The Florida manatee, a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, is an iconic and protected native Florida mammal. These gentle giants–also known as sea cows–can be found in waterways throughout the Sunshine State year-round, but the best time to see them is in the winter. Manatees have a low metabolic rate and cannot tolerate temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. During the months of November through March, manatees gather in large numbers at natural springs, where the water remains a constant 72 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are interested in seeing these beautiful animals up close, read on for our guide to the best places to see manatees in Florida in the wild.
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BLUE SPRING STATE PARK
Located in Orange City, about an hour from Orlando, Blue Spring State Park is one of the prime locations to view manatees in the winter. During peak season, the manatee count can exceed 500 in a single day! The picture above was taken during our visit in December 2024–there were manatees everywhere!
Blue Spring State Park offers many recreational activities, although kayaking and swimming in the spring are not allowed during manatee season. You can still hike the nature trail, camp, or have a picnic. We highly recommend taking the educational boat tour down the St. John’s River, where you can view a plethora of wildlife and learn about the history of the area. For more information about things to do at Blue Spring State Park, check out our article here.
However you choose to spend your day at Blue Spring State Park, make sure to arrive early, as the park can fill to capacity quickly during manatee season.
CRYSTAL RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Located a little over an hour north of Tampa, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge has the distinction of being the only refuge created specifically for the protection of the Florida manatee. The primary location to view manatees within the refuge is from the boardwalk at Three Sisters Springs. You can also view manatees from a 1.5 hour wildlife cruise where you can learn more about the nature reserve and view a variety of other animals. In addition, rangers lead daily educational programs during the months of November to March.
Crystal River also has the distinction of being one of the only locations where it is legal to swim with manatees in Florida. If you want a chance to get up close and personal with these unique creatures, we recommend trying a small group swim tour, where a guide will assist you in snorkeling and swimming with the manatees in their natural habitat, while ensuring guests are respectful of the manatees at all times.
ELLIE SCHILLER HOMOSASSA SPRINGS WILDLIFE STATE PARK
Also located about an hour north of Tampa, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is a perfect place to view not just manatees but many of Florida’s native and endangered wildlife. One of the unique aspects of this state park is its Wildlife Walk, an elevated boardwalk where you have the opportunity to see animal ambassadors, native animals that are unable to survive on their own but live captive in their natural environments at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and help educate visitors about Florida’s native wildlife. The Wildlife Walk includes an underwater observatory where you can view the springs, including fish and manatees. This state park also offers daily educational manatee programs on the bleachers near the observatory.
Homosassa Springs is another location where it is legal to swim with manatees under the guidance of a licensed tour operator. There are many options for small group, up-close manatee experiences, some which include a photographer to capture your adventure.
WEEKI WACHEE SPRINGS STATE PARK
“Weeki Wachee” means “little spring” or “winding river,” and the name was given to the area by the Seminole Indians. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is only about half an hour from Homosassa Springs. Manatees are present in this spring year round, with the winter months being the best time to see them, especially near the spring’s outflows. We recommend taking an educational boat tour down the river, where a guide informs guests about Florida’s unique flora and fauna and helps spot wildlife. You can also take a clear kayak tour, which is another great way to see wildlife including manatees, turtles, alligators, and birds.
In addition to being an ideal place to view wildlife and participate in outdoor recreational activities such as paddling, kayaking, and swimming, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park offers a unique look into Old Florida. Long before Disney World opened its doors, Weeki Wachee’s live, choreographed underwater mermaid show entertained guests. This classic roadside attraction began in 1947 and continues today in a 400-seat submerged theater.
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is also home to Buccaneer Bay Waterpark, Florida’s only spring-fed waterpark. At Buccaneer Bay, you can race down waterslides and enjoy a lazy river and sandy beach. There is plenty to do here in addition to spotting manatees, and it is a great stop to both have fun and appreciate natural Florida.
MANATEE SPRINGS STATE PARK
An hour north of Homosassa Springs, in Chiefland, Florida, Manatee Springs State Park is another location ideal for spotting Florida’s iconic mammal. This state park offers an 800-foot boardwalk winding through an ancient cypress forest, which provides many opportunities to spot fish, mammals, and birds. Manatee Springs State Park also offers nature trails for hiking and biking, as well as sites for camping and even “glamping”!
EDWARD BALL WAKULLA SPRINGS STATE PARK
Located just outside of Tallahassee, Wakulla Springs has the distinction of being one of the oldest and deepest freshwater springs in the world. Surrounded by an age-old cypress swamp and home to a variety of native wildlife, including alligators, manatees, turtles, anhingas, and herons, Wakulla Springs’ prehistoric environment has served as the setting for several classic Hollywood films. Exploring the lush, jungle-like surroundings during a boat tour will leave no doubt as to why filmmakers chose this location for movies such as Tarzan’s Secret Treasure and Creature from the Black Lagoon.
We visited in April 2021, and even though it was not prime manatee season, we still saw manatees. For the best chances of seeing manatees and wildlife in general, we recommend a boat tour of the springs, where you can learn about the history of the springs and spot a variety of animals including alligators, turtles, manatees, and birds. When we took the boat tour at Wakulla Springs State Park, our guide pointed out specific filming locations and shared the tragic story of Wakulla Springs’ famous resident alligator, Old Joe.
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park hosts a plethora of other activities to enjoy, including hiking and birding. If you are interested in staying overnight, consider booking a room at The Lodge at Wakulla Springs. Constructed in the 1930’s, The Lodge at Wakulla Springs is furnished with period furniture, which provides a glimpse into Old Florida. There is also a restaurant on site.
TIPS FOR SEEING MANATEES
As mentioned previously, the best time of the year to spot manatees is from November to March at one of Florida’s many natural springs, especially the ones listed above. We strongly recommend arriving early if you will be visiting one of the more popular manatee viewing locations, such as Blue Spring State Park, in particular during the peak months of December and January, as parks can fill to capacity.
The best way to view manatees is from an eco-friendly boat cruise or a swimming or snorkeling tour with a licensed operator. We recommend bringing polarized sunglasses. These sunglasses block horizontal lights waves that cause glare off of surfaces such as water, which allows you to see objects in the water more clearly. If you will be taking a swim or snorkel tour with manatees, we also recommend an underwater camera to capture your experience. We love the Go Pro Hero 13 and have used it for many snorkeling adventures. It has great stabilization and high resolution photos and videos.
If you will be viewing manatees from a boardwalk, make sure to bring binoculars and a camera. The photo below of a mother manatee and her calf was captured from a viewing platform at Blue Spring State Park during our visit last December.
WHY PROTECTING MANATEES MATTERS
As stunning and beautiful as these gentle giants are, like a lot of Florida wildlife, their numbers are declining. Right now, they are considered a threatened species, with only 13,000 left in the wild. Collisions with boats kill hundreds of manatees a year, and injure many more. Plus, pollution causes harmful algae blooms in their habitats, killing off their main food source, and affects their overall health.
However, there are still ways we can help Florida’s largest mammal. If you’re taking a boat through a lake, river, or spring, be mindful of “slow speed” signs to reduce to risk of hitting a grazing manatee. Try to avoid taking your boat through shallower waters, as these are likely where manatees will be found, eating or resting.
Remember, never litter in or out of Florida waters. One soda can or chip bag may seem like a harmless thing, but it can injure or even kill manatees, as well as other wildlife. If you happen to be swimming and spot a manatee nearby, don’t go closer, touch, or try to feed it. Feeding or harassing manatees in any way is illegal in Florida and may result in fines or even jail time. Manatees may lose their natural wariness of humans if they begin to associate them with food, which can be very dangerous for them. With more and more manatee fatalities each year, it’s important to do everything we can to keep them safe.
To learn more about manatees, including ways to help protect them, check out the following resources:
- Save the Manatee
- National Wildlife Federation
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Manatee Program
- The Florida Manatee: Biology and Conservation by Roger L. Reep and Robert K. Bonde
Resources for kids:
Besides being Florida’s iconic mammal, manatees are gentle, highly intelligent, and serve as a keystone species in their ecosystem. Catching a glimpse of these unique creatures is a special experience, and we encourage you to plan a visit to Florida during manatee season!
Sarah
I am the main writer and website designer for Florida Unveiled. I love the parts of Florida visitors don’t often see: the tea-colored water that flows in cypress-laden rivers; the chorus of frogs after a hard rain; the rustle of palmetto as an unseen creature scampers by. Some of my favorite places in Florida are the Everglades, the Keys, Smyrna Dunes Park, Bok Tower Gardens, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, and St. Augustine’s Historic District.
Hadassah
I’m one of the writers and one of the photographers for Florida Unveiled. Ever since I was born, Florida has been a place of magic and inspiration for me. Being able to share all that Florida has done for me through writing and photography has really been a dream come true. Outside Florida Unveiled, I really enjoy fencing, reading, and exploring new places.
