Three Sisters Springs

What to expect

Three Sisters Springs is a small, enclosed lagoon on the east side of Kings Bay in Crystal River, fed by three spring areas and dozens of sand boils. The water is clear and blue, and it holds close to 73°F23°C all year. That is the whole point of the place, and it is also why it is not a hot spring. When a cold front drops the Gulf and Kings Bay into the 60s, manatees crowd into the springs to stay warm.

The site covers 57 acres and is part of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. It was private land until 2010, when local, state and federal partners bought it for $10.5 million. The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Crystal River co-own it, and the city and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manage it together. A new visitor center opened in 2023.

There are two ways to see it. From land, you ride a shuttle to a boardwalk around the springs and look down on the water; you cannot get in from the boardwalk. From the water, you paddle or swim in through a narrow spring run from Kings Bay, when the rules allow.

The city noted in October 2026 that parts of the boardwalk were under construction and temporarily closed. Expect some viewing areas to be off limits.

Manatee season rules (Nov 15 to Mar 31)

This is the part to get right before you plan a trip. Kings Bay is a federal manatee refuge, and Three Sisters Springs has its own rules under 50 CFR 17.108(c)(14), the Kings Bay Manatee Refuge regulation.

• Paddle craft: kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are allowed inside Three Sisters Springs only from April 1 to November 14. In manatee season they must stay outside.
• Sunset to sunrise: from November 15 to March 31, all waterborne activity inside Three Sisters Springs is banned between sunset and sunrise.
• Scuba and fishing: scuba diving is allowed at Three Sisters only from April 1 to November 14, and fishing is banned in the interior springs at all times.
• No-entry areas: during manatee season the Service can extend a no-entry zone up to 400 feet beyond the Three Sisters Springs boundary when manatees exceed the space in the sanctuaries. On cold days with many manatees in the springs, expect the spring run to be closed to swimmers. Closures are marked with buoys, float lines and signs, and announced by refuge staff.
• Sanctuaries: the seven warm-water manatee sanctuaries in Kings Bay are closed to all activity in manatee season.
• Cold snaps outside the season: from April 1 to November 14 the Service can still post temporary no-entry areas for up to 14 days during cold fronts if manatees are present.

Year-round, it is illegal to chase, touch, corner, ride or feed a manatee, to separate a mother and calf, or to dive down onto a resting manatee. The refuge asks for passive watching from the surface and from a distance.

Getting there

By land: park at the Three Sisters Springs Center, 917 Three Sisters Springs Trail, Crystal River, in the signed spaces or the overflow lot behind the building. There is no public parking at the springs except six permit-only accessible spaces. Buy a ticket and wristband, then ride the shuttle. It runs continuously from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and also stops at the USFWS Visitor Center (1502 SE Kings Bay Dr), Hunter Springs Park (45 NE 3rd St), Town Square (559 N Citrus Ave) and Heritage Village (657 N Citrus Ave). Walkers and cyclists use the front gate at 601 Three Sisters Springs Trail.

By water: launch from a public boat ramp or kayak launch on Kings Bay, such as Hunter Springs Park, and paddle to the Three Sisters spring run. Motor boats cannot enter the springs, and concrete posts stop anyone tying up at the banks. Many visitors go with one of the Kings Bay tour companies that hold refuge Special Use Permits; the refuge keeps a list.

Crystal River is on US-19, about 90 minutes north of Tampa.

When to go

November 15 to March 31 is manatee season and the best time for the boardwalk. Go on a cold morning after a front, at high tide if you can. The city says your odds are best when the Gulf is below 68°F20°C. Ranger programs run daily on the boardwalk in season, no sign-up needed. Expect crowds and higher winter ticket prices.

April 1 to November 14 is the season to get in the water. Paddle craft and scuba are allowed inside the springs, there are far fewer manatees, and the clear water and sand boils are easier to enjoy. Summer brings afternoon thunderstorms; paddle early.

Prices and rules

Boardwalk admission (city price list, subject to change), shuttle included:

Ticket	Apr 1-Nov 14	Nov 15-Mar 31
Adult	$12.50	$20.00
Senior (55+)	$12.50	$17.50
Military	$11.50	$15.00
Child (6-15)	$7.50	$7.50
Child (5 and under)	Free	Free

Federal pass holders pay $7.50 or $15 as adults, and Citrus County residents with ID get reduced rates. Payment is by card only, and all sales are final. Annual passes start at $100.

On the boardwalk: service animals only, no swimming or entering the water from land, and no drones anywhere on the refuge. In the water: no fishing, no touching manatees, and stay out of posted no-entry areas.

Where to stay nearby

Crystal River has motels, inns and waterfront hotels on Kings Bay, many of them aimed at manatee tour guests, and they fill on winter weekends. Homosassa, a few miles south, has more options and its own state park; see Homosassa Springs. Weeki Wachee Springs is further south on US-19.

Safety notes

• Cool water: 73°F23°C feels warm next to a winter bay but still chills you on a long swim. A wetsuit makes a winter tour far more comfortable.
• Boat traffic: Kings Bay is busy. Wear bright colours, carry a whistle and stay near your guide.
• Manatee rules are federal law. Float, watch and do not chase.
• Injured manatee? Call the wildlife hotline at 1-888-404-3922.