Caladesi Island State Park
Would you like to have the unique adventure of exploring the Caladesi Island State Park located on an unspoiled paradise of an island that is accessible only by a 20-minute ferry trip from Honeymoon Island? That Caladesi Island is located in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida’s Gulf Coast across St. Joseph Sound west of Dunedin and north of Clearwater Beach. Voted one of the top beaches by Trip Advisor, a walk on its pristine shores is well worth the trip!
Photo credit floridastateparks.org.
Entry to the park is only $6.00 per boat of up to eight people. You can enjoy pristine beaches and its dunes and palm trees, take a rented kayak or sailboat trip through a mangrove forest, walk through native trails and near the ocean, see the historic Scharrer Homestead, see wildlife including sea turtles and gopher tortoises, go fishing or shell collecting, enjoy a picnic, make use of a designated dog beach, and other memorable experiences. Boat camping is available in the marina for boats up to 40′.
The Caladesi Island Marina. Photo credit floridastateparks.org.
If RV camping is what you prefer to do, you can find RV, tent and cabin sites at these locations within a 50-mile drive:
- Hillsborough River State Park
- Little Manatee River State Park
- Alafia River State Park
Activities and attractions in and around Dunedin
Dunedin is Pinellas County’s fifth-largest city. The name comes from Dùn Èideann, which is the Scottish Gaelic name given to Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital. There is something there for everyone. Enjoy white sand beaches, attractions and theme parks, restaurants with outstanding local cuisine, shops filled with unique gift items, free Wi-Fi downtown, hiking, bird watching, picnic areas, a playground, and more.
The Dunedin Fine Art Center/David L. Mason Children’s Museum features changing art exhibits and making art fun for the children with interactive hands-on experiences. The Dunedin Historical Society is a window into the past with historical exhibits featuring local history and “Granny’s Closet,” a trip through a time of remembered toys.
The Dunedin’s Kiwanis Sprayground is a FREE water activity to delight the little ones. This children’s water playground is open daily from 9:00 AM to sunset and is filled with action-packed water features from a variety of whimsical devices. The main attractions is “Nessie,” Dunedin’s version of the Loch Ness Monster, that has multiple sprays and an aqua run slide. There are more than 3,000 square feet of a play area with a non-slip surface and which is ADA accessible.
The 34-mile Pinellas Trail gives the opportunity to walk, jog, bike, or rollerblade through the heart of Dunedin, and the downtown surrounds the Trail. The Rails to Trails program gave the area’s former railways new life. The Dunedin Chamber has a Pinellas Trail map, or you can visit the Guide to the Pinellas Trail.
For more information
Boat Camping reservations can be made from one day to 11 months in advance can be made by calling toll free at 1-800-326-3521 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. EST, or by going online to ReserveAmerica. The spots are very limited, however, so if you plan on boat camping on the island, make sure to plan well in advance.
For more information on the park amenities, please visit the Caladesi Island State Park page on floridastateparks.org or call 727.469.5918.
