All Itineraries
4-Day Central Florida Lakes & Springs
Paddling, manatees, and prairie sunsets off the beaten tourist path
4 Days
Central Florida
Best: October – April
Easy1
Wekiwa Springs Near Orlando
- Arrive at Wekiwa Springs (30 min from Orlando)
- Swim in the 68°F spring boil — refreshing relief from Central FL heat
- Rent a canoe and paddle the Wekiva River
- Spot otters, herons, and river turtles
- Camp in the shaded oak hammock
💡 Tip: Wekiwa is the closest quality spring to Orlando and gets crowded on weekends. Arrive early or go midweek.
2
Blue Spring & Manatees
Camp at: Blue Spring State Park
- 45-minute drive to Blue Spring State Park
- Nov–Mar: Watch manatees in the spring run (often 100+!)
- Apr–Oct: Swim in the spring and tube the run
- Canoe or kayak down the St. Johns River
- Hike the Hammock Trail through ancient live oaks
💡 Tip: Blue Spring fills up before 9am on winter weekends. If it's full, park at the visitor center and take the free shuttle.
3
Lake Kissimmee Wilderness
- Drive south to Lake Kissimmee State Park
- See the working 1870s cow camp (Fri–Sun)
- Spot bison and cracker cattle in the prairie
- Bald eagle watching at the lake overlook
- Stunning sunset over the wide Florida prairie
💡 Tip: Lake Kissimmee is one of Florida's most underrated state parks. The flatwoods trails are excellent for birding, especially sandhill cranes.
4
Canaveral & the Space Coast
- Drive east to Canaveral National Seashore
- Swim at Playalinda Beach — 24 miles of undeveloped Atlantic coast
- Walk the Turtle Mound Archeological Site
- Watch for launches from Kennedy Space Center
- Drive home with a stop at a seafood shack in Titusville
💡 Tip: Playalinda's northernmost sections are clothing-optional. The beach is pristine and usually uncrowded compared to New Smyrna or Daytona.
