Quick Facts

• Location: 994 Enterprise Osteen Rd, Enterprise, FL (Deltona area, Volusia County)
• Water Temp: N/A, Swimming is not allowed
• Entrance Fee: Free
• Hours: Sunrise to sunset, daily
• Activities: Walking, nature trails, spring overlooks, picnicking, playground, biking
• Wildlife: Small fish and turtles in the spring, birds, squirrels
• Best For: An easy evening walk, a date night stop, or a picnic with kids

Overview

Green Springs Park is one of those Florida springs you visit for the scenery rather than the swimming. This free 31-acre Volusia County park surrounds a rare green sulfur spring, with shaded nature trails, spring overlooks, picnic areas, and a playground.

You can’t swim or fish here, and the sulfur smell is impossible to miss. But the unusual green water, quiet trails, and nearby confluence where spring water meets tannic water make Green Springs worth an hour-long stop—especially if you’re already exploring DeBary and the Lake Monroe area.

History of Green Springs

The spring has drawn visitors for a long time. The Mayaca and Seminole people considered the sulfur water healing. In 1841, Cornelius Taylor built a hotel at the end of the spring run, one of Florida’s first health spas, and by 1883 the spring was part of steamboat baron Frederick deBary’s estate. The county opened the park in 2008.

Today it is a quiet neighborhood park and the trailhead for two paved bike trails: the Spring-to-Spring Trail and the East Central Regional Rail Trail.

Know Before You Go

• No swimming and no fishing. Honestly, once you smell it, you probably won’t want to swim anyways. If you want to get in cleaner-smelling water, see our list of other swimming springs nearby below.
• It smells like sulfur. The rotten-egg smell is strongest right at the spring. It fades some once you are on the trails.
• The gate closes at sunset. For an evening visit, arrive with at least an hour of daylight left.
• Bring bug spray. The park is under a thick canopy, and mosquitoes and ticks are common.
• It’s free. No entrance fee and no reservations.

Who Should Visit Green Springs?

Couples looking for a free date night walk, families with kids who need a playground and a picnic table, and cyclists starting a ride on the Spring-to-Spring Trail. It is also a worthwhile stop for springs enjoyers who want to see a rare green sulfur spring.

Who Should Skip It?

Skip it if you want to swim, snorkel, or tube. Skip it if you are sensitive to smells, too. Head to Blue Spring State Park or Wekiwa Springs instead.

Things to Do at Green Springs

See the spring

The spring sits in a deep, round bowl with overlooks above it. The water glows a milky green from the sulfur, and you can watch small fish and turtles from the rail.

Walk the nature trails

A network of paved and dirt paths loops about a mile through the woods, crossing small streams on footbridges. Follow the spring run and you will reach the best sight in the park: the confluence, where the pale green spring water meets the dark, tea-colored tannin water from the swamp. The two colors run side by side before they mix.

Picnic and play

The park has picnic pavilions, restrooms near the trailhead, and a playground, so it works well as a stop with kids.

Ride a bike trail

Green Springs is the eastern trailhead of the paved Spring-to-Spring Trail, which connects several parks and springs across West Volusia. The East Central Regional Rail Trail starts here too and runs 5.7 miles east to SR 415 in Osteen. If you want to turn a short spring visit into a longer ride or run, this is an easy place to start.

Best Time to Visit

Go from October to April, when the bugs ease up and the trails are comfortable. Late afternoon is the sweet spot: the light is soft under the canopy, and you can finish your walk before the sunset closing and head straight to dinner. Summer works too, but bring plenty of bug spray and expect to sweat.

Entrance Fees, Hours, and Reservations

Green Springs Park is free and open daily from sunrise to sunset (as of September 2026). There are no reservations; parking is free in the lot by the trailhead. For questions, call Volusia County Parks at 386-736-5953.

The park is at 994 Enterprise Osteen Rd in Enterprise, just east of DeBary. From I-4, take exit 108 and head east on DeBary Ave, which becomes Jacob Brock Ave. Turn right on Main St and drive through historic Enterprise to Enterprise Osteen Rd. From downtown Orlando, plan on about 35 minutes.

What to Bring

• Bug spray (the canopy keeps mosquitoes and ticks around)
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water
• A picnic, if you are coming with kids
• A bike, if you want to ride the Spring-to-Spring Trail

Leave at home: your swimsuit and fishing gear. Neither is allowed here.

Nearby Things to Do

I would recommend pairing this with a spring that you can swim at.

Other Springs Near Green Springs

• Blue Spring State Park (20 mins): Swimming is allowed from April to November, but you need a day-use reservation. This is also a good spot to watch for manatees.
• De Leon Springs State Park (35 mins): Spring on the St. John’s river next to the Old Sugar Mill, where you can cook your own pancakes.
• Wekiwa Springs State Park (30 mins): Large swimming area and canoeing on the Wekiva River.
• Rock Springs at Kelly Park (35 mins): The best tubing near Orlando, and it has a swimming area.

For another walk-only spring, Gemini Springs Park is only around 10 minutes away and makes for an easy addition.

Restaurants Near Green Springs

Swamp House Riverfront Grill is my favorite river-and-springs meal nearby. It sits on the St. Johns River at Highbanks Marina in DeBary (488 W Highbanks Rd), with gator tail and fried catfish on the menu, a downstairs tiki bar, and a dock if you arrive by boat.

The Salted Goat in DeBary (2 S Charles Richard Beall Blvd) is a farm-to-table gastropub run by a Cedar Key clam farmer. Check the hours before you go; it is closed early in the week.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Free, with no lines or reservations
• One of Florida’s few green sulfur springs
• Shaded trails and a visible confluence of spring and tannin water
• Playground, pavilions, and restrooms for families
• Trailhead for two paved bike trails

Cons:

• No swimming or fishing
• Strong sulfur smell at the spring
• Small park; most visits take about an hour
• Buggy under the canopy, especially in summer

Our Experience at Green Springs

My wife and I stopped at Green Springs for date night, and it was a nice start to the evening. We parked, walked a few minutes to the overlook, and saw the spring. It is bright green, and the smell kind of smacks you. We learned that this is a sulfur spring.

From there we walked to the overlook on the other side of the spring, which had similar views. The tree overhanging the spring is worn-in from people jumping off of it, but these days swimming is prohibited. We were surprised to learn that the water is over 70 feet deep! We saw turtles and fish.

From there we followed the trails around into the woods. They take you along the short spring run where the water eventually reaches Lake Monroe. My favorite part was reaching the confluence, where the clear greenish spring water merged with a tannic stream. You do not typically see this at the other local springs, but we did see this phenomenon at Little River Springs.

My wife did not appreciate the sulfur smell in the woods as much as I did, so we wrapped up our walk and drove over to the Salted Goat in DeBary for dinner.

What We Would Do Differently

In the future, I would combine this spring with Gemini Springs, which is right down the road. If you are making the drive, you might as well see both free non-swimming spring parks within 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Green Springs Park worth visiting?

Yes, for a free walk, a picnic, or a date night stop. It is not worth a long drive on its own, so pair it with a swimming spring or dinner on the river.

How long do you need at Green Springs Park?

Plan on about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours for a typical visit. That’s enough time to walk to the spring, check out the overlooks, explore the short nature trails, and visit the confluence.

Can you swim at Green Springs?

No. Swimming and fishing are not allowed at any time of year. The closest spring for swimming is Blue Spring State Park (April 1 to November 14, reservation required).

Why does Green Springs smell like rotten eggs?

Green Springs is a sulfur spring, which accounts for the characteristic rotten-egg smell. The spring is also famous for its unusual green color, which can vary with conditions and season.

Is Green Springs Park good for a date?

Yes. The park is free, quiet, and easy to explore in under an hour, making it a good first stop for a casual date. Pair it with dinner in DeBary afterward for a simple evening. For more ideas, check out our Date Jar guide.

How deep is Green Springs?

The spring basin is more than 70 feet deep, although swimming and fishing are prohibited.

Are there alligators?

Possibly. Like any water connected to Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River, alligators can show up. Stay on the trails and keep kids and pets back from the water.

Do you need reservations?

No. The park is free with no reservations. Pavilion rentals are the only thing you book.

Are there bathrooms available?

Yes, at the picnic area near the trailhead.

Is Green Springs good for kids?

Yes. The playground, pavilions, and short trails make it an easy family stop, as long as they know they can’t get in the water.

Final Thoughts

Green Springs Park is small, free, and a little smelly, which I think adds to its charm. It is a rare green sulfur spring with a long history, and the shaded walk leads to the confluence of spring water and tannin water. Come for a walk, then swim at a nearby spring another day. For more ideas, see The Floridian’s Guide to Springsmaxxing.