Found a group on while searching for kayaking deals and found this gem down the road from me. What a peaceful and tranquil ride down the river. We left at 9 am. and took our time to navigate through this waterway (and since this was my first kayaking experience). The current takes you gently down the river for the first half....we may have hit a few branches along the way 😄. We finished at about 3 pm, and instead of paddling back upstream, a shuttle service brings you back. It's great! We saw a manatee and many many turtles. Another group saw a gator. This was an amazing first-time experience. It's so pretty. I never knew this place existed so close to me. The staff are super friendly. 👌 Bring bug spray, tanning lotion, waters, and snacks. We brought all but snacks, and there aren't any places to stop along the way to buy them. If you bring a dmall cooler, there is a Pavillion halfway down the water trail where you can stop and eat and a charcoal grill. One restroom is at this stop also.

We had family in to visit and really enjoyed this trip. We had one double kayak and one canoe. The staff are friendly and helpful. The paddle was easy except for a couple of spots where we ran into submerged trees and had to get backed up to find a different way through. There are only a few houses along the route as the state park is on one side so it is quite peaceful. We saw several different water birds, three gators and lots of huge turtles. No manatees this trip. You can stop about 1/2 way at the park for a picnic or to use the bathroom. Most of us are not in good shape so I thought we might be sore the next day but we were not.

We had a great winter paddle. The Little Manatee River is a welcome natural respite from the sprawl. Staff was very welcoming. They gave very clear direction about the route, picnic and restroom stop options and more. Our daughter and niece (both nearly 5) loved the trip! Only thing I would do different next time is to pack a full picnic lunch.

We had the most amazing time. I honestly didn’t expect to have so much fun kayaking on our own, but it was great. We saw more wildlife than we did on some of the local tours. It’s definitely a long ride, if you go at a decent pace, so bring water or get some Gatorade at their little gift shop. The employees were so friendly and helpful. The drivers that pick you up are great, so bring cash if you want to tip :)

My boyfriend and I stayed a weekend camping and it was more than we could have asked for! The price is great and the people are so helpful! We will be coming back to stay again in the near future. They have a beautiful peacock that likes to hangout around the dog park that is really cool to see! We’ve also kayaked here many times. Awesome place with helpful staff

Plans for Disney or pickle ball? Come on, get serious. Get on a kayak and cruise down a REAL river and get exercise! First class service from friendly folks and a chance to see real, not fake, Florida. Get your kids out of the house and away from their phones, take a date, pack a picnic. Get outside!

outstanding restrooms. Better than what you see in some peoples houses. The rental process was easy. The guys were extremely friendly and entertaining. Our 6 mile trip took about three hours but we took it easy. I will definitely do it again and can’t wait to get back.

We did not stay overnight so I can't vouch for the rooms but their customer service was outstanding. Brian was very nice and quick to help, and the two other guys helped us put our boat (brought our own) and take it out. It was nice to have a little blurb before hand with pictures of the canoe trail and know what to expect. I gave our helper some French cookies to thank them since I did not have cash for a tip on hand and they were very happy I hope. We chose COutpost rather than the park to put out our canoe because their ramp is apparently easier to use than the park's. When it's busy there is not much place to park but Brian was willing to help us find a spot.

Great place to rent a kayak or canoe for a great family adventure! Brian Sr and his staff, John & Addie, were super helpful, professional & friendly. Nice shady launch point/ parking just off highway 301. John and Addie, helped us select the perfect boats for each individual, setup all our kayaks (8) for launch, provided a detailed prefloat briefing, including assistance with loading adults and kids. Picked us up promptly at the exit point. Highly recommended for a relaxing float along the scenic Little Manatee River!

Nice local campground. It has spaces for tents and RVs though it may be tight. They also have some cabins and even a small school bus called the The Kool Bus that you can rent. The bathroom facilities are one of the best I’ve seen. You can either rents canoes/kayaks or bring your own. If you stay on the weekend of the full moon you can do the moonlight canoe trip, it is definitely worth it. Management is open to feedback in an effort to make it enjoyable for all. Highly recommend giving it a shot.

Great place for kayaking, paddle boarding. You can bring your own or rent. Very nice clean park with lots of room to walk around. We had our dogs with us, they loved it too. You can bring your RV there or a tent. Very friendly stuff will help you with any if your needs. Nice campground place with fire pits and bbq area. We will definitely go there again.

Easy-going, friendly and caring folks. Amazing kayaking in a tiny river intimately close to nature. You'll be passing large turtles bathing in sun on the logs almost at arms reach. Tips: 1. Don't ride into branches if you're afraid of a little spider or two. 2. Might need sunscreen towards the end where the river gets wider. 3. Get GPS coordinates of picked up location, and where to turn to a creek for pick-up location. But you'll be briefed with pictures of landmarks and given a paper map. 4. Pack a snack for a picnic. 5. Kids might enjoy a park's small playground mid-way Again, amazing staff. Thanks!

Rented a couple kayaks just for a fun day on the river. Huge amount of kayaks on hand. The staff was very friendly and helpful, they explain everything clearly in an easy to understand way. If you've never gone before they go out of their way to make sure you're good, so don't be intimidated, it's easier than you probably think. The trip down the river was also fun. Be warned, 6 miles kayaking is a good distance if you're not used to it, bring plenty to drink and food for a small meal. You're going to be pretty tired out by the end, but it's overall very fun.

Absolutely amazing trip! Our concierge Brian was the best and set everything up for us. Would stay there again for sure!!! A+ service! Stayed in both the cabin and the RV, and both were amazing! Also, as a bonus for those dog lovers, there is a pretty sizable dog park on the property as well as other amenities.

This is my third time here. My friends invited me here, I am not really a camper but this is a great place for camping. Clean bathrooms and great outside showers. Staff is super friendly and very accommodating. There are grocery stores near by, but there is also a small store on the grounds where you can buy small items like ice and wood. There are many electrical outlets making the camping experience very comfortable.

We used them for canoe rental and shuttle. They were fantastic. Love the little store. Customer service by everyone was outstanding. Will definitely use them again!

Went end of December, saw lots of turtles, cormorants, vultures, a shy alligator, sweet airplants. Super chill operation, slow current, water was at 3.6 level which was perfect for us but if you are looking to hang in sandbars they were small. Manatee not there until summer. Took us 3 hours at slow paddle no stop. Would go again and again.

We appreciated the help in launching our kayaks and the prompt shuttle service. Made for a great day!

We went out on a Saturday (9/9) and it couldn't have been a better time! The weather was perfect, the water was nice and cool, the river was flowing... it was amazing. The staff were super kind and helpful (even after I knocked my daughter's cup out of her hand and spilled it on the floor). They explained everything in a way that was easy to understand - we even remembered the way certain things were discussed in our initial talk before embarking on our trip which was very helpful during the trip. The canoe and kayaks were in great shape. I would highly recommend taking this trip - such a wonderful experience.

Very nice place to visit. They even have cabins you can rent there. My friend did and it was actually very nice.

Everyone there was super friendly and I loved the little gift shop! We camped for two nights in the group site, and we had a great time. I wish the road wasn't so close, as it got a little loud sometimes, but other than that, we loved everything!

Staff are warm and welcoming. We saw tons of turtles, on alligator, and lots of sea birds. The ride is lovely and the price is amazing! Clean bathrooms too!

We used this site as a takeout for the kayak run we chose. The staff was very friendly and helpful Their knowledge of the river was invaluable.

Very cool place. Staff were flexible friendly and efficient. I brought my 8&4 year old on a canoe trip down the river and they had a very good time. Water was low in parts and we had to dodge some downed trees from hurricane Ian but by the end my kids were all smiles! Saw lots of turtles and 2 (smallish) alligators that kept their distances

Love this place and the staff! Very friendly and the views are great. Manatees, fish and turtles were seen. Kayaked for 7 hrs.

Great location and great staff! Brian Jr. Is always willimg to gonthe extra mile to ensure guests have an amazing experience. John goes above and beyond to help customers enjoy their time at the outpost. Highly suggest checking it out!

This place is AMAZING! We went with my church with a little over 30 people and everyone had a blast! Everyone at the canoe outpost was informative, patient, and friendly. Definitely recommend! We will for sure be back. Canoe outpost, keep up the great job!

We were the first customers to come following the latest hurricane, about a week after. The staff did such a great job cleaning up the natural debri in the river! Friendly staff who gave us a detailed overview of what to expect prior to leaving and then met us once we wrapped the trip. Saw Florida wildlife in action, would recommend! PS: don’t be scared of the alligators!

Had the best time Kayaking! The staff were very friendly and helpful. I spent 7 hrs on the river and it didn't disappoint. The views were awesome. Saw a lot of turtles sunning and a few manatees. Glad I brought a small cooler with water and snacks. It was a long nice time.

Super friendly and helpful staff, especially John! The kayaks are not new but in great shape. The day we went it was not crowded so the trip was peaceful. Definitely will go there again.

Just did the Newman Creek paddle near the Manatee Viewing Center. It was a great experience and we will be back. The kayak attendant was wonderful, helpful and very informative. We enjoyed the self-guided trails and loved seeing the manatees. Highly recommend!!

Awesome place to take the family and friends or even a solo adventure. The staff were very accommodating and helpful with any questions I had making me feel safe. I highly recommend and will be back soon for more fun!

Can not recommend this place enough! Staff is kind and so helpful. I've been canoeing my whole life and this by far is the easiest fastest and most affordable way to have a great trip! My family has used their services many times and have always had a great experience. From toddler to elderly their short trip is perfect and shadey most of the way down the river. Staff is also knowledgeable on river depth and any obsticals so if it's going to be a rough day they will let you know!

We had a really good time. It was fun. It was wonderful to again experience the REAL Florida. The fireflies were a treat. The staff was knowledgable, very friendly, and incredibly helpful from start to finish. I recommend this adventure. Thank you Canoe Outpost.