Quiet and Secluded is the best way to describe Caladesi Island. You have to pay to take a ferry from the park to land on the island, however it is worth it. There is so much live shell fish on the island that I recommend you stand on the beach and watch the sand under your feet. There is a store on the island that sells food, drinks, and items you might have forgotten at home. There are covered picnic tables for those that prefer to bring lunch. The beach is miles long with white fine soft sand...ENJOY!!

The ferry from honeymoon island leaves every hour on the hour starting at 10 a.m. it was around $50 for 2 adults and 2 kids. It's about a 15 minute boat ride, and the crew gives some history on the ride which was really nice. Your ticket has a specific return time 4 hours from when you arrive. They said you can leave earlier, but only if there is space available. They seemed full when we went on a weekday, so anticipate staying the full 4 hours. There is a little grill/gift shop as you pull in to the marina. They sell food, ice cream, beer(but any beer must be consumed at the grill area). There are bathrooms there but only 2, so keep going another 100 yards toward beach, where there are 2 more bathroom facilities with many stalls in each. Just a few more steps down the boardwalk to the beach and it is beautiful. Tons of shells, you are able to take a many as you would like as long as there are no live critters in them. There is a nature path on the interior of the island, but be warned it is buggy. Bring bug spray or buy some at the gift shop if you plan on hiking. There were not any mosquitoes in the beach or by the marina, not sure if that is normally the case. It was a relaxing way to spend a few hours, we packed lunches, but you could bring a beach chair, etc if you wanted. They also had rental items at the gift shop such as chairs. It felt tropical, quiet and remote while really only being a boat hop away from everything.

Lots of mosquitoes 🦟 waiting in the mangroves for the ⛴️ ferry. Bring bug screen. Beach was lovely. Not crowded at all. They're the lovely breeze that day but it was hot. Hope you're from out of state. Definitely need 50 SPF or higher every 30 to 40 minutes. Head south to collect sand dollars in North to collect more shells. Staff were very helpful. Beach chairs were $35 plus tax. No pets allowed at this beach island.

The island was absolutely beautiful. We went on a Saturday, took a ferry from Honeymoon State Park, and in 15 minutes got to this beautiful place. The fairy price was $16 per person, and kids have to pay too (not sure how much). You are allowed to stay on the island for 4 hours. There are tables in the park, bathrooms, and a convenience store. Remember to take your beach umbrellas as there is no shade at all. You can also rent umbrellas and chairs for $35. The water is very transparent so I recommend taking your snorkel.

Best beach ever. I can't believe I have been here all this time and never been. This is my new favorite place to go. The most beautiful sugar sand you could ever see. The wife and I will definitely be returning here as much as we possibly can. The ferry guys are great and very knowledgeable about the area, and they are packed full of dad jokes. No joke that this place is amazing though. If you have never been you have got to put this on your bucket list, either with the whole family or alone. The solitude is bar none the best around. We stayed the entire day and caught the last ferry ride at 5, didn't really wanna leave and I'm sure you won't either.If you do decide to make the journey make sure you go to Honeymoon island and don't go the way the map will take you to Clearwater beach unless you want to make the mile long walk. The street is blocked off and has been that way since 1984 or something like that. Catch the Ferry and let them take you across. It's much easier and you won't loose any time like I did. Make sure to leave it the way you found it and don't take anything but pictures and leave nothing but footprints. They have public restrooms, concession stands, a great playground, it's a dog friendly park, and they have wonderful picnic areas. You can even throw birthday parties there. Get the whole crew together and make a whole day of it. I'm positive you won't want to leave either. Tell em Clearwater Q sent you. They might look at you funny though. Just look funny back. That's how you get the special package deal. Watch out for the rattle snakes and if you go on the nature trails bring plenty of bug repellent cause the mosquitoes are hungry and they might fly away with you, or try to cover every inch of you to protect you from the sun. Your gonna love this place trust me.

Beautiful 😍 18 dollars a piece for the ferry totally worth it. Go early enjoy the whole day! We saw a ton of different birds turtles shells and and a couple dolphins right off the shore right before we left. Can't wait to go back. ⛱️💕

This gorgeous island is part of honeymoon island park and it is worth every penny to take the ferry. The prices are $18 for adults and $9 for kids. Once you get down into the preserve, there are nature walks, clean bathrooms, and a beach which is very popular for shelling. The beach is a white sand beach and it has a bucket for toys for kids so they can use it for the day and return them afterwards!

Beautiful natural beach with soft white sand. The ferry ride is a highlight to the beach. While Honeymoon was super crowded. Caladesi was practically desolate. 3 miles of beach you will have mostly to yourself. There is a store near the dock that offers food and refreshment including beer and frozen cocktails. Perfect for after a hot day at the beach. They also have souvenirs. Don't miss out on visiting Caladesi Beach and nature trails. Kayak rentals are available.

It was a lovely beach, and we enjoyed collecting seashells and watching the wildlife. The ferry ride was fun too.

It's beautiful and the water is so warm. The ferry ride was fun, and I liked that the captain told jokes and provided us with some history about the island and what we saw along the way. I didn't see any dolphins, but a manatee swam right by us as we played in the water! It's a nice little nature walk to the beach once you get off of the ferry, so I suggest bug spray because you will be bitten.

We decided to walk from our hotel to the State Park, we found so many hidden gems and private beaches along the way. The mangrove seashell trees were so cool. We found a hut shelter by the beach we hung out in for awhile. We had lunch in the state parks cafe. We checked out a nature hike and then made it back to our hotel by sunset. Absolutely recommend checking out for the day!

Entrance Fee: $16 ferry ride from Honeymoon State Park, $4 for single person vehicle parking, $8 for 2 or more. Basic Needs: Once on the island, there are plenty of water fountains, restrooms, and they have a cafe. How well-maintained: Very well maintained, i saw a frequent number of park rangers cleaning up some trash on the beach, and the trails had little/no tree limbs or anything like that on them. Amount of people: Since it is an island, I only saw a handful of people on my visit even on the beach. How quiet it is: Very quiet and peaceful. Unique: Its an island, and the ruins were quiet interesting. There were a lot of cool shells on the beach. place/trails size: Trails were very easy to travel on and long. The beach was also very long and accommodating for people who want to be alone on the beach. Seating: Lots of benchs on the trail and near the beach. Whats allowed: Pets are not allowed on the beach, not sure about the trails. Bugs: I would reccommend bringing bug spray, I got bit quiet a lot, not mych on the beach though. Amenities: Boardwalk, cafe, boat/kayak docks, rentals, trails, etc. Overall opinion: Very beautiful, water was gorgeous and warm, trails are well kept and a nice walk. Only thing i would've liked is a tower for the public to look out on the ocean but it was still a. very good visit.

If you are debating this beach verses Honeymoon this is the one to visit. It's a better experience here on Caladesi. The beach is smoother and quiet. They have facilities here. The only issue is paying $16 per person on the ferry or taking the long kayaking trip. Bigger picture though... This beach isn't much different than most of the island chain south of here. If you find a town that's less busy, the beach and water are the same. It's not much different.

Went here for the beach. You can take a ferry or a boat. The ferry costs $16 for an adult and $8 for a child. After 15-20 minutes you arrive in the park in front of a store. You walk to the right and you'll see a paved road to the beach. There are changing rooms directly ahead and you go through them to get to the beach. If you want the best shells, you come to the beach and walk to your right to the northern tipof the island.

Reviews and websites make you think so much more than what this beach is. But spending $80 for a family of four to get to it is ridiculous in my opinion. The beach literally looks like any other beach that you can find free parking at by going to a public etc. not trying to sound negative just trying to help other tourists with the real info. It looked a lot like sand key beach honestly! Sand key was so much more spectacular! Very beautiful but not for $80

Beautiful beach. You have to take a ferry across to the island. The shelling here was awesome. You can rent chairs and umbrellas and there’s also a restaurant and small gift shop. We really enjoyed ourselves here.

Beautiful island with white sandy beaches.The water is very clear too.Turtle and other wildlife including rattlesnakes but we never seen any thankfully. The only way to get there is to take the ferry,a 20 minute trip,from Honeymoon Island State Park.On the ferry trip we got to see a couple of playful dolphins A snack shack with small gift shop on Caladesi Island.

Had a great ferry ride to and from the island. Stayed the whole 4 hours. Beautiful wild life and quiet beach.

Beautiful area for a romantic date, relaxation. The ferry is amazing the guys that run it are awesome, so friendly, and hilarious. We saw two dolphins on ferry home. Beach is just a regular beach just with less people better waves and more shells. White sands

This place is a gem. You can get here on the ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park or on your own boat/kayak. The marina for the island is accessed on the east side of the island. The beach is first class here. There is a nice beach house to change clothes. Plenty of nature trails to explore and kayak trails too. The island also has a cafe that serves lunch. You can also rent chairs and umbrellas on the beach, so don't feel like you have to haul everything with you. Like all state parks alcohol is prohibited on the property. You can have alcohol on your boat in the marina, but you can't bring it off the boat/dock area.

This state park is magical. The staff were cheerful, the boat drivers seemed to love their job if you take the ferry. The food options are simple but taste good.

Beautiful beach. Ferry ride was enjoyable...even saw a dolphin as we arrived. The ferry drivers were so personable and the beach was gorgeous - great bath houses too

Beach is full of shells, beautiful view across the bay. Clean bathrooms and outside showers. Wild armadillos on the island.

Fantastic location to get away from people. This state-owned property charges to park and to ride the ferry, but it's well worth it. The hiking trail is wonderful, but watch for rattlesnakes! Lots of nature during the novice 2.5 mile hike. Or just enjoy the beach if hiking isn't your thing. Only downside is this is not really handicap friendly.

Loved taking the ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park to Caladesi Island State Park. We saw dolphins on the boat ride there! The water is so clear and pretty at Caladesi! Bring lots of sunscreen, hats, umbrella, and cooler with snacks and water. It is hot and there is no shade on the beach. The island does have picnic shelters and bathrooms with outdoor showers. You only get to stay on the island for 4 hours.

This island is a gorgeous, secluded paradise! It is a much needed break from the business of Clearwater Beach. Many birds and sand dollars, no thongs or alcohol!

This is a hidden gem for outdoorsy folk. Although it looks populated and busy on the way in, you will be transported to a private island via kayak or ferry. Something I wish I would have known is that the kayaks & the ferry do not go to the same part of the island. We had planned our whole trip around the idea that half of our party would kayak. The others ride to the island by ferry, with picnic food, intending to meet for lunch. Oops 🤫😬 got a video of a dolphin from the boat 🌊

It's a beautiful place. Take the ferry from Honeymoon island. It's a 10-15 min ride.

Really enjoyed our time here. Facilities were clean. Staff on the shuttle boat were very friendly.

Great place to shell hunt

Love this place. We go by private boat but you can get there by ferry. It's such a great place to spend the day. Clean beach, nive boat slips for big and small vessels. Restrooms and showers and a concession stand too. No matter how you get there it is worth the trip.

Beautiful Island and beach.

Wide expanse of sugar white beach fringed by vegitation Sand bars with shallow water for wading. Plethora of marine birds Crystal clear water Shells strewing the shore. Quicence. Civilization absent and irrelevant.

Wonderful hidden paradise. About as exclusive as it gets for a public beach. Clean facilities and great trails. Highly recommend.

Oh my gosh, Caladesi is so beautiful. I’m not sure I could properly formulate the words to adequately describe how lovely it is here. You’ll find absolutely pristine white sands + bright blue water. I love that there is also a sense that parts of this island are untouched when you visit. What I mean by this is: MINIMAL tourist presence (at least when I visited), which was awesome. It really offered a sense that you had the expanse of this land to yourself. So quiet, so calm. A real island experience.

This place is awesome, lots of smaller shells, really long beach, water looks great, just the right temperature. They do have umbrellas and chairs for rent, along with shower and a small food stand. It's 18 bucks per adult for the ferry ride which takes 20 minutes or so. This a great and easy one day adventure that's a must do if you're in the area.

The water is wonderful and there are a lot of big shells. My friend and I didn't have luck with that but our other friend seemed to be the one to find all of them and they were great! These are pics from our friend.

That's really a blessed place. Water is crystal clear. We took the boat from honeymoon, 18 bucks each, both captains were nice guys. I did not saw a timetable. I guess they run the transfer boat evey hour o clock. Go there with your chairs and sunshade, or pay 40 bucks to rent. We found an armadillo in the trail. If you are lucky maybe you find a rattlesnake. Restrooms are very good, clean, nothing to complain. Showers are there too. There's a small place for buying food as well. Our afternoon stay was very pleasant. Beach was not crowded.

I thought this was a great state park. Tough to get to but the ferry ride is a neat experience. The island wasn't packed with people and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Well kept trails and lots of different shells to pick from. Suggest bringing a bag if you'd like to collect any. You can walk to the north end of the island and see Honeymoon Island nearby.

It was worth the trip!

Very pretty...we walked the whole beach on the caladesi island and collected sooo many conch shells and starfish etc. You can collect and bring back as many as you want but they should all be dead, so it was an amazing time..the beach was white sand like Clearwater and the water was clean and beautiful.

(Translated by Google) An excellent place to enjoy the Mar del Golfo crystal clear waters. An excellent place to enjoy the crystal clear waters of the Gulf Sea. (Original) Un excelente lugar para difrutar del las aguas critalinas Mar del Golfo. An excellent place to enjoy the crystal clear waters of the Gulf Sea.

They require us to pay for the ferry ride but it was worth it. On the beach they rented us umbrellas/chairs for $30. They were also renting kayaks and paddleboards but the water was choppy and could flip a kayak over — The floor of the beach was full of shells and they warned us about manta rays in the sands which prevented me from going into the water.

Natural beach, beautiful sand, lots of shells, very few people, easy waves, beautiful views, great wildlife if you look for it. This is my #1 Beach in the USA! Bring your beach umbrella, beach chairs, packed lunch and you are in paradise! My teenage son and teenage nephew loved it as well.

Great place - friendly rangers.

Beautiful. Amenities are good. Enjoy while the crowds are being kept down.

Had a great time! Worth the extra money to take a trip out to the island.

(Translated by Google) Very quiet and peaceful in addition to its view (Original) Muy tranquilo y Pacífico además de su vista

Great place for the family and to escape the huge crowds

Nice island of the coast of Florida. We actually walked from the northern tip of clearwater to caladesi during low ride and only hadtoger in water to our knees once along the way. However it was about a 2 mile hile one way. Just as beautiful as clearwater. The shell trees were a cool sight. Boats hang out here just off the shore.

Great adventure..prepare to walk...you can be by yourself in you own spot...ride there is an adventure in itself..don't go on the nature trail...rathlesnakes and mosquitoes!!!

Very pretty place. Still natural and pristine. Beach is very white sand and plenty of space to not feel crowded. You need to take your boat or ferry to get here. Has a small shop and grill for food and drink. Restrooms are like other state parks; good enough for what you need.

$8 to get into Honeymoon Island Park and then $16 a person to get to the Island. Worth it! Amazing and friendly people working and answering any questions you may have. There is a gift shop and place to buy food on the island as well.

Absolutely beautiful park. A lots of wildlife, shells and coral.

Good beach, decently sized waves and not too rocky. Not many places for shade though but umbrellas are for rent.

Beautiful location with plenty to offer. Everything was very maintained, and easy to navigate. Will be returning

Amazing and beautiful beach.Easy access, super organized, good service and friendliness in transportation an excellent experience. It is a short and enjoyable trip, once you get to the island everything is very careful. This place is a small hidden paradise of clear waters that everyone should visit.They have all the facilities, such as showers, bathrooms, convenience store and all are in excellent condition. I insist if you visit Pinellas county you should enjoy this experience.

A beautiful natural Florida beach only accessible by boat. The way to beat the crowds and enjoy a real beach.

A great place to park your yacht and enjoy a sunny day exploring this island. Nice to get away spot. Bring bikes and kayaks

Beautiful beach..white sand and plenty of seashells 🌴🌞🐚

Nice and clean. Not over crowded.

Always beautiful. Great park staff.

Beautiful beach!!

The most beautiful, peaceful, and clean beach I have visited throughout my travels so far. Jerry, the Ferryboat tour guide, was extremely passionate about the wildlife and environment, and everyone who ran the state park were very nice and knowledgeable. Definitely a local gem that I have to visit again.

Beautiful !

Island was cool lots of shells and tortoises.

One of my favorite places on the Gulf side of Florida to find sand dollars.....clean, beautiful and quiet....

Beach is okay. Best part is the ferry from honeymoon island to Caladesi island

Beautiful Island! We took the ferry from Honeymoon Island over at 10 am and caught the 1:30 ferry back (after having a pretty good burger at the cafe). We went for the purpose of finding shells, and WE DID! Head to the beach from the ferry dock (about a four minute walk), then turn right and head north. Shells upon shells upon shells! There's a great display of the types of shells by the dock, so you can ID what you find!

Beautiful place to take a walk on the beach.

A great experience!

Awesome.

A very nice trip on the ferry. We were the only three tourists on the island initially.

Nice spot too social distance