Took a weekend trip to Tarpon Springs to visit this state park. Arriving after 9am with only a 20 min wait to enter was great given it's a Sunday in the summer. While it was difficult to find a chair / shade we secured a chair in the sand area. The water was freezing but expected. It was also very relaxing. The wildlife is awesome to see. We got hot dogs, pepperoni pizza, cherry limeade. The lazy river does cost extra but it's worth it, I'd love to return because unfortunately due to inclement weather the water attractions were shut down. read more

See all

We visited Weeki Wachee on a Friday near the end of the season, and the park was blissfully uncrowded. We'd done our homework and knew the slides would be closed, so that wasn't a disappointment. We even called ahead to confirm the mermaid show was happening. The recording directed us to the app, which listed the show. Great! What it didn't mention was that it would be a training show, with spoken instructions and coaching for the mermaids throughout the performance. We only learned that when we arrived for the show. I gave it a chance but ended up leaving. The boat ride was also closed "due to low water" also not noted on the app. The park was clean, and the water felt amazing, but the mermaid show was something I'd looked forward to due to the longevity/history of it. Everyone needs time to learn, and I certainly don't fault the mermaids for that. A simple "training show" note in the app would have helped us know what to expect. We did our research; we just wish the information had been complete. Sounds like miscommunication and lack of transparent information had earned them a lot of low reviews. read more

See all

I am a huge mermaid fan and being able to see the Weeki Wachee mermaid show let me live my fan girl dreams. I went to the 11a show. The theater filled up quickly so get in line. Watching the performers was delightful. Even with the air lines under the water it was amazing to watch. Just being able to keep your eyes open underwater was astounding to me. We even got an extra performance for the Memorial Day holiday with a tribute to our service members. After the show they had a mermaid photo op that was donation based. After the show, I explored the rest of the park. It isn't that large but was a nice area and worth the $13 to get in. They have an area for swimming in part of the springs. I didn't bring my swimsuit but there were many people swimming and having a good time. There are some water slides too. They have a great gift shop. Loved having the opportunity to visit and see an iconic spot for mermaid lovers! read more

Love this spring! Parking can be difficult so get there by 8am or park in the park that is about a mile away. I have seen parking enforcement give tickets out to the cars parked on the sides, so park at your own risk! The lot in front is privately owned, and they rent out their spots when the guy is there. The water is amazing. I always see manatees. There is also a snack boat where you can buy a hot dog! read more

See all

They've been here since 1947... before Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Universal, LegoLand and yep, longer than Mickey. These mermaids ‍ showed Ariel how it's done in Florida waters. Welcome to Weeki Wachee Springs... home of one of the Sunshine State's original roadside attractions. (second maybe only to orange juice stands). If you love clear water, gentle humor, fun costumes, old Florida, a little razzle dazzle and a whole lot of bubbles, you'll get a kick out of the mermaid shows. The mermaids have their own theater and the kids aren't the only ones who get sucked into the fairy tale. The vibes are so laid back, you could be lulled into forgetting how hard these underwater moves are. They make it look easy-but there's some serious athleticism and training, behind all of the underwater fun... and they do it all... while wearing tails! (like Ginger Rogers keeping up with Fred Astaire-but backwards and in high heels) The mermaid show is adjacent to the water park. They share a parking lot and a ticket window. You could make a day out of it. There's a cute gift shop... and random peacocks wandering around... plus photo ops with the mermaids. I love the history of this place-they do a good job sharing it at the show. I'll let them tell you. The show is part of Weeki Wachee State Park. When i went (March 2026), it was $13 for adults-I think $8 for kids and I believe the youngest ones get in free. The water park and paddle boarding are extra but the admission covers the mermaids and I think the river cruise is included. The mermaid shows run a few times a day-and seats fill up quickly, so get there about 30 minutes early on busier days (summer and weekends). It's so Florida-you've gotta go! Have fun! read more

See all

The mermaid show is the big draw from this "famous " Floridian roadside show. Once privately owned, it has now been acquired by the State of Florida. We were late for the show, because the website failed to post times and were unreachable via phone, email, or the websites frequently asked questions. We caught the last 15 minutes of the show as it runs from 11-11:30, 1:30-2pm and 3-3:30pm. It's a relatively small park. The mermaid show is cute if you have children under the age of 10 years old. Otherwise, give it a miss. Admission is $13 ea a little less for kids. 4 of us cost about $42 for entrance fees. They have a water slide that was not operating. They have a small "nature " walk. They have a boat that was not running to look at nature and they have a 30 minute animal encounter educational experience with a ranger. She showed and talked about two kinds of turtles, a snake and a small alligator. Walking around they have photo ops to look like a mermaid and after the show you have a chance to photograph yourself with a live mermaid from the show. If you have $50- $100 your kid can have a "mermaid makeover". We were at the park for maybe 1.5 hours. I suppose if the boat was running and the water slide was operating one could spend up to 3 hours. It was an interesting experience. Once is enough. read more

See all

This was a must-stop for me coming from out of state! I've been once in 2015 and was insured to become a professional mermaid (for kids parties) in my home state after watching these mermaid perform and incredible routine underwater!! I still can't believe all that they do include staying under water for about 20 minutes (with breathing hoses), changing costumes multiple times under water, eating/drinking underwater, and all while smiling and dancing for the guests. Truly amazing! I highly recommend making the stop--this is especially fun for families! There are a few entertaining shows, a couple small gift shops, and several food/drinks areas as well. The Buccaneer Bay was closed today, but I believe you can normally swim in this area inside of the actual spring. Such a fun day!! read more

See all

Since we got our state park pass (we get admission for two free here), I've been taking multiple friends. The mermaid shows change (not sure how frequently). We have been twice this week and saw two different shows. After the show, there's always a mermaid by the gift shop that you can take a pic with. You can take them on your phones or pay like $5 to get an autographed pic. I think it's cool you have options! The spring beach is awesome, there's a few places to enter and now that it's warmer, they have tons of chairs out for people and some seating with umbrellas. They also have the water slide going now that it's warmer! There's a little playground and a restaurant, little boat tour and an animal show. The tour and show are also included in the admission! Each time we have been (about four times so far), we have spent a minimum of 3 hours. read more

Weeki Wachee Springs - Little mermaid show - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spring Hill, Florida

Last night was our second time visiting Weeki Wachee. The first time we came was during the day - and, apparently I got distracted before doing a review. I'm writing about it here but have no pictures from our day trip. Last night was the Halloween carnival. During the day: the line to get in is long! Come early. My grandsons went down the waterslide so many times I stopped counting. We loved swimming to the dock. The mermaid show was so iconic - it was awesome to show the boys the first roadside attraction. The show has been running since 1947!! 78 years at this point. Wild 'n Wicked Nights: we had no idea what to expect. The line to get in was even longer! Wow. Once the gate opened, line moved fast though. We started in the haunted maze (boys are 9 and 13). It was just the right level of spooky. The Other Side Haunted Manor was more scary - still okay but we jumped a few times. The Dead Bay Excursion was surprising. Fun. I'll leave it at that. Mermaid show always wonderful. Plenty of parking. Friendly staff. read more

Weeki Wachee Springs - Playing around with - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spring Hill, Florida

See all

Weeki Wachee Springs has so much potential. Cute idea overall and highlight of the park is the cool mermaid show. Lots of talent and unique skills to put on an underwater show. Nice family park with plenty to do but you must plan accordingly. Highly recommended to arrive early as the park closes when at capacity which can be reached early in the day. Amazing natural spring with crystal clear water once you acclimate yourself after the first dip in the cold 72-73 degree water all year round. Love the slides and great for the kids and adults of all ages. The lazy river is disappointing overall. It's an extra $10 for the donut and $10 for access and really is not worth the 5-10 minutes of a very short unimpressive float down about 40-50 yards of a super lazy river. The wilderness river cruise was okay and educational with cool facts and information. Only tip that's suggested is to sign up for the cruise immediately upon entering the park to secure your spot on the cruise that leaves every hour on the hour as they will fill up quickly. We were not able to experience anything else as the ranger experience and amphitheater had no events or shows planned which is disappointing as it can make the visit so much better and entertaining. Overall, it's a lovely family oriented park and a nice natural spring but has so much more potential to be a greater and more amazing attraction. read more

See all

Great place to spend the day! We went kayaking, saw the mermaid show, ate a great lunch, swimming in the spring pool, and had snacks all for under $200 for a group of 3. read more

Weeki Wachee Springs - The Little Mermaid - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spring Hill, Florida

See all

I had an amazing visit here in December. Even though it was off season I had an incredible time. The river guides were extremely informative and I was so thankful for all the info they provided! The entire staff is so sweet and nice. I cannot wait to return to kayak and hopefully see the manatees! The beach access was super neat and I can myself spending the day there relaxing and taking a dip into the 72° water. Florida state parks are certainly a state treasure. Definitely recommend for a day trip :) read more

See all

I'd never been here before but I was very glad we checked it out. Crystal clear water. Pleasant temperature on an extremely hot day!

Weeki Wachee is a gem. Go early and prepare for a full day of fun. The park offers so many fun things and on special occasions you may even see a manatee in the swimming area! Make sure to make time to see the mermaid show. It is one of a kind!Paddling the river is separate of the park and takes advanced reservations. read more

Weeki Wachee Springs - Mermaid show! - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spring Hill, Florida

See all

We arrived a few minutes before show start and bought tix for our family to catch the mermaid show. The audience was seated, curtains opening, when they announced a cancelation due to thunder within 10 miles... No refunds and tix are NOT redeemable for another day... and we were traveling so we were unable to stay for the next show two hours later... The tix sale window should check weather forecast and determine this decision BEFORE making sales... not doing this is the definition of a SCAM! read more

BEAUTIFUL WATERS. Just follow the rules and you will love it. Alcohol and smoke free. Do not tie your boats off. They will ticket you. The waters are beautiful and crystal clear here. Enjoy read more

Weeki Wachee Springs - group at the river - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spring Hill, Florida

This was a really cute experience! We were in town visiting my in-laws, and we've been talking about this place for over a year. It was a pretty windy Monday afternoon when we made it out, so it wasn't too busy. The employees greeting us as we came in were very friendly and a great indicator for what we were in for! We came for the mermaid show, so we ambled about until we were ready to stake our place in line. We came across multiple picture points (super cute) and saw that they have a spring you can actually swim in and a beach for it! From what people were saying, you could also kayak down for 7 miles where a bus will pick you up and bring you back. That sounds cool! Once let into the mermaid theater, there are TVs that display old black and white videos of the shows from years past. Once the show started, we were dazzled. It's a really cool skill to be able to do what they do. The show they did was Little Mermaid, and the villain was the best part for me. When the show was done, we headed to the gift shop and bought a couple of things, all very reasonably priced. We also had excellent customer service while we were in there, such a sweet girl! We had a great first time at Weeki Wachee, and I look forward to coming back one day. read more

Weeki Wachee Springs - Mermaid show - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spring Hill, Florida

See all

An overall wonderful and enjoyable experience for the family. Weeki Wachee is a great "starter" for those that are new to natural springs and want to get their feet wet (no pun intended). Tips: - As a good rule of thumb, get there early. We went during the last days of the summer (during Labor Day weekend), and a third of the lot was already full right after opening (9 am). - Parking is free - first-come-first-serve, so if you want a good spot, see first tip above. - There's a website that will give you an idea of what you can and cannot bring into the park (definitely recommend bringing an authorized cooler for snacks and beverages, although there are food and refreshments available on site). - The admission covers access to the general areas of the park, wading area of the natural spring, and mermaid shows. Everything else comes as an additional fee (ie. the lazy river, boat tour, etc.). - The beach area is a first-come-first-serve area (you don't have to rent the loungers, but the umbrellas might come with a rental charge). - If the mermaid shows are on your to-do-list while you're here, make sure you get to the show at least 15 minutes prior if you want good seats. The ushers will cap off when the auditorium reaches capacity. It's a great show covering the history of the Weeki Wachee Springs, so I definitely recommend attending if you have the capacity to do so. Make sure you dry off before coming here though. The Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is a great park to take the family to cool down and enjoy some water activities. As a disclaimer, my review is covering the park side of the overall Weeki Wachi Springs. There is a more "active" portion of the park in which you can cruise the entire length and tributaries of the springs. About a 40-minute trip from north Tampa, Weeki Wachee Springs sits along the main Route 19 corridor in Hernando County. The environ of the natural spring does not lend itself to be apparent, however, there are signs and displays directing visitors to the park. As you park, you may notice that there are two "entrances". There is the park entrance (which this review is covering) and another entrance for canoe, kayak, and paddle board rentals (I believe this entrance leads to the more "active" portion of the park). It was a wonderful experience. The park does a great job at maintaining its tidiness, although sometimes the trash containers may fill up quickly during peak visitation. It was nice to see through the clear water in both the wading areas and lazy river. The water was extremely cool, but refreshing (do not let this discourage you from getting in - I assure you that your body will acclimate to the springs and it's going to feel great afterwards). As it is a natural spring, there is naturally loose debris of vegetation floating around - so don't be alarmed. There are amenities such as bathrooms, rentable lockers, umbrellas, and cabanas to augment your experience. The lazy river portion came at an additional $10 fee per person for unlimited rides. It's a short and slow journey, but the water in this portion is crystal blue. It is deeper than the wading area, so just prepare yourself if you have anxiety about treading into deep waters. There's also plenty of large fish in this portion which is pretty neat. The mermaid show was spectacular. The show times were limited, and we were barely able to squeeze in to the showing. The center of the auditorium probably offers the best view and presentation of the show, however the extreme ends of the auditorium still offer decent views. Although it might not be for everyone, it was a great experience to learn some history while enjoying the spring. We definitely recommend this for families and couples! read more

See all

Wanted to go. However, inclement weather was predicted. All attractions closed. No refunds will be given. Would have been easier to just say, "Hey we are closed." I would give it more stars if there were refunds or partial refunds given. It's not so much fun. I know that they can close off the parking lot because I have seen it before. read more

This place is a rip off and very unprofessional, no inclement weather paid our fee sat down for 3 minute then they announced the show was canceled,l. Drove from Miami just for the mermaid show . It was for my granddaughter's birthday she is very upset . They tried to argue that the weather was bad nothing on the app says bad weather coming . Refused us any kind of compromise no money back no rain check no nothing just rudeness . Will never take any of time again to come here . read more

Weeki Wachee Springs - Receipt - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spring Hill, Florida

Pretty affordable springs, 19$ per adult. The water is naturally super cold, they say it's about 72 degrees but it really felt colder. I suggest wearing a wetsuit if your not use to cold water. The boat tour was actually the best part to me as you were able to see a lot of fishes aand the water was clear. For the springs part that you actually go in, the water was not as clear but not sure if that's because recently there was a passing hurricane. Goggles are a great idea. You are allowed to bring your own floating devices or can pay to rent one. They have a mermaid show, which there pretty famous for, but the inside of the area is freezing like so cold your body is shaking. You must have shoes on to see the under water mermaid show. We had went after we were in the water so that didn't help the cold water plus the freezing cold show. Now we know read more

See all

We had such a fun day renting kayaks and paddling down WW river. The wildlife is beautiful and the water was a perfect temperature for a hot day. My only complaint was how crowded the river became because of the large motorized boats, which would've made me worried if I had kids or dogs swimming with us. Otherwise overall a great experience. read more

Weeki Wachee Springs - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spring Hill, Florida

See all

This place is fun. Second time visiting from Volusia county. Visited with sister from Upstate NY and best friend. First time rogue alligator closed the Mermaid show. Sad Second time wish I had gotten there earlier. Saw last show of mermaids. Was amazed and surprised. Enjoyable for adults and kids. Rest of park small but fun. Beautiful Peacocks roaming around. Cute gift shop. With I could have went on boat ride. Well worth the visit. read more

Had an amazing time at Weeki Wachee Springs with my husband! We went kayaking and got to see manatees up close--such a peaceful and unforgettable experience. The water was crystal clear and absolutely beautiful, though be prepared--it's definitely chilly! It did get a little crowded, but the views and the adventure made it more than worth it. The pricing was affordable, which was a nice surprise. If you're planning to go, get there early because parking fills up fast. Also, for first-timers, I recommend bringing a small cooler with drinks. You're out in the sun for a while and can get dehydrated quickly. All in all, it's a perfect place to relax, enjoy nature, and create great memories. read more

Weeki Wachee Springs - Nude beach house - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spring Hill, Florida

This place is absolutely incredible. For one price 13 dollars for an adult, 10 for a child and my 4 year old was free, we spent the entire day! This includes the world famous mermaid show, a water park, animal show, and riverboat ride. We had so much fun. Definitely a great staycation choice read more

See all

Underwhelming, overpriced for what is offered (everything should be one ticket price not a bunch of add ons), very little bathrooms in the swimming area (women's line gets long bc of lack of bathroom/changing stalls), line for the slide took 45 mins bc of kids skipping and lack of supervision from staff. read more

One and done. They have more rules than a Russian oligarchy. No room to swim all you can do is stand around in the water. The beach area is crowded. Good luck getting a lunch table. For what you get, they should've let you in for free. It says right on the website kids are allowed to have noodles for safety purposes, and I just watched the lifeguard tell the kids they could not use their noodles. Lived in Florida all my life. I'm 65 years old. Never been here. Will never come back. Drove three hours to get here. Spent two hours and left. Complete waste of time and money. Oh yes, the employees work for the government so they could care less. read more

It's a trap. The boat ride was a 20-minute round-trip "adventure" down a spring fed river. The mermaid show is *maybe* fun for kids aged 4-7. There's a spot to swim. That's it. That's all there is to do. At least the under-water theatre was air conditioned and the mermaids did a good job acting and lip syncing. read more

Weeki Wachee Springs - Mermaid show. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spring Hill, Florida

Cute place for a family fun day at a very reasonable price. Me and my wife took our grandchildren to see the mermaid show. The show was very entertaining to my grandchildren as well as to my wife and I. We enjoyed swimming although the water was extremely cold as you first go in. They have some other attractions such as animal shows, kayaking, boating and a water slide. I suggest calling before to see if you'll be able to enjoy all attractions as there are not so many of them. Also check the time schedule for the mermaid show, it is a must see. Boating wasn't available during our visit. Overall, we really enjoyed ourselves and the kids had fun. The park is clean, staff is friendly and tickets are cheap. We will definitely be back. read more

Weeki Wachee Springs - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spring Hill, Florida

This is now a State park so the funds to keep up with the green fountains are lacking I'm sure. The Mermaid show was incredible. This definitely isn't your old mermaid show. The girls do costume changes and some great swimming performances. read more

See all

The mermaid show was a ton of fun for the kiddo and she loved swimming in the spring. This place isn't high tech nor is it high adrenaline. This is a place for family fun without breaking the bank. I absolutely enjoyed my quick visit. My biggest gripe is the River cruise. Apparently you need bracelets or something? But I paid just like everyone else and the park was pretty much empty but we still couldn't go. read more

See all

I can't say that I had been to Weeki wachee in a very LONG time, like maybe 3 decades. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I'm glad to see that most things haven't changed. I arrived at 3:30 pm, which means all the shows and stuff is over, and in November there's not a lot blooming, I asked the gate price and was told to just come in The park is lovely. The tribute to the Mermaids that made this a world known attraction made me feel something, and that's good. There was plenty of wild life to look at and some nice walks to be had. I recommend you come out to visit this piece of Florida history. read more

See all

I go there durning Christmas, kayak here is awesome, water is so clear, our family have a great time there, highly recommended.

I wish I didnt have to write this review because the managers here handled my situation so well but be advised, there is no sign language interpreter making it impossible for deaf customers to order food at the sea dog store inside. Aside from that, how would they hear their number on the receipt ​being called out when the food is ready to pick up on the counter? Policy is no shirt no shoes no service. I went in with my sister to interpret her order as she is deaf. Before we could even reach the counter one of the employees yelled out the policy to all three rows of people standing waiting to order. At this point I had shoes and a dark green tank top bathing suit and a green mesh skirt that literally reached my knees. I did not enter the water park with a shirt but needed to interpret for my sister and her 5 year old son. I had decided once I reached the register I would be able to explain without letting the world know my sister's personal medical health. The cook runs out to yell and point directly at me that he was not going to serve me. The store that a minute ago filled with everyone's conversations, was immediately completely quiet as i received stares from every single customer that was in sea dog . I was quite embarrassed at how loud and ugly this young man yelled at me. I explained I didnt order ​and stood there for my sister to hear her number being called. She was clearly speaking to me in sign language and I did not move. Later I spoke to a manager who immediately told me I was dressed properly and asked us how she could make it better. We'll, my sister chose an apology from the cook and an employee who kept making it a point yell and give looks and disrespect not one but two disabled individuals. I was the only one there to interpret for my sister. Clearly there was a language barrier and no one to help. I did what was best for my sister in a situation I couldnt control in sea dog. The sad situation concluded with the district manager having the employees apologize to my sister and I both. I am grateful the manager stepped in. It was my sister's birthday and I just wish that incident never happened. Im almost 50 years of age and im appalled how the youth speak to elders here. Please be aware theres not one sign language interpreter. read more

What a wonderful time! Waters are so clear, we were impressed by the guide and even invited friends and did it a second time unguided!

Great Old Florida experience. What to know - there is limited entry per day to protect the springs. 1400 people a day max. They open at 9am so get there early! You are allowed to bring in your own food and drinks which is great for families! Coolers are even allowed. The mermaid show is a classic and you have to see it at least once. The underground theater is air conditioned and very comfortable. The mermaids perform in the natural spring so that's very cool. The show is about 30min. You can meet a mermaid for a photograph after the show! Buccaneer Bay is the "water park" area which is the swimming area, lazy River, kids pool, bar, beach, water slides, rental cabanas. It's basically awesome. The water is cold for Florida (72 degrees) but in summer is perfect. The park also offers a river cruise, playground, and learning opportunities about Florida wildlife. We met the resident peacocks while we were there and mama even had 4 chicks! I highly recommend visiting this sweet, simple place. It's a bit of a time warp but in such a good way. read more

See all

It was a great experience! There are so many wild life around, like peacocks, bald eagle, fishes and much more. Also, the Spring water was very relaxing. The water was a little cold, as expected so I would suggest bringing a wetsuit or a long sleeve shirt. Also I would highly recommend bringing a snorkel set or goggles so you can see the fishes when swimming. I absolutely loved Weeki Wachee Springs. It is a must at least once! read more

See all

Me and my two daughters were craving scooped ice cream after a long day of swimming. We walked up to an employee behind the tipacanoe water ice stand and asked what we had to wear to go to the other side of the park. The employee said you only had to wear shoes, so I sent my two daughters (who were wearing shoes) to the other side of the park. However they did not make it to the ice cream. They were stopped by who I am assuming is a manager of some sort, and were rudely told that they could not enter the other side of the park because they were wearing bikini tops. The manager told my daughters that they could not go to the other side in an extremely mean manner and when my daughters tried to explain their situation, the manager shut them down and did not listen. My daughters tried to explain what the other employee told them but she rudely shooed them off. This is absolutely no way to handle miscommunications between guests and employees. So, we took our business somewhere else. I am extremely dissatisfied with the incompetence of the staff at Weeki Wachee. For shame! read more

I love it here. I remember going as a little girl. A lot has changed, and it can be busy in the summers. But it is a nice place to be. The mermaid show is nice. It can be crowded. I recommend this place. read more

Fantastic experience today. Where else in the world would you be able to watch a live mermaid show? Staff was extremely friendly today and the river ride on the boat was perfect For the price and what you get it's well worth it Perfect place to spend the summer as they have a good size beach read more

See all