Reaching Anclote Key requires a boat. That single fact shapes everything about camping here: the self-sufficiency required, the crowd patterns, and the way the island feels after day visitors motor back to the mainland. This free, primitive campground sits within Anclote Key Preserve State Park, a cluster of four islands off the Gulf Coast near Dunedin, and campers set up wherever they find a suitable spot among the dunes and coastal scrub near the 1887 lighthouse.
Day use brings boats and beachgoers, but by late afternoon the island clears out. Reviewers consistently note that overnight campers often have the place largely to themselves once the sun drops lower. The park spans over 11,000 acres and supports more than 40 bird species, so shorebirds are a constant presence. Raccoons are active at night and have been known to raid unsecured gear, so stashing food on an anchored boat offshore is one strategy campers have used. Mosquitoes can be severe in summer months, while October visitors report far fewer insects.
Pack-in, pack-out rules apply strictly here. There are no water sources on the island, no showers, and human waste must be buried. Jeanene A. notes that "everything you bring on the island must be taken off with you." Dogs are permitted only on North Anclote Bar. Ferry services do not accommodate overnight campers, so a kayak, motorboat, or other personal watercraft is required. Campers kayaking from the area can find places to camp near Anclote Key Preserve State Park if weather or tides make the crossing inadvisable. Reservations are required in advance and the park closes to overnight visitors during bad weather, so check conditions before launching.
Description
Enjoy the blue-green Gulf of Mexico waters that lap gently along the sandy beaches of the four islands that make up Anclote Key Preserve State Park - Anclote Key, North Anclote Bar, South Anclote Bar and Three Rooker Island.
The 11,773-acre park is home to at least 43 species of birds, including the American oystercatcher, bald eagle and piping plover.
A picturesque 1887 lighthouse stands as a sentinel on the southern end of the island. Visitors can swim and sunbathe at the beach, fire up a grill and enjoy a picnic, or pitch a tent and enjoy a night of primitive camping under the stars.
Primitive camping is permitted on the very north end of Anclote Key. There is a compostable toilet for use in that area.
There is no water or any other amenities, so you will have to bring everything that you need.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsAnclote Key Preserve State Park Campground is located in Florida near Holiday
Directions
Ferry services do not drop off visitors for overnight camping. You must have your own transportation to stay overnight. Dogs are allowed only on North Anclote Bar.
Coordinates
28.21285526 N
82.84482818 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage
Verizon5GGood Coverage- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- Verizon5GGood Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Dispersed
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Toilets
- Fires
DISPERSED CAMPING
Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Anclote Key Preserve State Park Campground needs a permit.
Contact
General Info
Reservations
Drive Time
- 43 min from Tampa, FL
- 1 hr from Homosassa Springs, FL
- 1 hr 12 min from Lakeland, FL
