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River Rat's Rest

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A two-story house with a wooden deck and a staircase leading to the second floor. - River Rat's Rest (Homosassa)
Outdoor dining - River Rat's Rest (Homosassa)
Exterior - River Rat's Rest (Homosassa)
A bedroom with a bed, a desk, a chair, and a window with blinds. - River Rat's Rest (Homosassa)
A bathroom with a shower, toilet, sink, and mirror. - River Rat's Rest (Homosassa)
Escape to a friendly residential neighborhood where you can experience wild Florida with comforts. Canal views from the open-concept living areas offer ample opportunities to watch wildlife as you sip your coffee. Enjoy fully-stocked kitchen, propane grill, and three kayaks for exploring nearby water front restaurants.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 121960 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning

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About this property

River Rat's Rest

  • This is where you can experience wild Florida while enjoying all your favorite comforts. Our completely remodeled home is on a canal just 200 feet away from the Halls River. Located in a friendly residential neighborhood, this immaculate 3 bedroom 2 bath (plus loft upstairs) home is perfect for your year-round getaway. The open concept living, dining and kitchen areas overlook the canal, with ample opportunities to watch otters, manatees, and birds as you drink your coffee.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Onsite parking options include a carport

Kitchen

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

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Shower

Living spaces

  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Dock

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • Up to 99 kg per pet

Suitability/Accessibility

  • 20 steps to reach entrance
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Things to do

  • Kayak

Safety features

  • No carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Unit size: 1,960 square feet

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 1

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out

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

Pets

Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
1 total (up to 99 kg per pet)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
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

Homosassa is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Three Sisters Springs and Fort Island Gulf Beach. Visit our Homosassa travel guide
View more Holiday homes in Homosassa
Map
Homosassa, FL

What's nearby

  • A close-up of a manatee's head underwater.
    Crystal River Preserve State Park
    2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • A crocodile resting on a log in a water body with surrounding vegetation.
    Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
    3 min drive - 4.1 km
  • A manatee swimming underwater.
    Three Sisters Springs
    6 min drive - 8.6 km
  • A person paddleboarding on a clear river surrounded by dense vegetation and trees.
    Weeki Wachee Springs
    30 min drive - 46.4 km
  • A clear turquoise lake surrounded by lush greenery and trees.
    Rainbow Springs State Park
    38 min drive - 43.6 km

Getting around

  • Tampa, FL (TPA-Tampa Intl.)
    75 min drive

Restaurants

  • RaceTrac
    3 min drive
  • McDonald's
    3 min drive
  • Circle K
    3 min drive
  • Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters
    4 min drive
  • Michael Anthony's Pizza
    3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is River Rat's Rest pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 99 kg per pet.

How much is parking at River Rat's Rest?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at River Rat's Rest?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at River Rat's Rest?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is River Rat's Rest located?

Situated in Homosassa, this holiday home is steps from Crystal River Preserve State Park and within 6 mi (10 km) of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and Citrus County Dog Park. A Crystal River Kayak Company and Plantation Inn and Golf Resort are also within 6 miles (10 km).

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River Rat's Rest 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. 38 out of 39 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 39 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 39 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 39 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 39 reviews

9.8

Cleanliness

9.8

Location

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Janet W.

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

Amazing host~!

Host was so accommodating, answered fast and timely, really made our stay! It was a nice place, so thankful it had the amenities, it was close to everything as well! House was very nice and cozy!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Randolph H.

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

Great floor plan and location

We loved the openness of this property. It let us enjoy visiting and talking while giving privacy to those who needed it. The covered parking was very helpful especially during summer storms. We enjoyed our stay very much!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Wendi S.

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

Spring Break 2025

As advertised! We enjoyed everything about our stay. Manatee visited us daily on the floating dock. The house was on a quiet road with 4 houses. The nature that surrounded us was amazing!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Patricia P.

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

Homosassa retreat

Beautiful house on the river. Very spacious and clean. Nice dock with a canoe and kayaks. Quiet neighborhood yet close to everything.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl S.

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

This lively place had everything!

From age 5 to age 68, we all had fun! Kayaking, manatees, fishing, and a large open homey place offered the perfect grt-together place. Convenient to stores and restaurants, it was a lovely place and area.
Stayed 12 nights in Feb 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Edward C.

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

great property

we had a magmificent time.The master suite and other bedrooms on the main floor worked great for the adults and the kids loved the loft.The place was very clean an well equiped.What a nice surprise seeing a mother and baby Manatee come right up to the dock.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Susan M.

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

Nice hideaway

Had a real good time here. Place was really spacious. Everything here to cook great meals and kayaks and canoe were awesome. Only problem we had was couldnt figure how to get the light to come on until you were at bottom of stairs. Thank you for letting us stay. Wud highly recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Tine N.

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

Perfect hideaway

It is the second time we stayed at this lovely home and it won’t be the last. It really feels more like a home than a rental with fluffy towels and soft comforters. We love being on the water and they provide good quality kayaks and paddles. The house is situated on a quiet canal and within a few minutes on the water you are surrounded by nature and, if you are lucky like we were, dozens of manatees. Our stay was perfect and we will come back next year!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jay T.

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

Incredible Place!

Our stay at this river house was absolutely amazing. The beds were comfy, and the air was nice and cold. The home had such a peaceful setting. We made many memories as a family kayaking and canoeing. We loved visiting the state parks and local springs. Grocery shopping and restaurants were all close by. The host was amazing. They were helpful and always available. We are blessed to travel often and experience many different properties, and this property is at the top of our list. We look forward to return!  
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sarah P.

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

Great Vacation Spot!

This was a great place to stay, central to a ton of things. We were a large group (12 people) with young kids and had plenty of space in the house. The dock was a hit for fishing and kayaking/canoeing. Restaurants are close by, up to 15 min drive for some of them which provided nice views of the salt marshes. There are springs for swimming just up the road in Crystal River and beach access about 10 min away in the gulf. The kitchen was well stocked, plenty of towels and blankets for when we needed them, and a nice firepit outside for s'mores nights with the kids. Definitely hit up the Ellie Schiller park just a few miles down the road to see manatees and other local wildlife! This was an ideal HQ for our vacation and we would definitely stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Alexa W.

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

A riverside retreat to remember for the ages!

We had an all-girls nature retreat at this amazing home and I can’t imagine having spent such a magical weekend anywhere else. The house comes with some kayaks and a canoe, which was so helpful. We had additional yaks dropped off by a local company called Sassa Style Rentals. We saw so many manatees on the water, enjoyed emu island, fishing, campfires, yoga by the river, and we experienced some incredible sunsets while exploring the marshes. The best surprise of all was the bioluminescence off the dock on our last night - it was truly a once in a lifetime experience watching glowing turtles and fish swimming through the dark waters. As for the space itself, there was enough indoor space for everyone to be comfortable and the outdoor space was plentiful and private. I can say without a doubt everyone will always cherish this special slice of paradise and the memories we shared here. Needless to say, I can’t recommend this place enough :)
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Billy K.

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

Manatee Spectacular

We had plenty of room for our family. We were celebrating my 16 year olds birthday. We also hosted two of my sisters and their husbands. The kayak and dock access was a great treat. My 16 year old caught 8 bass and several brim right off the dock. The water was so clear you could see turtles, crabs, sheep head, mullet and of course the star of the show manatee right off the dock. The manatee visited every morning and afternoon. With a short kayak trip to the end of the canal you could see many more. We also paddled to the Emu farm just past the canal. We visited the local state parks and rented a pontoon boat for a morning to go up into Hunter Springs and Three sisters spring. There were manatee and dolphins everywhere in the river all the way out to the Gulf of America….lol. Would definitely recommend as house is great for large family getaways and being able to bring our dogs was a plus.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Doug E.

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

Springs and Scalloping

Everything you need is already here , lg. house and family room. GREAT AIR CONDITIONING !!! +++ 6 adults 3 children 7 , 4 , and 6mos.old. The water at the dock behind the house is perfectly crystal clear and the kids enjoyed swimming in it and being taken out in canoe and kayak into the Hall river , saw emu island and lots of different fish. Beautiful drive out to Ozella , and great seafood restaurants are close by, we really enjoyed "THE CRAB PLANT". I recommend it !! Easy access to several springs and numerous parks all around We rented a pontoon boat for 2 days and we had a blast , got a few scallop , left the rest for you ! Plenty of local guides for scallops and fishing . Homosassa springs river waterfront is a happening place on both sides of the river . A large time was had by all .
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Beverly L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What we loved the most was watching all the wildlife in the canal … manatees, several kinds of fish, pelicans and Herons… very fun!
Stayed 93 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Heather A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
We had a great stay! The house was a perfect fit for our family and a great location for all the manatee fun! Thank you.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Bobby B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very clean and nice great atmosphere will be back
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Heather D.

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

This house was very nice and comfortable for our group of 12

Definitely would recommend this property
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kay C.

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

Beautiful spot!

Great location and lovely rental! Had everything you would need - to cook in, or good places to eat out!! Home was really comfortable!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Diane J.

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

Great place to relax

We all totally enjoyed our stay. We got to see manatees, bald eagles, hawks, we caught fish! Great place for relaxation!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Robin H.

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

Excellent, short stay!

This home was perfect for our family of 5! Very clean, nicely decorated, and very comfortable. We LOVED using the kayaks and the canoe in the calm waters around their home. You will ot be disappointed staying here!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Lea W.

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

Amazing

What a place!! So comfortable. Beautiful location. The town is just lovely. We loved every moment there!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Chris M.

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

Magical Wildlife Location

Saw lots of manatees…and one juvenile hung out by the house dock for a day. Lots of great bird watching as well.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

April K.

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

At peace with nature

Our stay was wonderful. Perfect space for 9 adults and 2 children. The outside was so peaceful and our two grandchildren looked forward to a kayak ride every evening.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Hollie A.

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

Great stay!

Such a beautiful home and property! A great coastal vibe to the home. Clean and well laid out. My family and I come to this area every year and this has been one of our favorite houses. We also loved kayaking the beautiful river on property!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jason H.

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

Great spot to see manatees

Our family enjoyed our time celebrating Thanksgiving together. We really enjoyed seeing all the cool fish and even manatees come up to the dock. The house was very close to stores and restaurants. Kitchen was big and had everything we needed to cook some great meals. Lots of fun. I really enjoyed the fire pit outside.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2022