Egmont Key State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Egmont Key State Park is a popular tourist destination located at the mouth of Tampa Bay in Florida.
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Summary
The park is only accessible by boat and offers a unique experience for visitors, as it is home to historic structures, a wildlife refuge, and stunning beaches.
One of the main reasons to visit Egmont Key State Park is to explore the remains of Fort Dade, a historic military installation from the Spanish-American War. Visitors can walk through the fort's ruins and learn about the island's role in American history.
The park also features a protected wildlife refuge that is home to a variety of bird species, sea turtles, and other marine life. Visitors can take a guided tour or explore the island on their own to see these animals in their natural habitat.
Other points of interest on the island include the Egmont Key Lighthouse, which was built in 1858, and the Quarantine Station, which was used to isolate people with contagious diseases in the early 20th century.
Interesting facts about Egmont Key State Park include that it was named after John Perceval, the second Earl of Egmont, who was a British politician and philanthropist. Additionally, during World War II, the island was used as a research and development site for the Navy.
The best time of year to visit Egmont Key State Park is during the cooler months of November through April, when temperatures are more mild and there are fewer mosquitoes. Visitors should also be aware that the island is a nesting site for sea turtles from May through October, so some areas may be restricted during this time.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
National Wildlife Refuge Egmont Key
Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge
Fort de Soto Park
Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge
Perico Preserve