When can you see manatees at Blue Springs?

Manatees at Blue Spring State Park From mid-November to March, hundreds of manatees congregate in the spring run to seek shelter from the cold.



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Blue Spring State Park is unique because visitors can view manatees in the crystal-clear spring water from the boardwalk, which stretches 1/3 of a mile from the St. Johns River to the headspring.

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Tip: the best time to visit Blue Spring State Park is in the mid morning before the sun is fully up and warming the waters. As the day goes on, the manatees work their way back into the St Johns River. In the morning there are also smaller crowds, so it's much more pleasant.

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The manatee season at Crystal River NWR begins in mid-November and ends in late March. This is when the manatee sanctuaries go into effect. During the winter months, manatees come to the springs of Crystal River NWR to conserve the energy necessary to survive the cold Gulf waters.

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Crystal River is the only place in Florida where it's legal to swim with manatees in their natural habitat. Located in Citrus County, the area gets busy and draws crowds because of the high number of manatees found in Kings Bay.

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I loved this little park. I actually visited in two days in a row. The manatees were in the river along with a lot of other interesting wildlife.

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Can you swim in Blue Springs? Yes, swimming and scuba diving are permitted at Blue Springs, Florida. Check at the entrance if you are required to register. However, the spring run closes during the winter to protect the migratory manatees.

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Phone: 386-775-3663. Hours: Open from 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year. Day use admission $6 per vehicle, $2 for pedestrians, bicycles.

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Other great places to spot manatees in their natural habitat include:
  • The Tampa Bay area.
  • Apollo Beach.
  • Blue Springs State Park near Orange City.
  • Indian River Lagoon.
  • Charlotte Harbor (near Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda)
  • Pine Island Sound.
  • Fort Myers area.
  • Apalachicola Bay and St. Joseph Bay.


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Lake Jesup, Florida Alligators can be very dangerous and Lake Jesup is the most alligator-infested lake in America. It's said there could be up to 13,000 gators in this lake or more.

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Tours average around $70 per person including the use of a wetsuit, snorkel. mask and a floating device. The West Indian manatee is an imperiled species and is protected by the laws of the state of Florida and US Fish and Wildlife.

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The best time to visit Crystal River is November through to mid-February. But whether the manatees are there, and in any sort of numbers, is entirely temperature related.

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