Guide to Fort De Soto Park (Spoiler: You’ll LOVE it!)
Fort De Soto is right on Florida’s Gulf Coast just a short drive fromSt Petersburg. It is 1,136 acres and made up of 5 keys (islands).
It is well-known for pristine beaches, its historic fort, good fishing, and gorgeous trails. It’s a perfect place to spend a day (or more, because you can camp here too!)
My favorite thing about Fort De Soto is how natural it is. It’s one of the best state parks in Florida, so you won’t find high rise condos or any commercial buildings. Instead you’ll find tons of palm trees, unspoiled beaches, and trails all throughout the island.
Fort De Soto is the largest park in Pinellas County and well worth a visit. Today, you’ll see why.
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History of Fort De Soto
The history of Fort De Soto dates back to the Spanish-American War. Construction on the fort began in 1898. It was completed in 1900. The fort never saw combat and was later abandoned in the early 1920s.
In 1941, the area was repurposed as a bombing range and gunnery during WWII. After WWII, Pinellas County purchased the fort to open the land to the public for recreational use – they paid $26,500 for it in 1948!
Things to Do in Fort De Soto
Fort De Soto is truly one of my favorite little pockets of Florida – it truly is the best place for a beach day! It is so beautiful and I love how in tune you can be with nature there.
And yet, there is still a lot to do.
Beaches at Fort De Soto
You really can’t go wrong with any spot at the beach in Fort De Soto. There is no shortage of beach to enjoy with three miles of waterfront beach area! Technically, there are three separate beaches within the park: North Beach, East Beach, and the Dog Beach.
North Beach is larger and more popular. You can expect gorgeous turquoise blue water and long stretches of white sand beaches.
East Beach is smaller and has views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. There are also picnic shelters with plenty of picnic tables.
There is a Dog Beach at Fort De Soto where dogs can run off their leashes. It’s a popular spot with local dogs who love a little salt therapy. There is also a very large fenced in dog park if you’d prefer they not get wet at the beach. The park also has dog showers so you don’t have to carry all that sand home with you!
Just note that dogs are only allowed in certain areas. They need to be leashed everywhere except for the dog beach and dog park.
USA Today named Fort De Soto Park as the 7th best dog-friendly beach in America in 2024!
We don’t usually focus on which beach to go to – we just drive around the island until we find a spot that speaks to us. There are tons of beach access spots all over – a lot of people will park along the side of the road when the parking lots are full or really busy for a more remote spot.
Kayaking
Kayaking is one of my favorite things to do at Fort De Soto. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, the company that rents kayaks from the inside of the park is temporarily due to hurricane damage from Helene and Milton.
We noticed kayak rentals along the causeway leading to the park shortly before the park entrance and I’m not sure if this is the same company that used to be in the park or not, but either way it seems like a good opportunity to rent a kayak if you’re interested!
If you have your own kayak, you can bring it with you. We also noticed kayak rentals from the causeway on the way into the park. You could easily rent from there.
The reason Fort De Soto is such a great place for kayaking is because there is a kayak trail where you can explore mangroves. You’ll see a lot of birds and if you’re lucky, you might even see a dolphin or manatee.
Biking
The park is also great for biking with bike paths all over the island. You can bring your own or rent one in the park.
The well-maintained biking trail is 7 miles long and winds throughout the park(you can also walk this trail). It connects many parts of the park, including the campground, beaches, and the fort.
It’s a great way to get around the island, just remember to bring plenty of water and sun protection. There isn’t a lot of shade on the path. If you forget or need more, there is a gift shop in the park.
Boating
Boating from Fort De Soto is absolutely amazing because its surrounded by a bunch of small islands, making it easy to anchor in a number of places. If you don’t have your own boat, you still have some options. I’ll talk about taking the ferry next.
The 800 foot boat launch at Fort De Soto is just outside of the main entrance. You’ll see signs for it along the road (there is only one road in and out of Fort De Soto).
Ferry to Egmont Key & Shell Key
Perhaps one of the most unique, special things about Fort De Soto is that it is a starting point for visitors wanting to go to an even more remote option. Two of the most popular keys are Egmont Key and Shell Key and there are ferries that you can take to each location from within Fort De Soto if you don’t have your own boat.
There isn’t as much to do on Shell Key, but in a good way. It’s a perfect spot for a beach day. It has gorgeous turquoise waters, good shelling, and overall it’s pretty secluded since its only accessible by boat. You can camp overnight at Shell Key.
Egmont Key State Park has more to do. It is also known for its gorgeous beaches, turquoise waters, and good shelling. But it also has walking trails and history. There is a lighthouse that has been on the island since 1858. You cannot camp on Egmont Key.
The ferry to both Shell Key and Egmont Key can be booked through Hubbard’s Marina. When we took the ferry, some guests showed up the day of and were able to book on the spot but availability isn’t guaranteed last minute and reservations are recommended.
Fishing
There are two fishing piers, Gulf Pier and Bay Pier. You can fish from 7 a.m. until sunset.
Gulf Pier has concessions with food and bait. You do need a fishing license to fish at the park.
Nature Trails
There are a couple of trails in the park. The first is the Barrier-Free Nature Trail which was designed to be accessible to everyone regardless of physical challenges.
Staff of Fort De Soto Park and Sawgrass Lake Park naturalists worked to design the trail consistent with Americans with Disabilities Act standards and the Boy Scouts, along with other volunteer groups, built the 2,200 foot trail using recycled materials. There is enough space for two wheelchairs to pass side by side.
The other trail is the Arrowhead Nature Trail. It’s a one mile trail located in the Arrowhead picnic area. The path isn’t paved so if there has been recent rain, it can get a bit muddy but you’re rewarded with gorgeous views of the water in between the mangroves.
Camping
Fort De Soto has a large camping area with electric and water hookups, restrooms, and laundry facilities (for a fee). The sites also come with a picnic table and charcoal grill. Some of the sites are even waterfront!
Even though it isn’t as hard to get a camping reservation here as it is in other places in Florida (like Bahia Honda State Park), it is still a popular place to camp in Florida, so you’ll want to make a reservation ahead of time.
You can book your reservations online with the campground reservation system up to 6 months in advance. There are 238 camping spots available.
The cost to camp at Fort DeSoto ranges from $34 to $39 depending on your camping spot. Waterfront spots are more expensive, naturally. You can also book pet friendly spots (not all spots are pet friendly).
Waterfront and pet-friendly spots also tend to fill up quickly.
Quartermaster Museum
The Quartermaster Museum is located right in the same parking lot that you’ll use to visit the Fort. It is free to visit and such a cool addition to Fort De Soto for visitors to enjoy and learn more about the area’s history.
You’ll see the post’s quartermaster. If you’re not familiar, the Quartermaster basically oversees the property. They are responsible for logistics, supplies, and making sure everyone has everything they need. In the museum, you’ll see the supplies he would have issued to the soldiers.
You’ll also learn more about the Spanish-American War and its impact in the Tampa Bay area. The museum has some artifacts that were recovered from the park.
You’ll also learn more about the Tocobaga trip who resided in the area. There is so much more to see, including an original practice bomb from the WWII era that was found in the park and more.
The Historic Fort
The historic fort is one of the best things about Fort De Soto. It’s an old fort that was constructed in the late 1800s as a defense in the Spanish-American War.
You can take a self guided tour to learn more about its history. If you are able, you don’t want to miss climbing to the top because the views from the top of the fort are incredible.
Amenities in Fort De Soto
The park has 15 picnic areas/shelters if you want to have a birthday party or similar event. They’re easy to rent on the county’s reservation system.
The park also has several restrooms and showers throughout the park. There are concessions with food and a good gift shop.
Our kids especially like the parks.
Practical Information
Fort De Soto is open 7 days per week from 7 am until sunset.
The entrance fee is paid as a parking fee and charged per vehicle. It costs $6 per vehicle. Patrons entering the park via bike/on foot do not need to pay a fee.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there is so much to do in Fort De Soto and it’s such an easy day trip from St. Petersburg. The entire island has so much natural beauty.
Whether you want to explore history, immerse yourself in nature, go shell hunting, or have a beach day, you’ll love your time here!
