Accessible Parks near Tarpon Springs & Dunedin

Fred Howard Park is a bustling north county park with a popular Gulf beach and swim area with lifeguard. The accessible trails and causeway, along with gorgeous views of the Gulf, make it one of Beth's favorites. Note that two beach wheelchairs are available M-F on a first-come, first-served basis (call 727-582-2100 to reserve). If you plan to visit on the weekend, you will need to call before 5 p.m. on Friday to make arrangements.

• Location: 1700 Sunset Dr., Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
• Parking: Each picnic shelter has one or two disability parking spots with access stripes.
• Bathrooms: The restrooms remain closed for repairs (portable toilets are available; several are handicapped accessible).
• Trails: The .67-mile trail to the causeway and back starts by picnic shelter #1, beginning among trees and leading to beautiful Gulf views. It starts out paved, then becomes bumpy concrete with a little sand on top, though Beth said it was easy enough for her to negotiate. If you want to do just half of this trail, start by shelter #6, which also has two disability parking spots. The mile-long, paved Causeway Trail picks up from the end of the first trail and ends at the Gulf beach. Because it’s totally exposed, it can be difficult to push along if it’s very windy. Watch for kiteboarders and shorebirds, as well as dolphins and manatees.
• Dog-friendly: Dogs are allowed in the picnic area near the entrance and on the causeway, but not on the beach.

A 90-acre park north of downtown Dunedin, Hammock Park has two accessible trails, plus a butterfly garden, disc golf course, picnic area and playground.

• Location: 900 San Mateo Dr., Dunedin, FL 34698
• Parking: Two disability spots with access stripes next to the main shelter and bathrooms.
• Bathrooms: One large, ADA-compliant bathroom with grab bars and a sink in the stall.
• Trails: The Osprey Trail, leading right from the disability parking area, is a half-mile paved trail with some wooden boardwalk. Another, .1-mile paved trail and wooden boardwalk leads from shelter #3 and runs along Cedar Creek. The Butterfly Garden Trail, a .25-mile hard-packed dirt and gravel path near the main entrance to the park, leads to the butterfly garden. Beth said thick gravel in some places made it hard for her to push her chair through.
• Buildings: The adjacent Historic Andrews Memorial Chapel has a ramp at its entrance.
• Dog-friendly: Yes.

Famous for their amazing beaches, both Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi Island State Park are located on barrier islands in the Gulf. A causeway leads to Honeymoon Island, whereas Caladesi Island is reachable only by ferry from Honeymoon Island or private boat. On Honeymoon, four manual beach wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tell the person at the tollbooth that you need one, and they will meet you on the sidewalk near the beach area. 

• Location: 1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin, FL 34698
• Parking: All parking lots have disability parking.
• Bathrooms: Several of the bath houses are closed. Bath house 3 is open (ADA-compliant).
• Trails: The Osprey Trail is about two miles of hard-packed dirt with some softer sand areas. Beth said the first mile was doable with strong arms in a manual wheelchair, but it could be difficult for some people. The second mile is not accessible.
• Buildings: The Rotary Centennial Nature Center has an accessible entrance, and the accessible deck in the back offers pretty views of St. Joseph Sound.
• Dog-friendly: Yes. Dog beach with pet washing area.

The ferry to Caladesi Island State Park is accessible to people in manual wheelchairs. While on the ferry, let the captain or staff know that you’ll need a beach wheelchair once you reach the island. Only manual chairs are available. Watch for osprey and eagles as well as dolphins, especially from the ferry.

• Location: Dunedin, FL 34698
• Parking: No parking.
• Bathrooms: ADA-compliant bathrooms in both bathhouses.
• Trails: The trails are very natural and not accessible, so you’ll need an able-bodied person to push your beach wheelchair.
• Dog-friendly: Yes on the trails, but not on the beach.

Set on 250 acres near Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs, John Chesnut Sr. Park has multiple picnic shelters that are accessible as well as a universal playground with some equipment for kids with mobility issues. The park’s dog park, boat ramp and pier are wheelchair-accessible. Fishing from the pier is permitted.

• Location: 2200 E. Lake Rd. S., Palm Harbor, FL 34685
• Parking: Twelve of the 13 parking lots have disability spots, but only the parking spots in the lot near the dog park has access stripes, making it accessible to a wheelchair van with a ramp.
• Bathrooms: The six bathrooms scattered around the park each have one wheelchair-accessible stall with two grab bars.
• Trails: Accessible trails are found throughout the park. A .75-mile synthetic-wood boardwalk and packed-dirt trail leaves from shelter #1 near the boat ramp. Beth found it fairly easy to navigate this mostly shaded trail and enjoyed the views of Lake Tarpon. A second trail – .5 miles of synthetic-wood boardwalk with some packed dirt – leads from shelter #2 and the playground to lookouts over Lake Tarpon and an observation tower that is not accessible. The third accessible trail, .75 miles leaving from shelter #13, had some packed-dirt sections that Beth found more difficult to navigate due to exposed tree roots and a few rocks. Watch for deer in the grassy areas.
• Dog-friendly: Yes. Dog park with separate areas for small and large dogs.

The boat ramp and dock are accessible in Mobbly Bayou Beach Park, which also has a canoe launch and exercise equipment. Overall, however, this is a challenging park in terms of accessibility.

• Location: 805 Shore Dr. E., Oldsmar, FL 34677
• Parking: No accessible parking.
• Bathrooms: No bathrooms.
• Trails: A single, .5-mile cement path begins by the gravel parking lot. Most of it is in full sun as it winds along the water. Because of the mangroves that grow along the shore, Beth said the water isn’t visible to a person in a wheelchair.
• Dog-friendly: Yes. Dog park.

Set on the shores of Old Tampa Bay, R.E. Olds Park is a 4.5-acre park has an accessible amphitheater with accessible seating. The playground near the main entrance has some wheelchair-accessible features: a ramp leading up to a play ship and an accessible platform swing. The long fishing pier is accessible and has two bench areas (note that, as of July 2025, only part of the pier is opened, as the rest is undergoing repairs). 

• Location: 107 Shore Dr. W., Oldsmar, FL 34677
• Parking: Three lots with two disability parking spots each. Each parking area connects to an accessible trail.
• Bathrooms: All bathrooms have an accessible stall with grab bars and accessible sink.
• Trails: A one-mile cement path makes a loop around the entire park, skirting Old Tampa Bay part of the way. Six picnic shelters along the path are wheelchair-accessible.
• Dog-friendly: Yes. Dog park.

In Philippe Park, a quiet harborside park with a Native American mound, there are some steps leading from the trail to the grass in one place, but there’s wheelchair access to the grassy areas in other places. The park also includes nine covered picnic shelters and a boat ramp that are accessible. There are two playgrounds, but they aren't accessible to children with mobility challenges.

• Location: 2525 Philippe Pkwy., Safety Harbor, FL 34695
• Parking: All parking lots have two disability spots each with access stripes.
• Bathrooms: The ADA-compliant bathroom, with a large stall, grab bars, turnaround space and the sink in the stall, is located near picnic shelter #2.
• Trails: A one-mile trail with some paved sections and some hard-packed dirt runs along Old Tampa Bay. Portions of the trail have exposed tree roots or are hilly.
• Dog-friendly: Yes.

The Pinellas Trail, a popular, 54-mile rail trail, begins in Tarpon Springs and passes through Palm Harbor and Dunedin on its way south to St. Pete. Note that some sections of the trail are undergoing repairs; please check access issues prior to your visit.

• Location: From Tarpon Springs to St. Pete
• Parking: Parking is available at various points along the trail, including at John Chesnut Sr. Park in Palm Harbor, which has 13 areas with disability spots.
• Bathrooms: There are some park bathrooms as well as bathrooms at businesses along the trail.
• Trails: The trail is accessible to bikes, pedestrians and people in wheelchairs, so Beth recommends staying to the right and watching for passing e-bikes and regular bikes. She also noted that the portions of the trail where it goes over some bridges can be steep.
• Dog-friendly: Yes.