If You Go
While the Fort De Soto Park Bay Pier is under construction, the ferry departs from the Fort De Soto Park boat ramp multiple times a day, depending on the season and the day’s weather. Call 727-393-1947 for the latest information. Depending on the weather and currents, there’s a snorkeling option available on the day of the trip. Keep in mind that the boat ramp and the island are not wheelchair accessible.
Enjoy the Ferry Ride
On the 30-minute ride to Egmont Key, the boat captain will relay insightful and fun facts about the area. Keep an eye out for wildlife including shorebirds, sea turtles and dolphins, who like to swim in the boat’s wake. The pontoon-style boat offers covered seating, a bathroom, and snacks and drinks for purchase.
Exploring Egmont Key
Once on the island, visitors will have about three hours to explore. Head to the guard house to watch a short movie detailing the history of this fascinating island. Unfurl a towel on the white-sand beaches, take a swim, comb the shoreline for shells and even shark’s teeth, or look for wildlife including the endangered gopher tortoises that make burrows in the sand. Wander the island’s nature trails and deserted brick roads and check out historic Fort Dade, which was built during the Spanish-American War. The snorkeling trip explores the marine life in the grass flats and the sunken portions of Fort Dade.
What to Bring
There are no restrooms or other amenities on the island, so visitors should bring their own food and plenty of water, as well as collapsible wagons, coolers, chairs, sunscreen and hats. The ferry rents beach umbrellas and snorkel masks. The ferry trip costs $45 for adults, $25 for children 3-11 and free for 2 and under.
Hours
Monday 6 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–8 PM
Thursday 6 AM–8 PM
Friday 6 AM–8 PM
Saturday 6 AM–8 PM
Sunday 6 AM–8 PM
Guest Reviews from Google
We had a fantastic experience taking the 9AM ferry from Fort De Soto Park to Egmont Key. The island itself was absolutely beautiful, but the ferry crew made the trip even better. The captain and first mate were outstanding from start to finish. They were friendly, professional, and clearly very experienced. We felt safe the entire time, but they also kept the ride relaxed, informative, and entertaining. On the way to Egmont Key, they gave us a very helpful overview of the island, pointing out where the main attractions were, including the lighthouse, the old fortifications, the best walking areas, and the best swimming spots near the ferry drop-off. That made it much easier to plan our time once we arrived. They were also excellent at interpreting wildlife sightings along the way. Whenever dolphins or other animals appeared, they explained what we were seeing and positioned the boat so passengers had a great view. They even made sure everyone had a chance to get that perfect photo, which we really appreciated. The whole trip felt well organized, safe, and fun. The crew added just the right mix of local knowledge, humor, and practical information. Their enthusiasm helped set the tone for a wonderful day on Egmont Key. We would highly recommend this ferry trip to anyone visiting the area. Egmont Key is a special place, and this crew made the journey there and back part of the experience.
Went to Egmont Key with my family today and had the best time. We didn’t have a reservation we just showed up and got to go onto the next available ferry. We had Robin as captain and Nick was the first mate and they were amazing! The island was neat to explore and swim in, bring chairs umbrella and towels. Egmont had forts to explore but also amazing beach and shells and it was the longer boat ride than shell key so I recommend this one more. Robin and Nick taught us a lot on the local birds, dolphins, manatees, turtles, and the key itself. They were interactive and fun played great music and even let us see and get photos of dolphins. They even provided ice cold drinks and snacks for purchase as well as a cooler of water to refill from because it was a hot one. 10/10 recommend!!
Definitely take the ferry—they make it super easy. You get dropped off on the island and can choose from three different return times, so there’s no pressure to rush back. Everything was simple to find and stress-free from start to finish. We had an amazing time with Greg and Ellie—they were so friendly, and on the ride back they even made shell necklaces for free if you wanted one, which was such a fun touch! Shell Key was beautiful, and we had a great time shell hunting. Overall, an awesome day—I’d absolutely do it again!
Took the ferry out to Egmont Key and the crew was the absolute best! They gave so much information about the island and the area around, they even took us back the scenic route so we could see the big barges dredging. Egmont has been on my list of places to explore and the shelling did not disappoint! I cannot wait to return and explore more of the beaches and inner island.
We had an incredible experience on the Ferry to Egmont Key. Zip (Captain) and Daren were great guides with lots of information about Egmont. We spent several hours on the beach and exploring the trails of Egmont Key.
General Information
- Family-friendly
- Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Discounts
- Group Discount
Rates & Times
- Time to Experience Activity: Half day
Accessible Features
- Wheelchair Accessible Entrance
- Wheelchair Accessible Parking
- Wheelchair Accessible Restroom