from a spring.
It was very quite on the day we were there,perhaps on 20 people in total, so very chilled. We managed to go down the river on the tubes about 3 or 4 times.
It cost us $6 to enter and you had to get the tubes from outside the park, so we looped out and came back in. We got our tubes from the restaurant/ bar just outside the park for $5 each, but there was another place as you entered the town for $4 a piece...
The food was really good from the cafe inside the park and not expensive at all. We still talk about the funnel cake!
An absolutely great day, I would choose this over the parks...

Tubing was nice it's not a long river but you are able to go down the river all day take a brake swim take pictures relax bbq buy food only thing that frustrated my kids and I was the love bugs there were soooooo many (I'm guessing the time of year) it was actually annoying !!! when we would eat would go to the car and run back to river with our tubes. But even by the swimming hole there was soooo many unless your in the water hopefully they could fix that problem but besides that nice place 😊

Nice refreshing spring. If it has rained even two days before then stay away! We call it mosquito springs. It's like a plague of biblical proportions.

Well maintained park with restrooms and playground for the kids. Rent tubes or bring your own floatingdevice and get into the cool water. Float down the river for about 25-30 minutes. Then take a walk back on the paved surface. Arrive early to be sure to get into the park. We left around 1 o clock and at that time No new visitors were allowed to go into the park. Will come back next time i am in the area!

Crystal-clear waters and great tubing. Park has lots of shade and picnic tables and barbecues. There is electricity to use for a pump.

MUST arrive early. We have been here years ago for a family reunion and had a wonderful time tubing and picnicking. We tried to visit recently on a Friday. We had a lengthy drive to get there and with 16 of us going, it took a bit to get everyone ready. So by the time we arrived at 1130 on a Friday, the park had been full since 9:30am and was "closed" according to the signs. Thankfully we were able to get into Wekiwa Park instead and had a wonderful time.

We stayed in Orlando recently and by chance heard of this park.. Took a short drive to Apopka and we were glad we did. We didn't go early and the park had filled but we got vouchers for the 1:00 pm overflow group and got in. We stayed a couple hours floated the stream a few times and lived it..The water is COOL. But it felt great on a hot July day.. There are picnic tables if you want to take a snack...Items to take. Water shoes,sunscreen,towels,change of clothes,googles if you want to look for rocks or shells,water proof camera..It does require physical activity and you will be in natural elements. We saw an otter,fish,heard of a turtle...Didn't see gators...suppose the water is too cold... Dollar for dollar best money abd time spent on entire trip....

As Pathfinders, we are always looking for new camping spots! We were recommended to visit Camp Joy, by Kelly Park. The place is awesome, perfect for camping. They have small bathroom with 3 very small stalls, and 1 stand up shower, and a double sink. There's no electricity so place accordingly. During this time there were A LOT, like INSANELY A LOT of gnats and they won't go away with bug spray. So maybe over winter or late summer you won't find any?

Overall very nice, but the gnats are a huge deal, you should exterminate.

My girlfriend and I paid three dollars and went to the springs which is very cool. Then we took a 2.8 mile trail and saw one spiked deer and some small wild life. The park is very clean and a true wonder.

It is a beautiful place with the best service. The camp ground was nice and clean. I would love to go back.

We tube at this park when in conjunction to doing a Rock Spring run. This is a nice place to spend a Summer day with family and friends and to get wet for staying cool.

We arrived at Kelly park around 7:00 to my surprise, there was already a line! We waited there a little until Police handed us reservations and others at 1:00 PM because the park was already full. This was my first time coming here so I didn’t know what to expect. We had so many free time we decided to buy floaters at a near Walmart instead of renting them. Once we got there we were able to get in. One Thing that I didn’t know was that the water would be COLD. It took a good 15 minutes for our family to get used to it. Might want to be careful with the rocks at the lazy river. Your definitely gonna bump into other people but it’ll be ok. The people there are nice and so many people from different cultures. Overall my experience was great. Definitely coming here a second time for sure.

We waited till school was back in session and visited on a Tuesday. We got right in (horror stories about park filling up early concerned us).

We brought a wheelchair bound individual. Handicap parking was available but not necessarily convenient still a bit of a walk down a fairly steep incline. Once at waters edge, there is no ramp to get said person into water only steps.

Once we had everyone in tubes, it was a very peacefully and pleasant float, swim. Water was crisp and clear. Saw a few floats that were bigger than allowed but no one policing. Everyone seemed respectful and allowed space to enjoy the spring.

Again, my only complaint is that it is not truly handicap accessible. We had a bit of a trial getting back into the wheelchair at the end of our day. And the steep walk back to the car was taxing.

Just got back from this park. I expected more people for a 80 degree day on a Saturday. We rented tubes right before the park for $7.00 a tube for the day. I thought it might be cold - middle of November, but the water was around 72 degrees. We saw turtles, a deer, some fish, and an otter. It is a nice peaceful river ride through the woods. There is a swim area as well. The concession stand is closed, but the bathrooms are open.

We loved our stop here... great swimming and wading, very relaxing, and the kids loved playing volleyball too! Nothing fancy, just a great kid friendly place!

We were spending the week in Florida and looking for something inexpensive to do on a free day this was perfect!!! It was $5 for all three of us to get in!! The water was beautiful and there was plenty of things to do there

The natural lazy rivers were awesome! This was really the perfect day. We did a lot of research before we went but were still unsure what to expect once we got there. We went around 830am on a Friday in June and had no issues getting in but it did get crowded quickly. Not so much that we did not enjoy ourselves.

We had a mutli generational family and everyone loved it. You must have a tube!!!! We were short two tubes so my husband and I decided to walk down the rocky lazy river, Rock Springs I believe. Big mistake! We are both in good health and physical condition and had water shoes but the rocks are painful. As the water is pushing you forward you cannot see where you will step next.

We had a few $5 tubes from Walmart that worked perfect but you can rent them at a place right before you go into the park. Once you go in the park there is no re-entry so get your tubes first.

We saw a deer, turtle and some birds but no alligators which I was worried about beforehand. There are life guards and officers so we felt safe. There were a few loud and obnoxious guests cussing in the parking lot in front of my kids but that happens everywhere. Must do mini trip from Orlando. Loved it!!!!

Me and my family went to the park yesterday there were Lot of people, the water was dirty but it felt super good. Is nice to go with family have a picnic on a very hot day and swim in the river.

Had a great time at this spring. I have been to serval springs located in different areas of Florida. This was a great day!

I must admit the confusion around the Florida State Park name, Rock Springs (Reserve- for equestrian trails) located in Sorrento, FL and Kelly Park - which is an Orange County park caused us to lose about 30 minutes in route because we ended up at the wrong park for the springs. Thankfully, we figured out we needed to be in Apopka and arrived at Kelly Park just before the park closed to incoming guests (approx 10:00 am). We had just enough time to make a quick stop at King's tube rentals, which is just a few hundred feet from park entrance. The very nice man at the tube rental told us to stack the 3 tubes on the top of our car & drive slow. Once we were inside the park, we took full advantage of the drop-off area to leave my 19-yr old with the cooler, towels, & tubes while I searched for a parking spot. We met up after parking and found a great spot to spread out by the springs. My 7 year old loved the shallow wading area as well as the slow journey down the lazy creek. It's not easy finding places both a 19-yr old & 7-yr old like equally as well...but, alas!! Here it is tucked away in Apopka. It was one of my most favorite Mother's Day ever!!

This is a beautiful Park and the river is filled with lots of fish, but no fishing. Still it is very cool to see the freshwater fish so clearly. Not the best swimming spring but still a good spot in the surrounding Park is filled with lots of trees and places to barbecue and relax.

Is it better to go on a Sunday just asking we have a group of 8 4 adults and 4 children
Just checking to see if we arrive around 1 in the afternoon would it be worth it

I love Kelly Park and tubing down Rock Springs. Definitley feel fortunate I live close by and get to experience this beautiful nature anytime. It's peaceful, relaxing and the water is clear. You can either rent tubes outside the park or bring your own. It takes about 20-25 minutes while the current takes you down the springs. I suggest some sort of water shoes. The water is not deep, so you can float or walk down. There is also a big open part to just relax, float around and enjoy the water. If you are wanting to bring food and bbq, there are stands and picnic tables are provided for. Family oriented atmosphere. Florida has many springs but this is the closest to Orlando if you're not wanting to travel far. Highly recommended! I'll be back soon....

Park was closed on the Saturday we were there. Sheriff at the gate and we asked him what was going on and he just said they were closed and wouldn't elaborate. So I don't know how nice it was.

Show up early to get it the park!
Talk about a unique spring experience! There is a paved path from the beginning of the spring headwaters to end, so you can literally do as many loops as you want.
I think the headwaters are the most interesting because it's deep, the limestone formations are interesting and there's just a lot to see underwater. After the first 50 feet or so, it gets shallow so its time to either float snorkel or lay back in a tube and check out the rainforest-like surroundings. Mid-way down the river is a beach of sorts and lots of space for people to unpack and spread out. Beyond that is a nice stretch of river before the terminus.
We get out tubes at the gas station on the corner before the park entrance. $5 each. Again, get there early! We seem to attract thunderstorms every time we go there and they will order everyone out of the water for 30 minutes after last lightning sighting.

We’ve tubed this run several times and we love it. With the exception of the spring head area, it’s generally very shallow. We’ve seen otter playing while tubing and deer on the trail. Get there early because it does get busy pretty quickly. There’s a concession stand and restrooms, and covered areas w8th grills if you want to cook out.

This is an absolutely beautiful place. Whether you’re there for a picnic, to swim or go tubing, its perfect for people of all ages. There is a concession stand that has strange hours (on a beautiful 80 degree day in February) and the park was very busy. There are restrooms, changing areas and lockers. NOTE: you need to bring your own lock. Caution, if you were going to swim or tube, the current is very very strong. The water is refreshing and perfectly clear.

The park is set North of the main Orlando attractions about 30 to 45 minutes drive from Disney. A natural spring flows through a beautiful wooded area to a natural beach area. There is ample parking and seating for those who just want to sit and watch, and a small takeaway selling the basics like burgers and fries. Make sure that you hire your rubber ring before you get to the park, its too late once you are in the park.A wonderful way to relax and unwind away from the noise.

Amazing. Highly recommend. It was so much more than what we expected and we expected something great. The staff was helpful, the sights were beautiful!

It's been a few years since my last visit but we had family visiting from Ohio and they wanted something more than Disney. A great time was had by all!! It's an awesome place to spend the day and cool off in the process.

Frank A Kelly Park in Apopka is a neat little county campground. Rock Springs originates in the park and off site vendors rent tubes with which to tube from near the spring source, down the creek, and from there, hike back to the origin to repeat. There is a food concession at the park. Note that this park is often full on weekends. When full, the park closes the gates until some leave. The campground within the park has 25 camp sites and decent restrooms.

We had a blast here during our month camp out with my company Floridas tree masters. Our owner Joey is amazing.

Went for a day out on a Monday, the
Park was so quiet! Bit of confusion as to where we hired the tubes but they're about 500ft from the outside of the park, next to the main road (looks like a shack). For $5 tube hire per person and $5 for parking for 4 people, it was amazing value! Beautiful park, the water is definitely a little chilly but wonderful as soon as you get used to it. Bring your insect repellent.

Definitely the best way to spend a day out!!

What a fantastic time, we found it easily, and hired inner tubes from the store just before the park entrance. We parked up and changed into our swimming costumes as we didn't want to leave our items on the beach/ grass while we swam, but we noticed that most family's did this. There is a large lagoon area that people were swimming and playing in, then a stream gently takes you down stream, it's a gentle current, the water is crystal clear and you can see little shoals of fish and we also spotted a turtle too. You come to bridge were you get out and follow a walk way back round to the lagoon, it only takes 5 minutes or some people were walking back up stream, it is doable but felt too much like an aerobic work out for me.
You can take a picnic, just remember no alcohol is allowed, take insect spray, we didn't have a problem but I can imagine some people would get bitten. I would recommend pool shoes as well, as it can get a little slippy in some places and get there early as there's a limited amount of people they let in so it doesn't get too crowded. We travelled from Kissimmee and it took us about an hour, we would definitely recommended visiting here, one of the nicest days, lovely break from the parks, must be brilliant to have something like this on your doorstep, would definitely go again.

A perfect place to relax in the cool Florida spring water. The tubing trip is long enough to enjoy but not too long for the younger traveler's. There are plenty of places to stop, rest or get out along the way. The actual park is well maintained and clean. The staff are courteous. Bathrooms are decent and the snack bar is pretty good. Some tips; get there early, once they reach the daily limit... no one gets in. Bring everything you might need...if you leave you can't get back in, if the park has reached its Max capacity. Lastly, the water is cold at the head springs, so be ready. Otherwise... it's the best spring in Florida!

We have come here a few times during the last year. The park can get extremely crowded during the summer. This time of year, the tourist crowds are gone and the locals can enjoy it a lot. There is a lot for the family to do.

I visited this park for my 2nd time. There is very clear water and a walking path where you could get on a float and meander down-stream. The was plenty of algae on my visit this week, but the walking paths are nice.

This place is an absolute gem! I’ve travelled throughout Florida in search of authentic and natural Florida beauty... and this place is at the very top of my list!

The park itself is very well maintained, and the spring run here is so lush and green, with crystal clear waters... it’s maybe a 20 minute float from the top of the tubing run to the end... at which point you can walk right back to the top and do it all over again!

There are some larger swimming areas if you tire of floating along the run, and plenty of good people watching ;-) People from all over the world come to this gorgeous spot each year. If you can, make your visit on a weekday morning, especially if it’s summertime... the place does reach capacity quickly on busy weekends.

Want to escape the crowds a bit and go for a paddle? Head over to Kings Landing... just down the street from the park, and rent/put in with your paddle-craft of choice further down the spring-run and explore one of the most beautiful areas in all of Florida!

Drove from Flagler Beach to spend my bday unfortunately we arrived at 9:15 just 20 short of their fill-up. We were given a voucher and told by the sheriff we should be back between 12:30-12:45 to be let back in at 1p.m. On our arrival a female sherriff laughed at us and said we would have to leave and return at 2.
I spent my whole bday waiting in Sanford for nothing. Why would they not let us in as cars had been leaving anyway. How about you get everyone trained correctly so people are receiving the right information!
So disappointed

I spent an afternoon with my boys and hubby at Kelly Park and we all loved it! We rented tubes from a place called Rons for $3 each as they don't rent tubes at the park. It was fun drifting down the crystal clear water and looking for turtles. There were plenty of shady areas along the river to keep you cool while floating along. We plan on going back to this park the next time we go to the Orlando area. It was worth the 25 minute drive from Kissimmee.

great place to tube or have a family picnic looking for something other than the typical tourist stuff? see the real Florida here. Tube down a tropical river.

This place reaches capacity an hour after it’s open and it’s done letting people in for the day. They say this NOWHERE on any website number 1, and number 2 when I call I get this ridiculous reason of even if people leave the park before closing more people can’t be let in, nature has to rest. Then put that on your website so you don’t waste people’s time of having business hours that aren’t your actual hours unless you are already in the park. They close when tf they want to close to the public which is at park capacity. Ridiculous and ruining peoples plans. I’m told if I want to get in I gotta come at 5.

This county park is home to Rock Springs Run. The spring flows out of a cave into a small pool from which it flows through a rocky ravine a few hundred yards or so to a larger pool. The cave is closed off with a grate but the pools and ravine are open to swimming and make for excellent snorkeling. The current carries you along as you dodge the rocks that line the shallow, narrow channel that is in places just large enough for one swimmer. We saw numerous fish and a few turtles. The park was well maintained but the concession stand was not open during posted hours.

The park reaches capacity and closes on some days depending on weather, day of week, and whether school is in session.

Absolutely loved the spring!!! The water was nice and warm around 68 degrees. The flow of the spring was not rough at all. Most areas I could stand up to my chest. It was not deep. I'm 5'3"!

This was a really great way to escape the heat, the park has a great swimming area, although I recommend wearing boat shoes and maybe even something around your legs if you are going to do the lazy river part, the rocks are sharp and will beat you up. ESPECIALLY if you are plus sized. The bathrooms are a bit dirty and have no air conditioning so its hard to change or do your business there. really great bbq area and place to walk around. Also I reccomend getting there at 5 am to be able to enter.

Hire a tyre and let yourself cruise down the lazy river, a wonderfully relaxing experience, you will be surrounded by wild life as you float down in the current. The water is cool and clear, there is sand on the side of the water for young children to play in happily, be sure to take some containers, they will be occupied for hours.
You are able to buy snacks from a little store and BQ food if you take along the coals. Disney or the Springs? Absolutely no contest I would choose the Springs every time.

My teenage daughter and I planned to spend from about 10-2 pm at Kelly Park after an early trip with Get up and Go Kayaks. We rented two inner tubes from the Last Chance stop right outside the park. Parking was easy but it is not clear where to walk to be riverside once you get there. You can see the concierge and restroom building and if you head that way there are a few pathways to the lazy river. We left our wallets in the car so we could leave the bags on the grass while we went tubing. There are not many lush grassy places to Set up -we noticed everyone brought chairs -(we didn’t). The grass was more like dirt and pebbles mixed with grass. Walk up on the wooden pathway to the left (facing away from spring) to get to the top of the run. We wore rash guards over our suits and baseball hats. My daughter had water shoes but I was happy without. The water was cool and glassy it was gorgeous. The lazy river carries you back down to the main swimming hole area where we put our stuff. An hour later we discovered the run goes PAST the swim hole farther down! It’s not a super long run. I’d say 10-12 mins. Then you walk up and do it again. It got old after 3 times. We set up the blankets to have a snack. But right next to us was a group of college students drinking beers, smoking x and playing loud music. I was really annoyed by that- but it’s a public park. We moved a bit farther down the grass. We discovered there are only outdoor showers and only tiny stalls in the ladies room if you want to get out of your wet clothes. I would have brought a post shower only dry towel. The park is gorgeous - there’s a snack shop to by a full lunch and rented areas to grill your own food. By 1pm it was over crowded and you had to wait 10 mins just to get into to spring. I would recommend going early.

What a Beautiful Park. Can enjoy the day with love ones float down the river and have a wonderful day with nature’s beauty and take amazing pictures!

Just spent a morning at this location, really beautiful park and great lazy river. The cost to get 4 of us in was $5 so amazing value for money when Disney/Universal charge $26 for parking, after paying ridiculous money for the park tickets. So highly recommend this place for a day out, few tips from my visit.
Tubes are $7 to rent from just outside, you can get a blow up from wall mart for $2 and it does the job.
We got up early on a Thursday in August as it suggested that the park fills up quick, for the 5 hours we spent there the park didn’t fully fill, but weekends are busier apparently.
Take a picnic, drinks, you can purchase food and drink there but make it a fun cheap day out to level out the costly ones you’ll do in Florida.

Otherwise it’s really nice, lazy river is lovely.

Love this lazy river clear water spring. You are able to just float with nature. I loved it until I saw some real nature. The place is great and way less expensive then going to the theme parks. Great time must see.

Beautiful springs to enjoy. We stayed in the campgrounds. Nothing special but well maintained and nice, clean sites. We were there in March and it was not too crowded. Great aspect of Kelly Park is the convenient location, proximity to Orlando. During peak times of year make sure you get there early or you may not get in. There can be a waiting line for entrance to the park

I love love love this park. I didn’t explore it all only because I enjoyed the lazy river so much. I went on a Monday and Tuesday so I didn’t experience lines to get in but I heard that the park reached capacity both days at about 11am. Having said that, at no point did I feel it was overcrowded. Not in the least bit. It was such an amazing relaxing experience. The first time I did rent a tube from right outside the park but for the second day I just bought a floaty at Walmart and it was easier to carry than those large tubes. While at the park, we saw otters and turtles and lots of beautiful birds. I went with my 5 year old and he enjoyed the sandy area they have there. The water is waist deep so I felt comfortable with him in the water. There were couples, large families, and groups of teenagers all enjoying the cool water. At no point was anyone obnoxiously loud or anything like that. I didn’t see many people wearing masks but everyone was so spaced out, I honestly didn’t think it was a problem. Their concession stand only takes cash but the food was very yummy. We have burgers and cheese fries. I can’t wait to go back.

We absolutely enjoyed our trip tubing down rock springs and then having lunch on the picnic tables. We were a group of 15 - 8 adults and 7 children ages 3 through 17. The trip was an absolute blast for everyone. We arrived about 20 minutes before opening and there was already a line to enter the park so I would suggest getting there before the park opens. Tube rentals are available prior to entering the park so do not forget to pick those up first (we all brought our own tubes and inflated at the park - but be aware that there are no plugs available for you to fill; must be done in the vehicle). The tubing itself took maybe 30 minutes tops. The water is not deep so you can actually walk/swim if your prefer (don't forget water shoes!). We went memorial weekend and even though it was a holiday weekend so there were a lot of people, it didn't feel packed. There is a part where you can jump off of rocks into deep water which our group really enjoyed. There is also a volleyball court for when you want to take a break but still remain active. Highly recommend.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well maintained and orderly this natural park was kept. It was not a wild area you simply paid to get into and use but was well maintained and featured life guards in multiple areas around the park in order to maintain a safe water experience as well as police presence and rules in which maintained order. Additionally, no one seemed to be littering but were all conscientious of the park and keeping it clean. People did play music albeit not too loud, and the availability of food made it so much more convenient for out of towners. All of my 4 kids ages 14-3 thoroughly enjoyed our experience!

We came early, got a parking spot, and had no issues. It was as beautiful as expected. I especially think it's a great springs for little ones to float in, since it's a short loop.

Went with my family at 11:00am on a Thursday and got in just fine. Although when we left at 1:30 they had hit capacity and were turning people away. This is a fantastic park and a great place to snorkel. Crystal clear water that is a perfect temp. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is the amount of people that flock here. I thought it was actually pretty cool that they limit the number of vehicles that get in but it is still too crowded. Going down the river there were people every 5 feet with nowhere to move without bumping into one another. Felt like I was in a crowded public water park lazy river on a weekend. But I guess it’s my own fault for going in peak season. If you don’t mind crowds you will have no problem here.

I loved this place!!!! I searched for several springs and we ended up choosing this one. No regrets. We enjoy the day a lot. Beautiful place, clean and very peaceful. The flow river is perfect for downhill or snorkeling. We bought the bucket at Walmart and it needs to be filled. I didn't see a place to rent or fill the bucket. Very transparent water even in the large pool q forms an ideal area for picnic. We paid $6 for 4 people. It is worth it!!!

I love this park, grew up here, and just revisited. Same old park with a REFRESHING spring to swim in.

The nature is still here and great.

Cheap prices, and they provide grills and camping locations as well. The park rangers maintain this park very very well.

Let me start off by saying if you plan on showing up after 10 am, don't bother!

BUT we made it on time and were one of the last people who got in before they hit capacity! Super happy they do that so its not over crowded!

There is also no re-entry, pack a cooler and stay for the DAY!

We have a 3&4 year old and we all had a blast, the tube is NEEDED so you don't slam your shin on the rocks through one part of the river! We put the kids up on them. Having a mask to go under water was awesome, but no other snorkel gear was needed!

We really enjoyed it!

Had a great time in the park the river walk was really not what I was expecting .Drifting down a river in a car inertube was good way to see things.

We had heard how amazing this place was, and the reviews are so true! Rented tubes at the bar and grill on the way there and ran the lazy river without a care in the world for a few hours! So crystal clear and so beautiful! The "tube King" was the nicest and friendliest guy. I hope that everyone who goes here respects the beauty of this place and makes sure to pick up any trash they bring into it. It was a little sad to see some litter in such a beautiful place.

We traveled up from South Florida for an overnight stay with family. If you like warm water, you might be in for a shock however you do get used to it and is actually refreshing. Kids, which ranged from age 4 to 10 , loved floating along in rafts that we bought at Walmart for ~$5. There are a lot of shady areas to sit down but bring some beach chairs or blankets to sit on. Also don’t forget some snack and if you are going to stay a bit, lunch too! Water is clear and refreshing. Cost is extremely affordable, but get there early as there will be a line to get into the park. We just enjoyed the lazy river and pond area, but there are also hiking trails, picnic tables, concession area, and a playground for children. Overall, highly recommend Kelly Park

Great park, large area for relaxing near the water and lot of room to swim. The tubing is great and easy to access. The run is kind of short, but easy to do again and again and great for kids. We saw deer and some fish. No alligators or snakes, but there are signs posted to beware (like every park in Florida). Great concession area with a variety of food and drinks. No alcohol in the park. Lots of picnic tables and shade. Great for families, couples, groups. All around nice park to spend the day.

Great day! Beautiful park! My husband was very hesitant about my chosen adventure for the day thinking the water would be too cold but we had a great time! Rented our tubes up the street from the park. Brought in a picnic lunch. Very different from the days spent at the big amusement parks but would certainly go again.

Very clean and peaceful well maintained including bathrooms will definitely bring friends and family and revisit good memories

Kelly Park was once picked over Disney for a return visit by Minnesota 8 and 10 year olds! It is the best fun and most beautiful place that central Florida has to offer. It is a crystal clear, spring fed,1/2 mile natural lazy river run. It is never deeper than 4 feet, has a sandy beach for toddlers and shade for adults. The water is a constant 72 degrees. Tubes can be rented outside the park. The warning: during the summer it is extremely crowded and on weekends/holidays the gates close by 9-10 AM. But after 4 PM it is still beautiful and not crowded. When school starts it is not crowded. When I am flying back home to Orlando, I tell my seatmates about Kelly Park. I have a celebrate Retirement brunch there every year after school starts. I'm a former teacher. So old and young love it.

Cannot beat this combination of springs, nature trails, stunning butterflies, birds, tubing for all ages, picnic area, sand little beach for little one, the great secluded ramp on the end of the trail, I spent some real wonderful quiet time with my girls in the water, with little fish visiting .. Real beauty.

The temperature of the water is always pleasant and cool, specially in the summer. Come early as in the summer is fills quick and they have limited space. The have picnic tables and shade!