Manatee Springs State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Manatee Springs State Park is located in north-central Florida and is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts.
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Summary
The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including manatees, alligators, and birds, and offers many recreational activities, such as hiking, swimming, and kayaking.
One of the main attractions at the park is the crystal-clear spring, which stays at a constant temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Visitors can swim and snorkel in the spring, and there are also areas for picnicking and camping.
Other points of interest include the park's boardwalk, which takes visitors through a cypress swamp, and the underwater cave system that can be explored by certified divers.
Manatee Springs State Park is best visited between November and April, when the weather is cooler and the manatees are in the area. It's important to note that the park can get crowded during peak season, so it's best to arrive early to secure a spot.
Interesting facts about the area include that the park was once used as a filming location for the movie "Creature from the Black Lagoon" and that it is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, making it a hotspot for birdwatchers.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Manatee Springs State Park
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Suwannee RIver Hideaway Campground
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Hinton Landing County Park
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