If you want to be immersed within nature but still be close the entertainment, amenities, and attractions in Orlando, Kings Landing in Apopka, Florida is a great half-day activity for all ages! Kings Landing Florida is an outdoor enthusiast and kayak lover’s dream when it comes to attractions in Orlando! Typical Central Florida attractions like Disney and Universal Studios can cost $200+ per person per day, but you can spend a day kayaking Florida rivers and listening to the serene sounds of birds chirping and water flowing at Kings Landing in Apopka, Florida.
Imagine spending an early morning watching the sun come up over the trees as you kayak up the river on the Rock Springs Run in the Wekiva River Basin. You can even park up your kayak or paddleboard on the sand embankments on the Wekiva River and watch Florida wildlife like turtles and fish swim by with the current! You’d be remiss if you didn’t carve 4-6 hours into your Orlando, Florida itinerary so you can experience King’s Landing for yourself!
Pro tip: this kayaking experience is located 5 minutes up the road from Kelly Park Rock Springs, make sure to check that Florida spring out when you’re visiting King’s Landing so you can have 2 springs in your itinerary in the same day!
Top Reasons to Kayak Florida Springs at Kings Landing Florida
Get away from the tourist trap attractions in Orlando and visit off-the-beaten-path locations that are closer to nature! If you’re a nature lover like us, you’ll easily see the reasons to kayak in Kings Landing, but if you don’t already see the benefits, here’s a a few to note:
- view beautiful Florida wildlife like turtles and fish
- get exercise and vitamin D which can reduce stress
- save money instead of spending hundreds of dollars on theme parks
- swim in refreshing water that is between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit
Getting to Kings Landing from Downtown Orlando
Getting to Kings Landing from Downtown Orlando is easy, just head east on I4 and you’re less than 25 miles away from your destination! It takes less than 45 minutes to drive from Orlando to Kings Landing in Apopka, Florida. We do not recommend taking a ride share service like Uber or Lyft because the kayaking experience is tucked away from the city center so you might have trouble finding a ride on the way back towards “civilization.” If you’re in Orlando without a car, rent a car for 1 day so you can explore Kings Landing and Wekiva Springs without worrying about being stuck there!
Best Airbnbs in Orlando, Florida
When visiting Kings Landing, you’ll likely stay at an Airbnb in Orlando, Florida. These are the best Airbnbs in Orlando, Florida as well as hotel and VRBO recommendations. Staying at an Airbnb in Orlando can save you money because you can get the whole family or group together. Another benefit of getting an Airbnb in Orlando, Florida is you can use the kitchen and save money on eating out.
*We may make a commission from the bookings on this page.
Best Time of Year to Kayak Kings Landing
All times of year can be sunshine (or rain) in Florida but fall and winter is the best time to go kayaking at Kings Landing in Apopka, Florida because there are the least amount of bugs in fall and winter time. Summer and spring can be hectic with warm temperatures and bugs!
Arrive at Kings Landing in Apopka, Florida
When arriving at Kings Landing, you’ll see endless oak trees and palm trees and be greeted by a few signs that make it clear you are in the right place for kayaking Florida springs! There’s a lot of dirt parking and grass parking within 100 feet of the kayak launch so you’ll be conveniently close to your car. There is enough space for 15-25 cars, so get there early to secure a spot! The local’s will even offer you a “free beer” if you’re gullible enough to believe them!
Spoiler alert: we’ll save you the heart attack, keep scrolling to see what the Florida locals mean by “free beer”!
Renting a Kayak at Kings Landing
Renting a kayak at Kings Landing is a breeze! The kayak shack at Kings Landing has dozens of kayaks canoes for rent at a fair price. They list the price for 4+ hour rentals on their website, it was $60 total for us to rent a 2 person canoe which was a steal in our eyes! You can even rent a clear kayak from a local company called Get Up and Go Kayaking that docks at Kings Landing!
Best Place to Park Your Kayak on Kings Landing
There are plenty of places to park your kayak on the Kings Landing run, we recommend kayaking towards the right side to get to the blue water! The water is 2-4 feet deep for most of the river so you can pull over on your kayak or canoe to get pictures, swim, and watch the Florida wildlife!
Top Florida Springs To Visit
It’s easy to see why people love visiting the Florida Springs like Kings Landing and Wekiva Springs: teal blue water, peaceful sounds of nature, and Florida wildlife sighting from your kayak! There are dozens of Florida springs to visit, but these are our personal list of Top Florida springs to visit:
- Kelly Rock Springs, Apopka
- Blue Springs, High Springs
- Ginnie Springs, High Springs
- Ichetucknee Springs, Fort White
- Silver Glen Springs, Silver Springs
- Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River
- Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee
- Rainbow Springs, Dunnellon
- Devil’s Den Spring, Williston
- Ponce de Leon Springs, Ponce de Leon
Bree + Stephen are adventurous entrepreneurs based in Salt Lake City, Utah! They’re pioneers of the NO BS Podcast and hosts of their YouTube channel where they share travel videos, business tutorials, and lifestyle content! They live with their German Shepherd, Sequoia, and are usually chugging coffee while on their way to a hike! Please contact us for business inquiries or questions about this article!
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