Island Camping,
FYI – All camping is on the northern part of the Island only. Please carry out all you garbage and trash with you and if you need a garbage bag please call the Park @ 727-638-4447. Also, you must register in to camp.
Chris Berner
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What are the requirements for camping on the Island? Is a pass, permit or fee needed and if so where would I be able to obtain it or pay the cost? I see in the cartoon for camping there are fires, are they allowed? What type of facilities are available?
Great Questions!
There is not a fee…however, you must register to camp on the Island of Anclote Key and its counter part “North Anclote Key Sandbar” and to do that you call the Park Phone…727-638-4447 and the resident Ranger of the Island will take your info. Campfires are allowed on the beach only, away from the sand dunes unless you hear different at the time of registration. The only Facility on the Island for campers is a composting tolet, looks like a “Port-o-Let” on the very northern tip of the Island. Always remember though, camping is only allowed on the northern part of the Island and “No Dogs & No Alcohol” is allowed. State Law!
What a fantastic hidden treasure you have there on the island. No better place to watch sunrise or sunset! Thanks to the wonderful rangers and volunteers that work so hard at keeping the place just right for all of us looking for an island adventure!
I am so glad to see her all clean and brilliant, I grew up in the Holiday Tarpon area from 1970 till 1998.
One of my Favorite places to go when growing up was Anclote Island/Key affectionately known by my friends and myself as Mosquito Key, we camped a few times I recall around 1975 or 76 I slept all night in a sleeping bag on the Catwalk when the original Fresnel lens was still in place and ran on an array of small white auto parking lights on a rotating wheel that would turn when a bulb would burn out.
I weathered a midnight fog bank that left me shaking cold and wet but I thought this was a personal adventure my Mom thought it was a stupid but hey I never forgot that paint peeling tower with all the cast iron trimmings that not many folks appreciated as I found out around 1997 when a friend and I canoed from Howard park beach to the Key and found this Lighthouse in total shambles, No Fresnel lens no windows just packed with trash and burned inside it almost made us cry.
Would like to thank you all for preserving her to bad the stilt houses are gone in 1993 no name storm I survived on Green Key, but that’s another story.
Thanks for your story……that was a great adventure. If you happen to have any old photos from those days, I sure would like to see them.
Chris Berner
The Resident Ranger
Hello from Indiana! We are looking forward to another camping trip to the north end of the island next week. Any park rule changes from last spring? We will of course call to check in as we launch our boat.
Hello…we are heading there on Saturday…looks like great weather!
Hello, No rule changes. Give a call the day of departure or the day before.
Is there running water on the island? Non-potable?
Hello Kurt, Sorry…..no running water here. Primitive Camping all the way. Camping is on the northern part of the Island
No problem, just preparing. Thank for the quick reply.
We have called to let them know we were coming and no one ever got back to us. Is it still cool to go on out there?
Yes….there is still primative camping on the northern part of Anclote Key and also the Island of the North Anclote Sandbar. Call the Ranger on the departure day. No Dogs.
We will be camping there on 3/29 and 3/30/13 and will be our 1st time. Wondering where the best place to anchor and camp would be? Directly on the northern tip or somewhere on the northwest side? Will have an 18ft bay boat and have 2 kids so looking for quiet out of the way to anchor and camp and fish. Thanks!
Hi Rob, looks like I am getting back to you a little to late. It all depends on the wind and direction of the wind for anchoring your boat off shore. http://www.intellicast.com/
that is the link to check all weather including winds. Just put in the zip code for Tarpon Springs 34689 and check it all out.
Won’t be leaving until this afternoon. Thanks for the info! So basically if the winds are out of the West I wouldwant to acre on the east side of the island and vice versa? Thank you!
sorry for the spelling I am on my phone I meant anchor not a Acre.