Things to do
Rent a boat for the day
Bring your own 27 ft-and-smaller boat and dock at the private floating dock, or rent one for the day. Crystal River has flats, channels, and the open Gulf within thirty minutes. Excellent for fishing, scalloping, sandbar days, and sunset cruises.
Host tip · Twin Rivers Marina, just up the road, is the closest powerboat rental (a marina, not a public ramp). Plantation Marina (Crystal River's main marina, pontoons + center consoles + personal watercraft), Crystal River Watersports (downtown), and Pete's Pier (closer to the springs) also run daily rentals. Book a week ahead in summer. Trailering your own boat? The closest public ramp is the Fort Island Trail ramp, which gets shallow at low tide, so check the tide first. Plantation is next-closest (also shallow at low tide), and Pete's Pier has the deepest water you never have to worry about at any tide.
Season
Year-round
Distance
Rentals 5 to 15 min away
Bring your own 27 ft-and-smaller boat and dock at the private floating dock, or rent one for the day. Crystal River has flats, channels, and the open Gulf within thirty minutes. Excellent for fishing, scalloping, sandbar days, and sunset cruises.
Related
More things to do in Crystal River
Swim with manatees at Three Sisters Springs
Crystal River is the only place in the U.S. where you can legally swim with West Indian manatees. November through March, hundreds gather in the 72° springs at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, five minutes from the house.
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Kayak or paddleboard the springs
We do not keep kayaks at the house and we do not recommend launching from our dock — the canal is rocky and oyster-edged. Better plan: rent from a real launch point a few minutes away.
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Scalloping in the Gulf
July 1 through Sept. 24, the shallow grass flats off Crystal River fill with bay scallops you can hand-pick while snorkeling. Bring home dinner.
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Manatee season in Crystal River
Crystal River is the only place in the U.S. you can legally swim with wild manatees. Season runs mid-November through March. Here's how to plan it.
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Three Sisters Springs — what to know before you go
Three Sisters Springs is the centerpiece of the Crystal River manatee refuge. Here's how to access it, when to go, and what to bring.
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