Weeki Wachee Guide for Families

I’ve always loved old, quirky Florida. As a child, I’d read Jeff Klinkenberg’s Real Florida books and still have an active group chat with my childhood besties about Florida culture.

So when deciding what to do this Mother’s Day, going back to Weeki Wachee — the essence of weird, nostalgic Florida — was a no brainer. I had been as a teen but hadn’t been back to Weeki Wachee with kids, one of whom is a mermaid-loving toddler.

Weeki Wachee’s famous live mermaid shows began in 1947 and still run with the same charm today. It is weird, impressive and just so Florida. It’s a must do.

In addition to the mermaid show, Weeki Wachee has a swimming hole in the springs with water slides, a boat tour, and educational animal shows. It’s a state park now so it’s also reasonably priced for all you get (and kids 5 and under are free!).

Here’s what you need to know before you go to Weeki Wachee.

General Information

Weeki Wachee is the deepest natural spring in the U.S., known for it’s crystal clear water and live mermaid show. It is now a state park that is open 365 days a year.

Shows:

Disclaimer: show times and offerings are subject to change and are weather dependent

How long to plan to visit:

I’d plan to stay at least a half day at Weeki Wachee to give yourself enough time for shows. You could easily fill a whole day if you plan to swim a lot, kayak or if there are any weather closures.

Tips Before Visiting

1. Arrive early during high season

I’m putting this point first because its the most important and may be the most surprising to non-locals. Weeki Wachee gets BUSY. High season usually starts around Memorial Day weekend and runs through the summer.

We chatted with the lady working the gift shop and she said they often fill to capacity by 9am opening over the summer, and there’s been times she’s come to work at 6:30am and a few people were already in line.

2. Pay attention to weather

Pretty much everything at Weeki Wachee shuts down if lightning is within 10 miles of the area. Check the weather before your trip and remember that in the summer, afternoon thunderstorms are the norm.

They do not provide refunds if weather shuts down shows.

3. Plan for an early mermaid show

If seeing the mermaid show is a priority (and it should be!), plan for an early show. Doors to the show open 30 minutes before show time, and people start lining up well before that.

Trying for the early show gives you opportunities to see a later show if its full. More importantly, Florida is known for afternoon thunderstorms so there’s always a chance that later shows will be cancelled because of weather.

4. Reserve a river cruise time ASAP

You can reserve a river cruise time in advance. When the park is busy, cruises fill up. Your best bet is to reserve a cruise time as soon as you enter the park.

5. Bring in food and drink

You are free to bring in food and drink into the park. This is a great way to save money and time compared to eating at the on-site restaurants.

You can even bring in a cooler under 45 quarts. Just no alcohol or glass.

6. Pack to swim (just not inflatables)

Pack your swim gear and towels for the park. You are not allowed to bring inflatables into the park but you can bring pool noodles and child floats. There are tubes available to rent for the lazy river for ~$10 a tube.

You’ll also need shoes and a cover-up or clothes for activities like the boat cruise. We watched people turned away from the cruise because they were in swim suits, towels and no shoes. There were also signs up for areas that required you to be dressed and not only in a swim suit

7. The water is cold

I was really excited for the water slides on our first visit, until I remembered that the water temperature of the springs is 72 degrees.

There were a lot of happy swimmers when we were there that didn’t seem to mind, but mentioning this for any other Floridians who also can’t handle cold water.

Things to Do at Weeki Wachee

Mermaid show

The Mermaid show is the pièce de résistance of Weeki Wachee. It’s unique, impressive and has a nostalgic charm. It’s a must do.

You can also meet a live mermaid after the show ends by the gift shop.

River cruise tour

The river cruise is a short boat ride down the Weeki Wachee river. The tour is included in your admission, no extra charges.

The cruise sails for about 20 minutes and slowly goes down the river. The captain points out nature and animals they spot along the way. The water is clear so you get a good view of all the fish.

Ranger experience

There’s a ranger nature talk with animals that happens a couple times a day. We missed this one our visit unfortunately due to weather.

Swim in the springs

You can swim at the springs year around at the beach area and floating docks.

There is also a little kids swimming area but it is closed for the 2025 season

Water slides

There are two water slides at Weeki Wachee. One is more of a winding water slide that goes into the springs. The other is straight and does not end in the spring, instead just has shallow water at the end of the slide.

Lazy river (extra cost)

There’s a small lazy river experience with the natural current of the springs. There is a separate charge for the tube rental.

Playground

There’s a small playground available if kids need a non-water activity to get some energy out.

Kayak & paddleboard (extra cost)

Kayaks and paddleboards are available to rent if you’d like to tour the river yourself. 2-hour rentals cost between $35-$51. The current of the river is very strong so you get picked up at the end of the paddle and don’t have to fight your way back upstream.

If you have your own kayak, you can pay $8 to launch it. There’s an addition $5 charge if you’d like a ride back upstream with your private vessel.

Nearby Weeki Wachee

Admittedly, there’s not a ton right by Weeki Wachee but there is more beautiful nature (and even more mermaids!) to be had north of the park. Here are a few other places you may want to check out nearby:

• Mertailor Mermaid Aquarium: approx 30 minutes north
• Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park: approx. 25 minutes north, great for seeing manatees during colder months
• Crystal River State Park: approx 40 minutes north
• Chassahowitzka River: for kayaking, approx 20 minutes north

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Looking for more Florida experiences? Check out our post on the Kennedy Space Center.