If you’re dreaming of a Florida road trip that’s packed with crystal-clear water, ocean views, and a little bit of adventure, you’re in the right place.
This trip has it all, with natural springs where manatees cruise by like underwater marshmallows, towering lighthouses, and hidden gems tourists usually miss.
You’ll float, hike, climb, and explore your way across the Sunshine State, with plenty of stops for swimming, photos, and a bit of cool history.
Ready to chase springs and scout out lighthouses like a pro? Let’s hit the road.
1. St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
Located on Anastasia Island in St. Augustine, the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum dates back to 1874 and is the city’s oldest surviving brick structure.
You can climb all 219 steps to the top for epic views of the Atlantic Ocean, Matanzas Bay, and the historic city skyline.
Inside the museum, you’ll find shipwreck artifacts, a real working boat-building program, and spooky ghost stories (yes, it’s rumored to be haunted).
It’s open daily and packed with hands-on exhibits, giving you the chance to explore the state’s maritime history at one of its most iconic landmarks.
2. Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse
Up next is the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, which towers 175 feet tall and holds the title of Florida’s tallest lighthouse.
Built in 1887 near Daytona Beach, it has 203 steps leading up to sweeping views of the inlet and the Atlantic Ocean.
Down below, you’ll find three old keepers’ houses turned into mini museums packed with antique lenses, nautical tools, and stories from the lightkeepers’ lives.
This place feels like stepping back in time, and its red brick color looks incredible when the golden hour light hits.
3. Blue Spring State Park
Keep cruising for about 50 minutes and you’ll hit Blue Spring State Park, home to one of the state’s best natural springs for manatee watching.
This crystal-clear spring pumps out 102 million gallons of water daily at a steady 72°F, making it a warm winter hangout for hundreds of West Indian manatees.
To see it all up close, follow the short boardwalk trail along the spring run, where fish, turtles, and big, blubbery sea cows drift just beneath the surface.
It’s a look-but-don’t-touch experience, but come springtime, the water’s open for swimming, snorkeling, and tubing.
4. Silver Springs State Park
Next up is Silver Springs State Park in Ocala, famous for its super clear water and glass-bottom boat tours that let you see straight down into the spring.
This one releases about 550 million gallons of water a day and even served as a filming location for old Hollywood movies like Creature from the Black Lagoon.
If you’re up for more exploring, the park also has 15+ miles of hiking trails and a sweet paddle route where you can kayak past turtles, fish, and wild monkeys.
You can’t swim here, but with water this clear and scenery this wild, it feels like a natural aquarium.
5. Ichetucknee Springs State Park
If you’re all about floating your worries away, Ichetucknee Springs State Park is well worth a visit because it’s the state’s best tubing hotspot.
Here, the Ichetucknee River is fed by nine springs and flows for six miles through lush forest, with water so clear you can see the sandy bottom.
The best way to experience it is from the south entrance at Dampier’s Landing, where you can take a slow, easy float along the park’s most scenic stretch.
If you want to try something different, go snorkeling, kayaking, or hike half a mile to Blue Hole Spring.
6. St. Marks Lighthouse
Then there’s St. Marks Lighthouse, Florida’s second-oldest lighthouse and one of the few still standing along the Gulf Coast.
It’s located in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, where you’ll spot everything from alligators to birds while driving in.
The lighthouse was built in 1831 and still keeps its classic white tower look, offering gorgeous views of salt marshes and wide-open water.
You can’t climb this one, but it’s just as rewarding from the ground, especially at sunrise when the whole marsh lights up in pink and orange.
7. Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
Just 30 minutes inland from St. Marks, Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is home to one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world.
The spring is about 185 feet deep and flows with up to 300 million gallons of water daily, surrounded by cypress trees and Spanish moss that give it a jungle vibe.
You can soak everything up on the famous riverboat tour, gliding through glassy waters where you’ll spot manatees, gators, and even herons.
If you’d rather get in the water yourself, you can swim in the designated area near the diving platform, but be ready because the water stays a brisk 69°F year-round.
8. Cape San Blas Lighthouse
Last but not least is Cape San Blas Lighthouse, a super photogenic black-and-white tower that’s had quite the journey.
Originally built in 1849, this lighthouse was rebuilt and relocated several times due to hurricanes and erosion, and now sits in George Core Park in Port St. Joe.
You can climb 131 steps to the top for breezy views of St. Joseph Bay and Cape San Blas, then visit the small museum and gift shop in the keeper’s quarters below.
It’s not the tallest or the oldest, but its wild history and laid-back coastal setting make it a must-stop if you’re into maritime stories and beautiful sunsets.
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