Shell Island is a popular spot for Panama City Beach tourists looking for unspoiled white sand beach experiences. It has plenty of beaches and calm waters, making it a great place for swimming and snorkeling. In the surrounding waters, you will find many tropical fish, dolphins, as well as sea turtles. Shell Island's interior can be explored by hiking.


Shell Key offers an overnight camping experience for campers! You will need a ferry ticket to "camper" Shell Key and a permit from Shell Key for camping. All you have to do is pack your tent and gear for an amazing night under the stars. This is an incredible opportunity to camp out on a remote island.

Shell Island Ferry Ocean Beach


Shell Key is great for swimming and shelling. Shell Key is also home of a large nature reserve, where half of the island has been blocked off to allow native seabirds an area of unspoiled beach. Have fun and sun!

Shell Island Ferry Ocean Beach
Shell Island Ferry 32408

Shell Island Ferry 32408


Shell Island is a nature preserve without any restrooms or other visitor facilities, such as trash bins, picnic tables or shade pavilions. There is no trash collection service. Island visitors are expected to take all their trash with them when they leave the Island.

Shell Island Ferry Orient Point


There is no limit to how long you can stay on the island, but at the end each day you must take the last ferry off. You should always check the Ferry schedule when you purchase your Ferry ticket.

Shell Island Ferry 601

Shell Island Ferry 601


Your Shell Key adventure begins and ends at Fort De Soto. A military outpost, Fort De Soto is Pinellas County’s most famous park. Fort De Soto Park consists of 1,136 acres spread across five interconnected island. Discover the fort, which still houses 12-inch rifled mortars along with two British breech-loading 6-inch Armstrong rapidfire gun guns. Fort De Soto has been named the #1 beach in the United States.

Tripadvisor


Shell Island cannot be reached by water. Visitors must travel by boat to reach it. Shell Island Ferry serves as the official Island Ferry. This ferry has been serving guests to and from Shell Island for many year.

Frequently Asked Questions

About an hour drive
Shell Island is an actual island in the St Andrews Bay off of Panama City Beach, about an hour drive from Destin.

Visitors to your pitch may come on site, after paying the daily admission fee, £10.00 per car, between 8am till 8pm. During busy times when the site is full no day visitors will be admitted on to site.

You may arrive anytime between 8.00am and 8.00pm (9.00pm on Fridays) no admittance will be given outside of these times. Sites must be vacated by 3.00pm on the day of departure, if you wish to extend you stay please bring your car pass back to reception to book back in.