If you happen to be visiting Fort Myers, especially during the winter months, and would like to see manatees in a non-captive natural refuge, then consider taking a leisurely stroll around Lee County Manatee Park in Fort Myers.

During our trip to nearby Marco Island in February, we decided to take a day trip to Fort Myers including a stop at Lee County Manatee Park. Knowing that the winter months are a great time to spot manatees in Florida’s shallow waters, we headed to this 17-acre regional park first thing in the morning. This turned out to be a great way to start the day as we were able to spot several manatees swimming peacefully in their warm-water refuge of the canal next to Manatee Park and learn about the region’s biodiversity.

Besides seeing the manatees in the wild, another popular activity among visitors to this regional park includes kayaking in waters of Orange River nearby. Whether you are considering a brief stop at Lee County Manatee Park in Fort Myers to catch a glimpse of the Florida manatees or are planning a leisurely day of kayaking along the nearby waters, a stop at this park offers a family-friendly and educational nature experience. We hope this guide will be able to help you plan an enjoyable and relaxing visit to this peaceful natural refuge of Florida’s manatees.

Lee County Manatee Park in Fort Myers

Lee County is nestled between the Everglades National Park and the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida. It is home to diverse ecosystems that have been well preserved making it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts.

The Lee County Manatee Park opened in 1996 and gives visitors the chance to view manatees in the warm waters of a canal connected to a nearby power plant on one side and the Orange River on the other side. It is also a great place to visit if you wish to learn more about these gentle giants that are considered to be closely related to elephants.

Manatee Park is open year-round and provides an easy-to-walk paved trail along a canal, viewing decks, plenty of educational programs and information boards, picnic tables, native plant and butterfly gardens, a Chickee Hut and kayak rentals.

Tips to help plan a visit to Lee County Manatee Park in Fort Myers

If you are considering visiting this regional park in southwest Florida, then here are some essential tips that can help you with your trip planning.

1. The park is located at 10901 Palm Beach Blvd /State Road 80 (entrance is on the south side of the road) and is open daily from 8 am – dusk.

2. Visitor center/ gift shop (where you can also rent the kayaks and canoes) is open from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Mid-November through March) and 9 am – 3 pm (April to mid-November)

3. The best times to spot manatees in the canal next to the Manatee Park are during the months of December through late February.

4. Entrance to Lee County Manatee Park in Fort Myers is free, however, there is a metered parking fee of $2 per hour or $5 for the entire day.

5. Be sure to check for any free manatee programs that might be running and plan accordingly. There was a very informative free program running from 11 am-2 pm when we had visited the park and it was a great way to learn more about these gentle marine giants.

6. Before you plan your visit, you can check and see if there are manatees in the canal at the park’s website to avoid disappointment in case the main reason for your visit was to spot the manatees.

7. Feeding or attracting the manatees is strictly prohibited as human food consumption can lead to health problems in the manatees and can potentially cause them harm.

Manatee – the State Marine Mammal of Florida

Manatees are the State Marine Mammals of Florida and are often referred to as sea cows since they are mostly seen grazing and feeding on seagrass growing in shallow waters. They are gentle, marine herbivores that are estimated to have lived in the waters of the Florida region for ages. Fossils of manatees dating back to about a million years have been found in the region.

Florida’s manatees are a subspecies of the West Indian manatees. During the summer season, they can be spotted across several states in the U.S. – stretching from as far as Texas, Virginia and even New York. However, manatees are sensitive to temperature changes and warm waters are essential to their survival. When the water temperature drops below 68 °F in the nearby Gulf waters and across other states in winter, manatees are seen migrating back towards Florida’s peninsulas seeking warmer waters near the hot natural springs and power plant discharge canals around the state.

Manatees had been enlisted as endangered animals until recently when their status was changed to that of threatened species. They are protected by the US Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act 1978.

Why do manatees visit the Manatee Park in Fort Myers

The waters of the discharge canal that flow next to this regional park are warmed by Florida Power and Light Power Plant located across the road. Clean, warm water is a by-product of power generation and when it enters this canal, it ends up warming the waters thereby making it a welcome abode for manatees seeking the ideal warm temperatures that help them maintain their body temperature.

Manatees are generally only spotted in the discharge canal when the temperature of the surrounding waters of the Gulf drop below 68F. While the discharge canal does not have abundant food supply for the manatees, during such temperature drops, it makes for an ideal home for manatees.

Visitor Center at Lee County Manatee Park in Fort Myers

Upon arrival, head first to the visitor center of the park which is located close to the parking area towards the right. There are plenty of informational boards, brochures (such as guides to the plants in the park) in and around the visitor center that can help you get oriented to the park and gain an understanding of the habitat. Moreover, take the time to relax on the bench just outside the visitor center and watch the educational video playing there. It imparts a wealth of information on the Florida manatees and this unique eco-system and makes for the perfect introduction to this regional park.

It was interesting to learn that besides manatees there are plenty of wildlife visitors that are often seeing around the park and in the surrounding waters. These, as listed on the information boards around the park, include birds like the Osprey, Black Vulture, White Ibis; sea creatures such as Tarpon, Mangrove Snapper, and the Blue Crab; and reptiles such as Soft Shell Turtle, American Alligator, and the Black Racer.

Before heading to the Manatee Trail and observation area, stop by the welcome sign near the visitor center. This sign is updated frequently and lists the current information of the recent wildlife sightings in the park, water temperatures of the gulf, river, and canal and manatee news. During our visit, it was interesting to note that while the Gulf waters were measuring 67F on that day, the river water measured 78F while the canal was at 83F making the latter ones a haven for warm-water loving manatees.

Manatee Trail and observation deck in Manatee Park

This short, well-marked paved trail runs along the discharge canal. You’ll see plenty of visitors congregated along various points of this trail waiting to see manatees surface in the warm waters that lie beyond the mesh barricades.

As you wait patiently for the manatees to show up, be on the lookout for circular ripples in the water as you might just see a manatee surface shortly right after. Manatees remain underwater most of the times but you will be able to get to see them surface up to get some air every 15-20 minutes as you stroll along the canalside trail.

You might notice that several of the manatees bear unique markings and scars on their trunks and tail flukes. These scars are the remnants of their injuries from collisions with boats navigating in the rivers and Gulf waters and serve as reminders that mindful boating is essential to protect this threatened species.

During our trip to Manatee Park, we were lucky enough to spot several manatees as well as their calves in the canal. One of the volunteer tour guides giving an overview of the park and the wildlife mentioned that the young manatees remain dependent on their mothers for up to two years.

While one side of the trail faces the canal, the other side has informative posts and displays of diverse flora on the other side of the Manatee trail as well as the Butterfly garden.

Kayaking in the Orange River during a visit to Lee County Manatee Park in Fort Myers

For a closer view of the manatees swimming in the wild, kayaking along the Orange River can end up being a memorable activity of your visit to Manatee Park. The Orange River ultimately joins the Caloosahatchee River that runs along the northern edge of Fort Myers as it cuts through the southwest Gulf Coast of Florida.

Kayaking and canoeing are only allowed in the river and not in the discharge canal adjoining the park. The canal as such is barricaded, allowing the manatees to enter the discharge canal adjacent to Manatee Park but preventing any boats from doing so.

It is strongly recommended to not disturb or attract any wildlife in the surrounding habitat and any attempts to pet any wildlife that you may see along the way is prohibited. Moreover, for your own safety, as a rule of thumb always notify someone onshore about your planned excursion before you head off on this mini-adventure.

Read our post on A Day Trip to Fort Myers and Sanibel if you’d like to learn more about how to spend a perfect day exploring Fort Myers. During your vacation in the USA, if you plan on heading to California, then do check out our posts on the hidden staircases of San Francisco, Quarry Lakes and the stunning drive along the majestic redwoods of California – Avenue of the Giants. 

Kayak, canoes and paddle-board rentals at Visitor Center

Kayaks, canoes, and paddle-boards can be rented at the visitor center of the Manatee Park. While you are there, do check for the availability of kayak clinics and guided trips, especially if you are new to kayaking.

Kayaks can be rented from the gift shop at an hourly rate of $20 (kayak) or $35 (double). If you anticipate that you might want to spend more time kayaking, then consider renting the kayaks for three hours – costing $50 (singles) and $75 (doubles). Paddle-boards are also available for rent at an hourly rate of $25.

While I would have loved to head out for a kayaking adventure alongside the manatees, due to time constraints I wasn’t able to do so during this trip. However, if you are planning on indulging in this fun activity at the Manatee Park, keep in mind that while the park is open from 8 am -dusk, the visitor center from where you can rent the kayaks is open for a shorter duration. For more details on the prices of the rentals and timings of the visitor center/ gift shop, refer to the Calusa Blueway Outfitters site.

To ensure Florida-friendly boating, only steer your boats/canoes/kayaks along the designated channels and follow the posted speed regulations. For example, idle speed no-wake sign means it is a zone of minimum speed that is required to maintain the boat steering.

Other Fun Activities in Lee County Manatee Park in Fort Myers

While the primary reason visitors arrive in Manatee Park is to view the manatees from the observation areas or while kayaking in the river, there are plenty of other fun, family-friendly activities around the park. These include exploring the Butterfly garden, enjoying a leisurely waterfront picnic, learning how to identify various plants of the region – such as cabbage palm, poison ivy, Indian Blanket flower, and walking along the Ethnobotany trail.

The short Ethnobotany trail features the plants that were used by people of Southwest Florida including the Calusa Indians and the Seminole. For example, along this trail you might come across Cabbage Palm which is the state tree of Florida. It has been used extensively by the settlers for constructing thatched roofs, fishing nets, and as an edible food source.

Additionally, the play area near the picnic grounds and the Chickee hut are also popular with families enjoying a day out at this park. There is also a fishing pier located nearby which can be of interest to those who like to indulge in fishing.

Where else can you see Manatees in Florida

Manatees congregate near natural springs in northern Florida and power plants across the Florida peninsular during the cold winter months. This is the ideal time to see manatees in their natural surroundings from a close vantage point without disturbing them in their natural habitats. Besides Lee County Manatee Park in Fort Myers, some other well-known places across Florida to view the manatees include the following:

1. Three Sister Springs (Crystal River, FL)

2. J.N.Darling National Wildlife Refuge (Sanibel, FL)

3. Lovers Key State Park (Fort Myers, FL)

4. Blue Spring State Park (Orange City, FL)

5. Manatee Springs State Park (Chiefland, FL)

6. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park (Spring Hill, FL)

7. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (Titusville, FL)

8. Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park (Wakulla Springs, FL)

During the winter season, particularly from December to February, one of the must-see activities for visitors and residents interested in learning about the wildlife of Southwest Florida and seeing the manatees is to visit Lee County Manatee Park in Fort Myers. This regional park has something to offer for all age groups – be it kids or adults. The highlight of the visit to this regional park is, of course, spotting the famous Florida manatees but there are also a host of other relaxing activities ranging from kayaking, learning about the ecology, to enjoying a memorable picnic along the waterfront with a possible view of the manatees in the distance.

A visit to Manatee Park is certainly a family-friendly, economical and educational experience. Being a nature enthusiast, seeing the manatees in person, swimming carefree in the wild and learning about the flora and fauna of this pocket of the Gulf coast was a memorable experience for me. I hope to return to this regional park in the future and when I do, I’ll be sure to head out for a kayaking adventure alongside the manatees in the Orange River. Until next time,…goodbye Manatee Park.

Disclaimer: It’s a pleasure for us to share our travel experiences with all our readers and we sincerely hope to inspire your future travels. In order to help us maintain this blog and offset the costs of running landoftravels.com, we have sprinkled affiliate links throughout the site. If you choose to make a purchase via any of these affiliate links, we’ll earn a tiny commission at no additional cost to you.

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Aditi Sharma

Hello ! I’m Aditi …..
Welcome to Land Of Travels – a travel blog that my husband Manish and I started to share our travel stories and travel tips. We are full-time professionals, dedicated parents, foodies, and it is our shared passion for traveling that lead us to become part-time bloggers.

I was born and brought up in Northern India, lived in Bay Area, California for nearly two decades and currently reside in Ontario, Canada. Since childhood, I’ve always had a passion to travel far & wide and experience different cultures. I am passionate about planning our trips and exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations.

My sincere hope is that the travel tips offered on this blog will help you plan your next memorable adventure.
Happy travels!
~ Aditi Sharma ~