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Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River

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Exterior
Property grounds
Property grounds
Property grounds
Property grounds

Reviews

9.6 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor grill

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Living Room 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area

About this property

Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River

Experience the magic of "Old Florida" at this unique hidden gem on the wild Little Manatee River. The other side of the river is the state park, and wildlife abounds: alligators, manatees, turtles, deer, hogs, hawks and pileated woodpeckers are common sights. Kayaking right from the house is super easy and beautiful. The house itself is very comfortable with two queen bedrooms and a pull-out sofa with a memory foam mattress. The kitchen is fully equipped for cooking. The big screened porch is the best space to hang out. Outside there's a fire pit, hammock and swing. You feel far from everything, but it's only a ten minute drive to the commercial strip and the highway. This is a fantastic place for a romantic getaway or a fun family get-together. It's a natural wonder!
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
Children love this place!
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
One or two well-behaved dogs are okay. No cats.
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Smoking outside only.

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Take out the trash
Return the keys
Please take trash and recycling up the “hill” to the bins where the dirt road ends.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the neighborhood

Ruskin

Located in Ruskin, this vacation home is in a rural area and on a river. Ruskin Family Drive-In and Florida Railroad Museum Willow Yard are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Cypress Golf Club and Sandpiper Golf Club. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Sun City Center Community Tennis or Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Ruskin, FL

What's nearby

  • Little Manatee River State Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Camp Bayou Nature Preserve - 4 min drive - 2.8 km
  • Port of Tampa - 36 min drive - 44.9 km
  • Tampa Riverwalk - 37 min drive - 45.2 km
  • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - 51 min drive - 54.3 km

Getting around

  • St. Petersburg, FL (SPG-Albert Whitted) - 48 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Circle K - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪RaceTrac - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪7-Eleven - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River?

As of Apr 9, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River on Apr 19, 2026 start from $165, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River located?

Situated on a river, this vacation home is steps from Little Manatee River State Park and 1.3 mi (2.1 km) from Camp Bayou Nature Preserve. Gannon University Ruskin Campus and South Bay Hospital are also within 9 mi (15 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 12 out of 15 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 15 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 15 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 15 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 15 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.0/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rick f.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful location great accommodations
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Mark B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Pet friendly and well kept. Plenty to do on site and house was secluded and quite.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great stay and will return.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

chris h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Place
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tammy K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome place to stay. It was a great escape from all the hustle and bustle. Clean, comfortable, and quiet. We are planning on making it a tradition every year. Our grandkids had a smile on their face the whole time.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lisa F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Riverbend Retreat is a very relaxing and comfortable house. It is fully stocked with anything you would need to have a peaceful, relaxing stay. Although we didn’t take advantage of the kayaks, we did do some fishing which was a great way to spend the afternoon and evening. Even though it’s a secluded location, there is shopping and restaurants close by. We also spent some time at both E.G. Simmons County park which has a small beach and Little Manatee State Park which you can paddle to. Check in and check out was extremely easy. We really had no problems but when we did communicate with Sidney, he responded quickly! Definitely recommend it!
Stayed 27 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ann E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is a beautiful spot. Comfrotable & cozy. Kayaks are terrific.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jessica P.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun

The property location was beautiful. We had an awesome time.There was a lot of ants in the house as well as dirt/debris in the beds which was remedied by washing the sheets.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ann E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Riverbend

Very cute cottage. Very clean. Lots of little amenities - a cooler, beach chairs,sitting areas outside, fishing poles, laundry detergent, plenty of kitchen tools. Best part of course were the kayaks. Kayaking the river was really nice.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jan M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy and Secluded Yet Convenient to Shopping

The Riverbend Retreat is what I'd called a cute, cozy, and comfortable cottage. It's secluded and private yet within a 15 minute drive to restaurants and shopping. The property is so peaceful, and my favorite parts were the wrap around screened in deck, and the firepit by the river. And the opportunity to kayak and fish was a plus (although we did not partake). We'll be returning!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Cindy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gator Fun!!

We had a nice stay at the River Bend Retreat. Did a little kayaking, got to watch 3 gators slide into the water. Continued paddling and enjoyed the scenery!! The Retreat was homey, and had pretty much everything we needed. Sidney was a phone call away with any concerns. It is a unique location and was very relaxing.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tim F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Old Florida property!

Place was very well equipped and right on the river. This is “Old Florida” so it’s not new or fancy so if that is your speed this is not for you. We loved our stay and it was very peaceful. Communication with Sydney was great.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jodi

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The cabin was very nice and clean. The beds were comfortable. The only thing was there were no eash cloths for bathing. Easy enough fix. We bought some inexpensive ones for our stay. Would stay there again.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

brock m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

About the host

Hosted by Sidney Wilson

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Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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