In Tampa Bay, an island that was once a Civil War refugee camp is now a bird rookery. During the Civil War, Egmont Key served as an outpost for the Union Blockading Squadron as they played cat-and-mouse with Confederate blockade runners.
It also housed a refugee camp for Confederate defectors, guarded by and eventually evacuated by the Union navy.
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Overview
Location: Egmont Key
Ranger Station: 27.600533, -82.760383
Fees: Free
Restrooms: At ranger station
Land Manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 727-644-6235
Open 8 AM to sunset. Pets are not allowed on the island, which is also a National Wildlife Refuge.
From the dock at Fort De Soto Park, the Tampa Bay Ferry (727-867-6569) provides trips to Egmont Key daily. The ferry also runs snorkel trips over the underwater ruins of Fort Dade; rental equipment available.
Directions
If you’re headed there by private boat, use the above coordinates to aim for the dock. Otherwise, head for Fort De Soto Park to take the Tampa Bay Ferry. Take Interstate 275 south from St. Petersburg to Exit 31A, Pass-a-Grille Beach. Drive west on 54th Ave S (toll). Continue 2.5 miles to CR 679 S. Turn left and follow CR 679 south through Tierra Verde for 5.5 miles (another toll) to the park entrance. The popular campground is on the right. Make a right at the T, and turn into the parking area for the fort on the left, past the battery. The ferryboat departs from the dock with the pier.
About the Park
The operational lighthouse, constructed in 1848 and open for tours, is surrounded by the brick streets of the ghost town of Fort Dade, built during the Spanish-American War.
Wander the brick streets to get a feel for what was an early military outpost monitoring access to Tampa Bay.
The island served as an internment camp for captured Seminoles at the end of the Third Seminole War before their forced removal from Florida, and also for Confederate soldiers when the Union Navy took it during the Civil War.
If you’re a birder, bring binoculars! A portion of the island is a rookery protected as a National Wildlife Refuge.
Explore More!
Nearby Adventures
Soldier’s Hole Nature Trail The interpretive Soldier's Hole Trail at Fort De Soto Park offers a close look at the three varieties of mangroves that grow in Florida plus some gorgeous views of Bunce’s Pass.
Fort De Soto Arrowhead Nature Trail Explore coastal habitats on the Arrowhead Nature Trail at Fort De Soto Park, an interpretive walk where you'll learn about salt-dependent plants along Mullet Key Bayou.
Fort De Soto Barrier Free Trail The 0.4 mile Barrier Free Trail at Fort De Soto Park has a graded path wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass and six touch-activated interpretive speakers along the path.
Clam Bayou Nature Preserve Along an environmentally significant estuary of Boca Ciega Bay, Clam Bayou Nature Preserve offers well-established trails with several overlooks and a kayak launch
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