12 Best Places to See Manatees in Florida
Seeing manatees in the wild is quite the experience! Our list of the 12 Best Places to See Manatees will help up your chances of spotting these “sea cows” out in the wild. Manatees are fascinating, graceful, and playful animals that can often be spotted in Florida springs and rivers.
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Manatees in Florida
Manatees have graced the waters of Florida since prehistoric times. Years of habitat loss caused the population dwindle to the point that manatees were added to the list of Endangered Species in 1973.
Today, there are between 3,000 and 5,000 manatees living in Florida and the sea cows are no longer considered endangered.
Before you Hop in the Water...
Manatees come to the surface of the water every 3-5 minutes to breathe. However, they can spend as long as 20 minutes under water. Kayakers and paddleboarders that hover over the manatees can sometimes cause the animals to stay underwater longer than they are comfortable with. If you plan on getting in the water with the manatees, please give them some space and don’t park your vessel directly on top of them.
Best Places to See Manatees
Crystal River & Three Sisters Spring
In the winter months, more than 1,000 manatees congregate in the Crystal River. This is probably the one of the best places to see manatees in the wild! The gentle sea creatures flock here due to the warm waters put out by Three Sisters Springs. In the summer months, there are some resident manatees that you may be able to see. Crystal River is the best place for swimming with manatees and the only place that you can do it year round.
Chassahowitzka River & The Seven Sisters Spring
“The Chaz”, as we call it, is truly a hidden gem. Manatees are known to hang out here year round however, you’ll have a better chance of spotting them during the winter months. For the best opportunity to see the manatees, visitors should rent a kayak (or bring their own) and paddle down to the Seven Sisters Spring.
Silver Springs State Park
Manatees have recently started migrating back to Silver Springs. This state park is known for its incredibly clear water and its glass bottom boat tours. The best time to visit Silver Springs, to see manatees, is in the winter months. We saw about 5 manatees on our glass bottom boat ride.
Swimming is not permitted at Silver Springs. However, you are allowed to boat, kayak or canoe to get up close and personal with the manatees. To up your chances of seeing a manatee, plan on arriving the to park as soon as it opens, at 8 AM and rent (or bring your own) kayak.. This is 2 hours before the glass bottom boat tours start.
Blue Spring State Park
Lately, one of the best places to see manatees has been Blue Spring State Park. In 2022, the park saw record breaking numbers of manatees flocking into the springs. On any given day, in the winter, visitors can see hundreds of manatees.
The park offers several vantage points where you can spot manatees in the spring.
Wakulla Springs State Park
If you want to see manatees at Wakulla Springs, your best bet is to book a boat tour or rent a kayak. Manatees are found here year round, but like all other places, it is most common to find them during the cold months.
Fanning Springs State Park
Another popular hang out for manatees is Fanning Springs State Park. The water here is extremely clear making it easy to spot the manatees grazing on the bottom.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
This is one of the prime wildlife locations in the entire state. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge has an observation deck where you can frequently spot manatees. Manatees are typically seen during the fall and spring months.
Manatee Lagoon
Manatee Lagoon is located in West Palm Beach. The park has an observation area where in the winter months you may see up to as many as 800 manatees.
Manatee Park, Fort Myers
Manatees are drawn to Manatee Park for a different reason- the Fort Myers power plant. The power plant warms the waters making it one of the best places to see manatees. Local manatees tend to hang out here during the cool months. There are great walkways and viewing platforms at the park that make it easier to see the manatees. They also offer kayak rentals, if you want to get a little closer.
Manatee Viewing Center, Tampa
Similar to Manatee Park, the Manatee Viewing Center is located near a power plant. The park is open from November 1st through April 15th each year when spotting manatees is most common.
Where Can I Swim with Manatees?
In most places, swimming with manatees is not permitted. However, it is allowed in Citrus County- Homosassa Springs and Crystal River. If you visit in the summer, your best bet for swimming with manatees is to visit Crystal River. To swim with the manatees, you’ll need a boat tour.
When is the Best Time to See Manatees?
You can pretty much see manatees in the Crystal River year round. Many of the year-round manatees here are young manatees that don’t quite have the courage to venture into the rivers.
However, the peak season for seeing manatees is from November to March. During this time of the year, the manatees migrate from the rivers into the springs to stay warm.
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