Silver Springs Tickets & Prices
Park admission is $2 per person at the main entrance according to the park concessionaire, or $8 per vehicle according to Florida State Parks. Here is every fee, tour price, rental cost, and annual pass option, checked October 9, 2026.
Park Admission Fees
Silver Springs charges admission at the gate. One receipt grants access to all park entrances for the day, so keep it with you if you leave and return. The concessionaire and the state list the fees differently (below), so expect either and check at the gate. For everything else about the park, see our Silver Springs State Park guide.
Main Entrance (SR 40)
The entrance for glass bottom boats and kayaking. Fees as listed by the park concessionaire.
Camping & Equestrian Entrances
Use these entrances for the campground, cabins, trails and museum, and equestrian trails. Florida State Parks lists these vehicle fees without naming an entrance.
Pedestrians, cyclists and extra passengers pay $2 per person on the Florida State Parks fee page. Launching your own canoe, kayak or paddleboard is $4 per vessel, and the Silver River Museum (weekends) is a separate $2.
Glass Bottom Boat Tour Prices
Tours run 365 days a year. Reservations are recommended because boats frequently sell out on weekends and holidays. Book online at silversprings.com or ask at the dock if seats remain. For a deeper look at the tours, see our complete guide to glass bottom boats at Silver Springs.
Standard Tour (30 min)
Narrated cruise over Mammoth Spring, the head spring, and other feeder springs. Departs every 15-20 minutes.
Adults: $17
Seniors (55+): $15
Children (3-12): $15
2 and under: Free
Schedule: Every 15-20 min, 365 days a year; first tour 9 or 10 AM (sources differ)
Extended Tour (90 min)
Three times as long as the standard tour, with three departures a day.
Adults: $35
Seniors (55+): $30
Children (3-12): $30
2 and under: Free
Schedule: 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM daily
Arrive 30 minutes early. The concessionaire asks you to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.
One boat, the Chief Potackee, takes wheelchairs when it is running; ask when you book. Pets and food aren't allowed on board.
Kayak & Canoe Rental Prices
Paddling the Silver River is one of the best outdoor experiences near Ocala. Rentals are at the main entrance, first come, first served, from 8 AM; reservations are required for groups of 10 or more. Prices below were listed by Florida State Parks on October 9, 2026 (before tax). For more on paddling routes, see our guide to kayaking in Ocala.
Hourly Rentals and Trips
From Paddling Adventures, the park outfitter. The 5-mile Silver River paddle to Ray Wayside Park takes 3-4 hours, with a van back.
Single Kayak: $30 first hour, $45 two hours
Tandem Kayak: $50 first hour, $65 two hours
Crystal Clear Tandem: $60 first hour, $75 two hours
Canoe (2 / 3 person): $50 / $65 first hour, $65 / $80 two hours
Stand-Up Paddleboard: $35 first hour, $50 two hours
5-Mile Paddle to Ray Wayside (return shuttle): From $65 (single kayak)
Two-Hour Guided Paddle: From $55 (single kayak)
Bringing Your Own Kayak or Canoe?
All rentals include paddles and life jackets. Valid photo ID is required for all paddlers, and one set of car keys per group is held while you are on the water. Details at silversprings.com.
Florida State Parks Annual Pass
An annual pass covers day-use admission at Florida state parks, including Silver Springs (Homosassa Springs and Weeki Wachee have their own limits). Purchase online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or ask at the ranger station.
Individual Pass
$60
- - Day-use entry to all Florida state parks
- - For one named passholder; companions pay $2 each
- - Pays for itself after 12 visits at the $5 single-occupant fee
Family Pass
$120
- - Admits up to 8 people entering as a group
- - Breaks even after 15 visits at $8 per visit
- - Prices per Florida State Parks, checked Oct. 9, 2026
How to Buy Tickets
Park Admission
Paid at the gate when you arrive: at the ticket booth at the main entrance, or the ranger station at the camping entrance.
Glass Bottom Boats
Reserve online at silversprings.com. Walk-in tickets available at the dock if seats remain.
Kayak & Canoe Rentals
First come, first served at the main entrance from 8 AM; groups of 10 or more reserve through silversprings.com.
Tips to Save Money at Silver Springs
Skip the boat, enjoy the park
Hiking, wildlife viewing, and picnicking cost nothing beyond admission. Check out free things to do in Ocala for more budget-friendly ideas.
Do the annual pass math
A family of four pays $8 per visit in admission (four people at $2 or one $8 vehicle). The $120 Family Annual Pass breaks even after 15 visits to Silver Springs alone. If you also visit Rainbow Springs, Paynes Prairie, or any other Florida state park, it pays off even faster.
Watch for free admission days
Florida State Parks occasionally announces free admission days. Activity fees (boat tours, rentals) still apply, but you save on the gate fee. Check floridastateparks.org for upcoming dates.
Bring your own kayak
The private vessel launch fee is just $4 compared to $30 or more for a rental. If you paddle regularly, owning your own kayak saves significant money over time.
Choose the standard boat tour
The 30-minute standard tour ($17 for adults) floats over Mammoth Spring, the head spring. The 90-minute tour ($35) is longer, so pick it only if you want more time on the water.
Camp overnight instead
If you camp at Silver Springs, you stay inside the park overnight: campsites were $24 a night and cabins $110 (two-night minimum), plus fees, on October 9, 2026.
Hours & Seasonal Information
Park Hours
Activity Hours
Seasonal note: Sundown varies from roughly 5:30 PM in winter to 8:30 PM in summer, which affects how late you can stay in the park. Winter gives the best (still small) chance of a manatee; the Silver Springs monkeys live along the river all year.
Silver Springs State Park Quick Reference
Address
5656 E Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, FL 34488
Hours
8 AM to sundown, daily
Admission
$2/person at main entrance (concessionaire) or $8/vehicle (FSP)
Children
5 & under free admission
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to get into Silver Springs State Park?
Sources differ, so check at the gate. The park concessionaire says admission at the main entrance on SR 40 is $2 per person (children 5 and under free) and that the camping and equestrian entrances charge $8 per vehicle (2-8 occupants) or $5 for a single occupant. The Florida State Parks fee page, checked October 9, 2026, lists $8 per vehicle (2-8 people), $5 single occupant or motorcycle, and $2 per pedestrian, bicyclist or extra passenger, without a separate main-entrance rate. Admission paid at one entrance covers the others that day; keep your receipt.
Can you buy Silver Springs tickets online?
Glass bottom boat tour tickets and kayak rentals can be reserved online through the official Silver Springs website at silversprings.com. Reservations are recommended because tours often sell out. Kayak rentals are first come, first served (groups of 10 or more must reserve). Park admission is paid at the gate on arrival.
How much are glass bottom boat tours at Silver Springs?
The standard 30-minute glass bottom boat tour costs $17 for adults, $15 for seniors (55+), and $15 for children ages 3-12. Children 2 and under ride free. The extended 90-minute tour costs $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, and $30 for children. Prices as listed on silversprings.com on October 9, 2026; all are separate from park admission.
Is the Florida State Parks annual pass worth it for Silver Springs?
Florida State Parks lists the Individual Annual Entrance Pass at $60 and the Family Annual Entrance Pass at $120 (up to eight people entering as a group); checked October 9, 2026. A carload that pays the $8 vehicle fee breaks even on the family pass after 15 visits. The passes cover day-use entry at Florida state parks (with limits at Homosassa Springs and Weeki Wachee), so they pay off faster if you visit other parks too.
Are there free days at Silver Springs State Park?
Florida State Parks occasionally announces free admission days on its website. Activity fees like glass bottom boat tours and kayak rentals still apply on free admission days.
What are the hours for Silver Springs State Park?
Silver Springs State Park is open 7 days a week year-round, including all holidays, from 8 AM to sundown. The 90-minute glass bottom boat tour leaves at 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM. The 30-minute tours run every 15-20 minutes; the concessionaire's FAQ says they start at 9 AM and the state park's page says 10 AM, so check the booking calendar. Kayak and canoe rentals start at 8 AM, and the main launch closes an hour before sundown.
Explore More Ocala Springs
Marion County is the spring capital of Florida — keep planning with these guides to first-magnitude springs, river adventures, and waterfront experiences nearby.