Entire home

Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River

Photo gallery for Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River

A house by a calm water body with dense greenery and tall trees. - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
A wooden staircase leading to a covered area surrounded by lush greenery and large banana plants. - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
A wooden deck with a hanging chair and a table, overlooking a lush garden. - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
A compact kitchen with white cabinets, a stove, a sink, and a window. - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
A living room with a sofa, coffee table, and TV. There is a kitchen area with cabinets and a dining table. - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
Consider a stay at Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River and take advantage of a firepit, a playground and laundry facilities. Stay connected with in-room WiFi.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air-conditioning
  • Parking available

Add dates for prices

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!

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Porch/lanai

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Note from host: Smoking outside only.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • On a river

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:

Take out the rubbish

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.

Pets

Pets are allowed

Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Note from host: One or two well-behaved dogs are okay. No cats.

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Note from host: Children love this place!

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Smoking outside only.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
On-site 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
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

About the area

Located in Ruskin, this holiday 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 Sun City Center Community Tennis. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex, or consider a night out at Showtown Bar & Grill. Kayaking and power boating offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking and hiking nearby. Visit our Ruskin travel guide
View more Holiday homes in Tampa
Map
Ruskin, FL

What's nearby

  • A large guitar sculpture in front of a hotel and casino.
    Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa
    36 min drive - 32.4 miles
  • A pedestrian bridge with a modern design, overlooking a river with a boat docked on the left.
    Tampa Riverwalk
    40 min drive - 35.6 miles
  • A coastal cityscape with a large cruise ship docked, a bridge, and industrial buildings.
    Port Tampa Bay
    41 min drive - 31.4 miles
  • Raymond James Stadium with a large advertisement and a parking garage.
    Raymond James Stadium
    48 min drive - 40.6 miles
  • Little Manatee River State Park
    2 min walk - 0.1 miles

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • Circle K
    12 min drive
  • McDonald's
    12 min drive
  • Beanie's Sports Bar
    15 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 is parking at Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River?

On-site 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?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River located?

Situated on a river, this holiday 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 miles (15 km).

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River Reviews

Reviews

Exceptional

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 18 out of 22 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 22 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews

9.6

Cleanliness

9.0

Location

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Property was a great location for us traveling back and forth to Wimauma Convention Center. It was so quiet and peaceful which was exactly what we were looking for, the screened porch was perfect place to unwind and even take a nap. The river was picturesque, we saw gators, fish and even a couple dolphins!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very cute and relaxing cabin tucked away in nature. Super clean.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

8/10 Good

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 review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property was beautiful, the house clean, the kayaks were great, we’ll be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was a nice clean home it was fun riding the kayaks in the river and enjoying the scenery I got to see a pretty large alligator sun bathing in the mornings across the river! Would definitely recommend staying here if you love the outdoors and a quiet atmosphere
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a delightful change of pace, I loved the cottage’s peaceful location. The outdoor porch with birdsong serenade was a perfect place to start the day with a cup of coffee, and end the evening with a nightcap. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

8/10 Good

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very adorable and fun place to stay. Lots of things to keep you busy and places to sit and relax. Lots of wildlife around. Stayed 6 days. Would definitely stay again.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

10/10 Excellent

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