MANATEE SEASON

IS HERE!

📍Blue Spring State Park

A promotional sign for Pontoon Rentals offering 25% off.

Experience Florida Winter on the St. Johns River!

  • Visit Blue Spring State Park by boat

  • Wake up with manatees at Silver Glen on your own houseboat

  • Just outside Orlando, escape to Old Florida on a houseboat

Explore Our Fleet
A pontoon boat with a blue canopy floating on a calm river lined with green trees.

  • 12 people max | 50 H.P. Engine

    Weekday:

    • $249 | 8:45am - 4:45pm

    Weekend:

    • $269 | 8:45am - 4:45pm

A pontoon boat on a lake with a person wearing a wide-brimmed hat sailing. The boat has a blue canopy and is labeled with 'Rent Me' and a website URL.

  • 12 people max | 50 H.P. Engine

    Weekday:

    • $249 | 8:45am - 4:45pm

    Weekend:

    • $269 | 8:45am - 4:45pm

Two people on a small fishing boat with a Mercury outboard motor on a calm river, near a house on stilts.

  • 3 people max | 20 H.P. Electric Start

    Daily Rate

    • $100 | 8:45am - 4:45pm

    Weekend Houseboat Add On

    • $175

    Midweek Houseboat Add On

    • $225

    Week Houseboat Add On

    • $350

Just 5 miles south of our marina in DeLand, Florida, Blue Spring State Park transforms into one of the best manatee viewing destinations in Florida each winter. Every year, hundreds of manatees escape the cold temperatures, gathering in the clear spring run where the water stays a steady 72°F year-round. Skip the line and visit Blue Spring by boat! Rent a pontoon from Holly Bluff Resort Marina, cruise down the St. Johns River, and moor up along the shoreline (see map below). Park entry is just $2 per person when arriving by water.

Make it a true Old Florida escape aboard one of our Holly Bluff houseboats. With full kitchens, cozy sleeping quarters, and all the comforts of home, you can cruise up to 50 nautical miles along the St. Johns River. There’s nothing quite like waking up at Silver Glen Springs with manatees out your window.

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Book Now

Please respect park rules and avoid disturbing the shoreline. Water levels can fluctuate — check conditions and ask our team about planning a boat ride to Blue Spring.

WATCH:

Boating Around Manatees

Video courtesy of Save the Manatee Club.

  • A houseboat with outdoor seating, a barbecue grill, and potted plants docked near a sandy shoreline with trees in the background, alongside a smaller speedboat on a calm river under a partly cloudy sky.

    We had rented the 38' Houseboat for a week on the Catfish Bend, first night We slept like logs! The staff is very professional and courteous and helpful. What a great time and experience. Very clean boats and well taking care of

    Phil Herold

  • Float houseboat anchored near a lush green shoreline under a clear blue sky.

    Rented the "Song of the South" houseboat for a week and cannot wait to come back to Holly Bluff next year for a week! Staff is helpful and friendly. We received a thorough walk-thru of the houseboat before leaving the dock and felt very comfortable. The houseboat was clean and everything was in working order. Maps and handbook were accurate and helpful. The river is beautiful and alive with wildlife. Blue Springs and Silver Glens are a true treasure and treat to experience. Thank you to Deborah, Trent and Jason for the great customer service!

    Robyn Walters

  • A propane grill with foil-wrapped food, a glass of red wine on the grill's side surface, set outdoors near a lake with trees and cloudy sky in the background.

    We, and a few family and friends, rented 2 houseboats for 3 nights. The team at Holly Bluff Marina did a good job getting us oriented and on our way. This vacation was definitely one for the memory books! If you are looking for an experience where you can immerse yourself in nature, but have the amenities of glamping - this is worth it!

    Michelle Hepler

  • Colorful inflatable unicorn float with rainbow details floating on a lake, with people in boats and swimming in the background, surrounded by green trees under a cloudy sky.

    Boats are great, staff is extra friendly and service oriented, they go beyond their responsibilities to help you with anything.

    Keith Finley

  • Sunset over a river seen from a boat with a canopy, trees lining the riverbank, and a person partially visible on the left.

    Great holiday getaway! Beautiful Christmas eve sunset and cold Christmas morning on the St John's river.

    James Pickett

  • Houseboat Vacations

    “There are no words to express how well we were treated and the accommodations that were made to suit our needs. We appreciate the efforts made by all to make our first experience with Holly Bluff the best!”

    First-timers Sue & Linda