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    Caladesi Island State Park

    4.4 (144 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Andrea B.

    Caladesi Island is a gorgeous beach area located just next to Honeymoon Island in Dunedin, FL. What makes it so special is that it's only accessible by boat or ferry so it tends to get less crowded than other nearby beaches. For a small fee you can take the ferry there and back and you are able to bring coolers, umbrellas, beach chairs or whatever you might need for a relaxing day at the beach. They do have a small snack bar to get burgers and things like that and there is also a small store to buy essentials such as sunscreen. If you're looking for a pristine, clean not overcrowded beach where you can get some beautiful seashells then this is the place for you!

    Richard F.

    A gorgeous state park that you will want to experience when you are in the area. There is a short ride from Honeymoon Island, but well worth it to enjoy the splendor of the beaches. Great for finding shells.

    Shaeyla D.

    A true Florida gem! I had never been here but always heard great things so I decided on this day to drive down and check it out. It is accessed by ferry with a great crew from the honeymoon island state park in Dunedin or by boat for a fee. The regular price for the ferry is $20 RT per person. They also have a military discount. I went on a Friday and expected it to be crowded but it wasn't so that was nice. There is a cafe which different food, drink, and souvenir offerings. If you rent a beach chair or umbrella, you can get 2 free drinks from the cafe so that's cool. Regular chairs are $35 and lounge chairs are $50. They come in a set of 2. Because it was just me, I got the lounge chairs for a discount of $40. The water was perfect and I had the best time. I can't wait to go back!

    David S.

    Great spot to find sand dollars. It's a bit tough to get to. Ferry wasn't running so to small craft advisories so I opted to run there along the beach.

    Coconut I found along the shore
    LaToya L.

    Caladesi Island is such a beautiful island! You have to take a short ferry ride from Honeymoon island but it's worth the ride. Beautiful beach that's not over crowded like other beaches in the area. I love the beautiful water and white sand. The peace and tranquility is unmatched. I found so many unique seashells and I also found a coconut during my walk along the shore.

    Debbie W.

    Caladesi Island, specifically the beach, was one of the best parts of our vacation to the area. The beach was rather secluded which was without a doubt because of small barriers to entry. The need to access via a ferry or boat in itself is probably a deterrent to some people. If taking a ferry, the entry fees into Honeymoon island and the ferry plus only being able to bring on what you can carry could also be less than ideal. But! It's so worth it. I'm not sure who the ferry captain's name was but he did a great job in addition to his first mate Bob. Bob brought good vibes only - Bob if you're reading this never change. We spent the day on the beach and enjoyed looking for shells on the sandbar during low tide. The sand dollars were abundant! Afterwards, we used the outdoor shower and changed in the second bathhouse. I think there's such anticipation to get on the beach that most people, including ourselves, walk next to the first bathhouse onto the beach and then walk to the left to find more space. Learn from us and walk on the walkway to the second bathhouse and then onto the beach! (As long as you're not intending to rent chairs/ an umbrella) It'll be easier to find your own space. We lugged a lot of water onto the island but saw there were a handful of water foundations in addition water for sale at the gift shop/ cafe. We did not go on the nature trails but we were told they were very buggy. We also passed signs that said rattlesnakes are common on the island. We didn't see any going to the beach but if you're going on nature trails be aware of these things. This review was very long - but very deserved! Add Caladesi Island to your bucket list!

    Christina B.

    Took mom here and completely disappointed! They do not have on the website the ferry isn't working. There are rocks everywhere! Highly do not recommend for shelling or ferry ride!

    Alexis R.

    Captain Norm and his assistant Jack they were absolutely fantastic and made the experience amazing! Would have given 5 stars if it wasn't for captain crab ass Joe. However the ride back, captain Joe was a very angry elf. He was not enjoyable and cranky and needs a happy pill.

    Gulf side of island
    Mandi S.

    Great place to have a day in the sun and sand enjoying the clear Florida gulf waters. Best days are weekdays to have that near-private island experience. Weekends can leave us a bit frustrated as the number of boats and other watercraft litter the shoreline and kick up a bunch of sand. It's hard to find an open spot on the beach. For kayakers and paddle boarders, low tide means less boaters along the shore. The current is also strong at the inlet pulling you out. You'll need to be in good shape to make progress against the current. Be sure to check the tidal reports and plan accordingly. If you are struggling, carry your kayak/board along the shore to the other side and re-launch from inside the inlet to get back to the causeway successfully. Or plan a return around the tide coming in. Bring plenty of water and stay hydrated. Don't forget sunscreen.

    Pavilion right outside the dock
    Dana G.

    Such a relaxing and quiet park! I'll get a few things out of the way first that may be helpful. This is an island without a road to it, so you need to get to it one of ~3 ways: 1. Take the Caladesi Ferry from Honeymoon Island ($8 per car to get into Honeymoon then an additional $16 per person for a round trip ferry ride). Kids are cheaper. Kids under 5 are free on the ferry. It runs from 10 am to (I think) 4 pm every 1/2 or 1 hour depending on demand/weather. You can only stay 4 hours with this option -- I think due to the capacity of the ferry. 2. Take a boat or kayak and dock at honeymoon. The prices range for this one. $6 per boat + more of you have over 8 people. $2 per kayaker. 3. This one is risky but I've seen that it can be done -- walk from Clearwater North Beach at low tide. I believe it's $2 per person admission. Otherwise right where you dock once you get to the island, they have a pavilion with what you might need. Pretty sure they only take cards, but I'm not sure: - Concessions (sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, beer, wine). You're only allowed to drink alcohol on their pavilion patio, if that matters to you. - Knick knacks (sweatshirts, etc. tbh I wasn't looking at everything to buy). - Kayaks to rent, so you can explore the mangroves - Beach accessible wheelchairs - Umbrellas and chairs (actually these may be directly on the beach and I think it was $29 for the setup. - Ranger station, pretty sure this had maps and other guides PS you can bring your own chairs, cooler, etc. but it can get annoying lugging them around. Overall I loved our trip here. It was so tranquil. We took the ferry on a January weekend and spent about 3 hours exploring the island. There's a nature walk that's 2.5 miles, but has a detour to the beach in the middle of it if you don't want to walk so far. There are signs everywhere about how the island has a lot of rattlesnakes, so I got kind of anxious, since I was only wearing flip flops. We didn't see any snakes, but still. We saw a ton of birds and lots of vegetation though! So many birds that you wouldn't normally see at a more crowded beach -- black skimmers, plovers, a guy told us he saw a bald eagle flying around. We also saw a gopher tortoise, which was awesome. If you're into collecting shells, there are TONS of shells here. You're allowed to take any shell that doesn't have something living in it. On our way back, we saw six dolphins!! The ferry slowed down so all of us could take pictures. Also, they take cash tips on the ferry, which I didn't realize or else I would've brought more cash. Honestly our boat captains were awesome. People pay $$$ for the Clearwater dolphin boats, and here we just paid $16 per person which includes Caladesi island admission. Of course seeing dolphins isn't guaranteed, so it was such a treat.

    Leaving the boat.
    Melissa V.

    We went to visit Caladesi Island on a weekday morning. We arrived at Honeymoon Island and paid the $8. to enter with our car. We quickly found the parking area and ticket booth to Caladesi Island. Unfortunately, they don't start the rides to the island until 10 am. We explored Honeymoon island while we waited and went back when it was almost time for the ferry to start service for the day. We bought our tickets $32. for 2 tickets on the ferry!!! The trip takes about 10 minutes (give or take) and we were told on the way over that we had 4 hours and had to be back at the docks at 2 pm. They said if you wished to stay longer that you could ask at 2pm and they would let you know if they will have room on a later trip (depending on how many people they ferry over after your trip). We took the short hike to the beach from the ferry and it was set up with chairs and umbrellas to rent (we brought our own). We set up and stayed for a couple hours. I was less than impressed with the whole experience. Caladesi wasn't as remote as I imagined it would be, there was quite a few people there and it wasn't as beautiful as I thought it would be. I've been to much prettier and remote beaches and I thought it was pretty expensive ($40. total for entrance and ferry) and inconvenient to get to.

    Take the Ferry! It's an experience all in itself. Ferries leave every 30 minutes.
    Brittany N.

    Caladesi Island is a beautiful hidden gem on the west coast of Florida. You can either paddle over to the island from the causeway area, or you can take the Ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park. This park is always selected as having one of the top beaches in the state - and it's well-deserved. Much like Clearwater (but without the crowds). It does cost a few bucks to get over here, but it's definitely worth it! Forget your snacks? No worries! They have a snack shack complete with gift shop and clean bathrooms. Don't forget to bring your sneakers and bug spray and go for a walk along the trails.

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    Beautiful day to be out at the beach celebrating my son birthday it's absolutely gorgeous and the private

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    2 years ago

    Beautiful park! We saw a gopher turtle and an armadillo and collected many complete seashells.

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    Ask the Community - Caladesi Island State Park

    How do you get to the caladesi island state park?

    I ran from Rockaway street parking lot on Clearwater beach to Caladesi Island in about 1 hour 15 minutes or 5.5miles to the most northern point of island (however you can get to southern portion in just 45 min or around just 3 miles). There is a… 

    Do they have paddle boards and kayaks to rent at Caladesi or only honeymoon?

    They do on Caladesi as well!

    How long is the ferry ride? Also, if you bring coolers for food but want to paddle board, are there lockers or anywhere to leave your belongings?

    Depending on the waters...about 20 minutes

    How much is it to go paddling?

    If you have your own canoe there is no cost. We took the ferry over to the island from Honeymoon Island. Not sure if they had canoe rentals or not.

    Can you bring your own cooler, chairs and umbrella on the ferry?

    Yes, We have a beach cart and we wheeled it onto the ferry. They were very accommodating.

    Is it possible to walk to the island from Clearwater beach? How long would it take back and forth? Or is it possible to do one way by uber/ferry and the other one by walking?

    It's about an 8 mile walk from Clearwater Beach it is a pleasant hike it takes about two hours

    View All 8 Questions

    Review Highlights - Caladesi Island State Park

    There is a short ride from Honeymoon Island, but well worth it to enjoy the splendor of the beaches.

    Mentioned in 39 reviews

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    Sand Key Park

    Sand Key Park

    4.2
    (134 reviews)
    6.8 mi

    I had the pleasure of exploring this park, guided by bird watching expert friends, early on a…read moreSaturday morning during spring migration. We saw more birds than people as I think most folks just go to the beach. This park includes three distinct environments... beach, freshwater marshes and forest all very close to each other, with easy-to-follow unmarked trails and clean public bathrooms. We walked and explored and enjoyed for several hours, seeing osprey with young chicks, a pileated woodpecker, herons, ducks, a variety of stunning warblers, a loggerhead shrike and more! We also saw a variety of native butterflies and plants/trees/flowers, so I contributed those identifications since that's more my area of expertise. I was thrilled to see, for the first time in my life, the elusive Blue-Winged Warbler! Score! While I didn't obtain a photo, the sighting was definite and confirmed by my friend / guide / birding expert! Life is great when a small group of friends explore a beautiful and serene park, taking our time to really take it all in and as a bonus, I am able to add to my growing bird life list.

    Great time at Sand Key Park! Love the it's only $5 for parking all day. There are restrooms with…read morechanging rooms. Also, a shower outside to rinse off. The beach is nice and wide, so plenty of space to spread out. The beach is also clean! There are lifeguards, but not this day. I think they are there typically in the summer.

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    Sand Key Beach
    Sand Key Beach
    Sand Key Beach Lifeguard House
    Sand Key Beach Lifeguard House
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    Clearwater Beach

    Clearwater Beach

    4.3
    (744 reviews)
    5.9 mi

    Between gorgeous turquoise waters to the cotton candy sunsets, Clearwater is one of the best…read morebeaches on the Gulf. Last nights sunset was so beautiful I found myself capturing tons of video and photos before I was asked to be in a photoshoot for their local guide ( it was the dress lol ) Today, I'm writing this review from my beach cabana as the sound of the ocean sends me into complete relaxation. Although the afternoon storms have pulled in some seaweed , the water is calm and soothing. My little and I have become mermaids and are looking forward to our vacation time here this week. For those traveling here, there are parking lots available with a pay to park ( I use the parking mobile app which saves me so much time) if you are not staying at a local hotel. There are also hotels that offer day parking passes that range $15-30 for a full day. Once on the beach, there are umbrella and chair rentals , cabana rental, surf shops near by to grab floats and surf boards and tons of food options all walkable. This is a great family friendly beach area that I've been coming to for over 20 years. It's worth the 2 hour drive for me!

    The Clearwater beach is beautiful. It was wonderful and heavenly. My husband and I had a walk…read moretogether while eating ice cream. There were various kinds of ice cream flavors. It was delicious. We had an amazing time. The white sand and the blue ocean was gorgeous. The people at the beach were very joyful. There were people playing volleyball, reading books and swimming. There was a temporary tattoo shop near there, we had both gotten tattoos. There was a small shop where artists draw caricatures, however we couldn't see them. If they were there, we'd have definitely tried out and let them draw a caricature of us! It was warm and sunny. I highly recommend for anyone to visit and swim or just enjoy the scenery.

    Photos
    Me enjoying the beautiful sunset on the beach before dinner
    Me enjoying the beautiful sunset on the beach before dinner
    Mocha Coconuts Loves Clearwater Beach!
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    Clearwater Point Beach

    Clearwater Point Beach

    4.0
    (3 reviews)
    6.3 mi

    Three stars!!! Who knew! It was great not a fan fav but I'd go back for the sunset and a little…read morereading time.

    Clearwater Point Beach is a top secret hidden private beach most people have never heard of but a…read morefew people have seen if they looked east on the Clearwater Pass Bridge! Clearwater Point Beach has no visible signage from Gulf Boulevard and is surrounded by Condos so you kinda have to know about it to go. Clearwater Point Beach is located on the southeast tip of the famous Clearwater Beach Island by Clearwater Pass and is renown for it's quiet and peaceful location unlike it's busy sister beach just a couple blocks north. Enjoy watching the pirate ship, fishing boats, recreational boats, and dolphins swim by on Clearwater Point's secluded beach. You can see the Clearwater Pass Bridge and Causeway Bridge. There is plenty of free street parking available on South Gulfview Boulevard. Clearwater Point Beach is a private beach which borders Admiral House, Beach House, Gulf House, and Island House Condominiums. If you're lucky enough to know someone at one of these condominiums you can access foot showers, bathrooms, pool, and a hot tub. However, there are no public showers or bathrooms available to the general public. You can get a great view of this beach from Clearwater Pass bridge. I highly recommend visiting this beach if you have friends at the neighboring condominums, are dropping anchor on a boat, or if you want to book a vacation rental at a condo on this beach. There's only residential condominums on this beach and no waterfront restaurants or bars. However, there are lots of waterfront restaurant and bars just a couple blocks north of this beach, at Clearwater Beach.

    Photos
    Clearwater Point Beach shot from sand key bridge, by Admiral House Condos, SouthEast end of Clearwater island, Tampa Bay
    Clearwater Point Beach shot from sand key bridge, by Admiral House Condos, SouthEast end of Clearwater island, Tampa Bay
    Clearwater Point Beach
    Clearwater Point Beach Sign, by Admiral House Condos, Clearwater Point Area, SouthEast end of Clearwater island, Tampa Bay

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    Clearwater Point Beach Sign, by Admiral House Condos, Clearwater Point Area, SouthEast end of Clearwater island, Tampa Bay
    Abu Seba Beach

    Abu Seba Beach

    4.0
    (4 reviews)
    7.0 mi

    Just found this spot in the new year January 2021. It was nameless and come to find out, no idea…read morehow this name Abu Seba came about and what does it mean?! No idea. Initially I loved it here. Just think drive your car, park and beach right. So convenient. We have a ton of stuff to hang out by the beach. This place is way too crowded for a relaxing beach day. Big huge groups go here with RV's, pick up trucks, and tons of huge tents. It's a party spot. That could be your scene, if so props for you, and send me an invite. People also bring their kayaks and go kayak or jet ski here too. It's not relaxing. It's fast paced here. I love a chill beach with no people in hand's reach and definitely no cigarette smoke etc. So I'm done with this place. It is a $15 fee to park here. I highly doubt that's really strictly followed. We payed bc the parking attendant came by. The other thing to note is there are restrooms close by. There's also restrooms and showers available across the street at Sand Key. Enjoy your beach day however you prefer!!

    Abu Seba Beach is a top secret hidden beach without any visible signage from Gulf Boulevard that…read moreI've passed a million times without knowing it was there! None of my friends have heard of Abu Seba Beach and it's a great name to drop for the local who thinks they've done it all. Imagine my surprise when I did a search for beaches on Google maps and found this gem! If you want to impress a beach bum that's been to every beach in the Tampa Bay area, ask them if they've been to Clearwater Point Beach or Abu Seba Beach! Abu Seba Beach is located on Sand Key, across the street from Sand Key Park on the Intercoastal waterway next to the Clearwater Community Sailing Center and the Marriott Suites on Sand Key, which is South of Clearwater Beach. If you're on Gulf Boulevard, look for the Clearwater Community Sailing Center and turn in there. Keep going and you'll hit Abu Seba Beach! Officially, the sign says Clearwater Beach but the whole island of Sand Key is part of the city of Clearwater. The beach extends all the way to the Clearwater Pass Bridge which connects Sand Key Island to Clearwater Beach Island. Where the beach ends by the Clearwater Pass Bridge, there's lots of rocks and it looks really pretty! I'm not sure who named Abu Seba Beach but it's on Google maps, Yelp, Trip Advisor and Facebook so that's good enough for me. "Abu Seba" means "father of a drunkard" in Arabic according to Google so that seems like a suitable name for a party beach. Cars can pull directly on the beach and park without walking 20 yards to get to the beach. Aside from being able to drop the name of this secret beach that you can impress your friends with and having a cool spot to take pictures of your car on the beach on the east coast, the big draw back to this beach is that it's on the Intercoastal and the water is not as blue or clear as on Sand Key Beach across the street. The 2nd draw back to this beach is that parking is $15 for the whole day while it is 1/3rd the price at $5 for the whole day across the street with bluer waters and showers at Sand Key Park and completely free to park at Bay Park on Sand Key. The third draw back to this beach is that there are no showers. A pet peave of mine is driving w sandy feet. If you are really acrobatic or flexible or tall, you can actually wash your feet off in the beach's bathroom sink if you can get your feet to reach. A 4th drawback is no big waves. Not everyone is into big waves but I think they're fun and so do kids! No launching of motorized watercrafts are allowed at this beach and no dogs are allowed at this beach. I imagine this sort of beach is what those beach Jeeps with no doors are made for. If you like hanging in the trunk of your SUV or truck, this beach may be the perfect beach for you!

    Photos
    Abu Seba Beach, Sand Key Island, Intracoastal Waterway, South of Clearwater Beach, Across from Sand Key Park, North of Bellair Beach
    Abu Seba Beach, Sand Key Island, Intracoastal Waterway, South of Clearwater Beach, Across from Sand Key Park, North of Bellair Beach
    Clearwater Pass Bridge view at Abu Seba Beach, Sand Key Island, Intracoastal Waterway, South of Clearwater Beach
    Clearwater Pass Bridge view at Abu Seba Beach, Sand Key Island, Intracoastal Waterway, South of Clearwater Beach
    Abu Seba Beach, Sand Key Island, Intracoastal Waterway, South of Clearwater Beach, Across from Sand Key Park, North of Bellair Beach

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    Abu Seba Beach, Sand Key Island, Intracoastal Waterway, South of Clearwater Beach, Across from Sand Key Park, North of Bellair Beach

    Caladesi Island State Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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