Where to See Manatees in Florida

Seven places to see wild manatees in Florida, picked for how many turn up on a cold winter morning. Go between mid-November and March, after a cold snap drops the bays and rivers below 68 degrees.

7 places · Florida

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🌺 Gardens & wildlife

Lee County Manatee Park

Fort Myers, FL · Southwest Florida$

Go from late December through February, once Gulf water drops below 68 degrees and manatees move into the canal warmed by the power plant across the street. From April to early December the canal is empty, and parking is $2 an hour or $5 a day.

💧 Springs

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Homosassa, FL · Nature Coast$

Several manatees that can't survive in the wild live here year-round, and in winter wild ones come up into the headwaters too. The floating Fish Bowl observatory puts you at eye level with them, and tickets are $13, or $5 for ages 6 to 12.

💧 Springs

Manatee Springs State Park

Chiefland, FL · Nature Coast

Expect a small group, up to 20 manatees on cold days, riding the 72-degree flow up the clear run. The 800-foot boardwalk follows it out to the Suwannee, but after a flood the dark river water fills the run and you'll see little.