Florida's oldest attraction

Silver Springs, outside Ocala about an hour and a half north of Orlando's parks, was drawing tourists before Florida had theme parks — the guides here call it the state's oldest attraction, built on one of the largest artesian springs in the world. The water holds a steady 72 degrees, clear enough that the park's famous glass-bottom boats have run for generations.

5 Reasons You MUST Visit Silver Springs State Park | Florida's Oldest Attraction

Sunshine State Insider

Sunshine State Insider give five reasons to visit Silver Springs State Park, Florida's oldest tourist attraction — gliding over crystal-clear water past turtles, gators and maybe a manatee, plus the park's famous wild monkeys.

Key takeaways
  • Florida's oldest tourist attraction
  • Glass-bottom views of turtles, gators, manatees
  • Wild monkeys live in the park

Silver Springs State Park: Explore The Largest Artesian Spring in the World!

Chrissa Travels

Chrissa Travels return to Silver Springs State Park outside Ocala, about an hour and a half north of the Orlando theme parks — riding the world-famous glass-bottom boats and hunting for the elusive wild monkeys that escaped them in 2021.

Key takeaways
  • World-famous glass-bottom boat tours
  • About 1.5 hours north of Orlando's parks
  • The monkey hunt is the mission

Experience Silver Springs: The Best Glass Bottom Boat Tour in Florida | See Manatees Up Close!

RETIRED & Loving It!

RETIRED & Loving It! ride the glass-bottom boats at Silver Springs and walk the trails — seeing manatees up close and digging into the deep history of one of America's largest springs, from Native American artifacts to an old dugout canoe.

Key takeaways
  • Glass-bottom boat tour plus trails
  • Manatees seen up close
  • Native American history and artifacts

The boat decision

The review on this page breaks down the choice everyone faces: the 30-minute versus the 90-minute glass-bottom tour, and how the boats compare with kayaking. Prices at one filming: $12 per adult for the 30-minute tour, $4 park entry, free parking. Under the glass: turtles, gators, maybe a manatee, and deep history — Native American artifacts and an old dugout canoe on the spring floor.

Paddle it, and watch for monkeys

The kayak films call this Florida's most beautiful paddle: a roughly five-mile Silver River run, bring-your-own-boat launch available, alligators a sure sighting. One tandem crew met a baby manatee nicknamed Dot. And the park's famous wild monkeys — descendants of a 1930s tour-boat stunt — elude half the hosts here and show up for the rest; spotting them is the day's side quest. Note that swimming isn't the activity at Silver Springs: this spring is for boats and paddles, which is why the water stays this clear.

Sources: the nine videos on this page — glass-bottom boat reviews, kayak runs, a five-reasons guide, and a bucket-list visit — summarized from their entries in our catalog.

Silver Springs Glass Bottom Boat Tour Review (30 vs 90 Minutes – Worth It?)

Salty Sarah Travels

Salty Sarah Travels review the Silver Springs glass-bottom boat tour as an adult who first rode it as a kid — breaking down the 30-minute versus 90-minute tour choice and how the boats compare with kayaking.

Key takeaways
  • 30 vs 90-minute tour comparison
  • Childhood favorite revisited as an adult
  • Boats compared with kayaking

🐢🐟 Baby Manatee "Dot" & Glass Bottom Boats: Exploring Silver Springs State Park!

Newstate Nomads

Newstate Nomads check a bucket-list item at Silver Springs — the glass-bottom boats, which have run for generations — plus a tandem kayak paddle where they meet a baby manatee nicknamed Dot.

Key takeaways
  • Glass-bottom boats plus tandem kayaking
  • A baby manatee nicknamed Dot
  • A longtime Florida bucket-list stop

We Saw Wild Monkeys | We finally did the Glass Bottom Boat Tour | Silver Springs State Park in Ocala

the altem life

The altem life finally ride the Silver Springs glass-bottom boat — $12 per adult for the 30-minute tour with $4 park entry and free parking at filming — and spot wild monkeys, an alligator and a snake around the grounds.

Key takeaways
  • Prices at filming: $12 tour, $4 entry
  • Wild monkeys finally spotted
  • Worth every penny, per the hosts

Watch: Silver Springs State Park Day Trip, guided

3 videos · summaries from the actual guides

Most Beautiful Kayaking Spot in Florida: Silver Springs State Park

Live That Adventure

Live That Adventure kayak Silver Springs State Park — you can launch your own kayak, paddleboard or canoe — calling it the most beautiful kayaking spot in Florida.

Key takeaways
  • Kayaking the spring and river
  • Bring-your-own-boat launch available
  • Called Florida's most beautiful paddle

SILVER SPRINGS STATE PARK Kayaking | Silver Springs | Florida Kayaking

CampTravelExplore

CampTravelExplore kayak the roughly five-mile Silver River run at Silver Springs State Park — past the famous glass-bottom boats, with alligators guaranteed along one of Florida's prettiest rivers.

Key takeaways
  • Five-mile Silver River kayak run
  • Alligators are a sure sighting
  • Outfitters available for the one-way run

Kayaking Through Florida’s Clearest Spring | Silver Springs, Florida

Travel Meets Taste

Travel Meets Taste kayak through Silver Springs' crystal-clear water — one of Florida's 700-plus freshwater springs holding a steady 72 degrees — with notes on keeping the springs pristine.

Key takeaways
  • Kayaking a 72-degree first-magnitude spring
  • Florida has 700+ freshwater springs
  • Leave-no-trace notes for paddlers

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