Blue Spring State Park – 900 Plus Manatees
Greetings – here’s some manatee mania news for you! These last few days in February have been much colder in Florida than normal. As a result, manatees have quickly gathered in Florida’s naturally warm springs and power plant discharge areas to keep warm.
One of these beloved areas is in Volusia County where Blue Spring State Park is an extremely popular gathering spot for the manatees. On Monday morning, February 2, 2026 the temperatures in Orange City, where the park is located, went below freezing. And those who visited the park quicky learned that there were over 900 gentle giants doing their very best to keep warm. And the manatees knew that the natural Florida spring water stays at a balmy 72-degrees Fahrenheit year-round.
These threatened sea cows are becoming more and more popular in global interest! And now that Florida temperatures are well below normal, this is the perfect time to visit manatees.
“If you have never been to Blue Spring, or are planning another visit this year, here are some tips to make the trip easier. Blue Spring State Park is located at 2100 W. French Ave. in Orange City. The drive from Daytona Beach is approximately 30-35 minutes west on Interstate 4. According to the state park’s website, gates open at 8 a.m., closing at sundown. Blue Spring is open year-round.”
“Whether you drive, bike or walk to Blue Spring to see the manatees, there will be a small entry fee.
Here is the breakdown, according to the park’s website:
- $6 per vehicle (two to eight people).
- $4 for a single-occupant vehicle.
- $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of annual pass.”
Here’s where you can see manatees at Blue Spring State Park …
The wonderful and unique view of seeing hundreds of manatees under the crystal-clear waters of Blue Spring are an absolute thrill to both first timers and returning fans. The park has an awesome boardwalk — stretching a third of a mile from the St. Johns River to the headspring.
The park’s website says, “The boardwalk provides a wonderful opportunity for safely observing the manatees. Visitors can see manatees socializing and mothers nursing their small calves, without influencing the manatees’ natural behavior or bothering them.”
Like you and I, manatees are warm-blooded and cannot sustain water temperatures of 68 degrees or colder for long periods of time. Due to their very slow metabolism the sea cows depend on warm waters to survive.
“During the winter months, manatees are prone to cold stress syndrome, which is comparable to hypothermia, pneumonia or frostbite in humans and can make them very sick.”
Below is more information about Blue Spring manatees …
Visit floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/blue-spring-state-park or call 386-775-3663 to learn more about Blue Spring State Park and the manatees.
To learn more about the endangered Florida manatee, below is an awesome book for children!
Synopsis: In late September, Kobee Manatee® is on a twelve-hundred-mile mission to get back home to Florida from Cape Cod, Massachusetts before the impending cold threatens his life. On his southbound journey, he meets two new friends: Tess the seahorse, who loves to learn, and Pablo the hermit crab, who is in search for a new shell. Will Kobee and his friends make it to Florida in time? Children learn all about manatees and their habitat!
We Have Excellent Reviews for Kobee Manatee!
“Children can learn a great deal about manatees and their habitat by reading about Kobee and his friends and their traveling adventure.” – Dr. Katie Tripp, Director of Science and Conservation, Save the Manatee Club
“This luxuriously illustrated, infectiously charming story makes us want to save the manatee and have a plush version to hug.” – ForeWord Clarion Reviews
“A swimmingly fun, educational trip sure to be enjoyed by young friends of the manatee.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Kobee Manatee: Heading Home to Florida is a recipient of the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award. The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) evaluates products and services created for parents and educators and is globally recognized for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. Using a rigorous evaluation process, entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost. Around the world, parents, educators, retailers and members of the media trust the MCA Honoring Excellence seal when selecting quality products and services for families and children.” – Mom’s Choice Awards
If you are in Florida and you see a sick or injured manatee, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: 1-888-404-FWCC. They are the folks who are responsible for rescuing us in Florida.
Here’s the Save the Manatee Club link to learn more about manatees …
Here’s a cool link for you to learn more about how we’re rescued and brought into rehabilitation …
~ Robert Scott Thayer
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