As a Wekiva resident, I’m a frequent visitor to Wekiwa Springs State Park. Sometimes I plan in advance to go to the park for a day of kayaking or hiking, but sometimes I just make a last minute decision to ride my bike through the park when I’m out cycling through the neighborhood. As of March 12, 2025 though, things have changed and there’s a new process in place that requires you to make a reservation for Wekiwa Springs State Park ahead of time-even if you have a Florida State Parks Annual Pass. It’s not hard, but it is different than what we’ve done before-and it’s important to know what to do before you go to the park.
There’s a couple of things on the reservation system that confused me a little at first, so I wanted to share my step-by-step instructions for making a reservation. I’m an annual passholder, but these steps apply to any daily reservation. Although I’ve laid it out in a very detailed way, you can complete the whole process and have a reservation for Wekiwa Springs State Park in just a couple of minutes.
Why are you now required to make a reservation for Wekiwa Springs State Park?
Wekiwa Springs State Park is one of Florida’s best state parks. That also makes it one of the most popular parks, welcoming over 400,000 visitors each year. That’s a lot of people-and the park often hits capacity. This is especially true from May-August when they average 40,000-60,000 visitors per month.
As a local resident, I often see cars at a standstill lined up down the road. While I live just a mile down the road and it’s frustrating to be turned away when the park is full, I know there are others that have driven much farther for a chance to experience our natural oasis. The reservations system is meant to be a way to avoid that frustration. With a reservation, you’re guaranteed entry for the day you’ve booked. This is also intended to reduce those entry lines that stretch into traffic.
How do I make a reservation for Wekiwa Springs State Park?
The first time I made a reservation, it was a little confusing, but I made my way through it. It’s now super easy and I can do it within a couple of minutes. I’ve laid out the steps below to make it a little easier for you to understand the flow.
1. Log into your account
If you have a Florida State Parks Annual Pass or if you’ve ever made camping reservations at a state park in Florida, you should already have an account. If you don’t have one, that’s totally fine. You can easily create a new Florida State Parks account. You can then log in to make your reservation. I keep this page bookmarked since I go quite a bit.
2. Search for Wekiwa Springs State Park
There is a search bar where you can enter Wekiwa Springs State Park. If you’re mostly visiting Wekiwa Springs State Park, you may also just want to save the direct link to their reservation page.
3. Select Arrival-End Date
This is the part where it gets a little confusing because it references camping and cabins. However, this is where you’ll also select the date for your day use reservation at Wekiwa Springs State Park. For example, if you wanted to visit on March 24, you’ll click that date twice (for your arrival and departure date.) It will then ask you what type of site are you looking for. You can just ignore that part and click the yellow button that says “Show Results.” (NOTE: You’ll be allowed to book up to 60 days in advance if there are reservations available, but this pilot program for reservations at Wekiwa Springs State Park currently only lasts through September 1, 2025.)
4. Select Wekiwa Springs State Park
It will then pull up Wekiwa Springs State Park, as well as others. I know you already told the system that you’re going to Wekiwa Springs, but just click it one more time.
5. Select Vehicle or Pedestrian/Bicycle Entry
You will then see available options for your date, and you can select from those options. Depending on the day, you may only see Pedestrian/Bicycle entry available. Once you click on your selected option, you’ll be taken to a screen that says Site List. Again, ignore that part. You aren’t booking a site-you are just paying to reserve your admission for the day.
6. Click your date, and then select “Book Now”
Just pay attention to the line item you selected. For instance, if you selected Wekiwa Day-Use Vehicle Entry, you’ll be able to see what days are available. Even if you selected just one day, it will also show you the 20 days following your selected date. If you see dark green, there’s availability. If you see a red slash, there’s no availability. Click the date you prefer, and then click “Book Now.”
7. Finalize your reservation
This is where you’ll actually make the purchase. Double check the arrival date to make sure that’s correct. You can then select from the different classifications. If you’re bringing multiple people with you, make sure you input the total number of people who will be coming. You then need to check the box to agree to their terms and conditions and click the button that says “Reserve Unit” on the bottom right corner.
Again, that sounds a little confusing since you’re not reserving a camping unit, but you are reserving a ticket for that day. Make sure you click that part-you aren’t done yet. It will then bring up your Shopping Cart. If you’re an annual passholder, it will say $0. If not, this is where you’ll pay. The select “Go to Checkout.” Your reservation isn’t complete until you get a pop up that says “Success.”
8. Check your email
You should receive a confirmation email once you make your reservation. Make sure you have a copy of that. It’s a good idea to either print it or grab a screenshot of that and have that available on your phone. You’ll need to show that when you arrive at the park. I didn’t have mine the first time I made a reservation and went to the park (even though the website tells you to) and I realized they aren’t able to find your reservation by your name. Luckily I was able to easily locate it in my email and I got in with no problem.
9. Don’t forget to book your activities too
At Wekiwa Springs State Park, there’s so many ways to experience nature-hiking, biking, paddling, or swimming in the spring. You’re welcome to bring your own bike, kayak, canoe, or paddleboard, but all of these things are also available to rent onsite. You can book tours and reserve rentals at Wekiwa Springs State Park in advance so that everything is ready for you when you arrive. You can even book a guided paddling tour of the river. The Wekiva River has been designated as a National Wild and Scenic River by the United States Congress and is a great place to spot wildlife. It truly is my favorite place to paddle in central Florida.
What happens if I get to Wekiwa Springs State Park and don’t have a reservation?
When you arrive, you’ll see many signs along the road before you come into the park. There’s a QR code you can scan, and if there’s reservations available for that day, you can make a reservation before you enter the park. You won’t be able to pay for entry at the gate though, even if there’s still reservations available. You’ll have to pull over and do that online. You may even see staff walking through the line of cars to help explain the process. Make life easier on yourself though-and just set up your reservation before you go. If you get there and there’s no reservations available for that day, you won’t be allowed in. If there are, you’ll have to pull over and book this on your phone.
Are other Florida State Parks requiring reservations if you’re just going for the day?
At this time, no. This is a pilot program that is only happening at Wekiwa Springs State Park and is currently scheduled to last through September 1, 2025. The Florida Park Service will then assess the success of the pilot program at Wekiwa Springs State Park to determine whether it should be continued or expanded.