Beautiful spot. Looking forward to coming back to see hundred of manatees and can’t quite imagine it. No way get access from land, so if you want to swim rent a kayak and make your way up. Regular shuttle from a parking lot that makes several stops around the small town. Bring your national park pass or veteran’s ID if possible, otherwise it’s 12.50 a person, not vehicle. Handicapped plates allow you to drive right down to the boardwalk, otherwise it’s a ten minute walk down.

We loved this location! My girls were disappointed we were there too early for the manatees but it was still absolutely breathtaking. The shuttle driver was extremely kind and knowledgeable, we could have ridden with her all day. The water was just gorgeous, so clear we watched fish swim. We will try to make a return trip when the place is full of manatees!

We visited on a HOT 🥵 Sunday afternoon in June 2025. You pull in and pay then turn around and go out, take a right and an immediate left and you’re in their parking area. They give you a wristband that allows you to ride their shuttle bus which goes to various stops around Crystal River and of course to Three Sisters Springs. The springs have a boardwalk where you can view the beautiful clear blue water. There were a lot of people swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding in the spring when we were there. We started walking down the boardwalk and onto a dirt path. I wish they had path markers to let you know how much further to go. It was so hot I started to feel a little nauseous and we had to turn back. I definitely recommend picking a day when it is not 90° or hotter because there are several miles of walking paths that you can explore and we really didn’t get the full experience due to the heat. All the employees were very friendly and there was an older gentleman employee with a younger girl who I’m guessing was shadowing him. He gave us all kinds of information about the springs and asked if we had any questions for him and answered them all. I plan to one day kayak or paddleboard into the spring so I can fully experience the beauty.

Beautiful springs, has a bus to take you or can walk in. Has a boardwalk around the three springs. Can see divers and people in kayaks, depending on the water temperature can see manatees. You can kayak and swim in from outside the park but cannot access the water from the park. The bus will also take you to other destinations as part of the entrance fee.

This place was amazing! Completely unprepared, we decided to rent a double kayak and go out to attempt seeing manatees. We succeeded! We took the advice of employees and volunteers alike, and found the area we could swim out to find some. One came up behind us, and as we were swimming out, a mom and baby swam past us. Wow God! This world you created is so incredible!! Thank You for this wonderful opportunity!

Beautiful spring area of course but a bit misleading having to go around and find your way into the springs. No manatees when I went, saw a baby gator and a few fishies.

Absolutely beautiful. Breath taking it’s a short paddle I took my stand up paddle board launched from Hunter springs. I even paid to walk to board walk as well and it was worth it. Everyone is so nice.

Great views of the sunset! There are a few picnic pavilions and picnic tables. Nice fishing 🎣 pier. We even found a hermit crab friend 🐚🦀☺️! Awesome icy out of a pineapple 🍍 at the local food truck by the beach. Nice white sand. Overall we had a great family day!

Beautiful, relatively quiet (depends on respectful visitors), beach. Beautiful white sands. Clean. Some covered concrete based spots to set up your beach chairs. Enjoy watching the birds, fishing boats, and the Gulf. Concrete block building housing bathrooms. Water fountains along outside wall. Beware we saw an adult lifting his dog up to drink from the human water fountain! Yuk. Total disrespect. Animals not allowed by the way!!

Such a nice beach park on the road area here. Pear was gorgeous and enjoyed the nice walkway into forest. The beach it self was fun to snorkel and play I.man although water very murky and nasty sea weed everywhere. Facilities clean. It was fun

What a hidden gem. This location is hands down a must go with a trail, pavilions, a fishing pier, and a boat launch. This is an all around spot to check out. There restrooms on site and plenty of trash cans. I was able to see some of the famous dolphin encounters while on the pier. Locals say they come around occasionally. There's a spring nearby as well as marina where you can rent boats and buy bait if need be. Check it out for sure!!!!

This is a great spot to enjoy the beautiful Crystal Bay. The beach was super clean. There was a bathroom facility on site that was clean as well. Tons of parking space and a beautiful dock over the ocean. There is a boat launch ramp there as well. Great place for a fun beach day!

Has beautiful sunsets. The beach is kept very clean the picnic table are well maintained. The restrooms are kept cleaned and stocked. The beach water kinda smells. But it's a beautiful place, with a boat ramp.

Decided to take the first trip to a small beach in Florida and was pleasantly surprised on how clean it was. It was very well maintained and there was even a fishing pier that was further back and had a walkway that was easy to traverse with a decent amount of parking. There is even a boat launch dock further down the road that was a pay to use. Prices seemed fair, I'm not sure how they compare to others yet. Along the way here there were some bird trails that you can stop at as well. It was a nice drive and will be going back in the future.

Lots of puddles in picnic areas due to recent rains but SUCH a well maintained gorgeous site and so interesting to see artifacts on display in small museum. Just lovely! Only 3 bucks!

Interesting place. The grounds are well maintained and a nice quiet walk. We didn’t get much of the history as the museum was closed when we arrived at 5:00 but we still had to pay the park fee.

Such a very cool place to catch a glimpse into Florida's history, there is a picnic area, no playground, the path around the mounds is paved, and kids could definitely ride bikes around no problem. Wish I would have brought my daughter's. But there are many trails around the museum you have to drive to, and those are not paved, just a regular trail. I'm a born and raised Floridian and never knew this place was here. If you've never been, and love history it is a definite stop on the map worth checking out. The view is amazing, I would definitely love to go back and hike some other trails.

Crystal River Archaeological State Park is a true treasure, offering invaluable contributions to anthropology, archaeology, and the local community. The preserved mounds and ongoing research bring our local history vividly to life. Events like "Moons Over the Mounds" connect visitors to the site's rich cultural significance. A few years back when I began my academic journey into cross-cultural psychology I spoke with and interviewed Sean Norman, who expressed an interest in creating a garden which would house indigenous like amouranth. I’m especially hopeful they realize their vision of creating a culturally relevant indigenous garden and think it cpuld be a beautiful tribute to the area's heritage.

This was a very interesting part, and I enjoyed it very much except for the excessive amount of no see ums! The Ranger was very knowledgeable and gave it to me the history of the area

If we could give Park Ranger Bevirt 10 stars, we would! Exceptionally passionate about the history of this park, she shared incredibly interesting facts with us that really brought to life the artifacts on display. She is clearly a devout professional dedicated to her field. Kudos!

I stop here every time I go through Crystal River - it’s such a lovely picturesque spot with Spanish moss clad oak trees, a cute little museum and incredible views. Well kept, this gem of location is worth the drive.

Great little walking trail. 1.7 miles to the left (to a lake and fishing area with kayak launch) and 1.7 miles to the right (channel to the ocean). But paths end you loop back. No worries of getting lost.

Absolutely breath taking views. The crystal blue water from the springs is amazing and there are manatees everywhere during the winter months. Plenty of charter boats that will take you to swim with the manatees. You just have to see it for yourself!!!

Love this place. Have visited for many years. Experience changes with the season. Have seen >1000 manatees or just the beautiful 3 springs full of swimmers & kayaks when it's warmer. You can snorkle down to the spring vents @ 15 feet. There are always fish in the springs. Fresh & saltwater species: Mullet, Bass, Sheepsheads, & Trout, the occasional blue crab or ray. Excellent sanctuary for birdwatching year round. Osprey, Falcons & Hawks, terns & many more species. There's a birdwatching trail and I believe some sort of housing for bats who eat our local mosquitoes.

We took a trip to Three Sisters today. It was nice to see the manatee's, but not worth $30. There were more of them in the river to tell you the truth. If you have never seen one it might be okay.

Beautiful spot to view the manatees if you can get past the snorkeling on noodles crowd. Not sure why they allow boats and people up into these springs. They do have areas roped off to keep them out but we saw multiple people swim under the ropes into undesignated areas 🤬. Amazed the manatees aren't cut to bits by all the motorboats in the river area. The ticket fee includes trolley rides to three locations. Be sure to check them all out. The visitors center is the second stop and super informative. The last is Taylor springs which is like a small county park. Overall a magical experience. The manatees do come and go with the tide. So check a tide chart online and plan your visit around high tide. Expect to spend about four hours between all three locations. Trolley driver was exceptional.

Came from Oklahoma, and this place made our whole trip worth it! This was a graduation gift for my daughter and her friend. My daughter wanted to see manatees, and our guide made sure we saw them before leaving. Not only did we see manatees, we saw gators! A must do!!!

What an amazing place. Really beautiful. Easy to access everything. Great restaurants and food. We've met lots of friendly people with some great conversations. Would highly recommend I bet it gets real busy during the summer. But their busiest time is winter, as there are more manatees to see.

Beautiful view, water was mostly clear and refreshing on a very hot 96’ day with water temp around 70 degrees. There is a good bit a sea weed but cleaning crews are there almost daily clearing it up. Beach area is small but has plenty of grass area for overflow. Watching for big rocks in the water near where the old pier was. It gets deep, so watch small children.

Great places to take the kids for a dip in the scenic area. Paid parking is available for better convenience. Picnic & barbecue pits available for family picnics, kayak rentals are available to see possible manatees on your way to many of the springs located in the area. Overall a good location and experience for the kids and family.

Such a beautiful and relaxing spot! My son loved it here — there’s a nice playground, picnic areas, and the water is super clear and refreshing. The only fee is for parking, which is very reasonable. Perfect place for families to spend a sunny day! 🌿☀️💦

one of my favorite beaches to go with family. small, quiet, clear shallow water for even the babies to play around. you can even walk around to get ice cream and a quick bite to eat.

Great place! Can get busy on weekends and there is a lot of boat traffic so the water at times indicates that but it's still a nice little place to take a dip, cool off, hang out, and enjoy some good vibes. Even saw a mantaee once!

Place is amazing. Couldn't be better The rangers chasing everyone out 45 min prior to close, locking bathrooms and closing gates etc whilst picking his nose and eating it and staring at his phone in this years truck so he could get home early is disheartening. Property taxes is $3-30k per year. Do the job you are paid for with pride not like the worlds worst employee that desperately wants to get home to further stare at your phone and drink Sodies. The attached video is a once in a life time magical experience you prly deprived thousands of nature enthusiasts from by closing the park 45 min early. Young white dude w black hair

The water felt nice. The area was clean. There were a lot of people but it wasn’t over crowded. The bathrooms were in need of attention.