Manatee Springs State Park, Chiefland Florida

If you think you’ll see springs and manatees at Manatee Springs State Park, you’ll be right! It’s a perfectly descriptive name for a beautiful Florida State Park.

We camped for a week with my brother and his wife in February. As the name suggests the big draws to this park are viewing the manatees and swimming in the clear blue spring, which maintains a consistent 72 degree temperature.

The entrance to Manatee Springs State Park lets you know what you'll see inside.

Manatee Springs Campground Tour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsxVQ-9Uycc

Campground Details

• Campground Name: Manatee Springs State Park

• Location: 11650 N.W. 115 St., Chiefland, Florida

• Number of sites: 55 total sites on three loops; 40 RV/tent sites, 23 tent only sites and 2 handicap RV only sites.

• Hookups: Water, 30/50 amp electric and sewer are available on all RV sites.

• Connectivity:  OK. We got 2 Bars of 5G on T-Mobile

• Bathrooms/Showers:  Each loop has its own bath house with facilities separated by gender. Each has a separate unisex handicap toilet/shower stall.

• Campground amenities: Firewood

• Reservations: Florida State Parks. Reservations are accepted 11 months in advance for Florida residents and 10 months in advance for non-residents.

• Notes:  The park is located in Chiefland, about a 15 minute drive from Wal-Mart and Winn-Dixie.

• Campground rating: 5 out of 5

Recommended nearby

Cedar Key: Cedar Key is on the west coast of Florida and about a 40 minute drive from Manatee Springs State Park. We spent a lovely lunch at Steamers (a very busy place!) then spent a few hours walking around the quaint village. You can also pick up fresh clams at a good price at one of the seafood processors in town.

Shell Mound Archeological Site: Located about eight miles from the town of Cedar Key, this is a large shell-bearing archaeological site that was once the location of special gatherings for Native American groups across the broader region. It’s a great place to walk off your lunch a Steamers and learn about the people who lived in the area thousands of years ago.

Tracy riding on the Nature Coast State Trail in Chiefland.

Nature Coast State Trail: Wherever we are, we look for opportunities to ride our bikes off of busy roads: improved rail trails and multi-use trails, and double track trails through parks. Nature Coast State Trail offers 32 miles built along abandoned rail lines that intersect at Wilcox Junction, connecting the communities of Cross City, Trenton, Fanning Springs and Chiefland. We hopped on at Fanning Springs (first stopping at Fanning Springs State Park to check out the springs and look for manatees).