For camping enthusiasts, we offer an overnight experience on Shell Key! All you need is your “camper” ferry ticket, a camping permit from Shell Key, and all your camping gear to have an epic night under the stars! This is an unbelievably unique opportunity to camp out on a secluded island.
The fun, scenic ride over to Shell Island takes only a few minutes and passengers are dropped off in the peaceful cove behind Shell Island Ferry, a great play spot for children and just a short walk from the Gulf of Mexico beachfront.
In the early 1990’s, the sandbar just south of Pass-a-Grille Beach known as Shell Island joined with its neighboring island to the south to form one contiguous island. In 2000, Pinellas County acquired a lease from the State of Florida to establish Shell Key (a.k.a. Shell Island) as a Wildlife Preserve and today, Shell Key is a pristine white sand strip of Florida paradise.
Shell Island is considered a nature preserve and has no toilets or other facilities for visitors such as shade pavilions, trash receptacles, picnic table, or other amenities. There is no trash pickup service. Island visitors are requested to be responsible and bring everything they have to the Island with you when they leave.
The 7-mile-long barrier island Shell Island is located at the south-eastern tip of Panama City Beach Florida's natural reserve, St. Andrews State Park. This undeveloped stretch of white sandy beach, coastal scrubland, pine hammocks, and sandbars seperates St. Andrews Bay form the Gulf of Mexico. Shell Island is an oasis for wildlife, marine mammals, and beach lovers who seek a day away from the condominiums, resorts, and condos along the coast.
At this moment, not available. The Shell Island Ferry offers transportation services and also operates a concession boat that is available on the island from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This is the only concessional facility on the island.
Shell Island is a local must-see location for Panama City Beach visitors looking for the unspoiled white-sand beach experience. The island offers plenty of beach space and peaceful inshore waters where swimming and snorkeling are great. Colorful tropical fish, dolphins, and sea turtles are common in the waters around the island. On land, hiking the interior of Shell Island is an opportunity to explore rare coastal plants, birds, and wildlife communities.
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.