Where to See Manatees Near Orlando (and When to Go)

Seeing manatees in the wild is one of the best free-to-cheap things to do in Central Florida, but only if you go to the right place at the right time of year. Here are the best spots near Orlando.

When to see manatees

Manatees can't handle cold water, so when the Gulf and the rivers cool off, they move into warm natural springs that stay around 72°F all year. That makes roughly November through March the best time, and the best days are cold mornings right after a cold front, when the most manatees crowd into the springs.

In summer, manatees spread out across rivers and the coast, and they're much harder to find in one place.

1. Blue Spring State Park (about 45 minutes north)

Blue Spring State Park in Orange City is the closest big manatee spot to Orlando and the winter home of one of Florida's largest herds. On cold mornings you can see hundreds of manatees from the boardwalk along the spring run.

• Best for: easy viewing from a boardwalk, families
• Know before you go: swimming and paddling in the spring run close during manatee season, and the park fills up on cold weekend mornings, so arrive early

For a closer look, a guided kayak tour paddles the St. Johns River nearby with a Florida Master Naturalist. As of October 2026 it started around $95 per person on Viator. Everyone has to know how to swim, and kids 7 and under share a tandem kayak with an adult. See the Blue Spring manatee kayak tour.

2. Crystal River and Three Sisters Springs (about 1.5 to 2 hours west)

Crystal River is the one place in Florida where you can legally swim with manatees, on guided tours in Kings Bay. Three Sisters Springs has a boardwalk if you'd rather stay dry.

• Best for: swimming with manatees, a full-day trip
• Know before you go: tours start early in the morning, and in-water rules are strict (look, don't touch)

3. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (about an hour east)

The Manatee Observation Deck at Haulover Canal, inside Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, is a good stop to add to a Kennedy Space Center day. Sightings here are hit or miss and tend to be better in the warmer months.

Why can't you touch manatees?

Manatees are protected under federal law, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, and under Florida's Manatee Sanctuary Act. Touching, feeding, chasing or giving them water all count as harassment and can bring fines. It also teaches manatees to approach people and boats, which gets them hurt.

The rule everywhere is passive observation: look, take photos and let the manatee choose how close to come.

Tips

• Go early on a cold morning for the most manatees.
• Bring polarized sunglasses. They cut the glare so you can see into the water.
• Look up recent manatee counts before you drive. Counts swing a lot with the weather.