Manatee Springs State Park

In 1774, the Pennsylvania naturalist William Bartram floated up the Suwannee River into a tributary that boiled out of the limestone with such force he could see it from a quarter mile away. On the shoreline he found the carcass of a manatee — extraordinary this far inland — and the name stuck. Manatee Springs. Two centuries later, the live manatees return every winter, the Mayaca and Timucua shell middens are still scattered through the woods, and the half-mile boardwalk from the spring boil to the Suwannee River remains one of the best easy walks in Florida.

• Location: Chiefland (Levy County), 6 miles west of US-19
• Address: 11650 NW 115th Street, Chiefland, FL 32626
• Hours: 8 a.m. – sunset, 365 days a year
• Vehicle entry: $6 per vehicle (up to 8 people); $4 single-occupant
• Water temperature: 72°F year-round
• Magnitude: First-magnitude (~99M gallons/day; range 50–150M depending on aquifer)
• Spring depth: ~30 feet at boil; underwater caves extend deeper
• Phone: 352-493-6072
• Camping: 80 sites across 3 loops, glamping in Hickory Loop

• Gainesville: 45 minutes (US-19/98 northwest to Chiefland, then west on NW 115th St)
• Jacksonville: 2 hours (I-10 west to US-129 south, then US-19/98)
• Tallahassee: 2 hours (US-27 south or US-19/98 south)
• Orlando: 2.5 hours (I-75 north to Gainesville area)
• Tampa: 2.5 hours (I-75 north)

From US-19/98 in Chiefland, head west on NW Manatee Springs Road (CR-320 / NW 115th Street) about 6 miles to the dead-end park entrance. Cell service degrades west of US-19 — download offline maps.

The spring boil pushes water out of a limestone vent about 30 feet deep, with cave passages extending considerably farther below. Visibility regularly tops 30 feet. The spring run is short — about 1,200 feet — before joining the Suwannee River, but it packs in a swim area, a snorkeling zone, the cave-diving entrance at Catfish Hotel Sink, and the elevated boardwalk that leads through cypress and floodplain forest to the river itself.

• Swimming and snorkeling in the designated swim area. Clear, 72°F water with freshwater fish, turtles, and a visible cave opening. Bring your own gear — no in-park rentals.
• Cave diving at Catfish Hotel Sink — for fully cave-certified divers only (NSS-CDS, NAUI, or PADI TecRec). Open-water and cavern certifications are not sufficient. Rangers check certifications; no exceptions. Catfish Hotel is part of the broader Floridan Aquifer network and is regarded as a premier technical dive site.
• Manatee viewing in winter (November–March). Manatees retreat to the warmer spring water when the Suwannee cools below 68°F. The boardwalk to the Suwannee gives elevated viewing.
• Kayaking and canoeing on the spring run and the Suwannee River. Multi-day Suwannee paddlers use the park as a launch or overnight stop.
• Hiking — about 8 miles of trails through hardwood forest and floodplain. The boardwalk to the Suwannee River is the family-friendly highlight.
• Birding — wading birds, raptors, woodpeckers, and seasonal songbirds.

• Designated swim area
• Half-mile elevated boardwalk to the Suwannee River
• Picnic tables and pavilions
• Restrooms and outdoor rinse showers
• Ranger station and gift shop
• Manatee Fanning concession (kayak/canoe rentals + guided tours)
• Dive registration desk at the ranger station

Status note (January 2026): The waterfront restroom building and the campground dump station are temporarily closed for repairs. Confirm current facility status at 352-493-6072 before arriving.

Eighty developed campsites across three loops, all with water and 30-amp electric:

• Magnolia Loop 1 and Magnolia Loop 2 — standard back-in sites under mature magnolia and hardwood canopy.
• Hickory Loop — recently upgraded; includes glamping units for visitors who want furnished accommodation without bringing gear.
• Primitive group camp for organized youth groups, up to 35 people.

Reservations up to 11 months out at reserve.floridastateparks.org or 800-326-3521. Weekends from October through March (manatee season and mild weather) fill months in advance.

• Manatee Fanning (in-park concessionaire, manatee-fanning.com) — single kayak $35, tandem $55, canoe $55 (each for 2 hours), guided manatee paddle tour $60 per person. The most convenient option for paddlers; guides know current manatee locations and river conditions.
• Anderson's Outdoor Adventures (Chiefland) — guided Suwannee River paddles, multi-hour to full-day options, good for groups.
• Additional outfitters along the Suwannee River corridor near Branford and Fanning Springs.

• Chiefland (~6 miles east) — limited but functional: Holiday Inn Express and a handful of independent motels along US-19
• Cedar Key (~35 miles southwest) — Old-Florida fishing village with B&Bs, boutique inns, and vacation rentals. Different character entirely; worth a night
• Gainesville (~50 miles east) — full hotel range; comfortable base for a Manatee Springs day trip
• Camping at the park remains the most popular option

• Chiefland — casual American diners, Mexican family spots, and chains along US-19. Generous portions, reasonable prices.
• Cedar Key (~35 miles southwest) — the dining highlight of the area. Tony's Seafood Restaurant is the World's Best Clam Chowder award winner and a Cedar Key landmark. The Island Hotel Restaurant and several casual dockside spots round out the seafood scene.
• Fanning Springs and Trenton — small-town BBQ and cafes north on US-19.

• Confirm restroom status before arriving. Waterfront restroom and dump station closed as of January 2026; call 352-493-6072.
• Manatee Fanning rentals book ahead. Especially in winter (the guided manatee tour) and on summer weekends.
• Bring your own snorkel gear. None for rent in the park.
• Cave diving certification is non-negotiable. Catfish Hotel kills divers who enter without full cave certification. No exceptions.
• Mosquitos heavy in summer. Long sleeves and EPA-registered repellent near dusk.
• Alligators in the spring run and the Suwannee. Stay within the designated swim area; supervise kids and pets.
• Cell service degrades west of US-19. Download maps before turning off the highway.
• Cedar Key is worth the drive. Combine your Manatee Springs day with a Tony's clam chowder lunch for a memorable family day.

Last verified: May 28, 2026. Waterfront restroom and dump station are temporarily closed for repairs as of January 2026. Verify current facility status, hours, and fees at floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/manatee-springs-state-park before visiting. Photos via Wikimedia Commons, primarily by Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0.