Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Sandy beaches, mangroves and palm hammocks cover Fort De Soto’s 1,136 acres, and more than 300 species of birds nest on the islands. Almost 3 million visitors head to the park annually, berthing their boats on floating docks and hiking or cycling miles of trail. The park’s two fishing piers have food concessions and bait for sale, and displays at the Quartermaster Storehouse Museum explain the history of the area, beginning with the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. A self-guided tour of the fort includes soldiers' and officers' quarters, the hospital and the bakery. The park has 3 miles of beach with two seasonally guarded swimming areas.
Each site at Fort De Soto’s 268-site campground -- connected to the East and North Beach Swim Centers by a paved, multiuse trail -- has water and electric hookups, a picnic table and grill. The campground has modern bathhouses, playgrounds, laundry facilities and dump stations for RVs. A section of the campground is pet-friendly, and a camp store sells the basics. Rates are slightly higher for sites directly on the ocean. The park reserves 10 percent of the sites for walk-in campers, but warns campers that these fill quickly on the weekend. The remainder of the sites are available by reservation. A primitive youth camp area accommodates up to 90 campers.
Campers can make a reservation by stopping by the Parks and Conservation Resources offices at 12520 Ulmerton Road in Largo, or online. The online system allows campers to choose a site and the date of the reservation before proceeding to the payment page. First-time users of the online system will need to create a PIN before paying for the campsite. Once you’ve created a PIN, you’ll use it for all future reservations. The county does not issue refunds for cancellations. Instead, campers are given a credit toward a future stay.
Hubbard’s Marian operates daily ferry service from Fort De Soto to the 400-acre Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge (fws.gov), on an island that was the site of the Fort Dade Military Reservation. Old carriage roads cross the key, passing remnants of gun batteries. Shell Key Preserve (pinellascounty.org), a collection of islands north of Fort De Soto, provides nesting habitat for shorebirds. Sections of the preserve are off limits to the public, and there are no restrooms, but sandy beaches lure sun-worshipers. Backcountry campers can pitch a tent in designated areas.