Unnamed Road, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767, USA 
226 miles from Panama City Beach, FL
Located on one of the few untouched islands along the Gulf Coast, Caladesi Island State Park is a remote and secluded place offering a wide variety of recreational activities such as strolling, shelling, sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife watching. There are restroom facilities and food concessions available.
Location and Access
The park is located on Caladesi Island in the Gulf of Mexico, which is west of Dunedin and north of Clearwater Beach, and is accessible by ferry or private boat from Honeymoon Island or by walking from Clearwater Beach.
The business hours are from 8 a. m. until sundown every day in all seasons. The entry fee is $6 per boat with up to 8 people plus $2 for each extra passenger. Kayakers can enter for a fee of $2 per person.
If you go by ferry, the entrance fee is $8 per vehicle with 2 to 8 people; $4 per vehicle with a driver only; $2 per pedestrian/bicyclist/additional passenger in a vehicle. Apart from that, keep in mind that there are also ferry fees, which are $14 per adult and $7 per child (6 to 12 years old).
Children under 6 can ride for free. Pets are not allowed on the ferry! The last ferry leaves the beach at 4:30 p. m., so you should plan your visit early enough.
Facilities
The park has plenty of parking, ADA accessible restrooms, marina with more than a hundred slips with water and electric hook-ups for overnight docking, a shaded picnic pavilion with a grill, some picnic tables, a food concession, and a gift shop.
Watersport enthusiasts can rent canoes and kayaks. There are dedicated areas for fishing, but be aware that you must conform to the existing fishing regulations and may need a fishing license – please check the official information before you arrive.
For visitors with children, there is a convenient playground with swings, slides, climbing bars, and crawl through.
Beach
Dr. Beach repeatedly rated this beach as one of the best beaches in the United States. The sand is white and powdery, but it has some rocks and seaweed. It’s a good place to collect shells. The beach doesn’t receive too many visitors and there is a lot of space for everyone. You can rent umbrellas and chairs to make your stay even more comfortable.
The turquoise water looks spectacularly beautiful and very much inviting. There are designated areas for swimming. The water gets too cold to swim in the winter months, but it’s enjoyable in warmer seasons.
When there are strong winds and swift currents, swimming is prohibited – you’ll see double red flags as a prohibiting sign. Please be careful, since there are no lifeguards on site.
Dog Policies
Pets are allowed neither on the ferry nor on the beach. In the other areas of the park, they are permitted as long as they are leashed and attended.
Driving Time
- 25 minutes from Downtown Dunedin, FL
- 40 minutes from St. Petersburg, FL
- 40 minutes from Tampa, FL
Hotels and rentals
If you're considering staying for one or even a few nights, there are plenty of options available near the beach. Chose your preferred accomodation type and your favourite room provider:
- Nearby rentals from VRBO.
- Nearby rooms and properties from Booking.com.
Beaches nearby
Additionally, there's a number of beaches near Caladesi Island State Park Beach which you can visit:
- Honeymoon Island State Park Beach (2 miles)
- Clearwater Public Beach (3 miles)
- Howard Park Beach (8 miles)
- Anclote Key Preserve State Park Beach (9 miles)
- Anclote River Park Beach (10 miles)
Indian Shores , Clearwater Beach, 33785, United States
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2 mi away