Panama City Beach's undeveloped Shell Island is a top attraction. Shell Island Ferry: Take the Shell Island Ferry to enjoy the sugar-white sandy beaches and emerald-green waters of Shell Island.


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.

Shell Island Ferry 2022


The Shell Island Ferry offers a discount of 20% off the price of each ticket for groups of 20 or more people when you pay as a group.

Shell Island Ferry 2022
Key Ferry

Key Ferry


Your Shell Key adventure begins and ends at Fort De Soto. A military outpost, Fort De Soto is Pinellas County’s most famous park. Fort De Soto Park consists of 1,136 acres spread across five interconnected island. Discover the fort, which still houses 12-inch rifled mortars along with two British breech-loading 6-inch Armstrong rapidfire gun guns. Fort De Soto has been named the #1 beach in the United States.

Shell Island Ferry Schedule


You have no time limits, but must get off the Island by the end the day. Check the Ferry schedule before purchasing your ticket.

Do you have to pay to go to Shell Island

Do you have to pay to go to Shell Island


Shell Key is also an important nature preserve. Nearly half the island is closed to visitors, giving the local seabirds and turtles access to a portion of undeveloped beach. The nature preserve is home to a lot of nesting birds as well as nesting turtles.

Shell Island Ferry 604


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

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you get there it is all worth it, as it is the most beautiful water I've ever seen. It is like you are swimming in a pool it is so crystal clear. We didn't know what to expect with this so we went planning to spend a few hours on the island. Come expecting to spend all day!

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.
 

Snorkeling is safe and easy for people of all ages. One of the best things about Shell Island is that the calm shallow water behind the jetty is the perfect place for first-time snorkelers to try the sport.

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.