Where to See Manatees in Florida: Season, Places & Swimming
Where Florida’s manatees gather in the month you go, nearest to you first: how you see them there, the entry fee and the rules.
The nearest place where manatees gather: Blue Spring State Park, 28 miles north of Orlando, FLManatee season: mid-November to March; $6 per vehicle. Miles are straight lines; the drive is longer.
Blue Spring State Park · 28 mi north · they gather
Orange City (Volusia County) · run by Florida State Parks
✓ from land✓ by boat or kayak
- Manatee season: mid-November to March.
- Entry: $6 per vehicle.
- No swimming while the manatees are there: the spring run’s swimming season is April 1 to November 14.
- A day-use reservation is required to enter the park.
- “Seasonal manatee programs held during winter months when manatees are in warm waters of spring run. Entrance fee.” (FWC)
- “From mid-November to March, hundreds of manatees congregate in the spring run to seek shelter from the cold.”
- “In 1970, two years before Blue Spring State Park was established, researchers tracked 14 manatees in the spring run. By 2005, after years of park improvements and manatee protection efforts, wintering manatee numbers exceeded 200, and by 2023 that number skyrocketed to a record 729.”
- “Effective April 1, 2026: The spring run at Blue Spring State Park is open to all water activities. Swimming season is from April 1 to Nov. 14.”
- “Visitors can also launch a canoe or kayak (rentals are available at the park) or take a guided river boat cruise.”
- “All day-use visitors will be required to have a reservation to enter the park.”
- “$6 per vehicle”
Manatee Observation Deck, Haulover Canal (Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge) · 41 mi east · sometimes
Merritt Island (Brevard County) · run by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
✓ from land
- Manatee season: none given (any time, with luck).
- Entry: see its page.
- The refuge’s $10-a-vehicle daily pass is required for Black Point Wildlife Drive, Bio Lab Road and three boat ramps; its fee list does not name the deck.
- “View manatees from platform overlooking Haulover Canal. Entrance fee.” (FWC)
- “The Manatee Observation Deck is a handicap accessible opportunity to view manatees in the wild.”
- “A Refuge Pass is required to enter the Black Point Wildlife Drive and Bio Lab Road, and to launch a boat at Bair’s Cove, Beacon 42, and Bio Lab boat ramps.”
- “Merritt Island Daily Pass – $10.00 per vehicle.”
Its own page (read 2026-10-04)
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park · 75 mi west · they gather
Homosassa (Citrus County) · run by Florida State Parks
✓ from land✓ resident manatees
- Manatee season: winter for the wild ones; the resident manatees are there all year.
- Entry: Adults (age 13+), $13.
- A wildlife park with its own resident manatees, so you see manatees here in any month; the wild ones come up the spring in winter.
- “Park staff or volunteers present daily educational programs. Wild manatees now have access to the headwaters of Homosassa Spring during winter. Enclosed underwater viewing area allows visitors to see manatees near spring basin. Resident manatees year-round. Entrance fee.” (FWC)
- “Adults (age 13+), $13”
- “Children ages 6-12, $5”
- “A unique underwater structure, the Underwater Observatory allows visitors to “walk underwater” beneath the spring’s surface to watch the various fish and manatees swim about.”
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge (Three Sisters Springs, Kings Bay) · 77 mi west · they gather
Crystal River (Citrus County) · run by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the City of Crystal River runs the land side of Three Sisters Springs
✓ from land✓ by boat or kayak✓ in the water
- Manatee season: November 15 to March 31.
- Entry: a daily admission fee for the boardwalk (the City’s); the refuge’s Visitor Center is free.
- In the water only from a boat or kayak you bring or rent, or on a guided snorkeling tour by a business the refuge permits: there is no water access from the boardwalk.
- Federal rule, the seven Kings Bay sanctuaries: “All waterborne activities are prohibited in these areas during the period November 15-March 31 of each year.”
- Three Sisters Springs: “All waterborne activities in this specific area are prohibited from sunset to sunrise from November 15 through March 31”; “Scuba diving and fishing (including but not limited to fishing by hook and line, by cast net, and by spear) are also prohibited in this specific area from November 15 through March 31”
- “During winter, view manatees near warm water sanctuaries via boat or from boardwalk near Three Sisters Spring (with boardwalk viewing on a limited schedule). Vendors offer in-water tours for a fee. Follow USFWS viewing guidelines in this area. During warm weather manatees disperse from the sanctuaries and spread out along the coast—sighting manatees during this time may involve some travel and luck.” (FWC)
- “The manatee season at Crystal River NWR begins November 15 and ends March 31. This is when the seven warm water manatee sanctuaries are in effect.”
- “In the winter months, the most popular area for above-water viewing is the Three Sisters Springs boardwalk. Visitors may view manatees in the water by either bringing their own vessels, renting vessels, or joining a guided snorkeling tour.”
- “The refuge does not provide guided manatee tours itself, but instead has allotted Special Use Permits to many businesses in Kings Bay to provide them.”
- “Paddle craft are allowed inside of Three Sisters Springs between April 1 and November 14.”
- “There is no entry fee for the Visitor Center and Nature Store.”
- “There is NO water access to Three Sisters Springs from the refuge and no land access from the water.”
- “For the safety and protection of the manatees, in-water access to Three Sisters Springs can be closed by US Fish & Wildlife Services (USFWS) when water temperatures in the Gulf Of Mexico drop below 62.2 degrees Fahrenheit.”
- “The boardwalk and property around the springs can ONLY be accessed through the City of Crystal River’s services 8:30 am – 3:30 pm and daily admission fees apply.”
Its own page (read 2026-10-04)
Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center · 81 mi southwest · they gather
Apollo Beach (Hillsborough County) · run by Tampa Electric
✓ from land
- Manatee season: November 1 to April 15, while the center is open.
- Entry: free admission and parking.
- “Visitor center, gift shop, overlook and boardwalk where visitors learn about and see hundreds of manatees in TECO’s warm water discharge canal.” (FWC)
- “Hours: Open daily from November 1 – April 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.”
- “Tampa Electric proudly offers free parking and admission to all who visit!”
- “In the winter months the manatees leave colder waters to return to this warm and welcoming refuge.”
- “When the water temperature drops below 68 degrees Fahrenheit you’re likely to see many manatees!”
- “The Manatee Viewing Center and Florida Conservation and Technology Center are closed. We look forward to seeing you when we reopen for the season on November 1, 2026!”
Spring Bayou (by Craig and Coburn Parks) · 88 mi west · they gather
Tarpon Springs (Pinellas County)
✓ from land
- Manatee season: November through May.
- Entry: see its page.
- “November through May, manatees visit freshwater spring bayou near small community parks. Parking limited in this historic district.” (FWC)
Manatee Observation and Education Center · 99 mi southeast · sometimes
Fort Pierce (St. Lucie County)
✓ from land
- Manatee season: occasionally, in winter.
- Entry: see its page.
- The center’s own site (manateecenter.com) answered 503 on 2026-10-04, as did the Internet Archive’s copy: FWC’s words only.
- “Open year-round with many programs. Occasional manatee sightings in winter. Entrance fee.” (FWC)
Manatee Springs State Park · 117 mi northwest · they gather
Chiefland (Levy County) · run by Florida State Parks
✓ from land
- Manatee season: winter, the cooler months.
- Entry: $6 per vehicle.
- “During winter, look for manatees in spring and spring run. Entrance fee.” (FWC)
- “True to its namesake, manatees can be seen in the cooler months, and birds, mammals and fish are spotted year-round.”
- “Manatee Springs State Park proves boardwalks aren’t only for the beach. The park’s 800-foot boardwalk runs through a majestic cypress forest overlooking one of Florida’s breathtaking first-magnitude springs.”
- “$6 per vehicle”
Fanning Springs State Park · 119 mi northwest · sometimes
Fanning Springs (Levy County) · run by Florida State Parks
✓ from land
- Manatee season: occasionally, on the colder days.
- Entry: $6 per vehicle.
- “Manatees are occasionally present in Fanning Springs. Entrance fee.” (FWC)
- “Musk turtles, bass, mullet, freshwater flounder, bowfin (and manatees during the colder days) inhabit the springs and river.”
- “$6 per vehicle”
Lee County Manatee Park · 130 mi south · they gather
Fort Myers (Lee County) · run by Lee County Parks & Recreation
✓ from land✓ by boat or kayak
- Manatee season: late December to March (best: late December, January and February).
- Entry: $2 an hour or $5 a day to park.
- “Hundreds of manatees visit Orange River and canal during winter. Parking fee. Gates close at sunset.” (FWC)
- “Optimum viewing months are late December, January, and February when the gulf temperature is below 68°F (20°C). Manatees are not present during warm months, April to early December.”
- “Late December – March: Manatees are more likely to be seen at Manatee Park when the temperature in the Gulf drops.”
- “April-November: Manatees are seen in coastal habitats near the Gulf, by Lovers Key Park.”
- “Parking fee is $2 per hour or $5 per day.”
- “Public kayak launch available during park hours”
Closer, but not now
16 places from FWC’s list of where to see manatees, each with its own page’s season, entry and rules (read 2026-08-29 to 2026-10-04); points from the Florida Geological Survey, the Census Bureau and USGS. Manatees move with the water’s temperature: check the place’s page before you drive.
Quick answer: Manatees crowd into Florida’s warm springs and power-plant canals from about mid-November to March. Type your town and month: the finder lists the 13 wild places and 4 rescue centers the state’s wildlife agency names, nearest first, with how you see them, the season and the fee. From Orlando, the nearest is Blue Spring State Park, 28 miles north.
How to use it
Type the town you start from and pick it from the list, type a latitude and longitude, or tap Use my location. Choose how you want to see them (from a boardwalk or deck, from a boat or kayak, in the water, or at a rescue center) and the month you go. The first answer is the nearest place where manatees gather that month; the list below adds every place where you may see one, nearest first. Open a place for its season, entry fee, the rules and the agency’s and operator’s own words, with links to their pages.
Where the places and seasons come from
The places are the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) own list, “Where Can I See Manatees in Florida?”: FWC says that “during the winter months, manatees head for warm waters, such as springs and power plant discharge basins” and that “for the remainder of the year, manatees are widely dispersed in Florida’s waterways”. Each place’s season, hours and fee come from its operator’s page: Florida State Parks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lee County, Tampa Electric, Florida Power & Light and the rest. Where a page says only “winter” or “the cooler months”, the finder uses November 15 to March 31, the season of the federal manatee sanctuaries. SeaWorld Orlando and Mote Marine, also on FWC’s list, are left out: their own pages did not mention manatees when we read them on 2026-10-04.
The season decides almost everything. Blue Spring State Park’s own page counts the manatees in its spring run, from 14 in 1970 to “a record 729” in 2023, but they are there “from mid-November to March”. Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center is open only from November 1 to April 15, and Lee County’s Manatee Park says its manatees “are not present during warm months, April to early December”. In summer, FWC names the Wakulla and St. Marks rivers, by boat or canoe; the rescue centers have manatees in care all year.
Swimming with manatees: the rules
FWC: “The Crystal River and Kings Bay area is the only area in Florida where swimmers are monitored around manatees.” The Crystal River refuge has no water access of its own: you reach the water from a boat or kayak you bring or rent, or on a guided snorkeling tour by one of the businesses the refuge permits. The federal rules (50 CFR 17.108) close the seven Kings Bay sanctuaries to “all waterborne activities” from November 15 to March 31, and Three Sisters Springs from sunset to sunrise in that season, with no scuba diving there until March 31. The City of Crystal River adds that in-water access to Three Sisters can be closed when the Gulf drops below 62.2°F. Blue Spring’s run, the other famous manatee spring, is closed to swimming from November 15 to March 31: its swimming season is April 1 to November 14, after the manatees leave.
Wherever you see them, FWC’s rule is “Look, but don’t touch manatees. Also, don’t feed manatees or give them water.” Where swimming is allowed, it asks you to “use snorkel gear and float at the surface” (scuba bubbles may drive them off). Florida’s Manatee Sanctuary Act makes it unlawful “to annoy, molest, harass, or disturb any manatee”: up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail under state law, and up to $50,000 and a year in prison under federal law.
Every place on the list
| Place | County | How you see them | Manatee season | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Spring State Park | Volusia | From land, by boat or kayak | Mid-November to March | $6 per vehicle |
| Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge (Three Sisters Springs, Kings Bay) | Citrus | From land, by boat or kayak, in the water | November 15 to March 31 | A daily admission fee for the boardwalk (the City’s); the refuge’s Visitor Center is free |
| Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park | Wakulla | From land, by boat or kayak | Winter (FWC: they overwinter here) | $6 per vehicle |
| Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park | Citrus | From land, resident manatees | Winter for the wild ones; the resident manatees are there all year | Adults (age 13+), $13 |
| Fanning Springs State Park | Levy | From land | Occasionally, on the colder days | $6 per vehicle |
| Lee County Manatee Park | Lee | From land, by boat or kayak | Late December to March (best: late December, January and February) | $2 an hour or $5 a day to park |
| Manatee Lagoon – An FPL Eco-Discovery Center | Palm Beach | From land | November 15 to March 31, its manatee season | Free admission and parking |
| Manatee Observation and Education Center | St. Lucie | From land | Occasionally, in winter | See its page |
| Manatee Observation Deck, Haulover Canal (Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge) | Brevard | From land | None given (any time, with luck) | See its page |
| Manatee Springs State Park | Levy | From land | Winter, the cooler months | $6 per vehicle |
| Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature | Manatee | Rescue center | All year (manatees between hospital and release) | See its page |
| SeaBase Aquarium at Epcot (Walt Disney World) | Orange | Rescue center | All year (manatees in rehabilitation) | See its page |
| Spring Bayou (by Craig and Coburn Parks) | Pinellas | From land | November through May | See its page |
| Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center | Hillsborough | From land | November 1 to April 15, while the center is open | Free admission and parking |
| Wakulla and St. Marks rivers (by boat or canoe) | Wakulla | By boat or kayak | The summer months | See its page |
| ZooTampa at Lowry Park | Hillsborough | Rescue center | All year (manatees in care) | See its page |
Seasons and fees are the operators’, read between 2026-08-29 and 2026-10-04. A cold snap brings manatees in early and a warm winter keeps them out longer, so check the place’s page, or its webcam, before you drive.
Worked examples
From Orlando, in winter. Blue Spring State Park, 28 miles north; then the Haulover Canal manatee deck, 41 miles east, with luck (no season is given there); then Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, 75 miles west, and Crystal River, 77 miles west.
From Tampa in January. Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center, 11 miles south, free; then Spring Bayou in Tarpon Springs, 23 miles northwest; then Homosassa Springs, 59 miles north.
From Miami in January. Manatee Lagoon (FPL), 69 miles north, free; then Lee County Manatee Park, 118 miles northwest.
From Orlando in July. The winter places have emptied. The nearest place where manatees gather is the Wakulla and St. Marks rivers, by boat or canoe, 204 miles northwest; closer, with luck, the Haulover Canal deck, 41 miles east. Or pick a rescue center: SeaBase Aquarium at Epcot is 15 miles southwest.
To swim with them, from Tampa in January. Crystal River, 65 miles north, the one place FWC names for swimmers around manatees.
Common mistakes
- Going in summer to a winter place. Blue Spring, Manatee Springs, Tampa Electric’s center and Lee County’s park are winter places; from April their manatees spread along the coast.
- Packing a swimsuit for Blue Spring in January. Its run is closed to swimming from November 15 to March 31, while the manatees are in it.
- Planning to swim from the Three Sisters boardwalk. There is no water access from the refuge: you come by kayak or boat, or with a permitted tour.
- Touching, feeding or chasing one. It is against state and federal law, and FWC asks you to float and watch.
- Reading miles as drive time. The miles here are straight lines; the road is longer.
Plan the rest of the trip
Read our guides to where in Florida manatees live, Crystal River against Homosassa Springs, what makes Homosassa Springs special, kayaking the Homosassa and Blue Spring against Ginnie Springs. Find a spring to swim in with the Florida Springs Finder, and more trips within a drive with the Weekend Getaway Finder.
FAQ
Where can you swim with manatees in Florida?
In Crystal River and Kings Bay, which FWC calls “the only area in Florida where swimmers are monitored around manatees”. You go in from a boat or kayak, or with a guided snorkeling tour by a business the refuge permits; the seven sanctuaries are closed to everyone from November 15 to March 31.
Can you swim with manatees near Orlando or Tampa?
Not in either city: the place is Crystal River, 77 miles west of Orlando and 65 miles north of Tampa. Pick “In the water” above for the way in, the season and the rules.
Where is the best place to see manatees in Florida?
The nearest place where they gather in the month you go. In winter that is a warm spring or a power-plant canal: Blue Spring and Crystal River near Orlando, Tampa Electric’s center near Tampa, Manatee Lagoon near West Palm Beach, Lee County’s Manatee Park near Fort Myers. Type your town above.
When is manatee season in Florida?
Roughly mid-November to March. The federal sanctuaries and the Crystal River refuge’s season run November 15 to March 31; Blue Spring says “from mid-November to March”; Tampa Electric’s center opens November 1 to April 15; Lee County’s best months are late December, January and February.
Which Florida springs have manatees?
On FWC’s list: Blue Spring, Three Sisters and the Kings Bay springs at Crystal River, Homosassa, Manatee Springs, Wakulla Springs and, occasionally, Fanning Springs. All of them are winter places for wild manatees; Homosassa also has resident manatees all year.
Can you see manatees in Florida in the summer?
Yes, but not crowded in one place. FWC names the Wakulla and St. Marks rivers by boat or canoe in summer, and the rescue centers (Homosassa, ZooTampa, SeaBase at Epcot, The Bishop in Bradenton) have manatees in care all year. Pick the month above.
Is it free to see manatees?
At 2 places on the list: Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center and Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach both give free admission and parking. The state parks charge their entry fee ($6 a vehicle at Blue Spring), and Lee County’s Manatee Park charges for parking.
Can you touch a manatee?
No. FWC: “Look, but don’t touch manatees.” Touching, feeding, chasing or riding one is harassment under Florida’s Manatee Sanctuary Act and federal law.