Three Sisters Springs is a 57-acre unit of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, and it has no public parking. You buy a ticket, ride a shuttle in from town, and walk a boardwalk over springs that hold hundreds of manatees on cold winter mornings. That parking rule shapes the whole day for an RVer.
This guide covers Three Sisters Springs tickets, hours, the shuttle, paddling rules, and what to do with the rig, using Preservation Point RV Resort in Inverness as a base 25 minutes away. Last verified Nov. 10, 2026. Prices and hours change, so check the City of Crystal River page before you drive.
Three Sisters Springs at a Glance
- Where: Crystal River, Florida, on Kings Bay. Tickets and the shuttle start at the Three Sisters Springs Center, 917 Three Sisters Springs Trail.
- Hours: land access daily, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The last ticket sells at 3:30 pm.
- Admission: $12.50 for adults in summer, $20 in winter. The ticket includes the shuttle.
- Pets: none on the refuge. Service animals are welcome.
- Swimming: none from the boardwalk or the land around the springs.
- From Preservation Point: about 25 minutes by road.
How to Visit Three Sisters Springs
Buy tickets online through the City of Crystal River (the Annual Pass runs $100 walk-in or $140 with the trolley). Wristbands are required for the shuttle, and the shuttle runs continuously from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. It leaves the Three Sisters Springs Center and makes 5 stops: the boardwalk, the USFWS Visitor Center, Hunter Springs Park, Town Square, and Heritage Village.
Walking or biking in works too, through the front gate at 601 Three Sisters Springs Trail. Once inside, the boardwalk has viewing platforms over the springs, and nature trails loop out to Magnolia Spring, Lake Crystal, and the wetlands. More than 100 bird species use the refuge year-round, and restrooms sit on site.
One flag: the city notes that portions of the boardwalk are under construction, so not every stretch can be walked right now. Check the boardwalk page before you go. Refuge volunteers lead walking tours, and interpretive programs run daily during manatee season, with fewer offerings the rest of the year.
Three Sisters Springs Admission Prices
Summer pricing runs Apr. 1 to Nov. 14. Winter pricing starts Nov. 15, the first day of manatee season.
| Ticket | Summer (Apr. 1 to Nov. 14) | Winter (Nov. 15 to Mar. 31) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $12.50 | $20.00 |
| Senior (55+) | $12.50 | $17.50 |
| Military | $11.50 | $15.00 |
| Child (6 to 15) | $7.50 | $7.50 |
| Child (5 and under) | Free | Free |
Federal pass holders (National Parks Pass or Federal Duck Stamp) get $5 off an adult, senior, or military ticket. Citrus County residents with ID pay less. Last ticket sales end at 3:30 pm, and all sales are final.
When to Go to Three Sisters Springs
Winter is manatee season. From Nov. 15 to Mar. 31 the refuge’s warm-water sanctuaries are in effect, and manatees crowd the springs to escape cold Gulf water. The best mornings follow a cold front. Our month-by-month manatee guide breaks down December through February.
Summer tickets cost less and the springs stay open to paddlers (more on that below). I’d aim for a weekday morning in either season: the shuttle starts at 8:30 am, and the 3:30 pm ticket cutoff leaves little room for a late start.
Where to Park the RV at Three Sisters Springs
The refuge has 6 handicapped spaces, first come first served, and that’s all. The city points everyone else to public lots downtown, with shuttle stops at several:
- 45 NE 3rd St (Hunter Springs Park): shuttle stop #3, a 13-minute walk (0.6 mile) to the front gate.
- 559 N Citrus Ave (Town Square): shuttle stop #4, a 16-minute walk (0.8 mile).
- Three Sisters Springs Center: signed spots plus an overflow lot behind the building, next to the Bank of America drive-thru ATM. Cars parked in the plaza get towed.
The city’s parking page doesn’t list spaces sized for RVs or trailers, so I wouldn’t plan on squeezing a 40-foot rig into a downtown lot on a winter weekend. Call the refuge number, (352) 586-1170, if you want to try. The simpler plan: leave the rig on its pad and drive the tow vehicle in.
Paddling Three Sisters Springs
Paddle craft are allowed inside Three Sisters Springs from Apr. 1 to Nov. 14. From Nov. 15 to Mar. 31 the springs close to kayaks and canoes so the manatees can rest. Launch from a public ramp or kayak launch on Kings Bay (Hunter Springs Park is one) and paddle up the spring run.
The refuge keeps water and land separate here. No one enters the springs from the boardwalk, and no one launches from the refuge. Fishing is off the table in refuge waters too. Permitted operators in Kings Bay run the guided manatee tours, and the Fish and Wildlife Service activities page links the current operator list.
Base Your RV at Preservation Point
Preservation Point RV Resort sits on 230 acres outside Inverness, 12 miles west of I-75 (exit 329) on State Road 44, at 8588 E. Gulf to Lake Hwy. All 221 sites are concrete pads with full hookups: 50/30/20-amp power, water, dual sewer drops, and free Wi-Fi that streams. Pull-throughs fit rigs up to 60 feet, and back-ins and pull-ins fit up to 45.
A flock of sandhill cranes lives on the pond and walks through camp most mornings. Pets are welcome, and 2 community fire pits come with free firewood. The park is new and still building: a pool, bathhouse, and laundry are on the way, so bring a self-contained rig. A laundromat sits 7 minutes up the road.
From camp, Three Sisters Springs is 25 minutes, downtown Inverness is 6, and the Withlacoochee State Trail is 6. Our Inverness weekend guide fills in the rest of the trip, and the alligator safety guide covers the Florida wildlife you’ll share the water with. Nightly stays start at $50, and stays of a month or longer book by phone at (352) 353-1342. Check availability at Preservation Point RV Resort.
Three Sisters Springs FAQ
Can you swim at Three Sisters Springs?
No. The refuge and the city do not allow swimming from the boardwalk or the land around the springs, and visitors can’t enter the water from the refuge. Guided manatee tours from permitted Kings Bay operators are the way to get in the water.
Can you bring a dog to Three Sisters Springs?
No pets are allowed on the refuge. Service animals are welcome. Dogs are welcome at Preservation Point, so camp is the place for them while you ride the shuttle.
Is there parking at Three Sisters Springs?
The refuge has 6 handicapped spaces and no other public parking. Everyone else parks in a downtown city lot or at the Three Sisters Springs Center and rides the shuttle, which is included in admission.
How long should I plan for Three Sisters Springs?
I’d plan 2 to 3 hours with the shuttle, longer if you join a ranger program or walk every trail. Arrive before the 3:30 pm last-ticket cutoff.
When does manatee season start at Three Sisters Springs?
Manatee season runs Nov. 15 through Mar. 31. Winter admission pricing starts the same day, and the springs close to paddlers for the season.
Three Sisters Springs is one stop on the Nature Coast. Fort Cooper State Park is 12 minutes from camp, the Withlacoochee State Trail is 6, and the rest of our Florida parks run the coast from the Panhandle down.
