Sail from downtown St. Pete to explore Egmont Key's beaches, lighthouse ruins, and wildlife on a relaxing half-day cruise
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4 hrs
Round-trip ferry, Island free time
Board a 60-foot vessel at the St. Pete Pier and cruise to Egmont Key State Park, a remote barrier island at the mouth of Tampa Bay that is accessible only by boat. The four-hour round trip includes a scenic one-hour ride each way and two hours of free time to explore the island's beaches, lighthouse, fort ruins, and wildlife on your own.
Egmont Key State Park sits at the meeting point of Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, offering the kind of uncrowded, car-free island experience that is rare along the Florida coast. This is the only ferry service departing from downtown St. Petersburg.
The boat does not dock at the island. All guests step off via a ladder into shallow water (approximately knee-deep) to reach the shore. Wear a swimsuit and bring shoes you do not mind getting wet.
Egmont Key State Park has no drinking water, food, stores, or restrooms on land, so bring your own water, sunscreen, and any snacks you will need on the island. The boat remains anchored offshore and is available for restroom use and drink purchases during your visit. Outside alcohol is not permitted; any alcoholic beverages purchased onboard must remain on the boat. Alcohol, pets, drones, and glass containers are prohibited on Egmont Key State Park due to its status as a wildlife refuge. The vessel accommodates up to 49 passengers. Tours are offered twice daily, departing at 9 AM and 2 PM.
This is a typical itinerary for this half-day cruise. Exact timing may vary based on weather and water conditions.
Your crew meets you at Dock Q48 at the St. Pete Pier in downtown St. Petersburg. After a brief check-in and safety overview, you board The Pelican, a 60-foot vessel with indoor air-conditioned seating, outdoor observation decks, and two onboard restrooms.
The boat departs the pier and heads south through Tampa Bay toward the Gulf of Mexico. The one-hour ride takes you past the shoreline of St. Petersburg, through open water, and beneath the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, the cable-stayed span that connects Pinellas and Manatee counties. Dolphins are a common sight along this stretch, often riding the boat's wake. The crew points out landmarks and wildlife along the way, and drinks and snacks are available for purchase from the onboard galley.
The boat anchors in the shallow water off Egmont Key State Park. Because the island has no dock, you step off the boat via a custom ladder into knee-deep water to reach the shore (bring a swimsuit and water shoes or go barefoot). Once on the island, the two hours are yours to spend however you choose.
Egmont Key State Park is a 328-acre barrier island at the mouth of Tampa Bay, accessible only by boat and jointly managed as a National Wildlife Refuge and Florida State Park. The island is roughly 1.6 miles long and has no stores, no running water, and no vehicles. What it does have is white-sand beaches, clear Gulf water, and layers of history dating back to the 1840s.
The 1858 Egmont Key Lighthouse stands near the island's north end. Built to replace an earlier light that was destroyed in the Great Hurricane of 1848, it is the oldest structure still serving its original purpose in the Tampa Bay area. Nearby, you will find the ruins of Fort Dade, a military installation built in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. At its peak, Fort Dade was a self-contained community of 300 residents with brick roads, electricity, a hospital, a movie theater, and a bowling alley. The fort was decommissioned in 1923, and today its concrete gun batteries, brick-lined streets, and overgrown foundations are open for exploration. Between the fort ruins and the beach, you are likely to encounter gopher tortoises (between 1,000 and 1,500 live on the island), nesting shorebirds, and other coastal wildlife.
The boat remains anchored off the island during your visit, and you can return to it at any time to use the restrooms, grab a drink, or sit in the shade.
After two hours on the island, the crew signals for re-boarding and the boat heads back through Tampa Bay toward the St. Pete Pier. The return trip offers another chance for dolphin sightings and a different perspective on the Skyway Bridge and St. Petersburg skyline as you approach the pier.
Pass-by highlights include: Sunshine Skyway Bridge, St. Petersburg shoreline, open-water dolphin sightings, and views of Fort De Soto Park across the channel from Egmont Key.
Full refund with at least 24 hours notice. Full refund if the operator cancels due to weather or unforeseen circumstances. No-shows are charged the full price.
Dock Q48 at 400 2nd Ave NE, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701
Egmont Key State Park sits at the point where Tampa Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico, a narrow island just over a mile and a half long that has no roads, no cars, no stores, and no permanent residents other than a park ranger and the Tampa Bay Pilots Association crew who guide commercial ships in and out of the port. It is accessible only by boat, and this cruise from the St. Pete Pier is the only ferry service departing from downtown St. Petersburg.
The island's history runs deeper than its beaches. Named for John Perceval, the second Earl of Egmont, the key was first mapped by Spanish surveyors in the 1750s. Congress authorized a lighthouse in the 1840s to reduce ship groundings at the bay's entrance, and the current lighthouse, built in 1858, still stands and operates today. During the 1850s, Egmont Key State Park's land served as an internment camp for captured Seminole people during the Third Seminole War, a painful chapter the Seminole Tribe has referred to as one of the final stops on the Trail of Tears. Union forces occupied the island during the Civil War, and in 1898, the U.S. military built Fort Dade to protect Tampa Bay during the Spanish-American War. At its height, the fort was a small city with brick roads, electricity, and a population of 300. It was decommissioned in 1923, and the ruins now sit half-reclaimed by tropical vegetation, open for visitors to explore.
Today, Egmont Key State Park is jointly managed as a National Wildlife Refuge and a Florida State Park. Between 1,000 and 1,500 endangered gopher tortoises roam the island, loggerhead sea turtles nest on its beaches, and more than 100 bird species use the island for nesting and migration. The cruise itself is part of the experience: passing beneath the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and watching for dolphins on the open water of Tampa Bay adds a scenic hour on either side of your time on the island. For visitors looking for an uncrowded, car-free beach day with a layer of history and wildlife that most Florida beaches cannot offer, Egmont Key State Park is one of the most distinctive day trips on the Gulf Coast.
The crew here consistently earns praise for going above and beyond, with Captain Nick, Captain Brady, and crew members like Mary Beth, Brittany, and Lou frequently mentioned by name. Multiple reviewers highlight how attentive and helpful the staff is with mobility concerns—assisting older guests on and off the boat, providing steps for shorter passengers, and making accommodations for those with physical challenges or seasickness. The communication from booking through departure gets high marks, with captains even calling guests to help with directions. Both the Egmont Key trips and sunset cruises under the Skyway Bridge deliver memorable experiences. Locals especially appreciate having a well-priced alternative to boat ownership, with several saying they bring repeat visitors and family members back. The boats are described as clean, comfortable, and safe, with thoughtful touches like ice-filled coolers ready for guests' drinks and snacks. One reviewer noted a last-minute cancellation on a Friday evening when minimum bookings weren't met, which disrupted birthday plans, so you might want to confirm if you're booking something special. Overall though, the professionalism, local knowledge, and genuine hospitality make this a standout choice for getting out on the water around St. Pete.
Great boat! Great crew! Thanks so much. We are locals but love the experience. We'll be back aboard soon!
Lynn Murray
March 29, 2026
Great boat! Great crew! Thanks so much. We are locals but love the experience. We'll be back aboard soon!
Lynn Murray
March 29, 2026