Click here for camping permits
There are no trash cans on Shell Key. No county employees are paid to remove trash from the island. All of the cleaning and unwanted trash removal is done by hard working volunteers and individual visitors just like you.
Why are we asking you to help clean up trash on the island? Even trash that is not yours?
Because we need your help to preserve the future of camping on Shell Key.
The county does not have the funding or resources to clean up after visitors to the island. However, they do have the authority to ban any activity that they believe is a threat to order and preservation of this preserve. We know – because it has happened before. We do not represent any official state or county authority. Yet we know that our continued right to camp on Shell Key absolutely depends on how well we can keep this island looking and functioning like a pristine ecosystem..
Camping Rules & Guidelines
Rules are enforced by county law enforcement as follows …
Overnight Camping the South Public Use Area Only
Primitive camping is allowed only on the South Public Use area of Shell Key.
Camping Permits
Camping Permits are required for any overnight activity on Shell Key. Permits can be obtained for a $6 fee from the county.
Leave No Trace
We are required to remove absolutely all trace of our camp – including food, refuse and anything that came with us on our boat.
Campfires
You must remove all trace of your campfire before you leave. This means removing (not burying) all the charred wood from the fire. Remember that you are not at a permanent campsite. You are in a nature preserve and are required to leave no trace at all.
NEVER Cut Any Native Vegetation for Firewood
This is perhaps the worst thing that people can do to the island – because it can’t be cleaned up. Besides the fact that freshly cut wood on the island will barely burn, it is a blemish on the land that will take years to regrow. Please bring plenty of firewood with you and remove it from the island when you are done.
No Bottles Or Cans In The Campfire
As cool as it may be to watch your beverage bottles melt in the campfire, these things leave a nasty mess in an area where people regularly walk barefoot. And again, please remove all trace of your fire – even the partially burned wood and coals. Burying it is not good enough. Erosion will expose a buried campfire in no time.
Portable Toilets Required
The county requires all campers to bring a portable toilet for overnight activities. A simple DIY toilet can be made with a 5 gallon bucket, a trash bag and some sand. Place the trash bag in the bucket as a liner, put in a scoop of sand and use the toilet. When done, put another scoop of sand on top. Some people even bring some scented cat litter to use instead of sand.
Your brother’s keeper
We are asking you to, whenever possible, take a little extra trash off the island – even if it is not yours. The overwhelming majority of visitors to Shell Key are conscientious and tidy. Yet, a few inconsiderate visitors to the island have the ability to ruin it for the rest of us. Also, trash drifts onto Shell Key from the gulf and bay on a regular basis. If we don’t do it, it won’t get done. Keep a few garbage bags on the boat and grab a few items as you are strolling the beach or exploring the pines. You will feel great about making a difference. If a lot of people make a little effort, we can sustain this resource despite our growing local population..
No Pets or Alcohol
It doesn’t seem fair to leave the member of the family that would perhaps get the most joy out of island wilderness camping. However, pets are completely banned from the entire preserve including all of the aquatic boundaries. Read more about the pet ban. Alcohol is also forbidden within the preserve boundaries.
Camping Etiquette
Please be considerate of nearby campers and keep loud noise or bright lights to a minimum at night.
Camping Checklist…
- Sunscreen, First Aid & bug repellent.
- First Aid kit should include
- Water and Food
- Extra sunglasses, towels and a hat.
- Dress for worst case weather
- Fully charged Cell Phone
- Chairs, tent and bedding.
- Toilet Paper, garbage bags & portable toilet.
- Sandals or water shoes (see sandspurs!)
Hi! Thanks for the information. Do you know if it’s possible to launch a kayak from pass-a-grille and get to shell key that way? Thanks!
Hi Abby,
I don’t know of any public boat launches on Pass-a-Grille, but it’s a short trip by kayak from the south end of Pass-a-Grille to the north end of Shell Key. Just be mindful of the boat traffic. If you don’t have a place to launch, I suppose you could park in a metered parking spot and carry the kayak to the water.
Hope this helps!
Hiya!
We will be tent camping in Fort DeSoto on March 31 but there is no availability for the next night. I’m confused about the Shell Key Ferry, as there is a price for campers of $40. Does this include the camping permit to stay over on the island? I’ve emailed them but haven’t heard back. Curious if you would know anything about that! Thanx!
Hi Elisabeth,
I’m pretty sure that the ferry fee does not cover the camping permit. You will need to get your permit from the county’s website (select the shell key tab at the top). They will ask for your boat registration number, but I believe you can use your phone number instead.
Hope this helps!
Hi! Is the water typically calm enough to get over to shell key on only a stand up paddle board loaded with necessities? Thanks!
Hi Tasha,
It’s hard to predict the water conditions without looking at the weather forecast, but in general, the water is the most calm early in the mornings. I would check the wind forecast before planning a trip. If it’s below about 10 knots, you should be fine. Just be sure to check the forecast for both your departure and return times. Also, if you launch from the Butler hole location, you will be in shallow water for most of the trip out – and the water should be calmer than out in the Bunces Pass channel.
Hope this helps!
Hello, Jack. Thanks for the dialogue. My lady and I will be kayaking and then camping o/n at Shell Island and I will follow your suggested route from PB Kayak & SUP launch. Park at the FT Desoto boat ramp, correct?
Thanks
Hi Brent,
Yep – The Ft. Desoto boat ramps are the only place that I know of to legally park overnight. The PB Kayak launch has a “no overnight parking” sign posted.
Have fun!
Hi, Can you tell me the parking situation for overnight camping? When I kayak out to Shell Key, I usually launch in that big pulloff spot before the toll/bridge. Is overnight parking allowed there or in the park with the permit?
Thanks
The only place that I know of to park overnight is the Ft Desoto boat ramp. The spot on the side of the bayway (aka Butler Hole) has a ‘no overnight parking’ sign posted.
Is fishing allowed
Hi Mark,
Yes, fishing is allowed throughout the preserve. Just follow all the normal fishing rules.
I’ve done the spoil islands camping in Indian River, however it compleatly backfired and we were eaten alive by the sand fleas. I ahvmd well over 450 bites. Is this an issue at this location? If so how does one combat it
Hi Nathan,
Sand fleas can definitely be a problem throughout the summer. I have had good results using Deet based insect repellent. Reapply it a few times a day – especially around feet and ankles. I have even seen people use a product like ‘yard guard’ to clear their camping areas. Sand fleas tend to become more active at dawn, dusk and on very cloudy days – basically whenever it cools down a bit.
Hope this helps!
How do i reserve a spot??
Hi Tricia,
The County now uses an online reservation system for camping permits. There are no “spots” since this is considered wilderness camping. So you can camp anywhere on the south end of the island.
Hope this helps,
Will the island be open for camping in mid-June?
Yep – the island is open every day of the year (barring any emergency conditions).
Hi there, I am curious what the distance is between the fort de soto boat ramp and the southern part of shell key that we can camp? And is the Fort de soto boat ramp where you recommend overnight parking? Weighing options including paddle boarding and boating to get there. thank you.
Hi Emmie,
It’s just over a mile (as the crow flies) from the boat ramps to the south end. A little more to account for navigation brings it to well under 1.5 miles by boat. Ft Desoto boat ramp is the only place I know of to legally park overnight.
Hope this helps!
Pinellas County commissioners have voted to open all beaches 7am Monday May 4th, will we be able to obtain camping permits then? Looking for 4th-8th
Hi Michael,
I am waiting for a reply from County staff on this question. I’ll post here as soon as I know.
Thanks!
Michael,
I just heard back from the county, and they will NOT be issuing camping permits when the beaches open on Monday. Not sure why they will not open Shell Key with along with the beaches, but I will keep this site updated as soon as I hear more news.
Is it still possible to camp at shell key during this shutdown?
Sorry – the island is currently closed to all visitation – day or night.
Is camping permitted on the spot where the island broke open?
Hi Michael,
Camping is only allowed in the South Public Use Area.
Hope this helps!
Hi Jack. Are you able to hang a hammock on south end camping area?
Hi John,
It may be possible to find a couple of trees that are big enough to hang a hammock. At one time, the south end was full of Australian pines – but they were removed by the county as an invasive species. The county did plant some new trees, but they are still rather sparse and you may not find an ideal pair to hang from. Be careful, because the area with the most trees is also full of sandspurs. They are fewer this time of year, but still there.
Hope this helps 🙂
Hi Dennis,
I’m planning on camping there soon. How rough is the water near the campsite? Is it calm enough to keep a 21 foot boat anchored overnight? If not, is there a preferred spot for small boats to anchor/dock?
Hi Pete,
Most people anchor on the south side of the island on Bunces Pass. Because of the curve of the shoreline, this area is usually plenty calm enough for small boats to anchor overnight. I have anchored there with my 21′ boat many times with no difficulty. I always go with a double anchor when staying overnight – stern anchor goes on land – the bow anchor in the water (I like to anchor stern toward land for easy access). If you are concerned at all, you can maneuver a 21ft boat to the inside of the island – off the south end. There is a narrow channel that will get you in from Bunces Pass on the south-east corner of the island. Just refer to the map and be careful to stay out of the ‘no motorboat’ zone of the preserve. Once on the inside of the island, there are plenty of places to anchor near shore that are totally calm.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for being so informative!
If we anchor on the east side, are there paths to walk through to the beach side?
Hi Amy,
If you are coming around the southeast tip of the island and motoring to the east side of the island, you should be able to find several paths through the mangroves to get on shore. Once on shore, you can definitely find paths to the gulf side. Be mindful of the “no internal combustion” areas as much the the east side of the island is off limits to motor boats. As long as you are within the north or south public use areas , you will be fine. However the water in this area can be extremely shallow so it can be unpassable at low tide.
Hope this helps!
I’ve kayaked out to the island a few times but I’m planning to camp for the first time soon. Where do you recommend parking overnight for kayaking over to the island?
Hi Jake,
The only legal place that I know of to park overnight is the Ft. Desoto boat ramps. If you don’t have a trailer, park in one of the smaller spaces toward the back or you may get ticketed. There is an overnight parking fee which you can pay at the kiosk on the way in to the boat ramps.
Hope this helps!
Once obtaining a permit, would we be sharing the island with someone else or is one permit per night per island?
Hi Gregg,
Permits for camping are not exclusive – so you can expect there to be other campers on the island. However, the south public use area (the only place you can camp) is quite large and there are always secluded spots to be found. There are no facilities on the island and no designated campsites. All camping is “wilderness camping”.
Hope this helps 🙂
How many days can you camp there at shell key ?
How much per night ?
Hi Patricia,
You can camp on the island for up to 14 days. There is currently no fee to camp (but the county does plan to implement a permit fee sometime this year).
Hope this helps 🙂
We can not find a solution on how we can get to the island. we are a family group of 7 to 10 people. No boating rental will rent for overnight stay. No island shuttle will transport our family over with camping gear. We even sought out canoe and kayak options. None will allow us to take the kayak for camping. We are planning to go this April Friday noon the 7th to Saturday April 8th by late afternoon. Can you help us find a cost effective solution to transport a family of 10 max with gear, cooler and keep in mind a toddler is among the group.
Hi Elliottness,
As I understand it, the Island Ferry provides a dropoff/pickup service for campers on Shell Key. One of their representatives mentioned it in our comment section a few years ago – and they still advertise the service on their new web site.
Please let me know if they no longer offer this service and I will ask around and see what I can find.
Hope this helps!
Hello, the information provided is good. Thank you for the easy links as well.
Hey jack
Was looking to bring boyscouts to camp from the memories I have from college lol. Then saw your post😊
Hey Natalie!
It’s great to hear from you 🙂 The island is a perfect place for a Boy Scout campout. Last time I checked, the Island Ferry would take groups of people to the island and leave them overnight for camping. You might give them a call and ask. We used to take the home school kids out for camping and would bring my telescope to show them the night sky. And we would always end the trip with an island cleanup. The kids always had a blast – as did we. Please let me know if I can be of any help.
<3
Can you leave your tent in place, or do you need to pack up each day you camp?
Hi Chris,
As long as you are on the island, you can leave your tent set up for your entire stay. And, even if you leave the island briefly – to go exploring or make a run back to the mainland for supplies – you can still leave your camp set up. If for any reason, you leave overnight, you should probably break camp – even if you plan to return the next day – unless you have people there to watch your stuff.
Hope this helps 🙂
We are camping at the park on the weekend of 3/10. Should we be worried about poisonous snakes? Are they present at the island. Thank you in advance!!!
Hi Denis,
The county’s wildlife survey does not list any venomous snakes on the island. They do list some non-venomous snakes including the Southern Black Racer, Yellow Rat Snake (chicken snake) and the Saltmarsh snake. However, in all my years of camping on the island, I have never personally seen a snake of any kind. Here is the county’s documentation of their wildlife survey. And here is a website listing venomous snakes in the state of Florida. Most venomous snakes in our state are found in woodlands, scrublands and freshwater/marsh areas. The only things likely to bite you on shell key are mosquitoes and no-see-ums.
Hope this helps 🙂
Denis I’m planning on camping there for the first time next weekend. How was it?