How to Spend One Day at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park should be on everyone’s Florida State Park bucket list! This is one of my favorite Florida State Parks I have visited so far. Home to the world’s largest and deepest freshwater spring as well as the world’s longest marble countertop, there are many reasons you should plan a visit to this park!

Blue-green water of the springs surrounded by trees.

Basic Information – Wakulla Springs State Park

I visited this park in May 2024 for the first time as part of a road trip along Florida’s Forgotten Coast. The park is about a 4-hour drive from Tampa, FL. Below is some basic information you will want to know before visiting!

Address: 465 Wakulla Park Drive Wakulla Springs, FL 32327
Park Hours: 8 AM until sundown
- The Lodge is open 24 hours
Fee: $6 per vehicle
Activities: Bicycling, boat tours, hiking, picnicking, scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming
Pet friendly: Yes, pets are permitted in day-use areas

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park entrance sign.

How to Spend One Day at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park

This itinerary follows how we spent our day at Wakulla Springs State Park! You can use our exact itinerary or use it as a starting point of how you want to spend your day. The timing of the activities can also be switched around to better fit your schedule. You can also skip anything that doesn’t interest you.

Morning: Take a Hike

I recommend spending your morning hiking. Regardless of the time of year you visit, the best time to go hiking is usually in the morning. Depending how far you live from the park you may have more or less time for hiking. You can pick your hike based off the amount of time you have as well as your skill level with multiple trails to choose from.

Hiking Trails

Sally Ward/Wakulla Springs Trail – 6 miles (one way)
Wakulla Springs Tree Walk – 0.6-mile interpretive trail starting at Wakulla Springs Trailhead
Hammock Spur Trail – 0.9-mile loop
Cherokee Sink Trail – 1.4 miles (one-way)

Boardwalk trail surrounded by green trees.

We chose to hike the Hammock Spur Trail starting at the Wakulla Springs/Sally Ward Trail which created a 1.5-mile loop. The trailhead is located right by the parking lot for The Lodge. We didn’t see anyone else on the trail when we visited mid-morning on a weekday.

After hiking I recommend enjoying a picnic lunch. We packed a cooler with Pubsubs, chips, and fruit and ate at one of the picnic tables in the park. If you don’t want to bring lunch, I would recommend stopping by the Soda Parlor for a quick bite to eat.

Afternoon: Boat Tour, Springs, and a sweet treat

Jungle Boat Cruise

Once you’ve finished exploring the park on land, head out on the water. My favorite activity in the park was taking the Jungle Boat Cruise! It is a 45-minute narrated tour, and we got to see A LOT of wildlife!

Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed but we saw multiple fish, alligators, manatees, turtles, anhinga, and osprey. The tour guide made sure to point out any wildlife and would stop the boat, so everyone had plenty of time to take pictures, videos, and observe the wildlife.

The boat tour is offered daily. It costs $8 for adults (13 years and older) and $5 for children (age 4 to 12 years). Reservations are required, so be sure to book your ticket in advance!

Swimming in the Springs

Once you return from the boat tour, any additional time you have in the afternoon, spend at the springs. There is a 22-foot diving platform, swimming area, or area to lounge in the grass. Make sure to bring beach towels or chairs to relax next to the water.

Other important things to consider is there is limited shade next to the springs. Ensure you bring a hat, sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen.

Visit the Soda Parlor

After spending the day in the sun, you will want to cool off with a sweet treat! The Soda Parlor is open daily, but closing hours vary seasonally. The Soda Parlor is most well-known for its sweet treats such as root beer floats or ginger yips. Take a seat at the world’s longest marble countertop and place your order! If you are hungry, they also offer a limited menu of sandwiches and other snacks.

The hours from Memorial Day to Labor Day are 9AM to 6 PM daily. During the remainder of the year, hours may vary. Once you’ve had a snack you can also browse the gift shop for souvenirs. The spring shop hours are 11 AM to 5 PM Thursday through Sunday.

Soda shop with candy lined up at the counter.

Evening: Dinner, Stay at Lodge

After a long day exploring the park, you MUST spend a night relaxing in The Lodge at Wakulla Springs. Check-in at The Lodge begins at 3 PM. Once you’ve checked in head up to your room to relax and take a shower before having dinner in the dining room. Please note at the time of this post the elevators are undergoing renovation and the stairs must be used to access the rooms. Check back on the parks website for the latest updates.

Exterior and entrance of The Lodge at Wakulla Springs.

The Edward Ball Dining room is open for dinner until 9 PM. Advanced reservations are highly recommended. I made a reservation at the same time I booked my hotel room about 2 months before our visit. We visited on a Thursday and there was no room availability for the weekend. If you are planning to visit on a weekend, make your reservations further in advance!

We really enjoyed our meal in the dining room! The service was excellent, and the food was tasty. My husband and I split a fried green tomato appetizer to start. For dinner, he ordered steak with a baked potato, and I had brisket with mac and cheese. Both meals were delicious, and we didn’t have any room for dessert.

Two dinner plates, one with steak and a baked potato and one with brisket and mac and cheese.

Have more time?

If you are looking for other things to do in the area, consider taking a drive and visiting St. Mark’s Wildlife Refuge or visiting the Crooked River Lighthouse. You could also consider heading north and visiting Florida Caverns State Park and Falling Waters State Park.