Crystal River is a city in Citrus County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,108 in the 2010 census. According to the U.S. Census estimates of 2018, the city had a population of 3,162. The city was incorporated in 1903 and is the self professed “Home of the Manatee”. Crystal River Preserve State Park is located nearby, and Crystal River Archaeological State Park is located in the city’s northwest side.

Crystal River is at the heart of the Nature Coast of Florida. The city is situated in this area Kings Bay, which is spring-fed fittingly it keeps a constant 72 °F (22 °C) temperature year round. A cluster of 50 springs designated as a first-magnitude system feeds Kings Bay. A first-magnitude system discharges 100 cubic feet or more of water per second, which equals roughly 64 million gallons of water per day. Because of this discharge amount, the Crystal River Springs action is the second largest springs bureau in Florida, the first brute Wakulla Springs in Wakulla County close Tallahassee. Kings Bay can be home to higher than 400 manatees during the winter like the water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico cools, and is the isolated place in the United States where people can legally interact subsequent to them in their natural conditions without that contact being viewed as harassment by take action enforcement agencies. Tourism based on watching and swimming subsequently manatee is the fastest growing contribution to the local economy. In 2005 there was a commotion to call off the city which did not succeed, and the city has back grown by annexation.

Crystal River is located northwest of the middle of Citrus County at 28°54′02″N 82°35′37″W / 28.900670°N 82.593699°W / 28.900670; -82.593699, on the northeast side of Kings Bay and the Crystal River, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico. U.S. Routes 19 and 98 pass through the middle of the city, leading south 7 miles (11 km) to Homosassa Springs and north 46 miles (74 km) to Chiefland. State Road 44 leads east from Crystal River 17 miles (27 km) to Inverness, the Citrus County seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Crystal River has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.7 km), of which 6.2 square miles (16.0 km²) is estate and 0.66 square miles (1.7 km) 9.35% is water.