Tubing Down Rock Springs Run in Kelly Park Florida

Next time you visit Orlando, take a break from theme parks and float down a natural lazy river at Rock Springs Run in Kelly Park!
Looking for more nature parks near Orlando?
Check out my review of beautiful Blue Spring State Park or head east to visit the Canaveral National Seashore.

SWIM

No doubt about it, Kelly Park was made for swimming! I mean that literally, because while the water here is fed by a natural spring, the park has added concrete embankments and stairs around the main swimming area. If this sounds unappealing to you, not to worry — the river bottom is natural, not concrete, and the banks of the Rock Springs Run remain in their natural state. Kelly Park is incredibly popular in summer, and I suspect these manmade enhancements help prevent erosion and make it easier for many visitors to access the water.

With that said, Kelly Park is clearly no secret. From what I’ve read, arriving early in the summer is essential to ensure you get into the park. Expect to share this space with others, and know that the atmosphere around the swimming area can feel akin to a public swimming pool, with lots of families, beach toys, and music playing as large groups gather for picnics and barbecues.

Fortunately, visiting in winter offers a respite from heavy crowds. True, we were far from alone during our visit. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday, and many families came to enjoy picnics and time in the water. And yes, there was music playing near the swimming area (although, surprisingly, I didn’t find it too obtrusive). Ultimately, it’s wonderful to see so many people out enjoying the beauty of this place and having easy access to the outdoors.

So, you may be wondering, what’s the water like? At 68 degrees Fahrenheit year round, the water at Kelly Park was like heaven to us Pacific Northwesterners. It’s clear, clean, and generally perfect for swimming. However, there are a few potential drawbacks.

Perhaps this is less of a concern in summer, but during our February visit, there was a lot of algae in the two main pools, which featured a large amount of feathery green fluff. Unsurprisingly, no one was swimming there. The children’s pool (which has a lovely sandy beach) had some algae, but not enough to be bothersome.

Thankfully, the algae clears up once you leave the stagnant water of the pools behind. Rock Springs Run is pristine, and there is ample space to swim in the area where the spring run passes by the pools. Here, the moving water effectively limits algae growth.

The other thing to note is the shallowness of the water. It’s generally deep enough for swimming, but not for diving or jumping. The water in the children’s pool is especially shallow, and ideal for the littlest swimmers. As always, stay safe and keep a close eye on young children.

PADDLE

Looking to kayak or paddle during your visit? The Rock Springs Run at Kelly Park is set aside for swimmer and tubers (the human kind, not the roots), but fortunately paddling opportunities are close at hand. Head up the road to King’s Landing, where you can rent kayaks or canoes, or launch your own non-motorized watercraft. From King’s Landing, there are numerous routes to paddle through a maze of waterways, ranging from short jaunts to all day excursions.

TUBING TIPS

Tubing down the Rock Springs Run is definitely a highlight of visiting Kelly Park. Here’s what you need to know:

• Tubes cannot be more than 5 feet in diameter.
• Rental tubes are available at Rock Springs Bar & Grill, located a quarter mile outside the entrance to Kelly Park. The cost is $7 per tube per day. Pay inside at the counter, provide a piece of ID as a deposit, and pick your favorite tubes from the stack out back.
• Water shoes or sandals are recommended, as the first part of the run has some jagged rocks.
• Rock Springs Run is truly a lazy river, and as you float gently down the run, you may find you need a little push from time to time to keep going. When all else fails, use your hands and paddle like mad! But for the most part, it’s a smooth glide to the end of the run.
• You can’t get lost. There’s just one run, and the terminus is blocked by a wooden bridge. Past that point, the spring is open to kayakers and paddlers making their way down from King’s Landing, and tubes are not allowed. A level path takes you back to the pools at Kelly Park.
• Above all, have fun!

GOOD TO KNOW

• To visit Kelly Park, there is an entry fee of $3 per vehicle for 1 to 2 people, $5 per vehicle for 3 to 8 people, and $1 for each additional person.
• Pets and alcohol are not allowed.
• The park is open from 8am to 8pm in summer, and 8am to 6pm in winter.
• Kelly Park has a large parking lot, but on busy summer days it can fill to capacity. When visiting in summer, it’s best to bring everything you need with you into the park, as you may not be able to get back in once you leave. This wasn’t an issue for us in February; we were able to easily leave to pick up rental tubes and food, then show our parking receipt to reenter the park.
• There are numerous picnic tables scattered across the grounds, as well as several picnic shelters.
• Restrooms are available at the main building near the parking lot. In summer, this building also hosts a concessions stand. This was closed during our February visit, so be sure to bring your own food and water when visiting in winter. The Publix Market on West Kelly Park Road near Exit 38 on Highway 429 is a great place to stop for picnic supplies.
• Many paths at Kelly Park are accessible. One big exception is the stairs leading down to the start of Rock Springs Run. However, it’s also possible to reach the run by crossing the bridge at the main swimming area, then turning right and following the flat trail through the forest to the headspring.
• Kelly Park features beautiful nature trails, and you can hike further to other points within Wekiwa Springs State Park as well.

HIGHLIGHTS

The natural lazy river at Rock Springs Run is flat-out gorgeous. It’s a dream to float down the crystal clear water, surrounded by lush, green palm forest. As an inexpensive, low key alternative to Orlando’s theme parks, it’s easy to understand why Kelly Park is so popular. On a cool winter day, you may even luck out and have the place to yourself (although it would likely be too cold for tubing). But even on a busy day, it’s beautiful, and wonderful to know that this place gives so many locals the chance to get out and enjoy Florida’s great outdoors.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

What’s not to love about a natural lazy river? Kelly Park was way more fun than hiking (at least, that’s what my kids think)! My older son started to feel a little chilly after a couple runs down Rock Springs, but my younger son could have kept swimming for days. The sandy beach near the shallow pool is perfect for little ones, and the playground was also a hit. With a place like Kelly Park, who needs theme parks?

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

Want more time at Kelly Park? You can camp here! In addition to the Rock Springs Run, you’re close to King’s Landing, where you can rent kayaks or canoes, or launch your own vessel. It’s also easy to reach Wekiwa Springs State Park, located a short drive south of Kelly Park. Of course, being so close to Orlando, these are all great places to tie in with a trip to Disney World or Universal Studios.

Further afield, there are so many other outdoor places to explore in central Florida. We loved visiting Blue Spring State Park, where we saw manatees, alligators, and more. Looking for the beach? Florida’s longest stretch of undeveloped Atlantic coastline, the Canaveral National Seashore, is found north of the Kennedy Space Center.

With the temperatures in the mid-70s, it was time for a little Florida fun! And in this case I don’t mean theme parks (that would come later in our trip), but something a little more down-to-earth. After a delicious brunch, we headed north to Kelly Park and the Rock Springs Run.

In summer, it’s essential to arrive at Kelly Park early, before the parking lot fills. Although this was a nice February day, it wasn’t hot by Florida standards, so I assumed we’d have no trouble getting in. Sure enough, there were plenty of open spots in the lot.

After parking, we headed down to test the waters. I put a hand in at the edge of the pool.

“It’s warm!” I shouted with excitement. “Let’s go get some tubes!”

The boys stayed at Kelly Park with Dad and Poppa, while I drove with my mother-in-law to Rock Springs Bar & Grill. Located just a quarter mile outside the park, Rock Springs Bar & Grill rents tubes for a daily rate of $7 each. I picked out four tubes from an enormous pile outside the bar, searching for the smallest one for six-year-old T. We loaded up the tubes, and were back at Kelly Park in no time.

Next on the agenda, we headed to the restrooms to change into our swimsuits. The restrooms at Kelly Park could use a little TLC, although they served their purpose. I noticed that the women’s shower room had been completely dismantled, and several large, unopened cardboard boxes lay on the floor. Perhaps improvements are in the works.

Now we were ready, except for one minor detail. Where was the start of Rock Springs tube run? Several paved pathways wound up the hill from the large pools, but there was no signage indicating where they led. Michael wandered past the restrooms, following the path that skirted the woods and an expansive picnic area with a swing set. Before long, he discovered a newly minted stairway leading to Rock Springs Run. Eager with anticipation, we made our way down the steps.

The stairs led to a natural rock platform at the headspring. Others had already gathered on the rocks, and a few tubers floated lazily down the channel. I was struck by the sheer beauty of this spot; it looked like a tropical paradise, with saw palmettos framing the aquamarine waters of the spring.

This was the headspring for the Rock Springs Run, where shimmering clear water flowed from a mysterious cave. Why so mysterious? Well, you aren’t allowed inside, so I guess we’ll never know!

Needless to say, we were eager to test the waters. Getting in proved to be a bit of a conundrum. How best to maneuver into our tubes, without either tipping over or scraping our legs against the rocky shelf? The jagged stones near the headspring made this trickier than expected. Luckily, we discovered that wedging the tube between the rocks at the side of the main channel provided the extra stability we needed.

Soon, we were floating freely down Rock Springs Run, passing under the bridge and into a wider channel. Small “rapids” occasionally gave us an extra push, while at other times we had to use our hands to get moving again, or to avoid colliding with another tuber. Six-year-old T found this the most challenging. After he got stuck near the shore early on in the run, Michael dismounted to help him. Once T was going again, Michael encountered a challenge of his own while attempting to get back onto his tube. Hearing the ruckus behind me, I turned around just in time to see him tumble into the river with a mighty splash.

Once we were all back on our tubes, the rest of the journey went smoothly. The once rocky creek bottom became sandy, and we floated blissfully, enjoying the nature around us. We passed by the pools at Kelly Park, but kept going. It is possible to dismount here by the main day use area, and many do just that. But in my opinion, the best part of the run is yet to come. The final stretch is wide and peaceful, ending at a wooden bridge that leads to an easy path back to the pools.

It was only after we completed our trip that Michael realized he was missing something. Something relatively important… his glasses. Indeed, they had fallen off during his inner tube upset, yet he had failed to notice at the time. Michael, J, and I set off on a mission to find them. And amazingly… we did! Just when I was about to give up, Michael discovered them wedged among some underwater rocks, about 20 feet downstream from where he fell.

Back at Kelly Park, things were getting busy. More picnickers and swimmers had arrived, and everyone appeared to be enjoying the sunshine. Still, the atmosphere was laid back and not overly crowded; I imagine in the summer this place must be packed!

During our time at Kelly Park, we fit in a few more runs down Rock Springs, and I hung out with T by the children’s pool. We had to practically pull him away when it was time for lunch (sandwiches from Publix courtesy of Poppa Rick and Grandma Beth — thanks, grandparents!). After one final tube run, we returned the rental tubes and let the kids burn off the last of their energy at the playground.

As evening approached, we left Kelly Park feeling tired but satisfied. It was the perfect way to spend a beautiful, sunny central Florida day.