The pristine beaches of undeveloped Shell Island are a star attraction in Panama City Beach, Florida. Take the Shell Island Ferry over to spend a day enjoying the sugar-white sand and emerald green waters of Shell Island.


In the early 1990s, the Shell Island Sandbar (south of Pass-a-Grille Beach) joined with the neighboring island to form one contiguous Island. Pinellas County was granted a lease by the State of Florida in order to establish Shell Key (a.k.a. Shell Island) was declared a Wildlife Preserve in 2000. Shell Key is now a Florida paradise on a strip of pure white sand.

Island Shuttle


In the 1990's, a sandbar located south of Pass-a-Grille Beach became Shell Island. It joined its neighboring island to make one contiguous Island. Pinellas County received a lease agreement from the State of Florida in 2000. This lease allowed them to establish Shell Key, a.k.a. Shell Island) to preserve wildlife. Shell Key, today, is a Florida paradise made of pristine white sand.

Island Shuttle
National Seashore

National Seashore


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.

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Your stay is unlimited, but you must return to the mainland by the end of each day. When purchasing your Ferry ticket, please make sure you check the daily schedule.

Shell Island Shuttle.com

Shell Island Shuttle.com


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!

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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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shell Island is technically only an island at high tide, and although the land is privately owned, the footpaths across it are open to the public.

Shell Island is on the west coast of Wales about 7 miles north of Barmouth. There is a road leading to there that you drive on, but at certain high tides the sea covers the road.

There is no limit to the activities you can experience at or on Shell Island! You can swim, snorkel, paddleboard, go kayaking, sunbathe, hunt seashells, go hiking, have a picnic, and more!