Shell Island is a great spot to visit for Panama City Beach locals looking for unspoiled white sandy beaches. The island is home to a lot of beautiful beaches and tranquil waters which are perfect for snorkeling or swimming. There are many species of sea turtles, dolphins and tropical fish that can be found in the waters surrounding the island. Shell Island's interior is a great place to hike and discover unique coastal plants, birds, and wildlife communities.
Shell Key is also considered a large nature reserve. The island's nearly half is locked to guests. It allows native seabirds as well as sea turtles to have a small section of undisturbed beach. This preserve is home of many nesting birds, nesting turtles.
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.
At the southernmost tip of Panama City Beach Florida is the natural preserve St. Andrews State Park. This park includes a 7-mile-long barrier island called Shell Island. This undeveloped stretch of beach, coast scrubland, pine hammocks and white sand separates St. Andrew Bay form the open waters of Gulf of Mexico. Shell Island is a sanctuary for marine wildlife and beach-lovers who are looking to enjoy a day at the beach in a beautiful natural setting, far from the condos and resorts to the north.
Shell Island is an iconic Panama City Beach location that offers unspoiled white-sand beach fun. The island has plenty of sandy beaches, and tranquil inshore waters for great snorkeling and swimming. You will see many sea turtles and colorful tropical fish in the area. Shell Island offers a unique opportunity to discover rare coastal bird and plant species.
Shell Key offers a camping adventure for those who love to camp! All you need for an unforgettable night is a "camper" ferry tickets, a Shell Key camping permit and all your camping gear. This is an amazing opportunity to camp on a small 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.
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.
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.
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.