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Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River

Riverfront vacation home in Ruskin with kitchen

Photo gallery for Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River

Property grounds - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
Property grounds - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
Exterior - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
Smart TV - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
On the serene Little Manatee River, this unique gem offers a tranquil retreat with kayaking right from the house. Unwind in comfort with two queen bedrooms, a pull-out sofa, and a fully-equipped kitchen. The big screened porch is perfect for relaxation while outside you'll find a fire pit for cozy nights.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

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 transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • 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)

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21

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 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.

Pets

Pets 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

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
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

Property is also known as

Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River Ruskin

About the neighborhood

Map
Ruskin, FL

What's nearby

  • Little Manatee River State Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Camp Bayou Nature Preserve - 5 min drive - 2.8 km
  • Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa - 33 min drive - 50.2 km
  • Port of Tampa - 36 min drive - 46.6 km
  • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - 45 min drive - 60.3 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪RaceTrac - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Circle K - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪7-Eleven - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬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?

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).

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Reviews

Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

9.4

Cleanliness

9.0

Location
Rating 10 - Excellent. 9 out of 11 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 11 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 11 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 11 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 11 reviews

Reviews

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

10/10 Excellent

chris h.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10/10 Excellent

John T.

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