It is not currently available. You can bring your own. You can rent umbrellas and beach chairs. At the Ferry ticket shop, you can also purchase sunblock and other accessories.
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.
Begin and end your Shell Key adventure at historic Fort De Soto, a military outpost constructed during the Spanish American War, listed in the “National Register of Historic Places”, and Pinellas County’s largest park. Fort De Soto Park includes 1,136 acres of five interconnected islands.. Explore the fort that is still equipped with 12-inch rifled mortars and two British breech-loading 6-inch Armstrong rapid-fire guns. Fort De Soto has been rated the number one beach in the entire United States.
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.
Take a ferry ride with us to Shell Key. Pack like you're on the beach. Sunscreen, towels, bathing suits and sun protective hats are essential. Shell Key is an unspoiled island. It doesn't have a toilet or shop so bring water and food.
Shell Key is also a large protected area. Nearly half of the island is off limits to guests. This allows the seabirds, sea turtles, and native seabirds to enjoy a stretch of undisturbed beaches. This area is home for tons of nesting bird and nesting turtle species.
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.
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.
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.
Go Where the Dolphins are
Shell Island is 7 miles of incredible beach bliss located across the water from Saint Andrew's Park. This natural wonder is one of your best bets for finding and swimming with dolphins in Panama City Beach.