Nice place for people of all ages. Explore the historic side of the fort as well as the beach area. Plenty of trees to hang your hammock or take a dip in the ocean to see some tropical fish and the occasional manatee or dolphin. Very clean beach with minimal trash. Good shady spots as well as sunny ones. Typically it’s not too busy but ever since the cruise ships started coming back it’s been swamped.. for the locals I’d recommend anytime to go that cruise ships are not docked downtown 😅

BRING WATER SHOES... fully enclosed would be best... Crocs and other ones with openings will just let all the rocks in which is worse than just walking on the rocks. The rocks go about 10-15 feet out in the water as well. Basically there's no sand... Just rocks/coral of various sizes make up the beach. That being said this place is great for snorkeling and swimming. Large rock structures and a reef further out beyond them make the perfect low effort spot for snorkeling and learning to snorkel. There's chair rentals, a gift shop, and a bar/grille. Everything is expensive but we all know that's not an exception in key west. EVERYTHING IN KEY WEST IS EXPENSIVE! Beautiful sunsets here and no fighting for a view like in Mallory Square. Best beach in Key West by far! Enjoy

Very nice beach right in Key West. The place has nice facilities but nothing on the fancy side. Perfect for a family or couple time. The entrance fee for vehicles with two occupants is $7 and they accept credit cards. The cafeteria serves the typical menu of fries, sandwiches, ice cream, smoothies and all kind of beverages. They also accept credit cards in the cafeteria and restrooms and seating areas for dining is available too. Staff was very nice Expect to pay Key West prices at the cafeteria but that's everywhere in the area. The beach has areas that are covered by palms and bushes providing good shade. First come first grab. There are umbrellas for rent and a small gift shop. Would be nice if they place trash cans in the beach area. We only noticed them in the cafeteria area. Overall, a great safe place to spend time with the family while on Key West.

On the southern edge of Key West, Fort Taylor predates the Civil War and is a National Historic Monument housing the largest cache of Civil War armament in the world. Beyond its historical importance, the park is the southernmost state park in the continental United States. Walk the red-brick corridors of Fort Zachary Taylor, past cannon and gun ports, and history becomes more real than books and photos can depict. One better grasps how soldiers lived as they defended the nation’s southeastern coastline. Tour guides and interpretive panels explain how the fort played important roles in the Civil War and Spanish-American War. History is front and center the third weekend of each month as local re-enactors conduct historic demonstrations. The park also boasts Key West’s favorite beach, located at the southern end of the park, providing opportunities for picnicking, swimming, snorkeling, paddling and fishing. Had a great time walking through history. Great views and the history is amazing. Please consider liking my review and pictures and follow along on all my adventures. Get Your Adventure On!

Apparently the guided tours HAVE resumed (daily at 11AM) despite what the website currently says. That said, the fort grounds are open for explore-on-your-own adventures until 5pm daily, and that's exactly what we did (having missed the tour because we thought it wasn't a thing). I really enjoy seeing history in life like this! Came back here to the beach for sunset, which in my opinion is a much better (and, at least when we came, less crowded) venue than the more-popular Mallory Square.

After a day's long watersports with Fury in the Keys, our body wanted to go to the Hotel to catch some rest. But this being our last evening in the Keys, our mind wanted to be outdoors and catch some Sunset instead and we're glad that we listened to our mind. We were here an hour before Sunset. The beach was very calm and peaceful with very less crowd. We even took a short relaxing nap under the shades overlooking the Sea and woke up in time to view a beautiful Sunset. The beach wasn't fully Sandy. It was more like a gravel, but the water was clear. There is also a small fee to enter this area. Best visited during sunset time.

Mixed experiences. Your mileage may vary for this beach. Shores can be quite rocky, beach shoes are recommended. During the time we visited, the beach also was heavy coated in seaweed, so it was a bit smelly and unattractive. On the bright side, wild life roams this beach adding a very unique flair. It was very special to see protected Sea Turtle Nests. There are also plenty of trees lining the beach, so it is a great place to bring a hammock and set up for the day so you can swing, relax, and listen to the sound of the crashing waves. If you go in with certain expectations that this isn’t going to be a heavily commercialized white sand beach that runs for miles and miles, you should be a-okay to have a good time here. Just be aware before you go.

This was my favorite beach spot in Key West. Although there is an entrance fee (whether entering by car, bicycle or on foot) it's totally worth the price of admission. The beach offers some great spots to picnic under the shadows of the many trees just steps from the sand & water. It was surprisingly crowded for a weekday afternoon but still felt like there was plenty of room for everyone. Ample parking, a cafe, chair & umbrella rentals and easily accessible restrooms make it a perfect place to enjoy the KW beach life. Bonus points for the ability to tour the remains of Fort Zachary Taylor when you want to take a break from the 🏖️.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park encompasses a sizable area at the southwest end of Key West. The entry into the park caters to both cars and foot traffic. We entered on foot as part of a walking tour of this part of Key West. Naval Air Station property pretty much borders the State Park. Once inside, from the large parking area, you enjoy a diverse experience. Wander in and on top the remains of a moated civil war era fort that went thru renovations up through WW2. A superb beach offers fun in the sun in the shallow surf. A nature trail takes you through sub-tropical island foliage. We went on a weekday and did not find it very crowded.

Nice historic fort, laid back stroll, nice to stretch your legs out, couple of stairs, but not too bad for small children. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on with the gorgeous view by the beach.

Well, here are two things to keep in mind. First is the visit to the fort, which is inside the park. If you want to be well informed, there is a very efficient guide who will explain everything to you. Second, the beach area, which is also inside the park. Is beautiful. with everything, picnic, barbecues, toilets, there is a small bar with food and drinks, you can rent sunbeds if you prefer. It is perfect to spend the whole day, the beach offers the possibility of snorkelling, there are also fishing areas. We paid $7 for two people and a car…there is plenty of parking. It is definitely the best we have seen in Key West and if you are in the area you cannot miss this stop. Come prepared with everything because you will want to stay all day.

Amazing place to visit! There is an entry fee per vehicle, but it's around $7. Large section of beach for swimming and another side where there are lots of boats, including sailboats to watch. There are clean bathrooms and a small place to grab light snacks & drinks. If you'd rather walk, there are also a selection of hiking/walking trails. Definitely recommend checking them out!

Fort Zachary Beach access is about 2.50 per person. We took a Taxi into the park no problem. Uber were there as well. About the same price for both. The beach as rental chairs and umbrellas but there are several free picnic tables in the shade if you prefer. The beach had sand but very rocky as seen in my photos. Water very warm and lots of snorkeling. Has restrooms (free) eatery that serves alcohol at good prices. One of the better beaches near the Port.

Great Place. Nice hidden gem. The fort was amazing and fun to see. The beach area was very rocky but got to see a bit of fish snorkeling out by the bigger rocks. The sunset here on the eve of my 40th birthday was just beautiful. I'd like to return sometime.

Such a wonderful state park to spend the day on the beach just off the Pacific Ocean. Warm water, picnic tables, and public grills are everywhere. We warmed the beach is not “sandy” but more crushed rocks and shells. Very nice to site on or if planning to walk bring water shoes. The park rangers so kick everyone out right at sundown so be prepared to leave and take everything your brought in with you back out again. There are no garbage cans in the park.

Very beautiful scenery & the fort is so mesmerizing! There’s a beach and trails. Parking is $7. You can see all the boats out & cruise liners. Great place to enjoy nature! Must visit!

Best part of Key West. Everything else was way too crowded and nowhere to park. The water is absolutely beautiful and the history is so cool. Do yourself a favor and come here instead of standing in line for hours to take a picture with a buoy!

Nice picnic area. You pay $7.50 (as of March 2022)for parking for the day. You can come and go all day long with your car but you are not allowed to leave your vehicle parked and leave the park to go explore Key West. I thought that Fort Zachary was the best place to get my sunset picture. This a pretty place to bring the family for a picnic.

This is very close from downtown key west. They have an entry fee for all the visitors but the beach is very clean. Water is amazing crystal clear blue. Some parts of the beach have lots of small rocks so we were not able to enjoy the water that much. Overall it's a nice clean area for family to enjoy.

Nice park and beach with minor hiking trails to explore. Definitely would return! A lot of history here as well. Worth the visit. They also have food and drinks for purchase here.

This was a great place to visit. The Fort was very interesting. There were a lot of artifacts on-site, in particular, many historic cannons. The signs and exhibits were also very interesting. The surrounding park was nice for bicycle riding. The beach was also nice and scenic.

Visited the fort itself. Started the guided tour, but left after the very long intro, which was informative about the basics. Nothing too special to see about the fort. Saw some wildlife. Went to the beach afterwards, which had a great view. Note: if you want to walk along the beach, I would suggest wearing sandals or water socks as there are a lot of small rocks. It's not soft sand. Returned later in the evening to watch the sunset, which was great. Not crowded or noisy at all like I've heard Mallory Square can be.

Visit the beach and/or Fort. The history is interesting to learn about and the beach has wonderful views. We were there at sunset and got a beautiful color show. There is people that were cooking out and others that were taking engagement photos. Definitely a place to visit while on the island.

Definitely worth a visit if you're in Key West. If not for the fort, for the beautiful beach. My wife and I drove in, and I think the cost was about $7. There is a cost regardless of how you enter, but nominal. The fort is awesome! Great tidbits of history. Awesome views, both inside and on top of the fort. The beach is beautiful, but a little rocky/Shelly, so I'd take water shoes or something to make walking near the water more comfortable. It looks like they're extending the beach too, which might help with cruises. It's not a big beach, so I imagine it can get crowded with a cruise ship in Port. There's also a short nature trail, but when we went, it was mostly closed for renovation

Another must see site here in Key West. Our Tour Guide was Charlotte Strickland and she was excellent and had a full history of the Fort and it's use over several wars that involved the United States, starting with the Civil War. All of the Civil War Guns are authentic to the Fort, and the history of how they were discovered buried around the Fort is pretty unique. They only do the Guided Tour once a day, at 11:00 AM, so don't miss it, give yourself some extra time to drive in because mostly like there will be some length of line to pay and enter. The cost to drive in is between $5-$10 depending on how many people are on your car. Walk-ins are only $1.00 and those on a bike, $2.00. The best part is you can use the parking ticket all day, so you can come back later and catch beautiful sunsets like we did overlooking the ocean. After the Tour which was about 60 minutes we walked over to the Beach Cafe and had Lunch overlooking the Ocean Front. Good service and food at the Cafe, plus Beer and Wine. Oh, did I forget to mention that the fee included access to the State Park and awesome Beach, the Southern Most Beach in the United States. This is a complete win for anyone who comes to Key West, history, cool beach, most beautiful water, a State Park with benches and shady areas to enjoy the day, and awesome sunsets that you will always remember. Highly recommended!!!

Very friendly and helpful staff. The ruins are really neat with an awesome view of the ocean and gulf. We have a lifetime veteran access to Florida state parks so there was no cost. I believe that it is $8 per vehicle. Check out their website for updated pricing.

Absolutely fascinating. There is one guided tour a day. Time your visit to include it. The stories of the fort are so much more interesting than just looking at bricks and concrete. Although, looking at the bricks and concrete is still educational and interesting. It’s a most visit if you find yourself in Key West.

I think I would have enjoyed it more if we had a ranger tour but we went later in the day and they didn’t have any. Definitely not like Fort De Soto you couldn’t go in the fort everything was locked up you could walk around it or go up top.

Able to see the history and how things were made and done. I do suggest putting in some sunscreen and a bottled water. The children were interested more in the canons than anything else.

Beautiful natural beach, lots of trees close to the water, also you can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas from the state park which is unusual. Look for iguanas and pelicans.

Nice beach in the Fort Zachary Taylor park. The atmosphere is comfortable and family friendly. People playing music is kept at comfortable levels not like in Miami which is pretty loud, LOL The beach is clean and tidy. One big warning however, the entrance into the water is very rocky. I highly recommend aqua shoes or some type of protection for your feet. The water is fairly clear depending on weather conditions. There are umbrella and beach chair rentals available. There are public showers and rinse stations. Public restrooms available. There is a cafeteria available with outdoor seating. The parking is pretty plentiful but arrive early just in case. There is also lots of shady areas under trees. Picnic tables available first come , first served.

Beautiful park and beach ⛱️ . No need to bring umbrella 🏖️ or beach ⛱️ chairs as they're rentals, They also rent water sports. White convenient. There's also plenty of space and some grills available

Paid $9 for my car with 6 people to get in. The fort was not impressive like others I have visited. Many cannons were removed There is a beach next to it if you want to cool off. Don't visit the fort in afternoon during Summer. Too hot to enjoy it.

Absolutely loved this place during our stay! The fort and beach were so nice, beach did not have much seaweed at all and we loved that there’s a little snack shop and restroom as well as the picnic area…this was the perfect place to watch the sunset, I’d recommend watching from here much more than a very crowded Mallory square…I recommend this for anyone wanting to experience a nice beach in key west.

$2.50 pp. So much history within. Reading points everywhere. Historic landmark with beautiful scenery which I highly recommend. Definitely make your way here. The nature aspect is very nice. Public bathrooms available. Highly recommend.

Clean beach. Reasonable rental prices on snorkeling gear. I paid $19.99 for an all-day rental of a snorkel and goggles. The living coral reef is about 150' from shore. I saw some Atlantic sting rays, parrot fish, trigger fish, and a lion fish! Was an amazing experience. Went mid-April, so there weren't that many people. Definitely recommend it for a family beach day. There is a small food stand, bathrooms and beach showers.

Clean and cosy hotel. The staff is super efficient and at the same time very friendly and always available for any kind of need. The food is always fresh and of excellent quality, it is hard to give up or finish everything on the menu. The restaurant is very well located and you can reach several places. That said the invitation to those who read these reviews is requested to go as soon as possible because the value for money is unparalleled.Happy holidays to all

Lovely and beautiful place. Great place for picnics, awesome snorkeling, where you can spend all day making great barbecue, no beach activities, you have to bring everything. Bathrooms are far from beach. Great place to relax.

Great beach. Warm, sunny. The reef rocks have ton of fish. An awesome snorkeling experience. Even saw a stingray! Only thing to be aware of is that it's a bit rocky. If you have sensitive feet, bring water shoes.

Loved our beach day here. We did some snorkelling, there is a lot of fish to see. The water was amazing and the beach wasnt too crowded. The water is deep so I would recommend lifejackets if you are not good at swimming. The beach is a little stoney so i recommend water shoes. There is a resturant where you can get pizzas. The pizzas we got were small and tasted alright

Fort Zachary is full of history and interesting artifacts. One of the smaller domestic mid-19th century forts to defend the southeast coast. Impressive construction and engineering. Take your time as you stroll along the fort and walls. Some areas around the fort are unkept so be careful in your steps. Take time to walk over to the beach and the other sections of the park. Key West's best beach is right next door. Make it a day trip. See the fort, swim, picnic, paddle, fish or simply do nothing on the beach. When we were there in early May, it was not busy and the folks on the beach were kind and enjoying the beautiful water. There is a concession stand and easy access restrooms. There is a $6 entry fee per vehicle. The park opens at 8am. BRAVO Key West for having this gem available to the public. Highly recommended.

We enjoyed our visit to this state park. Interesting civil-war era fort, although not as awe-inspiring as Fort Jefferson on Dry Tortugous. We enjoyed swimming in the clean clear water of the beach here, although it does tend to fill up pretty fast in the afternoon.

Loved this place! One of the few places on the island with some trains through the trees, more shade than other places. Fort was actually very interesting, yet quick to tour. Hope they maintain it. Water from vending machines was not too cold, so maybe bring your own. Cafe at the beach doesn’t have the best of things around to offer, but at least there’s something there. Quite a walk to get in and out of.

MUST SEE! Beautiful park, we rode our bikes in so peaceful. Beach is immaculate, water so warm and clear definitely rent snorkels and fins it’s worth it. Saw so many fish. Lots of shade on the beach. We returned for sunset and saw the best sunset ever. It wasn’t crowded. Definitely beats Mallory square!

Nice trails and touring the fort was cool. The beach was beautiful. We enjoyed swimming for a couple of hours. The snack bar has a good variety of food. There are no trash cans, other than for recyclables - be prepared to take away any trash you bring in.

This park was a very nice place to check out. We were able to bicycle over and able tp walk around and check it out. Definitely a place you wanna see when its not too hot out. The beach was good also and has outdoor showers. Recommend wearing water shows due to rocks and shells.

Historic park with coral white beaches. A lovely place to watch the sunset over water. Really nice staff and reasonable price ($5 for two people on bikes) for access to everything on the park

EDGE OF THE WORLD BEAUTIFUL even between storms with stronger winds & currents. We kept a good watch on our kids staying primarily to the beach, as few tourists ventured more than knee deep into the water. Instead we observed and respected the churned up nature left with higher tides upon the beach--salty shells in abundance for little ones to see, smell & touch. The damp heavy sand was perfect for packing sand castles. Word of caution, practice caution in good weather with this beach, and consider avoiding this location if you're a traveler unfamiliar with coasts, rip tides, or tots that abound in water curiosity and less swim experience. Very little parking, on street or in paid parking lot. Hidden behind a quaint unexpected neighborhood. We arrived just after opening... 40 minute car line to enter the park.

The best snorkeling my family ever experienced. Of course none of us ever have. Really cool place and because the only way to get there is either by two and a half hour ferry ride or pontoon plane it's never crowded. Although we didn't partake, there is camping on the island. So bring your snorkeling gear and your sunscreen, and if you forget your snorkeling gear they have rentals. Enjoy

Perfect day for beach lovers! I can hang out here all day and enjoy the sceneries.. During the sunset, my husband and I saw a Monterey jump out from the water. It was priceless plus another big fish just happen to hop out. It seems like more but not less 10lbs.. It's huge! Sunset is amazing today and we are coming back tomorrow!

Definitely worth exploring and hitting the beach if not too crowded. Key West is limited at times on things to simply relax and do so this park has many things to enjoy during the day. Take in the fort and walk the beach