Marvel at manatees with guided tours and day trips from Orlando to our nearby natural springs.
Did you know that you can see wild manatees within one hour of Orlando? Go a little further, and you can even swim with them! Turns out, manatees love our warm winter weather too — that’s why they flock to our preserves and natural springs from mid-November to March. Discover some of the best places to see manatees in Orlando and beyond, then book your next trip with trusted tour operators who can get you up close and personal with these majestic mammals.
Discover: Orlando-Area Natural Springs
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Closest to Orlando: Blue Spring State Park
Just one hour north of Orlando, Blue Spring State Park is one of the largest manatee gathering sites in the state. Researchers tracked over 700 manatees in 2023 alone, and it’s not unusual to see hundreds in the water as you traverse the boardwalk trail. See manatees, ospreys and eagles along the spring run, then board a guided river cruise from Blue Spring Adventures to spot additional wildlife along the adjacent St. Johns River.
Day-use reservations are required, so double check capacity in advance and enjoy all that the springs have to offer — including swimming, snorkeling and paddling in the spring and summer months.
Day Trip Worthy: Manatee Viewing Within Two Hours of Orlando
Want even more ways to see manatees while you’re in town? We have several day trip-worthy natural springs within two hours of Orlando. Explore guided excursions, glass-bottom boat tours and the only place in the country where you can actually swim with manatees.
Discover: Outdoor Orlando
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
Crystal River is the only place in the United States where you can legally swim and snorkel with manatees, making it well worth the 90-minute drive to Florida’s Gulf Coast. Hop on a guided excursion with included transportation from Gray Line of Orlando Sightseeing Tours to enjoy a full day out and be back in time for the fireworks.
If you prefer to drive there yourself, check out tour operators like Get Up and Go Kayaking or Crystal River Preserve Adventures for your choice of guided snorkel and clear-bottom kayak tours. Crystal River Watersports also offers several environmentally responsible tour options in Crystal River. Beyond swimming and snorkeling with manatees, you can also take a serene nature cruise, don a mermaid tail and even score some sweet underwater snaps of this unforgettable adventure.
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs State Park
Just a few miles south of Crystal River, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is a rehabilitation center for injured West Indian manatees. It’s one of the only places in the world where you can see manatees all year long thanks to a floating underwater observatory, a rescue and rehabilitation program, and over a mile of paved and boardwalk waterfront trails. You can also learn more about these gentle giants during twice-daily tours (included with admission) or via a clear kayak expedition.
Silver Springs State Park
A classic Florida attraction since the 1870s, Silver Springs State Park is one of the largest natural springs in the country. It’s also home to warm-blooded manatees during the winter months. Explore the nearly-5,000-acre springs on a clear paddleboard or kayak tour from Epic Paddle Adventures or Get Up and Go Kayaking, or board an iconic glass bottom boat to spot manatees, turtles and other aquatic wildlife below the surface. Silver Springs is about 90 minutes north of Orlando for a quick and easy day trip.
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