Have you ever seen manatees in person? If you have, count yourself lucky. If you haven’t, your luck is about to change as we’ve got the scoop on where to see manatees in Florida.
First, some basics. Manatees, also called sea cows, are water-based mammals that are gentle and large. In fact, adult manatees average 800 to 1200 pounds (some will grow to as much as 3,500 pounds).
Manatees are in the oceans and rivers of Florida year-round, but they migrate to Florida’s springs in the winter (generally, November through March) where the water maintains a temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Here are some other fun manatee facts:
–An adult manatee eats about 100 pounds of sea grass a day.
–Manatees can stay underwater for up to 20 minutes. After that, you’ll see them stick their snout out of the water and make a funny sound.
–Manatees have no natural predators. Not even alligators! In fact, their biggest threat is humans. They can get hurt by boat propellers and other human actions.
–Sadly, more manatees are dying in the wild due to habitat loss and accidents.
–A manatee pregnancy lasts for a year. Babies nurse with their mom for about two years.
–Manatees live up to 60 years in the wild and can live for more than 65 years in captivity.
–Elephants are the closest living relative to manatees. They aren’t related to walruses or seals!
–The Florida manatee is just one type of manatee. It falls under the West Indian manatee species. Other types of manatees include the Amazonian manatee and the West African manatee.
–The word for manatee in Spanish is manati (with an accent on the “i”). In Italian, it’s lamantino. In German, it’s seekuh.
What It’s Like to See Manatees
Although your manatee experience will differ depending on where you visit and time of year, we share here our 2025 experience visiting Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River, one of the best places to see manatees in the winter.
We arrived not long after Three Sisters opened and paid the $20 admission at the check-in area. The check-in area has parking, restrooms, and attendants who can answer any questions you have. The check-in area also has a board that lists the water temperature and the number of manatees spotted in the springs that morning (on this particular day, more than 200).
You can walk about 10 minutes to the springs, or take a shuttle bus there. We opted to walk as it was sunny and the air was crisp. As we got closer to the springs, we could actually hear some of the snorting from when the manatees came up for air.
Reaching the observation area, it was as if we were working with the paparazzi. All other visitors had their phones or cameras at the ready to take pictures of the underwater stars. There were helpful volunteers who patiently shared manatee facts and answered questions.
The manatees themselves appeared super relaxed. They were in various states of sleeping, swimming, or nursing (for the babies). If there was a true meaning for the word “awesome”, it would be for a sight like this. There were dozens of them congregated in one area of the springs.
Although it was hard to tear ourselves away, we eventually went over to another nearby observation deck where we could see all the action in the Crystal River. In one tributary, we could occasionally see manatees swimming out from the springs to the river. A volunteer told us that the adult manatees swim out to gulf (about 7 miles away) to eat their seagrass daily.
There was a group of people together snorkeling in the water (part of a guided group to swim with the manatees), while others were in kayaks or boats. In the river itself, there were other groups of manatees who appeared to be lazily relaxing. We could also see some homes that are fortunate enough to live right by the Crystal River.
We walked a little more around the springs area and could still see smaller groups of manatees together, giving us a different angle for pictures. Yet the most impressive angle was definitely where the dozens of manatees congregated together.
Once we returned to our car, we headed toward the USFWS Center about 5 or 10 minutes away. While there, we learned more about manatees in the area from a series of kid-friendly exhibits. There was also a small display of manatee-related merchandise.
Here’s Where to See Manatees in Florida
You may be fortunate enough to spot manatees if you’re near the beach, river, or springs in Florida. If not, or if you want to super-size your manatee view, then it makes sense to visit a destination where they like to congregate.
Crystal River, in Florida’s Citrus County, is perhaps the most well-known destination for manatee viewing. Plus, you can make a day trip of your time if you visit a Crystal Rivers manatee destination and then check out the cute town of Crystal River, where we visited several unique small-town shops.
—Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River. This is part of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge and one of the most popular places for manatee viewing. Your $20 admisison also provides access to a shuttle that will take you from the springs to other nearby areas, including the USFWS Center (where you can learn more about manatees), South Citrus Avenue, and Heritage Village.
—Homosassa Springs State Park in Homosassa, near Crystal River. One cool thing about Homosassa Springs is that you can view other wildlife that resides in the park, including black bears, alligators, and Florida birds–and a long-time resident hippo. Admission is $13 for adults and $5 for kids 6 to 12.
—Manatee Viewing Center at TECO Electric in Apollo Beach. Those manatees are smart, and they know that the warm waters around the electric plant will help keep their bodies warm in the winter. This is a free destination, which is a big plus–but that also means it can get crowded. The area also has a walking trail that’s about a mile long and an education center related to manatees and river life. The Manatee Viewing Center is open from November to April.
—Manatee Park in Fort Myers, Florida. We’ve never visited Manatee Park but this website gives you the scoop and touts a live manatee cam. It says the best time to see manatees there is in December, January, and February.
—Blue Spring State Park in Orange City. This one must get busy as its website says there are sometimes long lines to enter.
—Manatee Center in Fort Pierce.
—Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park in Wakulla Springs.
—Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach.
For more manatee destinations, check out this nifty map from the Florida Wildlife Commission. It includes manatees that are in captivity, such as at MOTE Marine Aquarium in Sarasota.
Manatee Video: For more info about manatees, watch our YouTube video at the link here. Our video is geared toward those learning English. However, if you’re a manatee fan, you still may enjoy the pictures and fun facts.
Some Tips to See Manatees
We’ve got a few tips to share If you want to enhance your manatee experience.
–Plan your visit during the colder-weather months (November to March).
–Go earlier in the day if you can for fewer crowds and better viewing.
–Consider if you want to view them from land, go kayaking/boating near them, or take part in a “swim with the manatees” tour (where the guide will instruct you on how to swim with them while keeping a respectful distance).
–If you’re in the water with them, be respectful and keep your distance.
–Never touch a manatee. They’re protected by both federal and state laws, and you could be fined.
–Don’t be surprised if you’re at a Florida beach in the spring or summer and you see a manatee in the water. Give them space and enjoy the chance to watch them in action.
