Fort Desoto Shell Island Ferry

St. Andrews Ferry To Shell Island


Shell Island is a nature preserve with no restrooms or any other visitor facilities such as trash receptacles, picnic tables, or shade pavilions. There is no trash removal service. Island visitors are asked to be responsible and take everything they bring to the Island with them when they leave.


On the south-eastern end of Panama City Beach Florida, the natural reserve of St. Andrews State Park includes the 7-mile long barrier island known as Shell Island. This undeveloped stretch of white sand beach, coastal scrubland, and pine hammocks separate St. Andrews Bay from the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Shell Island is a haven for wildlife, marine animals, and beach lovers looking for a day in a pristine natural setting away from the resorts and condominiums that line the beach to the north.

Visit Shell Island


Shell Island can only easily be reached by boat. Shell Island Ferry offers visitors the best, most secure, and fastest way to reach Shell Island. Since 1999, the Shell Island Ferry, which is officially the Shell Island Ferry service provided by St. Andrews State Park Marina to Shell Island has been transporting guests there for many years.

Visit Shell Island
Shell Island Ferry Jetty

Shell Island Ferry Jetty


Shell Island has no public restrooms. There is no trash removal company. Island visitors are required to take any trash they bring with them to the Island.

Dolphin Tours


Shell Island Ferry is family owned and operated since 1928. We are the only official ferry service to and from Egmont Key and Shell Key.

Shell Island Ferry Zanesville

Shell Island Ferry Zanesville


In the early 1990's the Shell Island sandbar, located just south of Pass-a-Grille Beach, was joined to form one contiguous Island. Pinellas County obtained a lease from Florida in 2000 to create Shell Key (a.k.a. Shell Island was established in 2000 as a Wildlife Preserve. Today, Shell Key is a beautiful white strip of Florida paradise.

Shell Island Ferry 10312


Shell Island can only be accessed by boat, and the Shell Island Ferry is the easiest, safest, and quickest way for visitors to reach Shell Island. As the official Island Ferry, the Shell Island Ferry has been ferrying guests between the mainland and Shell Island for many years.

Frequently Asked Questions

When you visit Shell Key, you are essentially in the wilderness. There are no toilets – there is no running water – no trash cans or any other modern conveniences. It is up to you to bring everything you need to survive – and, more importantly – to leave nothing behind except footprints

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.

Sand dollars, moon snails, conch shells, pin shells, periwinkles, whelk and olive shells are just a few of the indigenous seashells found here. And, as long as there are no creatures living in them, there is no limit to how many of these one-of-a-kind souvenirs you can take home with you

Shell Island is a nature preserve with no restrooms or any other visitor facilities such as trash receptacles, picnic tables, or shade pavilions. There is no trash removal service. Island visitors are asked to be responsible and take everything they bring to the Island with them when they leave.