Best Dispersed Camping near Belleair Beach, FL
Dispersed camping near Belleair Beach, Florida centers primarily on boat-accessible island preserves. Shell Key Preserve and Anclote Key Preserve State Park offer primitive camping experiences on uninhabited barrier islands. Both locations require water transportation, as no land access exists. Shell Key Preserve features open camping areas with no specifically cleared sites. According to camper Elliott B., "You need to be mindful that there are lots of plants, shrubs, sticks and stones which can make being in a tent pretty rough if you don't have a good pad and a tarp to protect your tent."
Permits are mandatory for both preserves. Shell Key requires a free camping permit from Pinellas County, while Anclote Key requires advance online reservations. Both preserves operate under strict Leave No Trace principles. All supplies must be packed in and all waste packed out. Neither location provides drinking water, toilets, or trash facilities. Campers at Anclote Key report that the island "closes during bad weather not allowing visitors to stay overnight," so weather monitoring is essential.
The primitive nature of these sites demands thorough preparation. Summer brings intense mosquito activity at Anclote Key, with reviews noting "mosquitos are insane during the summer." Shell Key allows campfires on the beach except during sea turtle nesting season in summer months. Both locations offer exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities, including shorebirds, dolphins, stingrays, and sea turtles. Anclote Key encompasses four islands with over 11,000 acres of habitat and more than 40 bird species. The 1887 lighthouse on the southern end of Anclote Key serves as a historical landmark, with occasional ranger-led tours available.
