Egmont Key State Park

Where: Located in the mouth of Tampa Bay, just south of Fort Desoto Park (Mullet Key). Accessible only by boat.

Parking: No cars, no roads. Nothing to buy. Nothing to eat or drink.

Hours: 8am till sunset, typical Florida State Park hours.

Beach Facilities: Sand. No restrooms. Check to see if your boat has a head (toilet, loo, servicio, can).

Lifeguards: No.

Food concession: No, but if you take the ferry or a charter boat to the island, the boat may sell junk food, soft drinks and beer.

Trolley Stop: No, the trolley doesn't float.

Surfing hot-spot: It must have surf, but I've not heard any reports about it. You'd need a boat to get to it.  The conditions that usually generate surf on the Gulf coast are not favorable for taking your small boat out to Egmont. It would be quite rough. Let me know if you catch some good waves on Egmont Key.

Websites about Egmont Key State Park

The Florida Online Park Guide is the State's official page on Egmont Key and contains valuable information and special notices. The Northern Prarie Wildlife Research Center has a bird checklist available for Egmont Key, as well as a map of Egmont Key, a mammal checklist and a reptile checklist. Yes, that's what I said...a REPTILE checklist. Be sure to print that one. Lizard...check; gopher tortoise...check...

How to Get to Egmont Key

Above: Egmont Key Ferry.

Swimming to Egmont is not a good option, so you'll need access to a boat. There are a number of private companies that ferry people to Egmont Key. Prices range from $15 to $$$$$$. From Bradenton (Cortez), The Captain Jack operates out of Cortez Marina.

Tampa BayFerry of Hubbard's Marina on St. Pete Beach leaves from Fort Desoto. This is the ferry I've used. Visit their website at: http://www.hubbardsmarina.com/egmont.html. For recorded information with lots of details, call 727-393-1947 or Toll Free 1-800-755-0677. This is the least expensive way that I'm aware of to get to Egmont Key.

Captain Snow out of Pass-A-Grille operates a 4 hour snorkeling / dolphin watch cruise to Egmont Key.

Captain Hal Batey runs Charlie's Charters out of the Treasure Island Marina near Blind Pass. He provides 2 hour trips to Shell Key and 4 hour trips to Egmont Key for snorkeling and sightseeing. Cap'n Batey guarantees you will see dolphins. Check out the Egmont Key video on his website.

Dolphin Landings Charter Boat Center has a dock on St. Pete Beach behind the Dolphin Village Shopping Center. Visit their website for more info. The cost is about $40. They won't make the trip if they don't have enough people ( I think they need 6 if I recall correctly).
http://www.charterboatescape.com/speed_pages/flash_index.html

Adventure Cruises - Captain Ian operates offers daily trips to Egmont Key aboard his 40 foot, 49 passenger boat. The boat leaves from the Corey Causeway (the Pasadena Avenue approach to St. Pete Beach). Capt. Ian also offers trips to Shell Key, sightseeing trips, dolphin watching, and Egmont Key snorkeling trips. The Egmont Key trip is a 4 hour excursion. Snorkeling is optional. Call Cap'n Ian at 727-423-4247 or visit his website at www.adventurecruise.net. Adventure Cruises also offers private charters. More info on their website or by calling.

Tropical Island Getaway Tours operates a private charter service to Egmont Key and Shell Key. It's fairly expensive compared to most others, but this company seems to cater to small private groups. Based on their website, you could pretty much design your own trip. They do weddings at sea, area tours, snorkeling, funeral services at sea, etc.

Photos of Egmont Key

Above: Riding the Ferry. Egmont Key in the distance.

Above: approaching the Gulf beach on Egmont.

Above: making a beach landing on a calm day.

Above: boats anchored off the beach.

Above: Egmont Key has a dense forest in the interior.

Above: imagine when this was a busy place, long ago. Before Al Gore invented the internet.

Above: One day fairly soon the Gulf will reclaim this old derelict structure.

Above: looking back across the Egmont Channel toward Fort Desoto Park.

Above: Egmont Key lighthouse. Unfortunately it's not open to the public.

 See my review of the Sharkwater documentary film on my Best Florida Beaches blog