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Kelly Park
Categories: Active Life Hiking Active Life Parks Active Life Beaches Hiking, Parks, Beaches [Edit]
400 E Kelly Park RdApopka, FL 32703
(407) 889-4179
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 8 am - 6 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
17 reviews for Kelly Park
17 reviews in English
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Review from Jay S.
Tulsa, OK
8/18/2011 47 photos
This is the reason people ought to come to Florida...the abundance of clear, cool natural springs. If you have never been to any of these extraordinary places in Florida, I highly recommend them.There are many, especially in nearby Ocala National Forest and several State Parks like Blue Springs and De Leon Springs.
I almost hate to mention this place because it gets very crowded in summer so much so they have to close the park and limit the amount of visitors to enter. But that's what being a true Yelper is all about...sharing your experiences that bring you happiness and joy.
Kelly Park is a small county park adjacent on the west side to the much larger Wekiva Springs State park in Apopka,FL, just outside Orlando.Entrance is only $5 for a carload & no alcohol allowed. The best way to experience this very special place is to rent old fashioned tire inner tubes outside the entrance for a couple of dollars and bring 'em in to float down the lazy river. This is the real thing folks, not one of those artificial lazy river amusement rides in a water park or fancy resort hotel. The real deal!
There is a concessionaire in the park but I always bring a cooler with drinks and maybe grab a subway for lunch.There are attentive lifeguards and a large series of parking lots with plenty of shady trees.
There is a good sized improved pond where most swimmers and children congregate but for me it's taking the short hike to the source of the springs along a wooded boardwalk and taking the plunge!
Check out my spring source pic but it is one of the most beautiful sights you'll ever see that my cousin Debbie who lives in Winter Park once took me to years ago...a small cave that has the purest, most pristine and refreshingly cool ( in summer) clear blue water that you will ever experience coming out of. Go ahead and hop right in with your inner tube and let the fast moving water whisk you along down the natural lazy river past sultry tropical gardens with begonias and ferns that grow along the shoreline that's not more than 15 feet wide in places. The sun shinning on your face, the water lapping at your sides, it truly doesn't get any better than this folks.The water is so amazingly clear, sandy white bottom with small fishes and small turtles. I saw a big ole water turtle clinging to the sides of the run once, an otter, a doe and an occasional small gator way down past where the steam widens out and moves along at a much slower pace. There are even plenty of water cabbages and water ferns with long scary root tentacles to scare kiddies and unsuspecting squeamish female cousins along the way!
I have traveled all around the world but this is one of my most favorite special places on earth.
Enjoy! -
Review from Amanda A.
Orlando, FL
8/13/2011
I went to Kelly park recently and overall I had a really good time. It's cost anywhere from $3-$6 depending on the number of people in your car and you can reenter without having to pay. Note: If the park is at full capacity, they will not let you back in.
If you're hungry they have a stand where they serve your traditional American food, i.e., burgers, hotdogs, chips, sodas, etc. They have small bbq grills throughout the park, so we decided to bring our own food. Tip: There are flies EVERYWHERE, if you're anything like me and hate these uninvited guests; I suggest you get a fly trap. (Don't forget the mosquito spray)
The water was great! Super cold! - The hot weather in Florida definitely gives you motivation to jump on in! - After a while it feels great and you don't want to jump out. The water in most areas of the park are extremely shallow, I HIGHLY suggest renting a tube or bring on of your own. Tip: I suggest renting a tub, because the ones that you can normally buy at a store may not be tough enough to handle some of the rocks and the ride alone. You might end up with an inflated tube halfway down the spring. With that being said, if you decided to go without a tube, I totally suggest wearing those slip on ocean shoes, as some rocks are sharp.
What I really dislike about the park is that do not have any lockers. I have no problem leaving my valuables and food/cooler behind, my real issue was my car keys! I was the only adult in my group and did not have the option of leaving it with someone else while I went to the water. See, my car key is chipped; if my key gets wet I risk the chance of not being able to open my car! So here is a tip that I got from the ticket attendant. To rent a life vest, they will ask that you leave either and I.D or your keys with them. Tada. But still....they should invest in lockers for the patrons.
Overall, I had a good time. I read other reviews where people were loud, smoking everywhere, overweight individuals wearing unflattering suits, etc. Well, can't say much on that. Not everyone on this earth knows how to act or wear the right size attire. I do feel that the park should ban smoking (calm down trolls) OR have at least a designated smoker's area. If kids/adults can't act right they should be kicked out the park without the chance of reentering.
These are my two cents.
Hope this helps you guy.
Mucho Besitos!
~ Amanda -
Review from Janene H.
Kelly Park is a gorgeous park. There aren't many places you can tube from the spring head down a lazy, cool river. What ruins Kelly Park for me are the people that visit this park. Let's just say the clientele is a certain kind of person.
Here is a sampling of the people who frequent the park:
Teenagers hanging all over each other
Lots of people screaming and generally being obnoxious
Overweight folks wearing stuff they shouldn't
Girls dressed like hoochies
Dudes in banana hammocks
Mobs of unsupervised, unruly children with no parents in sight
Smokers who like to yell profanities randomly
I don't consider myself a prude and like to have a good time like anyone else but not at the expense of everyone around me! I'm not judging these people but their behavior kind of ruins it for the rest of us. Kelly Park would be great (and get 5 stars!) without all the people!
The good: It's inexpensive, so if you have a lot of people and a limited budget check this place out. They have shaded picnic tables, pavilions, and playgrounds. There is a concession stand selling hot food and nearby restrooms. A sandy beach and swimming area for the little ones. Lots of small shells, rocks, fossils and shark teeth to be found in the river.
We actually camped overnight here and did the tubing thing the next day. There are about 25 sites, all but 2 have electric. We were far enough from our neighbors where we had some privacy but you could easily see 3-4 other sites from our site. Our camping site was about a 15 minute walk from the spring. We readily saw deer, turkey and raccoons while there. They even have a small bear roaming the park! There are several marked hiking trails, none of which are very long.
I would say if you want to get a good laugh and people watch go (early) on a weekend during peak season. If you want to relax without all the drama try to go on a weekday when the kids are in school.Listed in: Authentic Florida
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Review from Judy W.
Fort Myers, FL
10/24/2011
Kelly Park (Rock Springs) has been a favorite of my family for at least six generations. My Grandmother and Mother went there quite a bit when Mom was young, I took my kids and my mother there often to go canoing, and now my son takes my granddaughter!
It's a glorious place to picnic, tube and canoe. One of the few things I miss since moving to south Florida is easy access to Rock Springs.
This is one of the treasures of Florida! -
Review from Aysha A.
Orlando, FL
3/11/2011
Drove up to Kelly Park from Orlando with a few friends for a day trip during spring break. The springs are gorgeous and its so peaceful to just float down a tube and watch fish swim around you. We had a good day aside from some minor issues.
The weather was warm enough with a high of 83/84 but i think it would have been more enjoyable if it was warmer since the water stays a cool 68 degrees year round. The four of us rented tubes from a rental place right outside the park for $5/tube. We had driven up in my two door Yaris so we couldn't fit the tubes in the car and had to balance them on top of the car while we held onto them with our hands. We felt a bit like we were living in a third world country and couldn't stop laughing as we drove up to the park entrance.
$5 entrance fee for more than 3 people/car. The park is well maintained and has pavilions, picnic tables, playgrounds, and restrooms that could be cleaner but workable. My poor friend Jen was attacked by mosquitoes and bitten all over her arms. We weren't getting bit as much as she did which may have been b/c she applied a scented sunscreen beforehand which sent the little bloodsuckers into a frenzy. Bring insect repellent!
All in all, a good day. -
Review from Daya A.
9/14/2010
So much fun! Kelly park a.k.a rock springs is literally the lazy river from Wet n Wild in nature form. Upon arriving purchase a tire float from several different rental stores for $3 down the street and bring it to this location. The entry fee for Kelly park is $3 per person so thats pretty much a bargain in itself. There are grills available around the park for barbeques and PLENTY of grass space to just chill out. The water in the springs is crystal clear and you might spot a couple of fishies swimming around. I love how the water just flows and how the rocks give the water its versatile depth.
Spend a nice afternoon floating around this get-away oasis and free your mind. -
Review from Jodie B.
San Francisco, CA
8/18/2009
I go to Kelly Park every time I visit the Orlando area...I LOVE this place. It's a hidden oasis....well...until the weekend, that is...it can get kinda crowded on weekends, but its so beautiful and the water is so perfectly cold on a hot summer day.
Ah. I love that place. Makes me want to live in FL just to go random spring hopping every weekend.
Its clean, they have several life guards, a snack bar and clean bathrooms. I think its also handicap accessible, too - for the most part.
Best part: its especially fun to jump into the mouth of the spring before taking your tube down the little creeky/river thing into the big pool area. Its a nice way to spend a lazy sunny day.
Words to the wise: pack snacks & water, wear water shoes, bring goggles and a snorkel and dont mess with the alligators at the end of the line/bridge/past the last life guard A guy got his face chomped about a year ago. Dummy. -
Review from Morgan C.
6/5/2011
Picture this: Bird calls, trees and water plants swaying in light, warm breezes, a nature made "lazy river". Kelly Park is such a great place! It is located way on the other side of Apopka, so it is quite a trek, but well worth it. Rent a tube at the shop/ diner/ bar (?) down the street from the entrance. They are $5 each and parking within the park is $3 per car. If you pack a picnic lunch, as we always do, Kelly Park is a super cheap day. At the park there are two playgrounds, a snack bar and a beach and swimming hole. They also have camping spots and hiking trails. I've never been on a week end, but apparently it gets busy.
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Review from Dana H.
4/19/2009
Fabulous fabulous place to spend an inexpensive and relaxing weekend. You can rent tubes at a couple of places off of Rock Springs Rd on your way in. There's a bunch of picnic tables and grills available on your way in. Down by the river and the springs there's some nice grassy and shaded areas where you can set up some towels and relax. The springs themselves are pristine! Completely clear and cool. Totally fresh and beautiful. You can tube your way down the river and enjoy the scenery.
It's only $1 per person to enter. CHEAP and wonderful.
There's also a concession stand around if you want to buy food there. -
Review from Rachael N.
Chicago, IL
9/20/2010
Rock Springs! This is my first springs experience and I am in love! Unfortunately I didn't have a tube (I didn't want to rent them from down the street) but I did enjoy floating down the current on noodles. The only thing I would recommend is that to look in the direction that the current is pushing you, just because you think there are no more rocks in your path... there is.
I paid $3 a car to get in and if you get a receipt you are able to leave and come back. The only thing that would make this place better is if you were able to bring alcohol and had longer hours.
This place is gorgeous and I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Marc K.
Orlando, FL
10/12/2009
When I first saw some pictures of the place (not good pictures), I thought "uhm... step on the mud...go down on a river on a tube....there must be a lot of mosquitoes and all....".
But the park was not far from my house, so I decided to take my kids there.
For my surprise, the place is awesome!
There's no such thing as mud at the bottom, just white sand. The water is crystal clear (so clear that I lost my wedding ring and a kid was able to find it - no goggles on!), no mosquitoes (at least during our time there).
Accordingly to the brochure the water is 68 degrees year-round. A little cool for some, but if you're on a tube, you don't get too wet anyway.
Starting from the top of the spring all the way to the most crowded area is very relaxing (it was not crowded at all, so I don't know if it is as good during the summer).
My kids had a BLAST! It's my new favorite spot in Orlando!
We were even able to see a family of deers right across the water.
Just a comment: stop by one of the 2 places that rent a tube before reaching the park. There's no tube rental inside the park and on summer full days, you won't be able to re-enter the park.
I paid $3.00/tube on the "King of Tubes". And it's worthy!
Enjoy -
Review from Amanda K.
Orlando, FL
8/21/2008
Beautiful and Relaxing.
Rock Springs has to be the best place in Florida to go tubing. While I would reccomend DeLeon or Blue Springs for swimming, grabbing a tube and floating down Rock Springs is a real treat.
The Good:
Getting in Touch with Nature: The place is just awash with natural beauty. From the crystal clear water to the draping canopy trees, this place just makes you feel at ease. Seriously. I feel relaxed just writing about it!
Cheap!: Admission is only $1. How can you beat that?
The Bad:
Population Control: Since Rock Springs is so awesome, it is no wonder that many people flock here during the weekends. And when the place gets full, they start telling people to wait in their cars, which is no fun at all. Just make sure you're there early!
Rock Springs is truly a sight to behold and I would reccomend it to anyone who wants to get back in touch with nature, relieve stress, or just reconnect with the family.
Overall 10/10= Book it to Rock Springs! -
Review from Genesis M.
Riverside, CA
8/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
I got to this park around 9 am on a weekday, and there were about five other people swimming in the spring. The water was absolutely pristine and bubbling along at a calm pace. My sister and I were able to tube down the spring a couple times before the crowds showed up. Even when the spring began to be a little full with people, the water was still very clear. There's a sandy bottom in the spring to the left of the swimming pool, and the rest of the area has a slightly pebbly bottom. Regardless the water depth was about 3.5 feet and the temperature was a very comfortable 70 degrees. There's a lot of shady trees around this park, and actually very few mosquitos! There's plenty of picnic tables and barbecue grlils, as well as a snack bar. Admission is $3 for two people, and $5 for a full car.
Overall, the lifeguards are very friendly, and the park is extremely clean. The hiking trails are nice and quiet, but are not too difficult to walk. It's a perfect place to spend the day. :) -
Review from chris r.
3/19/2008
Wekiwa Springs nearby is nice, but Rock Springs is one of the greatest places on earth. I think Wet 'n Wild stole their idea for the Lazy River from here.
Basically you drive up to the middle of nowhere, rent a tube for a couple bucks at the store along the way, then get in the water and float down, get out at the bottom, walk back to the top and do it again. Your whole float will take 20-30 minutes. The water is crystal clear and beautiful! I've been to a lot of beautiful places in the world but this is in my top 10 for sure.
The water is always the same temperature, maybe a little cold for some but you get used to it quick.
The main attraction here is the swimming but they also have a volleyball net a playground and a cheap snack bar. It's an awesome place to just hang out and BBQ, soak up some sun and enjoy Florida's Natural Beauty.
The entry fee is super cheap only a buck or two per person. It can fill up some days, if so you may have to wait outside until some people leave. So maybe call ahead if it's a long haul for you out to Apopka the Foliage Capital of the World. As with many Florida parks, no Alcohol is allowed and they do check coolers at random -
Review from Doug T.
2/7/2011
This is an amazing place to visit with the family.
I have been going since I was a kid, and now I have the pleasure of taking my own family.
This is basically a large park with plenty of picnic areas, camping sites, grills, pavilions, and playgrounds to keep you busy.
However, the main feature is the long stream of water steadily flowing from underground cascading through rocky ledges then passing through a large pool area and ending in a quiet lazy river of sorts.
Now take the name literally. The beginning of this river is very rocky fast and pretty rough when it comes to swimming. after that it mellows out quite a bit.
It's really good to bring snorkels to see into the springs or floats (which can be rented locally) to float down for a nice relaxing day.
This is truly a great place for the kids and the adults alike,
Full disclosure, regardless of how hot it is outside the water remains a steady cold temperature year round.
Also if you dare come on the weekend, get there before 10am otherwise the park might be full and you won't be allowed in.
This is a great spot to see Florida at it's best. -
Review from J A.
Kissimmee, FL
7/6/2011
Rock Springs is a beautiful FAMILY park where ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE can enjoy themselves. My family and friends first visited on June 10 and absolutely had a blast. Their playground is huge, parking very sufficient, many trees for shade, lots of picnic tables with BBQ pits, the water was just clear, beautiful, and relaxing, so affordable and the entire place was just wonderful. If you want to go to a beautiful park where you can lounge, relax, stay cool, have a fun time, then you must visit Kelly Park, Rock Springs!
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Review from Ginger X.
Apopka, FL
7/12/2009
The water is fine. It is the best place for a crowded family get together, especially for kids. If you wanna enjoy a quiet peaceful day, donot go there. Anyway, you can really have some fun and relaxing there without expensing much money. 1$ adult each~~
