Dallas and I had a bit of drama brought into our lives and we were sick of stewing about it so we decided an adventure was in order. It was a lovely day in early April and the beaches were still full of spring breakers so we decided to head inland to Morrison Springs.
It’s the perfect day trip in the Florida Panhandle near 30A and Destin. It is definitely worth the 1 hour drive to see Florida’s other natural wonder. The 68-degree water temperature is hard to beat on a hot sunny day.
Since it was a last minute trip, we didn’t come prepared but keep reading below so you don’t make the same mistakes as us!
🎥 Watch the Episode
See the whole adventure — cold water shock, Scuba Fitz in his natural habitat, a very suspicious toy snake, and one very fun dock moment — in our latest Nomad-ish episode.
What Is Morrison Springs?
Morrison Springs is a spring-fed swimming hole located in Ponce de Leon, Florida — about an hour north of 30A, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach and roughly 45 minutes from Panama City Beach. It sits inside Morrison Springs County Park and draws families, snorkelers, kayakers, scuba divers, and anyone looking for a serious escape from the Florida heat.
The water is a stunning blue-green — the kind that makes you stop and stare before you get in. It’s spring-fed and stays a consistent 68 degrees year round, which feels amazing a lot of the year down here.
It’s not a secret exactly — locals know it well — but it flies under the radar for most visitors to the area. Which makes it all the better.
Planning Your Visit
📍 Location: Morrison Springs County Park — Ponce de Leon, FL Approximately 1 hour from 30A, Destin and Fort Walton Beach and 45 minutes from Panama City Beach
💵 Cost: $5 per car to enter
🕐 Hours: Open daily, sunrise to sunset
🌊 Water Temperature: 68 degrees year round — spring-fed and consistent
🅿️ Parking: Decent-sized lot, but the park does hit capacity on busy days — particularly weekends. Once full, it’s a one-in-one-out situation. If you can swing a weekday morning, do it. The silver lining? Capacity here doesn’t mean overcrowded — we visited on a day they’d hit their limit and still had plenty of room on the beach and the dock.
🚻 Facilities: Public bathrooms and changing stalls on site — bathrooms were a little wet but totally manageable. There’s also a covered pavilion and picnic tables, which we highly recommend taking advantage of before you get in the water.
What to Do at Morrison Springs
Swim– The entry is gradual and sandy in places, with some rocks and tree roots along the edges — water shoes are a good call, especially for little ones. It’s shallow enough at the entry that even the youngest kids can wade in comfortably, and deep enough further out that older kids and adults can fully explore. The water clarity is genuinely remarkable — you can see straight to the bottom.
Snorkel– This is one of the best spots in the Panhandle to snorkel with kids. Visibility is incredible, there are fish to find, and we’ve heard the spring vent itself is worth swimming out to see. If you have a kid who loves that kind of underwater exploration — they are going to be in their element here. I want to bring snorkel gear next time we go back. Only our 8 year old did for this trip.
Kayak, Paddle Board, or Float– You can bring your own kayaks, paddle boards, and floats — and we cannot recommend this enough. We didn’t bring ours and we wished we had from the moment we got in the water. There’s so much more of the spring to explore from the water, and having something to float on makes the whole experience easier — especially for families with little ones who aren’t strong swimmers.
The Dock– is worth every bit of the swim out. Dallas and I could touch the bottom until about eight feet from the dock — after that it’s all swimming. For our kids who couldn’t swim on their own, they rode on our backs out and we did a handoff at the edge — which was an experience. A float or life jacket makes this so much more manageable.
Once you’re out there, the views back to shore are beautiful and the water is even clearer from up top. There’s room to jump, room to sit and soak it in, and if the timing is right — you might even have it to yourselves for a bit.
There’s also a separate dock and a tree jump nearby for older kids or the more adventurous parents in the group.
Tips for Visiting With Kids
- Water shoes are a helpful. The entry has rocks and slippery tree roots — the sand is nice but we were happy we all had on some kind of water shoe.
- Bring life jackets for non-swimmers. We wished we had them, especially for the swim out to the dock. It would have made the whole experience easier and more comfortable for everyone.
- Pack a float, paddle board, or kayak. We said it in the video and we’ll say it here — add at least one to your packing list. You’ll want it. Even if it’s just a $2 intertube from Walmart, it’s worth it.
- Bring toys for the littles. We threw a beach ball in the bag almost as an afterthought and it ended up being one of the highlights for our two and four year olds.
- Pack a picnic. There’s a covered pavilion, picnic tables, and plenty of sandy space to spread out a blanket. We ate before we ever got in the water and it set the whole day up perfectly.
- Go on a weekday if you can. The park hits capacity on weekends. Weekday mornings are your best bet for more breathing room. Shoulder season and early on weekend mornings would work as well.
- The cold is temporary. 68 degrees sounds terrible until you’re in it. Give the kids a minute — once they’re past that first cold shock, they will not want to get out. Unless you have a very cold sensitive one, like our 7 year old. He got out to the dock, dried off and warmed up in the sun, and then had no interest getting back in to head to shore. You know your kids so use your best judgement.
What to Pack
- Water shoes
- Life jackets for little ones or non-swimmers
- Snorkel gear
- Float, paddle board, or kayak
- Picnic lunch and snacks
- Beach towels and/or chairs (note — some parking is a bit of a walk, so pack accordingly)
- Change of clothes for everyone
- Sunscreen
Would We Go Back?
Without question.
The vibe at Morrison Springs is just — different. If you spend most of your Florida time on 30A, this is a really good reset. Less polished, more real, a totally different crowd. It reminded us of a lake day back in Oklahoma where we grew up, just with significantly prettier water (iykyk).
We showed up underprepared and still had one of the best family days we’ve had in a long time. We’re absolutely going back — with our paddle boards, life jackets, and a much better packing list. And we have a feeling Morrison Springs is just the beginning — there are a lot more Florida springs on our list to explore.
Nearby Adventures
We’re just getting started on our Florida content — check back soon for more day trips, hidden gems, and family adventures along the Gulf Coast. In the meantime, you can checkout our Kayaking the Bayou Video and find all of our travel guides at nomadishcollective.com.
About Nomad-ish
This is Nomad-ish — a family of six driven by curiosity, new experiences, and the belief that the world is worth exploring together. From epic road trips to backyard escapes, we want to show you that getting outside with your kids is more doable than you think. We love to roam… but we always come home.
Follow along on YouTube and Instagram for more family adventures, travel guides, and real-life moments from the road.
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