Wildlife & history · Florida

Orlando to Blue Spring State Park & St. Augustine day trip

Manatees, a fort and the Nights of Lights

A winter road trip from Orlando: wintering manatees from the Blue Spring boardwalk at opening time, lunch and the Castillo de San Marcos in old St. Augustine, then the Nights of Lights after dark before the drive home.

Time: 14–15 hour day
Driving: About 3½–4 hours driving
Best time: Late November to mid-January
Updated: October 14, 2026 at 11:32 PM Pacific

$4 USD

One-time purchase. You own your guide forever and can return for the latest update any time.

Two manatees resting in clear turquoise spring water below a bank of palms and oaks hung with Spanish moss — Bkamprath · Public domain. Undated photograph; resized and displayed with crop.

Suggested times, not bookings

Your day at a glance

7:15 amLeave Orlando
8:00 amBlue Spring State Park
12:00 pmSt. George Street
1:30 pmCastillo de San Marcos
3:15 pmFlagler College and the Plaza
5:30 pmNights of Lights
7:45 pmDrive back to Orlando

Highlights

Worth the trip

Wintering manatees from the Blue Spring boardwalk
Castillo de San Marcos and St. George Street
St. Augustine's Nights of Lights after dark

What’s in the guide

Detailed stop guidance, rules, practical pitfalls, a route map, Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps links and weather alternatives. Read it online any time, or keep it offline in the Greg’s Guides app for iPhone and iPad. See an example guide →

Plan for the conditions

Expected seasonal weather

From late November to mid-January, central and northeast Florida usually see mild, mostly dry afternoons in the 60s and low 70s °F, with cool mornings often in the 40s or 50s. Cold fronts pass every week or so, bringing a band of showers, then clear, windy and much colder air for a day or two; those cold, bright mornings are when manatees pack into the spring. St. Augustine evenings on the bayfront can feel raw when the wind is up. These are seasonal expectations, not a forecast for your travel date; check the NWS forecast for both stops.

Admission and parking are separate. Check current conditions before departure.