PEAK SEASON (NOV-MAR)

The peak season for observing manatees from the surface of the water is between the months of November and March, and the local manatee population swells to its largest size between December and February. During the winter season, between 500-1000 manatees flood into our springs to stay warm! In the colder winter months, you are virtually guaranteed to see manatees due to their high concentration.

OFF-SEASON (APR-OCT)

During the warmer summer months, manatee sightings become less frequent as many manatees leave Crystal River and travel to warmer feeding areas in the Gulf of Mexico. Those that remain in King’s Bay are more spread out throughout the waterways, making them harder to locate than during the winter season. While sightings are less predictable, visitors still have the opportunity to see them due to our resident population of around 30–50 manatees, including occasional mother-and-calf pairs that stay in the bay year-round!