Manatee Springs

Christina M

Beautiful spring, perfect for cooling off in the hot weather. The swimming area is quite large. There is a separate ramp that you can use to paddle out into the Suwannee River and canoe/kayak rentals are available at the park. A beautiful boardwalk also takes you down to the river. There is a small concession stand and store, but we didn't visit as we tend to pack lunch and being what we need. We plan on returning in the colder months to hopefully spot some manatees.

Justin S.

This review is specifically for snorkeling the spring, which I did with my kids. Pros: Not very crowded, even on a Saturday - the swim area is relatively large. Multiple (3x) entry/exit points (stairs) into the swim area. There are shallow areas where you can stand and take a break if you're not a strong swimmer. Bathrooms had two stalls, cleanliness was average. Manatee has a particularly stunning blue color compared to other springs. Cons: There is quite a bit of algae that is covering most underwater surfaces and is coming off in mats and chunks. Kids weren't excited to come in contact with these. Water was clear enough, but noticeably more murky than other central Florida springs. Summary - I wouldn't likely come back exclusively to snorkel this particular spring, but it is well worth exploring as part of a larger visit while doing many other activities this park has to offer.

Plants Over Animals

Great time visiting here, several options to do here, there was a cool bridge/walkway to check out, saw turtles and herons. There are kayak rentals here to do, a small snack shop that also sells floats, goggles, t-shirts etc. to swim there were a few areas to pick from to go in, definitely bring water shoes, goggles and a float, the water was freezing 🥶 to say the least but after getting in and maybe 10 minutes later it was somewhat tolerable. The bottom here looks to be around 40 feet, super clear it was definitely a fun experience!

Harry Canary

Nice state park with plenty of access to springs. Also, easy park entry as the street that it is on literally dead ends at the park entrance. Also the boardwalk out to the Suwanee River is a must see! Tip: Bring your own floats to relax in the water Pros - Plenty of parking - Very friendly staff and rangers - Paved road Into park - Fantastic boardwalk - Numerous stairways into springs - Plenty of kayaks on hand for rent - Bathrooms are cleaner than most - Has a snack bar, small store and ice Cons - Stairways could use an extra step or two into water - Hiking trails were minimally marked and maintained

Michael Briggs

Beautiful crystal clear, cool springs for swimming, and a great little creek for paddling, that meets the Suwanee River a couple hundred meters down. Camp sites are adequate sized, with electric and water, a little vegetation between sights for visual break. Clean bathrooms. A great place to camp for a few days.