Family-friendly day trip: swim with manatees in Crystal River, Florida

Most people have heard of the Florida Everglades, but did you know Florida is also home to more than 700 hot springs!?!

Crystal River is a town (and river) located in central west Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico. It is situated on a small body of water called King’s Bay, and fed by more than 50 hot springs! The most famous of these is the Three Sisters Springs.

The most unique thing about Crystal River is the large numbers of manatees that visit in the winter from the Gulf of Mexico. (We learned that despite their appearance, manatees only have 10% body fat, and need to get out from the cold waters in the winter in order to maintain their body temperature!)

While manatees visit various hot springs, Crystal River is the only spot in Florida you can legally swim and interact with manatees in the wild.

Spending a day swimming with and learning about manatees in its natural habitat was definitely one of the most unique experiences we’ve done with the kids. And with its crystal clear turquoise water (perfect for the blogger ;)) and fun water activities like kayaking, snorkelling, and swimming (perfect for kids) – a day at Crystal River was the perfect addition to our Florida trip.

Crystal River fast facts

Location

Crystal River is just under 1.5 hours drive northwest from Tampa Bay, and just over 1.5 hours from Orlando.

Best time to visit

As manatees are definitely the most unique feature in Crystal River, we recommend a visit in the winter. Manatees can be spotted generally between November and March, with the largest numbers between December and February.

If you are more looking for a place to experience Florida nature, Crystal River is a beautiful choice the rest of the year. During manatee season, some of the springs will be closed to protect the manatees. In the manatee off-season, more waterways will be open for paddleboarding or kayaking. The area is also a popular fishing and scalloping destination.

Where can I find manatees in Crystal River?

While you can see manatees coming and going all along the Crystal River and King’s Bay, the highest concentration of manatees and where they actually take refuge is around the Three Sisters Springs. This area is part of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.

How long to stay in Crystal River

We feel a day trip to Crystal River is enough to experience the highlights. We drove up from Orlando for the day, and were able to go on a morning kayak ride, swim with manatees, have a relaxing lunch, AND an afternoon hike. We were back in Orlando by late afternoon without feeling rushed. It helps that the main attractions are all within a 5 minute drive.

However, if you want to slow down and enjoy more of Florida’s nature, a 1 night stay gives you a generous amount of time.

For an unique adventure, stay 3 nights or more on a houseboat! Check out Angler’s Inn (whether or not fishing is your thing!) We’ve stayed in a houseboat in Ottawa, Canada, and the kids absolutely loved it!

Where to stay in Crystal River

If luxury houseboats are not your thing, there are a number of trailer parks, standard hotel chains, and airBNBs in Crystal River and the nearby town of Homosassa Springs. Discover Crystal River has a comprehensive list.

Do you need to plan ahead for a day trip?

We booked our manatee swim experience the day before we decided to visit. Maybe don’t cut your booking *quite* so close, but making arrangements a few days in advance is more than enough.

The main things to keep an eye on before you book is 1) the weather, and 2) the number of manatees anticipated to be in the area (dependant on the weather).

The *cooler* the weather, the more manatees you will see in the refuge. (Generally, manatees migrate toward the springs when the water temperature drops below 22 C (or 72 F).) You can also monitor the Three Sisters social media pages – they routinely post the number of manatees spotted in the area.

Do we recommend swimming with manatees at Crystal River?

YES. Our manatee experience at Crystal River was one of the highlights of our Florida trip. It’s one of the most accessible, authentic, and kid-friendly animal experiences we’ve had (and that’s including Tanzanian safaris and Costa Rica animal hikes!)

We loved that we able to immerse ourselves in the manatee’s habitat, and could observe them at such close range. We also like and respect the great care that is taken not to disturb the animals (roping off the sancutary, making sure not to touch them or disrupt the riverbed). It is very easy and important for the kids to see first hand the conservation effort that goes into protecting these wild gentle giants.

::1 day Crystal River itinerary::

Morning: Kayak and/or swim with manatees

Seeing the springs and river from the water is a very different experience from hiking on land. It’s a much more immersive experience, even if you do not choose to swim. From land, manatees kind of look like occasionally-moving giant boulders. But in a kayak, you really get to appreciate these gentle giants up close. You’ll be able to spot babies with their moms, experience them gliding under the boat, and hear them coming up for air. If you do not want to swim, you can rent a clear kayak for a great view of the manatees. Clear kayaks make for great photos, too!

Kayaking is a good option for elementary age kids and older. It gets them involved and active, which keeps them from getting bored (which is key!)

There is *NO* land access to the springs from the water. You cannot just dock your kayak and go for a hike.

Crystal River Kayak and Dive Centre

We booked a self-guided kayak experience through Crystal River Kayak and Dive Centre.

There are a number of companies in the area that rent kayaks and paddle boards, and you do *not* need a guide in order to see manatees in Crystal River. We chose Crystal River Kayak because they are the only company (as of 2025) in the springs waterway itself, as opposed to around King’s Bay. King’s Bay is an open body of water with boats going in all directions, and we did not feel comfortable having to kayak with the kids across the bay to get to the springs.

Crystal River Kayak rents paddle boards, clear kayaks, canoes and both single and double kayaks sit-on or sit-in kayaks. (You can only swim from a paddle board or a sit-on kayak.)

The overall experience is a little pricey (but worth it for this bucket list experience). We were not sure how long we’d be on the water, so we rented our equipment for 5 hours. It turns out, 3 hours was more than enough for the kids, especially after their swim. They were cold and couldn’t wait to sun out and have lunch in a warm location. 😛 The kayak rental itself was reasonably priced, but we also had to rent wet suits ($15 USD pp), and snorkels ($13 USD pp). We ended up also renting a dry bag so we could pack snacks and towels ($12 USD).

Kayak with manatees

The waterways around the springs is perfect for kids and novice kayakers. The water is calm, and even the boat tours that come into the springs area to visit the manatees are required to drive slowly. The rental agency provides a map, and you can choose to go wherever you’d like.

During manatee season, you will find most of the manatees clustered around the springs themselves. The areas will be protected and roped off, depending on where the manatees are and how many there area. On the day we visited, there were about 200 manatees, and the entire Three Sisters Springs area was roped off. This means you can only interact with the manatees as they are coming and going.

This was probably the kids’ favourite part of the day, as we got to kayak right alongside a pair of mom and baby manatees all the way up the river. The kids also liked the freedom of going wherever they wanted. We did venture out a little way into King’s Bay and found a small quiet beach for a snack. The beach even had a rope swing!

Swimming with manatees

This was a very unique experience. All you have to do is tie up your kayak or paddle board along the shore of the river (there are ropes/buoys for this), and jump right into the water.

You want to swim *after* you are pretty much done with kayaking. If you are visiting during manatee season, the water is going to feel COLD, even with wetsuits.

The kids did not love this, as the area near the protected zone was crowded with other snorkelers. I also think they were a little unnerved at swimming alongside such large animals. You really only appreciate how big they are when they glide right next to or under you!

The kids only managed 15-20 minutes or so in the water before they were done. We had to kayak back to the rental centre immediately, as Lil S was freezing even with all our towels.

Alternatives for seeing manatees from the water

You can choose to book a guided tour, either by boat or kayak. Boat tours are usually around 3 hours, and start from King’s Bay into the springs area. The boat will then anchor and you can jump into the water for a swim. Boat tours are around $70 USD pp, and $40 USD pp for those who do not want to swim. (When you include gear, the price we paid for our kayak rental was almost the same. However, the kids favourite part was the kayaking, so we’re glad we didn’t end up choosing a tour.)

Lunch: Cracker’s Bar and Grill

For lunch, head to a local seafood joint around King’s Bay. We chose Cracker’s for its casual atmosphere, and it’s right on the waterfront for great views. The service was prompt (also key for hungry, impatient kids), and the food was tasty. The kids *loved* the fish and chips.

Alternatives include The Crab Plant (if you like crab!) or the Bayside Seafood Grille for casual options. Bayside Kraft Kitchen is a more upscale restaurant, for a touch of Crystal River luxury.

Afternoon: Three Sisters Springs

Swap your POV for the afternoon – take a hike around Three Sisters Springs. The land view of the springs is completely different. You don’t get the immersive manatee experience as you do from the water, but you can appreciate just how many manatees there are from the lookout points. The hike also gives you the best views of the springs themselves, where you can admire the beautiful turqouise colour of the water.

Similarly to above, there is *no* water access from the Springs.

Tickets

Buy your tickets for the walk from the Three Sisters Springs Centre. The Three Sisters Springs is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm (last ticket sales at 3:30pm).

Tickets for the general public cost $20 USD per adult, and $7.50 USD for kids 6 – 15. Children 5 and under are free.

You have the option to book a guided tour, but we did not feel this was necessary. There are US Fish and Wildlife Service volunteers who provide interesting tidbits about the manatees and the springs, and information signages posted along the way.

Parking

Try to look for a space at the Centre itself. If it is full, you will have to try and find public city parking (around a 10-15 minute walk). If the lot is full, we recommend you drop someone off to buy the tickets first, then circle back to the parking. Most visitors don’t stay too long, and it is likely a spot or two will open up.

Hiking the Three Sisters Springs

The hike to the Three Sisters Springs is fairly short. It is 0.3 miles along the Red Cedar Trail, an easy, flat, gravel path. There is also a shuttle bus that will take you directly from parking to the springs, if you do not want to walk this part of the trail.

The entire distance around the Three Sisters Springs is 0.3 miles. This trail is all boardwalk. You can walk around the 3 springs (named Pretty Sister, Big Sister, and Little Sister). There are 2 lookout points here (named Idiot’s Delight I and II. Honestly, who came up with all these names? :P), where you can see the manatees in their refuge.

After this hike, you can choose to continue hiking, or walk back to the parking lot. There is a longer loop (around 0.6 miles) past a smaller springs (Magnolia Springs) that will take you back to the start. There is also a 0.5 miles wetlands trail if you want to do more hiking.

*Swap the morning and afternoon schedule, if needed

We recommend keeping an eye on the weather before you book your boat/swim tour. You want to be in the water whenever it is *colder* (likely morning, but you never know). When the water is warmer, the manatees will venture away from the springs back toward the open water.

Additional activities in the area

The kids had their fill of manatees after the day, and it really was the perfect dose of hiking, kayaking, and learning all about manatees.

If you have a little more time in the area, you might want to check out some of these spots:

Fort Island Gulf Beach

A stretch of sandy beach around a 15 minute drive from Crystal River. As Crystal River itself doesn’t have any sand beaches, Fort Island Gulf Beach is a great choice for a relaxing beach day or some family fun. Dolphins can frequently be spotted along this stretch of the Gulf.

Crystal River Archeological State Park

This is the site of a Native American complex, with temples, burial mounds, and a small museum with Indigenous artifacts.

What to bring for a day trip to Crystal Rivers

– Swimwear

– Microfibre towels

– Go-Pro camera or waterproof phone case

– Snacks

– Water bottle

– Comfortable sneakers or hiking sandals (hiking sandals could also double as shoes you wear while kayaking)

– Water shoes

– Your own equipment – if you are driving and you own equipment, you can bring your own. This includes wet suits, snorkelling gear, and even kayaks/paddleboards. Our kayak centre allows people to use their docks for a $20 fee.

Thinking about visiting Crystal River on your next trip to Florida? Be sure to drop us a line if you have any questions, and we’d love to hear about your experience!