Glass Bottom Boats at Silver Springs
The world's oldest glass-bottom boat attraction. See crystal-clear springs, manatees, and Hollywood history from a perspective unlike anything else in Florida.
A Window Into Florida's Underground World
Silver Springs has held a singular place in Florida's natural and cultural history for nearly 150 years. In 1878, a local entrepreneur named Hullam Jones placed a glass pane in the bottom of a dugout canoe and charged visitors to peer through it into the crystalline depths below. That simple innovation created an entirely new form of tourism and established what remains the oldest glass-bottom boat attraction in the world.
Today, Silver Springs State Park preserves this tradition with a fleet of nine glass-bottom boats that cruise over the headspring and down the Silver River daily. The experience is unlike snorkeling or diving because you remain completely dry while looking directly down into water so clear that visibility routinely exceeds 80 feet. The Mammoth Spring, one of the largest artesian spring formations in the world, produces up to 550 million gallons of crystal-clear water per day, creating the remarkable clarity that makes the glass-bottom boats possible.
What visitors see through the glass is genuinely remarkable. Schools of largemouth bass, mullet, and bream drift over submerged gardens of eelgrass and hydrilla. Turtles rest on limestone ledges near the spring vents. During winter months, West Indian manatees congregate in the warm 72-degree spring water, sometimes passing directly beneath the boats. Scattered across the spring floor are artifacts from centuries of human activity, including a Native American dugout canoe believed to date to the 1500s and remnants from the many Hollywood productions filmed here.
Silver Springs' Hollywood connection runs deep. Beginning in 1932, six Tarzan films starring Johnny Weissmuller used the springs as a stand-in for African jungle rivers. In 1954, the horror classic Creature from the Black Lagoon was filmed here, with the creature lurking in the very waters visitors see today. Even James Bond visited when portions of Moonraker (1979) were shot on location. The combination of natural wonder and cinematic legacy makes a glass-bottom boat tour at Silver Springs one of the most distinctive experiences in all of Florida.
Silver Springs State Park Information
Address
5656 E Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, FL 34488
Phone
(352) 236-7148
Park Hours
8 AM to sundown, daily
Park Admission
$2 per person (separate from boat tour)
Tour Options & Pricing
Choose from two tour experiences, both departing from the main boat dock within Silver Springs State Park.
Standard Glass-Bottom Boat Tour
A 30-minute narrated cruise over the headspring area, passing directly above the Mammoth Spring and major spring vents. Guides share history, point out wildlife, and explain the geology visible through the glass floor.
Adults: $17
Seniors (55+): $15
Children (3-12): $15
Under 2: Free
Schedule: Every 15-20 minutes, 10 AM - 4 PM daily
90-Minute River Tour
An in-depth journey beyond the headspring and down the Silver River. Covers the same spring viewing as the standard tour plus extended river exploration with significantly more wildlife sighting opportunities, including manatee habitat areas.
Adults: $35
Seniors (55+): $30
Children (3-12): $30
Under 2: Free
Schedule: 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM daily
What You'll See Through the Glass
Mammoth Spring
One of the world's largest artesian springs, producing up to 550 million gallons of water per day from deep within the Florida aquifer.
Fish & Turtles
Schools of bass, bream, and mullet swim directly beneath the boat. Turtles rest on limestone ledges near the spring vents.
Manatees (Winter)
West Indian manatees gather in the warm 72-degree spring water during cooler months, often swimming directly under the boats.
Ancient Dugout Canoe
A Native American dugout canoe dating to the 1500s rests on the spring floor, preserved by the constant mineral-rich spring water.
Hollywood Props
Remnants from Creature from the Black Lagoon, Tarzan films, and other productions remain scattered across the spring floor.
Spring Vents
Watch the actual points where groundwater erupts from the limestone into the spring bowl, creating visible distortion patterns in the water.
Hollywood at Silver Springs
Tarzan (1932-1942)
Six Tarzan films starring Johnny Weissmuller used Silver Springs as the primary jungle river location. The crystal-clear water and lush vegetation created a convincing African setting that audiences worldwide accepted as authentic.
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
The iconic Universal horror film was shot extensively at Silver Springs. The Gill-man lurked in these very waters, and underwater sequences showcased the remarkable clarity that makes the springs famous worldwide.
James Bond: Moonraker (1979)
Portions of the Roger Moore Bond film Moonraker were filmed on location at Silver Springs, adding another chapter to the springs' long history as a Hollywood destination spanning nearly five decades of major film production.
The Silver Springs Fleet
Silver Springs operates a fleet of nine glass-bottom boats, each fitted with large glass viewing panels that allow passengers to look straight down into the spring. The boats are covered to provide shade, and narrated tours are led by experienced captains who know the springs' history, geology, and wildlife intimately.
The Chief Potackee is the fleet's wheelchair-accessible vessel. Visitors needing accessibility accommodations should notify staff at the boat dock for scheduling on this specific boat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do glass-bottom boat tours cost at Silver Springs?
Standard 30-minute glass-bottom boat tours cost $17 for adults, $15 for seniors (55+), and $15 for children ages 3-12. Children under 2 ride free. The extended 90-minute River Tour costs $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, and $30 for children. Park admission is a separate $2 per person.
What will I see on a glass-bottom boat tour at Silver Springs?
Through the glass floor of the boat you can see the Mammoth Spring (one of the largest artesian springs in the world), abundant fish and turtles, aquatic vegetation, and the spring vents that produce up to 550 million gallons of water daily. During winter months, manatees are frequently visible. You may also spot a submerged Native American dugout canoe dating to the 1500s and movie props left from Hollywood productions filmed here.
When do glass-bottom boat tours run at Silver Springs?
Standard 30-minute tours depart every 15-20 minutes from 10 AM to 4 PM daily. The extended 90-minute River Tour departs at 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM. The park itself is open from 8 AM to sundown every day of the year.
Are the glass-bottom boats wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The Chief Potackee, one of nine boats in the Silver Springs fleet, is wheelchair accessible. Visitors requiring wheelchair access should inform staff at the boat dock so they can schedule boarding on the appropriate vessel.
What movies were filmed at Silver Springs?
Silver Springs has been a Hollywood filming location since the early days of cinema. Major productions filmed here include six Tarzan films beginning in 1932, Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), the James Bond film Moonraker (1979), and numerous other movies and television shows. The crystal-clear water and tropical vegetation made it a natural stand-in for exotic jungle settings.
Is the glass-bottom boat tour worth it for young children?
Yes. The 30-minute standard tour is well-suited for young children, as it is short enough to hold their attention. Children are fascinated by seeing fish, turtles, and springs through the glass floor. The boats are stable and covered, providing shade. Children under 2 ride free, and ages 3-12 pay a reduced rate of $15.
Explore More at Silver Springs & Ocala
Silver Springs State Park
Full park guide including kayaking, hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing beyond the boat tours.
Kayaking in Ocala
Paddle the Silver River, Rainbow River, and other pristine waterways near Ocala.
Things to Do in Ocala
Complete guide to attractions, outdoor activities, and experiences in the Ocala area.
See Silver Springs from Below the Surface
There is no other place in the world where you can look through glass into springs this clear, surrounded by this much history. Plan your visit today.