Manatee Springs State Park RV & Campground Guide
Florida
Manatee Springs State Park opened in 1968, but it was first popularized in a well-known book written in 1791 by famed explorer William Bartram. The star of the show at this Florida state park near the town of Chiefland is the main spring itself, which is classified as a first-magnitude spring due to its ability to release roughly 100 million gallons of water per day. The park also contains a stretch of the Suwannee River, which is a great place to go boating, fishing, and swimming. Visitors flock to this state park to see the manatees that winter here. The colder months are the best times to view these popular marine animals, but you can often see them at other times of the year.
Nearby Cities:
Chiefland, FL
Fanning Springs, FL
Bronson, FL
Gainesville, FL
Spring 56–82 F
Summer 70–91 F
Fall 65–86 F
Winter 44-70 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Manatee Springs State Park
Campground Accommodations
Magnolia 1 Campground
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 40 feet
Other amenities: Grills, picnic tables, restrooms, and showers
Magnolia 2 Campground
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 35 feet
Other amenities: Restrooms, picnic tables, grills
Hickory Loop Campground
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 25 feet
Other amenities: Playground, campfire rings
Manatee Springs State Park Campground
Stay at Manatee Springs State Park Campground, which is located near the spring. You can go biking, boating, fishing, and do many other activities. Rates start at $20 per night.
• Water hookup: Yes
• Electrical hookup: Yes
• Sewer hookup: Yes
• Wi-Fi: No
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Hiking, boating, fishing
Southern Leisure RV Park
A variety of planned programs are available at Southern Leisure RV Park. You can also swim in the heated pool or work out in the exercise room. Rates start at about $69 per night.
• Water hookup: Yes
• Electrical hookup: Yes
• Sewer hookup: Yes
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Game room, exercise room, heated pool
Breezy Acres RV Park
Even the largest RVs will have plenty of space to park at Breezy Acres RV Park. You can enjoy playing games in the recreation hall, hosting a picnic under the pavilion, or playing the many outdoor games at this campground. Rates start at about $26 per night.
• Water hookup: Yes
• Electrical hookup: Yes
• Sewer hookup: No
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Recreation hall, pavilion, outdoor games
Lucky Charm RV Park
Swim in the pool, relax in the hot tub, or rent a bike at Lucky Charm RV Park in Old Town, Florida. Rates start at about $32 per night.
• Water hookup: Yes
• Electrical hookup: Yes
• Sewer hookup: Yes
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Outdoor pool, hot tub, shuffleboard
What to Do at
Manatee Springs State Park
The main spring and a cavern full of catfish called the Catfish Hotel are popular locations for open diving and cave diving. All scuba divers must present their certification cards at the ranger station before beginning the dive. Even if you aren't a certified diver, you can still go snorkeling in the springs and the Suwannee River. For kids, there is a playground and a ranger-led program each Saturday. The programs usually focus on local wildlife like snakes, tortoises, manatees, or the area's history.
You'll probably spend the bulk of your time at Manatee Springs State Park at the main springs and on the Suwannee River. However, on dry land, you'll still have plenty of opportunities to explore a variety of ecosystems on foot or via bike.
Inside Manatee Springs State Park
From March to September, you may be able to swim with a manatee at this state park. Largemouth bass, catfish, and mullet can often be caught by fishing from the on-site boardwalk or along the shores of the Suwannee River. Wind your way around and through cypress swamps, sinkhole ponds, and upland areas on 8.5 miles of hiking trails. Rent a boat or bring your own and arrange for shuttle service back to this park to explore the Suwannee River even further. You can also go open-water and cavern diving at this state park.
Fishing
If you have a fishing license, you can drop a line off the boardwalk along the spring run. You can also fish on the shores of the Suwannee River for catfish, panfish, and bass. Fishing close to the Catfish Hotel is prohibited.
Geocaching
There are multiple caches located at Manatee Springs State Park. You can use your smartphone or a GPS device to locate them. When you find one, you can take a prize and sign the logbook.
Nature Watching
Obviously, you'll want to check out the manatees at Manatee Springs State Park; winter is generally the best time to see these gentle giants. The most popular place to view the manatees and other local wildlife is the Suwannee River Boardwalk, which is a quarter-mile walk that goes along the spring and ends at the river.
Stargazing
The skies of this Florida state park are dark, making it possible to get some great views of the Milky Way. You can take a blanket to an open area or set up a telescope at a picnic table to enjoy an evening of gazing at the heavens.
Flora and Fauna
Some of the trees you'll see at Manatee Springs State Park include ash, cypress, maple, and sweetgum. Manatees winter here, but so do American vultures, which like to perch in the cypress trees.
Hiking
The park's 8.5 miles of trails will take you through swamplands, uplands, sandhills, and more. Some popular trails include the Sink Trail, the Springs Trail, and the North End Trails.
Boating
You can tie your motor boat off at the park's floating dock on the Suwannee River. The Suwannee River is also a great place to explore in your canoe or kayak.
Swimming
You can swim in the spring, although you should be aware that the current can be swift and the water can be cold. You can't go swimming at the Catfish Hotel, the boardwalk's end, or the spring run.
Biking
Bikers can take advantage of eight miles of off-road trails that wind through the woods. Campers also bring their bikes to peddle the park's roads to exercise or to get around.
How to Get to
Manatee Springs State Park
If you're coming from Gainesville, drive on State Route 24 for about half an hour before turning right onto Highway 27. Turn right onto Highway 98 in Chiefland and drive for a few minutes before turning left onto State Route 320; you'll reach the park entrance in about 10 minutes.
Entering Manatee Springs State Park
Multiple parking areas are available near the campgrounds and some of the trailheads. To enter Manatee Springs State Park, you'll need to pay a fee of $6 per vehicle. This fee covers up to eight people. Walk-ins, bikers, and extra passengers pay $2 per person.
Manatee Springs State Park Per Vehicle (Up to 8 People) : $6.0
Manatee Springs State Park Per Person (Walk-ins) : $2.0
This is a wonderful park to explore while hiking, biking, and paddling. If you have spent time enjoying this state park, then post about your experiences on your social media feed. Be sure to tag RVshare.com in your posts so that we can see what you and others have to say. If you prefer, then you can send your stories and photos to [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions About Manatee Springs State Park
Many people like to visit Manatee Springs State Park in the winter since the weather is usually nice and the temperatures are lower than they are in the heat of summer. Winter is also the best time to view the park's manatees since they like to spend the cold season in the spring's 72-degree waters.
In addition to the manatees that help give the park its name, you might see alligators, turtles, and snakes. Red wolves, cuckoos, and whooping cranes are some other animals you might encounter in the park.
Manatee Springs State Park's three campgrounds feature over 60 RV camping spots. If you have a big rig, you'll probably want to reserve a spot at Magnolia 1, which can accommodate rigs up to 40 feet long.
Reservations are required to camp at Manatee Springs State Park. You can secure a spot up to 11 months before your visit. The reservation fee is $6.70, and campsites cost $20 per night.
Pets are welcome to visit Manatee Springs State Park with their owners as long as the pets are leashed and supervised. Pets are not allowed in the swimming area, buildings, or boardwalks.
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