It’s time to add a new animal encounter to your adventure bucket list. Get in the water and swim with otters! Yes, otters!! These cute and super inquisitive animals are ADORABLE and the opportunity to swim with them is like no other experience you’ll ever have.
Swimming with dolphins or feeding a giraffe can be done almost anywhere. But there are only a handful of places across the United States where you can swim with otters. If you have been asking yourself where can I swim with otters in the US, or searching for places to swim with otters in the United States, this guide covers eight real, bookable otter swim experiences, from Kansas to Florida.
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Where Can I Swim with Otters?
Here are 8 places you can swim with otters in the United States, listed with pricing, minimum age, and what to expect so you can compare them at a glance before you book.
Quick Comparison: Otter Swim Experiences in the US
| Experience | Location | Minimum Age | Price | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Wilds | Frankford, Delaware | 16 for the full Ultimate Otter Swim; kid-friendly swims for ages 10+ (with a paid adult) offered on select days only | Otter Swim alone: $200 per person. Ultimate Otter Swim (full tour plus swim): $300 per person. Basic Encounter Tour (no otters): $60 adult, $45 child | 3-hour total for the Ultimate package (45-min animal presentation, add-on encounters, 45-min swim); max 8 guests per booking; book at least 24 hours ahead |
| Nurtured by Nature | Valley Center, California | 18 | $650 to $800 per person, tour maximum of 8 people | 3- to 4-hour guided program with 45 minutes to 1 hour in the pool; books up months in advance |
| North Georgia Zoo & Wildlife Park | Cleveland, Georgia | 12 | $99 to $450+ per person plus zoo admission, depending on package | Six package options from a no-water Meet & Greet to a private VIP Splash |
| Discovery Cove | Orlando, Florida | No minimum | Included in park admission. Starts $159 – $185+ per person | Otters are in the Freshwater Oasis lagoon; Guests view and approach otters through a glass barrier rather than swimming directly with them, so this is a different style of encounter than the other four |
| Capital of Texas Zoo | Cedar Creek, Texas | Not stated by the zoo; confirm before booking | $300 for 2 people for 20 minutes (add up to 2 more people at $35 each; add 20 minutes for $100) | $50 non-refundable deposit required; booking is by text only at (512) 657-2682, not an online system |
| Blue Hills Ranch | McGregor, Texas (near Waco) | 12 (minors must be accompanied by a paying adult; all-inclusive packages welcome all ages) | $500 per person, 2 person minimum | Private 60-minute session in a 94°F pool; older press coverage cites much lower prices ($150 to $200), so confirm current pricing directly since it has risen significantly |
| Tanganyika Wildlife Park | Goddard, Kansas (20 min west of Wichita) | 8 (kids under 16 do not require an accompanying adult in the water, unusual among these listings) | $297 for otter swim, plus park admission ($99.99 to $149.99 March to November, winter season- no admission fee) | 45 minutes total, about 25 in the water; max 4 people; wetsuit, water shoes, souvenir towel, and photos included; typically books 121 days out |
| Sanctuary Hill (formerly Barn Hill Preserve, then Magnolia Wilds) | Ethel, Louisiana | 10 (guests 10 to 15 pay a lower child rate; full adult rate applies 16+) | Adult (16+) $215, Child (10-15) $185, Senior/Military $193.50, carried over from the prior Magnolia Wilds pricing, confirm current rate | 3-hour experience (2-hour guided tour plus swim); this location changed names twice in one year, so call (225) 286-3003 to confirm details before publishing |
Note: Pricing and experience information is current as of this update 9/21/2026
Tanganyika Wildlife Park, Goddard, Kansas
About 20 minutes west of Wichita, Tanganyika Wildlife Park runs its Swim With The Otters experience out of a purpose-built Penguin & Otter Swim Center, one of the newer, more polished setups on this list. Guests get fitted with a wetsuit and water shoes, then wade into shallow water while keepers invite the Asian small-clawed otters over to play, swim between your legs, and climb on you.
The experience runs about 45 minutes, with roughly 25 minutes actually in the water, and is capped at 4 people per session. Tanganyika lists this experience at $297 plus park admission. General single-day admission runs $99.99 to $149.99 depending on season. During the winter season, the park is not open to the general public but they do offer different animal experiences. Therefore, during the winter season, there is no admission fee and you just pay for the experience.
The minimum age is 8, and notably, guests under 16 are not required to have an accompanying adult in the water with them, a more relaxed policy than most other locations on this list. Wetsuit and water shoe rental, a souvenir towel, and professional photos are all included.
Reservations are typically made about 121 days ahead, so this is not a spontaneous add-on.
If you plan to spend more time in the Wichita area, see:
- Where to Find the Cool Places in Wichita, Kansas (Hint: They’re Everywhere)
- From Eclectic Art Districts to Secret Food Scenes: The Wichita Nobody Tells You About
- Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show, Wichita
Hotels and AirBnbs near Tanganyika
Capital of Texas Zoo, Cedar Creek, Texas
Tucked into Bastrop County about 30 minutes southeast of Austin, Capital of Texas Zoo offers a Swim with Otters experience with two resident Asian Small-Clawed Otters, Kumo and Okami. This is a smaller, more intimate zoo than the big-city parks on this list, with a hands-on feel that families tend to love.
The Swim with Otters session runs $300 for 20 minutes for up to 2 people, with the option to add up to 2 more people at $35 each and extend the session by 20 minutes for $100. A $50 non-refundable deposit is required to book, and reservations are made by texting the zoo directly at (512) 657-2682 rather than through an online booking system.
If you would rather not get in the water, the zoo also offers a shorter Otter Encounter (pet and photos only) for $30 per person for 3 minutes, though this option may not be available on Tuesdays.
General zoo admission is $18 for ages 12 and up, $13 for children 2 to 11, $17 for seniors and military, and free under age 2. The zoo is open daily, 9am to 5pm, 365 days a year.
Hotels and AirBnBs near Cedar Park, Texas
Blue Hills Ranch, McGregor, Texas
About 90 minutes north of Austin and 15 minutes outside Waco, Blue Hills Ranch is a 150-acre animal sanctuary and cabin resort offering a private otter swim called the Otterly Wild Adventure. The 60-minute session takes place in a heated pool kept around 94 degrees, with time both in the water and in the otters’ enrichment area if you prefer to stay dry.
Guests must be at least 12 years old, with a 2 person minimum per booking, and the current price listed on their own site is $500 per person for the private tour. Minors must be accompanied in the pool by a paying adult, since there is no separate observation area for non-paying guests during the swim.
Hotels and AirBnBs near McGregor, Texas
Because Blue Hills Ranch and Capital of Texas Zoo are both in central Texas (roughly 90 minutes apart), this section is a natural place to mention both together for readers planning a Texas otter swim trip.
If you plan to spend more time in the central Texas area, see:
- Everything You Need to Know About Balloon Festivals in Texas
- These are the 5 Caverns In Texas Hill Country Not to Be Missed
- Kayaking in Austin with Live Love Paddle
Coastal Wilds, Frankford, Delaware
Coastal Wilds (formerly Barn Hill Preserve) sits on Peppers Corner Road in Frankford, Delaware, about 15 minutes from Ocean City and and 2.5 hours from Washington, D.C. They now offer three separate tiers rather than a single otter swim package:
The Otter Swim on its own runs $200 per person for a 45-minute swim. The Ultimate Otter Swim, their most inclusive option, is $300 per person and adds a full Encounter Tour (a roughly 45-minute animal presentation covering camels, kangaroos, and other resident animals) plus available add-on encounters, for about 3 hours total. If you would rather skip the otters entirely, the basic Encounter Tour alone is $60 for adults and $45 for children.
The full otter swim experience is for ages 16 and up. Kid-friendly swims for children 10 and up are offered on select days for younger guests, with a paid adult required to accompany them, though separate pricing for that tier could not be confirmed, so check current rates before publishing that detail. Bookings are capped at 8 guests, and Coastal Wilds asks that you reserve at least 24 hours in advance.
Hotels and AirBnBs near Frankford, DE
Nurtured by Nature, Valley Center, California
If you are wondering “Where can I Swim with otters in California?” then head to North County (San Diego area) to Nurtured by Nature. This nonprofit organization and wildlife reserve is a special place that allows you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact with animals in many ways: you can feed them, cuddle, and play with them.
The reserve is located in Valley Center, California about 15 minutes north of Escondido and 45 minutes from downtown San Diego. It offers two otter experiences – the public swimming with otters program and the conservation encounter otter swim.
The Public Otter Swim and the Conservation Swim encounter are both part of a guided 3 to 4-hour program that gets you into the pool with these adorable otters for 45 minutes to an hour plus other animal interactions. This may include lemurs, pacas, sloths, kangaroos, owls, armadillos, and other animals.
While in the pool, if the otters like you, they try to stick stones into your swimsuit. In fact, this happens so often that it has become a game: whoever has the most stones in their swimsuit when they get out of the pool wins. You’ll take home a permanent grin and memories to last a whole lifetime.
The Conservation Encounter also includes an otter-created painting, towel, and logo t-shirt. Both of swimming with otter experiences are offered on select days. Reservations are required and advanced planning is needed here as this experience books up months in advance.
The minimum age for encounters here is 18 years and guests must be able to follow safety instructions calmly. The fee is $650-$800 a person with a tour maximum of 8 people.
Hotels and Airbnbs near Valley Centre, California
If you plan to spend more time in the San Diego area, see:
- 2 Day Itinerary with Teens in San Diego
- Save 43% off San Diego Attractions with CityPASS
- La Jolla Sea Caves – Ultimate Guide for Visitors
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North Georgia Zoo & Wildlife Park, Cleveland, Georgia
One of the best places to meet a sea otter is at the North Georgia Zoo. They are the only hands-on encounter in Georgia that provides an opportunity to learn about, play, and/or swim with Asian Small-clawed Otters.
Here you can select from 6 different otter experiences to get you up close and personal with otters; Otter Meet and Greet, Otter Splash, Young Otter Splash, Otter Experience, VIP Otter Experience, and VIP Otter Splash Experience. The Meet & Greet and Otter Experience do not include any water activities, but they are great for families and children.
The Otter Splash and Young Otter Splash are fun ways to splash around with playful otters. The Otter Splash is 1.5 hours long and includes spending time in the otter exhibit for training time and ending up in their 4ft deep Splash Pool. There are a max of 10 people on this tour.
The Young Otter Splash is a shorter 30-minute experience in the Splash Pool. You’ll take part in water training with at least one young otter.
For a more exclusive program, opt for the VIP Otter Experience (2 person minimum) and VIP Otter Splash Experience (up to 8 participants) provide private interaction with one or two animals. This is only available on weekdays and reservations are required.
The minimum age for these animal interactions is 12 years of age. Fees range from $99-$800 per person plus zoo admission.
Hotels and Airbnbs near North Georgia Zoo, Cleveland, Georgia
Sanctuary Hill, Ethel, Louisiana
This East Feliciana Parish property, about 30 miles north of Baton Rouge, has been through two rebrands in as many years: it opened as Barn Hill Preserve, became Magnolia Wilds in 2025, and as of early 2026 is operating under a new nonprofit called Sanctuary Hill.
The otter swim experience (called Wild Discovery + Otter Swim under the prior ownership) is a 3-hour visit combining a 2-hour guided tour with time in the water alongside the resident Asian small-clawed otters. Pricing carried over from the most recent listing was $215 for adults 16 and up, $185 for children ages 10 to 15, and $193.50 for seniors, military, and first responders. The minimum age for the swim is 10, with the 10 to 15 age bracket paying the reduced child rate.
Given how much this location’s name and ownership have shifted recently, I would call ahead at (225) 286-3003 to confirm current pricing and availability before this goes live, and consider adding a short note in the article itself letting readers know the property has changed names, so they are not confused if they see old references to Barn Hill Preserve or Magnolia Wilds elsewhere online.
Hotels and AirBnBs near Sanctuary Hill, Ethel, Louisiana
Discovery Cove, Orlando, Florida
Discovery Cove is a smaller wildlife park that belongs to the SeaWorld Resort in Orlando. This park is a little gem and stands out from other animal theme parks because it is possible to meet marine animals up close here, dive into a tropical aquarium, and even swim with otters. It is a calm park and perfect for a peaceful day during which we learn more about our animal friends. Best of all, it is included in park admission.
You’ll find the sea otters in Freshwater Oasis, a tropical lagoon, where you can relax and dive into the sea otters’ habitat as well as see marmosets (primates). You can see the otters dive, play, and you can even interact with them. Plus you get to enjoy the other areas of Discovery Cove.
Hotels and Airbnbs near Discovery Cove, Orlando, Florida
If you plan to spend more time in the Orlando area, see:
- Things to Do in Central Florida with Teens
- Best Florida Beaches for Families
- Best Summer Vacation Ideas for Families with Teens
- 35 Incredible Places to Go for Spring Break with Your Family
- Which is Better Universal Studios or Disney World for Teens?
Want More? Find more animal experiences on Viator. You’ll find everything from visiting animal sanctuaries to swimming with sharks both in far-off places and close to home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Otters
Bring a bath suit, towel, and change of clothes. Swim trunks or shorts with pockets should be avoided as otters are highly inquisitive. If you have pockets, you may find an otter in one. Also avoid any loose fitting jewelry. A camera inside a waterproof cover or GoPro video camera is highly encouraged to capture your experience.
An otter is about the same size as a beaver, although the beaver has a much wider back. Otters have a narrower, longer, rounded tail. The head also looks different: the otter has a wide snout that sticks out next to the nose’s tip.
Otters live in all kinds of aquatic environments: rivers, lakes, wetlands, and even the maritime littoral zone. Sea otters can be found in Canada, California, Oregon, Washington State, Japan, and Russia. River otters can be found throughout most of the United States, expect the Arctic and deserts.
Otters are aquatic predators and devour aquatic prey such as fish, aquatic crustaceans, Amphibians, and reptiles that it captures in or near the water.
You can swim with otters at eight locations across the US: Coastal Wilds in Frankford, Delaware; Nurtured by Nature in Valley Center, California; North Georgia Zoo & Wildlife Park in Cleveland, Georgia; Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida; Capital of Texas Zoo in Cedar Creek, Texas; Blue Hills Ranch in McGregor, Texas; Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas; and Sanctuary Hill in Ethel, Louisiana. Prices, minimum ages, and booking details vary widely by location, so check the comparison table above before you plan your visit.
Note: Like all of the animal programs we share here on Little Family Adventure, the animal experiences we share are voluntary for the animals. With these eight experiences, you can swim with otters in the US that focus on the animal’s health and safety. These programs promote education and conservation, rather than entertainment. However, it IS fun for both humans and otters, but that isn’t the focus.
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Originally published September 17, 2020. Updated September 21, 2026.
Are there any places in OHIO that you can interact , swim, and learn more about Otters ???? ???
My daughter and I absolutely LOVE them, and she’s graduating in May of this year 2022. I would REALLY LOVE TO SURPRISE HER WITH AN OTTER EXPERIENCE !!
These are the only ones in the country.
Love this adventure post swimming with Otters , thank you so much for sharing it. We hope that you will keep giving us such information.
Your information about the Freshwater Oasis in Sea World’s Discovery Cove is a bit misleading. You state that visitors “can relax and dive into the sea otters’ habitat…” and we can, “see the otters dive, play.”
That part is true. There is a glass enclosure like you’d find at most zoos and inside that enclosure the otters are running around like they do in most zoos. The difference here is that instead of standing on dry ground while you peer through the glass, you are instead standing in 3′ of water looking through the glass. So you can swim up to the glass and put your nose against it, if you want. And, if you brought goggles, you can dip your head underwater and look through the glass that way.
But you’re not “in” the otters’ habitat. At least not the enclosure that they’re in. Sure, you could say that you’re in a habitat that is similar to what the otters are experiencing – in that it’s cold water you’re both swimming in.
But when you say that, “you can even interact with them,” you’re implying there is some interaction with the animals, maybe even handling, feeding, etc. like some of other locations provide. That’s not possible with a thick sheet of glass between you and the otters. You can make faces, if that’s what you mean by “interaction.” Though whether the otters even notice you amongst the stream of visitors swimming by – who knows.
Hi
Guy here from Camel Safari. We are an accredited zoo located an hour north of Las Vegas and also offer otter encounters as well as a swim with the otters option. Would you please add us to your list of otter locations in the US
If you are in the area please come visit