Long before there was Walt Disney World, there was the iconic roadside attraction at Weeki Wachee Springs. World-famous mermaids, a dazzling, first-magnitude spring, and lush natural beauty have kept generations of visitors returning to Weeki Wachee Springs year after year in the decades since it opened in 1947.
What started as a roadside attraction all those years ago is now a state park that the public can visit 365 days a year. Mermaid shows are still a big draw to Weeki Wachee, but there’s much more to do here, from swimming at a spring-fed water park and tubing a lazy river to wildlife shows to paddling one of Florida’s most beautiful rivers. Even if you don’t swim or kayak, you can still get on the water by taking a river cruise.
There are enough activities at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park to keep your family busy all day. Plan on at least a few hours if you want to check out a mermaid show and tour the park. A half-day will be enough time for a mermaid show and a swim at Buccaneer Bay or a river cruise.
Weeki Wachee is in Spring Hill, an hour and fifteen minutes north of Tampa, less than two hours west of Orlando, and a little more than three hours from Jacksonville and Fort Myers.
What you’ll need will depend on which activities you have planned, but there are a few items you’ll want to bring regardless of what you’re doing. Those include a camera, water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and money for admission and concessions. In addition, you’ll need a towel, swimsuit, and a change of clothes for swimming. For paddling, be sure to bring a towel, dry bag, snacks and water in reusable containers, and waterproof cases for phones and electronics if you have them. If you’re paddling with your own equipment, you’ll need your PFD, paddle, and kayak or paddleboard.
Paddling Weeki Wachee is generally not difficult or strenuous, although a little more effort is needed to paddle the last part of the journey leading to Rogers Park if you opt for the 5.5-mile route. On this river, you’ll encounter canoes, paddleboards, and kayaks all sharing the same spaces, so be mindful of other paddlers as well as motorized vessels traveling up and down the river. The current moves moderately fast, which makes navigating some of the river’s curves a slight challenge for novices and children, so keep that in mind.
Mermaid shows will have you sitting for extended periods of time. To paddle the river or swim in Buccaneer Bay, you should be a confident swimmer.
Paddling the Weeki Wachee River should be at the top of any water-loving Florida outdoor enthusiast’s bucket list. It’s difficult to imagine a more beautiful setting for a day of paddling than this winding river, with its lush green forest surroundings and clear blue water. If you rent a kayak or paddleboard through the park’s concessionaire, a shuttle service will pick you up from the take-out point about three miles downriver from the launch. This river trip is an easy float over 2.8 miles that takes about 90 minutes. You can also reserve shuttle service if using your own kayak or paddleboard and take out at the 2.8-mile mark. If you use your own paddle craft and arrange for your own transportation, you can opt for a 5.5-mile trip that ends at Rogers Park. This trip will take you outside the boundaries of the state park and into parts of the river where swimming is allowed.
The wildlife shows and Wilderness River Cruises at Weeki Wachee will keep you entertained while allowing you to gain a better understanding of the nature around you. During the wildlife shows, the animals you will likely encounter include alligators, snakes, and birds. Boat cruises allow visitors to experience the breathtaking scenes of the crystal-clear river while learning about the ecosystems in and around it.
Weeki Wachee’s Buccaneer Bay isn’t quite like any other water park because it’s part of a beautiful freshwater spring. With two waterslides, a lazy river, and a kiddie pool, there’s plenty of ways to make a splash, and there are picnic areas where you can hang out and eat before or after.
Performed in an underwater theater built into the crystal-clear spring bowl, the mermaid shows at Weeki Wachee have been mesmerizing audiences for decades. Here, mermaids and princes show off their underwater moves with performances that include “The Little Mermaid” while breathing from special handheld air tubes. (Find out more about the mermaid shows.)
There are restrooms in the main area of the park near the office and near the restaurant. For paddlers, restrooms are near the kayak launch and at Rogers Park, which is at the end of the 5.5-mile paddling route. There is also a shower station for visitors to use at Buccaneer Bay.
There is ample parking available at the state park entrance off of U.S. 19. Paddling equipment rentals are available through the park.
Several food stops can be found throughout the park. Mermaid Galley is at the back of the park and offers indoor and outdoor seating. Fare includes salads, ice cream, burgers, and wraps. Snack Shack, which is good for ice cream and cold drinks, can be found near the swimming area at Buccaneer Bay. The Tiki Bar serves frozen drinks, beer, and wine, as well as grilled fare, and can be found near the beach at Buccaneer Bay. The offerings at Pirate’s Grub, located behind Buccaneer Bay, include chicken fingers, hot dogs, and burgers. Captain’s Quarters has outdoor seating overlooking the bay and is a good spot to grab a snack or ice cream and a drink.
Water park items are available for rent at Buccaneer Bay, including tubes for the lazy river and cabanas. Lockers are also available for rent.
Weeki Wachee offers wheelchair-accessible seating with companion seating for its mermaid shows as well as accessible walkways and parking. The river cruises and animal shows are also accessible. Scooters for mobility-impaired guests are available on a first come, first served basis.
Some of the features at Buccaneer Bay, such as the slides, lazy river, and kiddie pool, close during winter. Storms are common in summer, and the park sometimes closes the swimming area due to inclement weather. Mermaid shows are also subject to cancellation due to storms. During the hotter months, be sure to bring lots of water, stay hydrated, and keep sunscreen on.
If you venture out by kayak or paddleboard, keep your eyes peeled for the real-life sirens of Weeki Wachee: Florida’s beloved sea cows. Manatee sightings aren’t guaranteed but lucky paddlers see them from time to time. If you do see them, be sure to keep a respectful distance and do not touch, follow, or chase them.
For mermaid fanatics, Weeki Wachee hosts mermaid camps both for children 7 to 14 years of age and adults 30 and up. The park also offers junior ranger and junior lifeguard camps.
All paddlers—even those bringing their own paddle craft and equipment—must make reservations ahead of time. Paddlers should be aware that there is no swimming allowed on the river within the state park, which means you won’t be able to swim in the river if you rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard from the park. But if you use your own paddle craft and have your own transportation when you’re done, you can take the longer, 5.5-mile option and start swimming once you exit the state park’s boundaries, which leaves plenty of river for swimming and hanging out in the water.
Paddlers must pack all food and drink items in reusable containers; no disposable packaging or bottles are allowed on the river. Alcohol is also not allowed.
While most state parks allow dogs, Weeki Wachee is not one of them, although service animals are welcome.
The park and river tend to be less busy when it’s cold outside, so if your goal is to avoid crowds, go on a cool winter day. The springs remain a constant 72 degrees all year long, so swimming is a go at any time of the year. Just keep in mind that not all the features at Buccaneer Bay are accessible during winter.
Admission to mermaid shows is first-come, first-served, so be sure to get in line early. Weekdays tend to be less crowded compared to weekends.
Wind down with a burger or wrap at one of the park’s several dining spots or take a 5-mile drive to the Upper Deck Cafe, which offers water views alongside seafood, salads, wings, and more. If you kayak or paddleboard the 5.5-mile route from the state park, you’ll see the Upper Deck across the water at the end of your journey when you take out at Rogers Park.
