Florida / Manatee River /

Tom Bennett Park Kayak Launch

Carry-in (canoe and kayak) · on Manatee River · near Bradenton · Florida

Open per Florida Boat Ramp Inventory (FWC)'s data, updated weekly. Seasonal gates, low water and storms are not always posted; check before you tow.

At the launch

Type
Carry-in (canoe and kayak)
Fee
Free
Ramp surface
Gravel
Car parking
6 spaces
Restrooms
Flush toilet
Hours
Sunrise to Sunset
Managed by
Manatee County
Coordinates
27.50316, -82.49125

Directions (Google) Apple Maps

On Manatee River

The Manatee River is a 36-mile river in Manatee County, Florida. It forms where the East Fork and North Fork meet in the northeastern part of the county, flows west, and enters the Gulf of Mexico at the southern edge of Tampa Bay. Its watershed covers about 360 square miles. Lake Manatee lies about halfway along the river. It is a 1,174-acre reservoir built in 1967 and is Manatee County's main water supply. Below the dam the river is an estuary, and Bradenton sits on its banks. The Braden River is its main tributary. The Manatee River Estuary covers 5,766 acres and is listed as an Outstanding Florida Water. More about Manatee River.

Boating rules on Manatee River

  • State manatee protection zones (Rule 68C-22.014, F.A.C.): slow-speed zones and 25 mph / 25 mph-in-channel zones on parts of the Manatee River source
  • Boats must stay at least 300 yards from the Lake Manatee dam; a county-maintained no-entry overhead cable line crosses the river below the spillway source
  • A warning siren signals that a dam gate is opening or closing source

Community

Where people who use Manatee River talk about it.

Nearby launches

Sources

Why it is listed as public: listed by Florida Boat Ramp Inventory (FWC). Something wrong, or is this launch private? Corrections help everyone; a reporting form is coming soon.