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    Three Sisters Springs

    3.6 (80 reviews)
    Closed 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Wendy M.

    My sister's and I enjoyed it. Was sweet and informative. Not far off main strip something so peaceful.

    Mary A.

    We stopped by to see the manatee after getting off a cruise in Tampa. As mentioned by others, parking is a bit strange. It was early on a Thursday in early February so we were able to find parking in one of the close lots. We had an easy walk to buy the tickets. It is very nice that they stack discounts and really try to give you the best possible deal. We really enjoyed walking around and were able to see the manatees. They have a very nice boardwalk and the water in three sisters is absolutely gorgeous. It was weird to see people in the water following around the manatees in one area. I much preferred when we saw them on their own in a different area. A nice stop and we were lucky that our timing worked with seeing the manatees.

    Entrance
    Mark E.

    On my bucket list of Florida springs is Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River. I visited is during the winter, which means hundreds of manatees seeking refuge in the warm, crystal-clear waters of the springs. It was truly a breathtaking sight to see these gentle giants up close. The springs themselves are stunning, with turquoise waters that are as clear as the pictures suggest. The boardwalk around the springs offers fantastic views and is a great way to see the manatees from different angles. I also enjoyed the hiking trails which was both peaceful and scenic walk through nature. The staff and wildlife guides were friendly and always ready to answer any questions. This place is truly amazing I recommend visiting Three Sisters Springs during the winter. It's a perfect destination for nature lovers and anyone looking to experience the beauty of Florida's wildlife.

    Winnie Y.

    We came on a Sunday morning and they weren't really busy at all. We ended up taking the shuttle to the springs but it's not a far walk as well. Their website had limited information and when we called, it was $20/person to enter. If you have a national park pass or over the age of 62, there are discounts applied. Our $80 total for the 4 of us went down to $55. Everything I read online said you needed a handicap pass to park right by the spring but we saw plenty of regular spots too after we entered so not sure what is the correct information. We also took the shuttle into town for lunch and honestly, this was the part that wasn't worth it. The shuttle only came once every 45 minutes. There is no shuttle tracker so you have no idea where it's at in that 45min and we ended up just walking the mile back to the parking lot. There were plenty of parking available and we definitely could have drove ourselves. The lack of information is what earned it 4 stars instead of 5. Otherwise, the springs itself was beautiful. We came in the morning and saw lots of manatees. Right before we left the area around 11:30, we got to see the parade of manatees leaving the springs which was really cool to see.

    Beth Ann M.

    This is more like 3.5 stars. We went on a Friday and got to see a lot of manatees. It's really not clear what to do when you get there. First off, you don't park in the shopping center parking lot - you can get towed. They told us about the lot back behind where they are. They also have a free shuttle bus that runs regularly to the "boardwalk" if you don't want to walk - I'd say it's about .3 miles from the shack to the boardwalk. It is a nice walk, as there are a lot of plants and things to look at on your way. When you check in at the main building, you pay (think it was "$25 a person") and they give you a wrist band to get your past the entry shack across the street. When we walked over there - the person was dealing with cars, so not saying anything to people walking by. Once you get to the springs there is a boardwalk that goes around the spring where you can see the manatees in the water. Some spots are better than others for being closer to the manatees. There are also volunteers posted around the boardwalk that can answer questions and bestow a lot of cool manatee facts. We saw mama and baby manatees the day we were there. This business does not allow people into the spring, so no swimming or kayaking with the manatees. There are other businesses in the area that do that. On one side of the boardwalk, you could see people just outside this spring in the water snorkeling and kayaking to see the manatees. It was A LOT of people. There's no food or anything at the spring - it's really just to enjoy nature and see the manatees. This was our first time ever seeing them and I really enjoyed just watching and taking photos. I definitely recommend it if you've never done it, but it's not the kind of thing you'd likely do regularly. It would be a fun activity for visitors or kids also.

    This is a MUST visit!
    Michelle D.

    I can not imagine anyone giving Three Sisters Springs less than a 5 star. I was visiting for the Florida Manatee Festival and was told this was the best spot to find lots of manatees. They did not lie! They offered free shuttles from the festival to the springs. We arrived and hit the restroom, which was clean. Then we headed to the boardwalk, which guides you around the spring. When the temperature drops, the manatees come in from the colder Gulf of Mexico water to the springs as the water is a constant 72 degrees. They hang out and eat, sleep, and the younger calfs play. The water was so clear and blue that it was easy to spot these gentle giants. There were staff members throughout the park providing history as well as general manatee education. It was such an amazing experience! I recommend it for all ages. My friend and I will be back next year.

    Stacia G.

    Small springs that require an admission. We chose to do a tour bus that drives you in and has a few stops after (beach, nature center, places to eat). They are behind the city hall. Unfortunately it was the end of the season so no manatees on this trip. The boardwalk surrounding the springs isn't long and it is teaming with all kinds of wildlife. You can get in to swim - only by canoe or kayak or tour. Unfortunately they stated the swimming area will be closed at the end of the season (March 31, 2023) until the season begins again in November 2023. They will be planting eel grass for the manatee to eat during that time.

    Manatees
    Allyson C.

    The 3 stars are primarily due to the lack of bang for your buck. It was real cool to see so many manatees in one place, but at $20/person, I think it's overpriced. There were several volunteers around the park and they were very kind and knowledgeable, but they should honestly be paid for their time considering the cost of admission. It's a small facility.

    Manatees from the boardwalk
    Hayli Z.

    I've only ever come to three sisters springs during the manatee festival, so it's free admission. If you come during a regular day, it's $20. Keep in mind there is no parking by the springs apart from like 2 handicapped spots. During the festival, they run a shuttle about every hour, I believe they do during the week as well, but if you park where the visitor center is, it's about a 10 minute walk. The water is bright blue so you can clearly see the manatees. There are no edits to these photos, it really is this beautiful.

    Frederick D.

    We came here to check out all the Manatee action. This time of the year manatee migrate to the springs, and it's a hotspot for a chance to get up close and personal if you enter from the water which we opted not to do just yet. The little one would freak out. We took the trolly out and back into the park. No parking unless you have a registered disabled pass. The trolley's driver gave us a narration of the sites on 5 min drive to the park. At the park there is a board walk that circles a few of the lagoons, which is where we saw a few manatee. Beyond the boardwalk is the park system which had a trail that loops around it. If you want to swim with the Manatee you need to do it from the water (it is prohibited to enter the water from the land within the park), and there are plenty of tour boat operators that will take you. The water is cold so you'll likely be wearing a wetsuit. We saw people in the water with the manatee.

    Patrick R.

    Beautiful place to spend a few hours and enjoy yourself. Parking is $5, and your equipment is waiting for you--after you rent it at Paddle's Outdoor Rental--at the pier. Make sure to apply sunscreen cause the sun and the reflection of the water for sure will affect your skin. I wasn't that smart and ended up with a sun burn on my legs. The water is clear and cool, no manatees this time of the year, but still a great experience.

    Sara K.

    My Mom and I were visiting from different states and decided to come here to see the manatees. Most of the staff was pretty friendly and we got to and from the location quickly. We saw so many manatees and went on a little nature walk. It didn't have anything to offer outside of that, so we felt the cost was a little high ($20 per person) so that is why I am taking a star away. Otherwise, it was a pleasant experience.

    Lesley F.

    We spent a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon exploring Three Sisters Spring. We walked the entire outer path. We didn't see any manatee in the popular spring area - there were lots of snorkelers and kayakers. The outside water apparently isn't quite cool enough for them to seek refuge in the springs. The springs are beautiful (except for all the people in them!). While walking the path our the park, we saw a couple of manatee in the river by the Magnolia Spring observation area. And we saw a black racer snake that scared the holy bejesus out of us on the outer path near the front gate. The park is beautiful. I wonder what it would be like if not polluted by all the noise and ruckus from the snorkelers and kayakers. I suspect in it's natural beauty and peace and quiet all filled with manatee would be stunning. The park is beautiful. Too many kayakers and snorkelers for my liking.

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    2 years ago

    We saw so many manatees the boardwalk was wonderful. The town people were very nice and helpful

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    3 years ago

    We loved our walk along the boardwalk viewing the 100+ manatee. Amazing to see those creatures up close.

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    Three Sisters Springs Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Three Sisters Springs

    Where can I park?

    Vehicles with handicapped parking permits are allowed to park on the refuge. You can drive directly to the front gate located at 601 Three Sisters Springs Trail. Because… Read more

    Is there kayak rentals available?

    Here at Three Sisters Springs we are a wildlife refuge with walking trails and a boardwalk to view the springs from land. If you are wanting to swim or paddle into the springs, you would need to go thru one of the many companies in Crystal River to… Read more

    Can I scuba dive there?

    Hello Melanie! Three Sisters Springs has open water access from April 1st-November 14th. During this time you can dive, snorkel, and kayak the springs as long as you enter from the water access. There is no access into the springs by land. Three… Read more

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    Review Highlights - Three Sisters Springs

    Hopefully with all the tours & divers they won't ruin Three Sisters Spring & chase the Manatee away forever.

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    Three Sisters Springs - tours - Updated May 2026

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