Hi Tom,

Camping is only allowed in the South Public Use Area.

Best,

Hi Meg,

Yes, of the 3 ferries that go to Shell Key, one of them (the Island Ferry) will take campers for overnights and pick them up.

Hope this helps!

Hi Ryan,

I have seen great bioluminescence around Shell Key. Here is a great resource for timing your visit for optimal viewing.

Hope this helps!

Hi Rebecca,

I don’t know of a kayak rental that allows overnight. If you find one that does, please let us know:-) Mid March is an excellent time of year to camp on Shell Key. Warm sun, still a cool breeze in the air and generally cool nights.

Clear Skies!

Hi Monica,

Congrats on 50 laps around the Sun 🙂 I don’t know any captains for that small a private charter, but I believe the Island Ferry will take you out to the island for camping. If you are local, you could always treat yourself to a swell new kayak for your birthday 😉

As for the best spot for privacy, I like the Gulf side of the South Public Use area. There are far fewer people on that corner of the island compared to the Bunces Pass (south) side. Lucky for you, this time of year sees far fewer visitors to the island, so you should have no problem finding solitude. You can set up either near the gulf side or the bay side. The Gulf side gets a nice breeze. There are occasionally people strolling down the beach, but the tall dunes start right at the edge of the beach and will hide your camp from view of passers by.

I know of no other primitive camping areas in this corner of the state. There are a few nice forests – like the Ocala National Forest in North Central Florida.

For a 2 week trip, I recommend carrying a small handheld vhf radio just in case your cell phone dies or you get poor reception. I’ve never had a problem getting a good signal but I always have a VHF on my boat so I can communicate directly with boaters, fishermen & law enforcement in the immediate area.

Here’s wishing you good luck and a Happy Birthday!