Fort De Soto Park is located at 3500 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, Florida 33715. Here’s a map of the park itself – it encompasses 1,136 acres—including beach locations and the dog beach, restrooms, the Fort, and parking areas.
Vibe
Award-winning beach with pristine waters, pure-white sands and a mysterious fort.
It doesn’t get better for families than Fort De Soto, a dreamy escape boasting a pirate ship playground; a huge tidal pool where little ones can search for sand dollars; and a beach with natural beauty as far as the eye can see.
See, feel
Blow-your-mind clear water, powder-white sand scattered with shells, and a backdrop of dunes and the endless sky make Fort De Soto a treat for the eyes. Here, expect to hear the melody of the surf and shorebirds; see a smattering of folks kicking back under candy-colored umbrellas; and feel the soft sand on your bare toes. Fort De Soto is popular, hosting over 2.7 million visitors annually, but the beach is never towel-to-towel crowded, except on holiday weekends. While the water is normally calm, tides, winds and offshore systems can occasionally cause conditions to be rough.
On or near the beach
Soaking up the sun, swimming, and ditching your sandals for a stroll by the beach are time-honored ways to enjoy a day at Fort De Soto, but there’s more—much more. The park invites you to investigate its Spanish-American-War-era fort, paddle a tranquil waterway, and discover trails. You can make your best friend’s tail wag with a visit to the dog beach; fish off of the Bay or Gulf piers; go birding; or, for an epic adventure, try a camping expedition. Fuel the fun with a picnic or indulge at the food concession, sited at the North Beach Swim Center.
Accessibility
Accessible areas of Fort De Soto include a the Barrier-Free Nature Trail, a self-guided, interpretive nature trail; a nearly seven-mile, multi-use paved trail; ADA compliant bathrooms complete with grab bars; the gift shop, snack shop, fort, Gulf pier, and bait shop. All of the beach parking areas offer two to six disability parking spots, and visitors with disability plates or a placard can park in a disability spot for free. To reserve one of the park’s five beach wheelchairs during the week call 727-582-2100, ext. 2. On weekends, go to the campground office to request one.
Facilities
Fort De Soto boasts a hefty list of facilities, including a boat launching facility; camping; 15 picnic shelters; restrooms; playgrounds; two fishing piers, each with a food and bait concession; ferry service to Egmont Key; ferry service to Shell Key; a concession/snack bar/souvenir shop; the Quartermaster Museum; two large swim centers, including a food concession; recreation and canoe trails that include the accessible 2,200 foot Barrier-Free Nature Trail; a beach dog park; a historic fort; and more than seven miles of waterfront that includes almost three miles of stunning, white sand beach.
Here’s where you can find a detailed list of amenities.
Lifeguards
Fort De Soto has seasonal lifeguards.
Parking
Here’s where you can find information about parking at Fort De Soto, and here’s a map with parking locations as well as other facilities.
