Introduction
Egmont Key is an uninhabited island situated at the mouth of Tampa Bay in Florida. The island is situated between Fort de Soto and Anna Maria Island. It is a designated State Park. Egmont Key is within the jurisdiction of the city of St Petersburg.
Egmont Key boasts lovely beaches and the ruins of Fort Dade built at the time of the Spanish-American War, and other military ruins that date from the Civil War. The island can only be reached by taking a private boat or travelling on the Egmont Key Ferry, both offering exciting trips and the chance to see dolphins and other marine wildlife. You can explore the island on foot, inspect the ruins of the fort, or just sunbathe.
The island is 1.6 miles in length, and totals just 440 acres. In 1974 it became a designated National Wildlife Refuge. You will likely see turtles, sea birds, tortoises. Parts of the island are not open to the public, in an effort to give the wildlife an undisturbed space, but there is still plenty to see and do.
The waters around the island are shallow, and provide great opportunities for snorkelling and fishing. Shelling is another sure-fire hit with children visiting the island.
Egmont Key was not always an isolated uninhabited island. Fort Dade survived until 1923, along with a small town with a movie theater, bowling alley and tennis courts. The remains of this settlement are still to be seen. The lighthouse, dating from 1858, is still in use keeping a watchful eye over seaborne traffic entering and leaving Tampa Bay.
The easiest way to reach the island is by taking the Egmont Key Ferry from Fort de Soto.
What is the Egmont Key Ferry?
The Egmont Key Ferry is run by Tampa Bay Ferry, and is the only ferry service to the island. The ferry leaves Fort de Soto Pier and the journey takes between 25 and 30 minutes.
How much does it cost?
At the time of writing the return journey costs $25 per adult and $12.50 per child. The ferry can accommodate 49 passengers.
What are the travel times?
During the summer season, the ferry leaves Fort de Soto Pier twice during the day – at 10am and 11am. Return trips leave the island at 2pm and 3pm. Evening trips leave Fort de Soto Pier at 2pm and return at 6pm. Evening trips are available only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The main summer season runs from 1 March to 7 September. 8 September to 30 November is the fall season. During these months, the ferry only leaves Fort de Soto once a day at 11am and returns from Egmont Key at 3pm. It does not run on a Monday.
The winter season begins on 1 December and ends on 28 February. The daily trips leave at 11am and return at 2pm. The ferry does not run on a Monday or a Tuesday during the winter months. It may leave from either the Boat Ramp or from the Bay Pier.
The ferry operators like passengers to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure time. The ferry will only run if there are sufficient passengers.
Is the ferry open all year round?
Yes, the ferry operates throughout the year. During fall and winter the service runs only once a day on scheduled operating days.
Can you drive to Egmont Key?
No. It is not possible to drive to the Key. It is only accessible by ferry or alternatively, by a charter boat. You can drive to Fort de Soto to link up with the Egmont Key Ferry.
Can you kayak to Egmont Key?
Yes. Kayaking is a super way of reaching Egmont Key.
You can bring your own kayak, or hire one. The Topwater Kayak Outpost at Fort de Soto Park rents out both kayaks and canoes. If you choose a kayak, you can choose either a sit-on-top version, or a sit-in version. Which you choose is a matter of personal choice.
While Topwater are happy for you to take one of their kayaks out to Egmont Key, they request that you don’t go out into the Gulf of Mexico.
If you own your own kayak, there are other opportunities open to you. One is to take a longer trip from Anna Maria Island to Egmont Key. If you head for the northern tip of Anna Maria, there is a great beach to launch your kayak. Looking north from this point, you will see Egmont Key and its neighbour Passage Key. As the journey will take some time – it’s around four miles out and the same back – head for Passage Key first, and take a break there. Then paddle on to Egmont Key. Take care to land on the public beaches.
The stretch of water between Anna Maria and Egmont Key can be quite rough, so choose a calm day. This is definitely a trip for an experienced kayaker.
The shorter trip between Fort de Soto and Egmont Key has been attempted by paddle boarders, but again, would be better suited to experienced folk.
How to get to the Egmont Key Ferry.
To get to the starting point of the Egmont Key Ferry, you will need to first of all reach the pier at Fort de Soto. The pier is inside the Fort de Soto State Park, in an area called Mullet Key.
· By car, take I-275 heading south until you reach Exit 17 (Pinellas Bayway/54th Avenue). Leave at this exit and head west until you reach the second stoplight on Pinellas Bayway. Turn left here, and follow this road until you reach Fort de Soto Park.
There is a toll on this route, so have some cash with you. They do not accept credit cards. The park itself is free to enter, but they do have a $5 fee for parking. This fee can be paid by credit card.
Follow the route within the park until you reach the pier where the ferry leaves for Egmont Key.
Note that the Fort de Soto Park is open from 7am to dusk every day of the week.
· By train, you will need to catch a train to Tampa Union Station, which is the nearest station to Fort de Soto Park. You will then need to pick up a taxi to take you down to the Park and to the Pier where the ferry departs.
A taxi ride from Tampa to Fort de Soto Park takes about three-quarters of an hour. There are two taxi companies that provide this service: Yellow Cabs of Tampa and Cab Plus.
· By bus, you will have to catch a Citrus Connection bus to Lakeland, Florida and then change to an American Bus service from there to St Petersburg, where the bus stops at the Pilot Travel Centre.
The last part of your journey from the Pilot Travel Centre to Fort de Soto Park will have to be by taxi. The journey covers 31 miles and will last 37 minutes approximately.
History of the Egmont Key Ferry
Great ideas are often born in the minds of people who are then told they are crazy, and that the ideas will never work. So it was with Wilson Hubbard who founded Hubbard’s Marina in St Petersburg, Florida in the 1950s. He wanted people to get on his boats and so created a great experience for them.
Wilson Hubbard launched a ferry service to Mullet Key, in what is now Fort de Soto Park. His son Mark introduced dolphin-watching trips in the 1980s. He knew people would love to go on an organized cruise to see the sea life in the Gulf of Mexico. He was right.
Move on 20 years to the early 2000s and he founded Tampa Bay Ferry, running routes to both Egmont Key and Shell Key. They proved enormously popular, and today thousands of visitors are taken out to Egmont Key every year.
Mark’s next venture was to set up a water taxi service running along Madeira Beach to Treasure Island. This differs from other services the company offers because they set down and pick up passengers at hotels, restaurants, bars and other places of interest along the water highway.
FAQs
Q. Is there parking at the Bay Pier in Fort de Soto Park?
A. Yes, there is a car park at Bay Pier. It is shared with the nearby Fort de Soto Park Paw Playground. This is the famed dog beach that allows canine capers on a stretch of beach where they do not need to be leashed.
Q. Can I take a wheelchair onto the Egmont Key Ferry?
A. It is possible to take a wheelchair onto the ferry, but not an electric one. Electric wheelchairs are too heavy for the boat. While normal wheelchairs can be taken on board, they will have to be pushed across sand when they load and unload passengers, as this is done at beaches.
Q. What items am I not allowed to take to Egmont Key?
A. Any glass containers are banned, as are alcoholic drinks, kites, drones, and pets. Pets are forbidden as the island is a wildlife haven.
Q. What do I need to bring on my trip?
A. Egmont Key has superb beaches and an open and sunny environment. It is wise to pack as you would for any beach trip. Bring plenty of sunscreen, appropriate swimwear, towels, sun hats, and a shirt to protect you from excessive sun.
There are no facilities on the island. So bring plenty of water to drink and your own food. Keep in mind that there is no restroom. There are picnic benches for public use at various points around the island.
One essential item to bring is a watch, or some other means of knowing the time. It is easy to be so absorbed in your sightseeing on the island that you lose track of time. The ferry will not wait for you. If you miss it, you will have to wait for the next one – and that could be the following day! Get back to the boarding place at least ten minutes before the departure time.
Q. Is there a restroom on the Egmont Key Ferry?
A. Yes, there is a restroom on the ferry. Reviews have stated that the restroom is clean and kept in good order.
Q. What about bad weather?
A. Usually, the ferry does not run if the weather is too bad. The Egmont Key Ferry does operate a book now, pay later system. If you don’t go, then you won’t pay.
Q. Are there alternative trips to Egmont Key?
A. Yes. If you wish to leave from Anna Maria Island, which is on the south side of Tampa Bay, there are other trips available.
Salty Dolphin Tours run a private Egmont Key Charter. Each charter will be exclusive to a group of family or friends. The charter leaves from Marina Drive, Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. The whole trip lasts for between 3 and 4 hours, with one hour spent on Egmont Key and one hour on Passage Key.
This charter trip does not have access for wheelchairs, although passengers who rely on a service animal can bring them along.
Q. Are there any trips that allow snorkelling and would I see dolphins?
A. Charters Finders run a private charter trip from Treasure Island, next to St Pete’s Beach, out to Egmont Key. This is a trip that is tailor-made for the more experienced snorkeler as well as offering opportunities for beginner-level snorkelling.
The Charters Finders team pride themselves on being able to find dolphins on almost every trip. You will also stand a very good chance of seeing manatees and a wide range of fish species.
The trips start and end at the Sea Dog Brewing Company’s premises, with the promise of a free pint of beer at the end of your experience.
The boat used does not have wheelchair access, although service animals are allowed to accompany their owners. Strollers, however, can be taken on board. The company does not accept passengers who have heart conditions or other serious medical problems.
A trip of this kind relies on good weather. If the weather is not good enough, then a full refund will be given. If you prefer, you can opt for a different date instead.
Summary
Egmont Key State Park is a super attraction filled with historical and natural interest. A visit makes a great day out, especially for children. Getting there is easy by taking the Egmont Key Ferry from Fort de Soto Park.
It is important to remember that the island does not have any facilities, so you will need to take everything you need with you. Don’t lose track of time when you are on the island, and your day will be a joyful time filled with wonderful memories.
