How to get your Shell Key Camping Permit
What’s Changed?
- Pinellas County Camping permits are now issued using the same online reservation system used for Ft. Desoto Campgrounds
- Shell Key Camping Permits now cost $6 per boat
- A limit of 25 camping permits per day are issued – with each permit allowing up to 6 people. Permits are issued on a first come, first serve basis. Multi-day permits are available.
- You must create an account on the Pinellas County website with a User Name and Password to obtain a permit.
Tips for registering at the County’s Camping Permit page
After arriving at the Pinellas County website for camping permits, don’t forget to click on the “Shell Key Campground” tab at the top of the page.
After clicking on the Shell Key tab, Click on the “Shell Key Campground” option so see the log in. If this is your first time using the system, you will be required to register for an account.
Here is a screenshot of the registration form seen after logging in. We are awaiting clarification for this form and will post a better explanation of the process on this page shortly.
What are the
The Pinellas South County Camping Registration page is here.
I frequent this area by jet ski from SPB. Would its be possible to camp on bunces pass for a night. Seems more ideal than shell key for safe jet ski anchoring overnight.
Hi Matthew,
I’m not entirely sure which spot you are describing. The South Public Use Area of Shell Key is bordered by Bunces Pass. This is the only legal place in the area to camp. You can’t camp on Ft. Desoto – which is on the other (south) side of Bunces pass. Most people camping on Shell Key do so on the south shore that borders Bunces Pass. With a jet ski, you could go around to the inside of the south end where you will find calmer waters.
Hope this helps!
How do I pay for parking at the boat ramp if I am camping for more than 1 night? Does it allow purchase for more than 24hours from the machine?
Hi Jill,
Yes, you can pay for multiple days using the payment kiosk on the way in to the Ft. Desoto Boat Ramp. It will print out a ticket with the dates for you to display on your dashboard.
Hope this helps!
Thank you!
When you launch a kayak from the boat ramp which way do you go to get to shell key camp area and do you go through the mangrove tunnels then
Hi Karen,
From the Ft. Desoto boat ramps, I typically head due west until I get to North Beach – and then turn north to cross the narrower part of Bunces Pass to Shell Key. You could also start by heading north across the channel by the Pinellas Bayway Bridge – and then head west to the island through the shallower and less traveled preserve waters. Just be careful of fast boat traffic coming out of the Pinellas Bayway Bridge.
Hope this helps!
Permit allows for 6 people per permit. If 6 people,6 kayaks ,do I pay $6 per kayak?
Hi Martha,
That is a good question – and another example of how the cookie cutter registration system is ambiguous in it’s design. I will ask the county for clarification. My sense it that one camping permit should be good for 6 people if they all go together by kayak. It does not make sense that 6 people in kayaks would pay the same fee as 36 people in 6 larger boats. If it were me, I would get one permit for 6 people on 6 kayaks. But, I don’t work for the County, so we will need to wait until I get a response from them. I will post back here when I have more information.
Best,
Are camping permits still required if you take a ferry over and plan to camp over the night? Or. is it as simple as paying the car parking of $6-$8 at Ft. Desoto Boat Ramps, paying for the ferry fee of $25 per person (is Island Ferry the only one?), and then setting up camp near the public portion of the beach? Thank you in advance and I hope to be able to make it there on the 26th!
Hi Cameron,
Anyone camping overnight on Shell Key is required to pay for a permit at the County website. The Ferries are privately owned companies and cannot give you permission to camp on the island. The parking fees at the Ft. Desoto boat ramps are also not a substitute for a camping permit – since the parking fees are paid by anyone using the boat ramp (fishermen, cruisers etc). The only thing you a required to pay for is the $6 camping permit.
Hope this helps!
If we are kayaking over to camp on shell key do we still have to pay $6/boat plus the 6 for the permit
Hi Karen,
You only pay the permit fee of $6 per boat. If you park your car overnight at the Ft. Desoto boat ramps, there is also a $6 parking fee.
Hope this helps!
I have a 21 foot center console. Where do we anchor our boat when we camp on shell key?
Hi Steve,
Most people anchor off of the south shore of the island on Bunces Pass. There are some accessible spots on the inside of the south end, but you might have difficulty getting in and out at low tide.
Hope this helps!
How does it work if I kayak to camp overnight to shell key. When are camp fires allowed on the beach?
Thanks!
Hi Colby,
Campfires are allowed any time of day at this time of year. (Campfires are banned in the summer due to turtle nesting season). Otherwise, the only rule is to leave no trace of the fire – which includes removing unburned wood rather than burying it.
Hope this helps!
I see the permits are numbered. Are there actual “sites” now corresponding to those numbers or no?
Hi Kyle,
No, it is still wilderness camping only. No sites.
Hope this helps!
If u dont have a boat can u still go camping on shell key
Hi Mark,
You do need a boat to get to the south public use area (where camping is allowed). At one time, the Island ferry offered a shuttle service for campers, but I don’t see it listed on their website now. You might give them a call to see if they still offer this service. Otherwise, you might call around to the local kayak rental companies to see if any of them offer overnight rentals.
Hope this helps!
Are there places to hang a hammock in the camping area or is it more so for tent camping?
Hi Roberto,
There are not a lot of mature trees on Shell Key – but you might find a few locations to hang a hammock. Most of the foliage consists of mangroves, shrubs and seagrasses. However, there are a few palm trees and some of the native trees planted by the County have survived to maturity. Bring plenty of rope.
Hope this helps!
If camping on shell key, where can we park our for the night?
Hi Heather,
The only place I know of to park overnight is the Ft. Desoto Boat Ramps. There is a parking fee to be paid at the kiosk on the way in. I believe it is currently $6-$8 for overnight parking. Be sure not to park in the larger trailer spots if you don’t have a trailer. Use the smaller spots furthest from the ramps.
Hope this helps!
Hi, do you think it’s safe to leave the car at the Butler Hole launch area overnight. Going to kayak over to Shell Key Preserve for the night.
Hi Jennifer,
Overnight parking is not allowed at the Butler Hole location. (There is a sign posted saying ‘no parking overnight’) The only place I know of to legally park overnight is the Ft. Desoto Boat Ramps.
Hope this helps!
Is the camping open ?
Hi Anna,
Yep – camping was reopened on 5/20/2020.
Enjoy!
Can you fish off island?
Hi Will,
Absolutely – Just follow all of the local saltwater fishing guidelines and you are good to go.
How can I go to Shell Key Island South side to camp? I have called a company and mentioned their boats do not take people to the south side.
Hi Maria,
I believe the “Island Ferry” (not shell key shuttle) will take campers to the south end.
Hubbards has ferry service to the island with 3 times a day only
If we want to kayak to Shell Key, where do we launch from?
Hi Leah,
A popular spot to launch is the Butler Hole location on the Bayway. You can get all the way to the island without crossing any boating channels.
Hope this helps!
There is a requirement for vessel registration number for a permit. There is no registration number for kayaks. How do we handle this?
Hi Andy,
That’s a good question – I’ll ask my contact at the county and report back. In the meantime, you could try entering your phone number. Boat registration numbers can vary depending on the type of registration – so perhaps the web form will allow you to enter any text in that field. I’ll let you know what I hear from the county.
Did you find out about the registration numbers for a Kayak?? Have 2 I want to bring. Also, wondering which SK permit do we need to click on to make a reservation?? Wanting to go Feb 13th and some show not available and some show limited availabilities. Do they now have specific places you need to camp?? How long has there been no parking overnight at Butler Hole?? Is that right by the toll?? Camped at SK about a year ago and we parked there but I did not see a sign that said no overnight parking. Maybe never saw it and got lucky since not towed?? LOL Thanks for any info.
Hi Karen,
I can’t seem to find my correspondence with the county about this issue – But as I recall, you can use your phone number in lieu of boat registration numbers if you have a small, unregistered vessel (kayak, canoe, etc). Camping on the island is still “wilderness” style and there are no designated spots to camp. Just stay within the south public use area.
I was out at the Butler Hole location recently and took a photo of the parking sign – but upon closer examination, I see that it says “No Overnight Trailer Parking” – which “technically” means that you can park your car there overnight if it does not have a trailer attached. However, I could not guarantee that the sign is not just poorly written – and that it actually intends to prohibit all overnight parking. Your guess is as good as mine, but the sign is definitely a bit ambiguous. I left a message with the local FDOT office for clarification and will post back here IF I get a response. The sign is located right about here.
Hope this helps!
Went is going to let people camp in shell key?
Hi Zahira,
Pinellas County has not yet lifted the camping restrictions. I am waiting for a response from the county about when the restrictions will be lifted – and will post the response on this page.
May 20th. (Tomorrow)
Is shell key opened for campung this weekend?
Hi Maybel,
Pinellas County has not yet lifted the camping restrictions. I am waiting for a response from the county about when the restrictions will be lifted – and will post the response on this page.
Is metal detecting allowed on the island in the public use area?
Absolutely. Treasure hunting is perfectly fine.