Fort DeSoto Fishing Piers are accessible during regular park hours, 7:00 am to Sunset.

Fort De Soto Entrance Sign

Welcome to the Friends of Fort De Soto Website

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide community support for the preservation and improvement of Fort De Soto Park, through financial contributions as well as volunteer efforts.

Our focus is to promote public awareness of Fort De Soto Park, its special environment and facilities, and through improved communication and special projects to bring about an awareness of the need for historical and environmental preservation and conservation.

Fort De Soto Park is a breathtakingly beautiful group of small islands in the Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of Tampa Bay. We want to share its beauty and history with fans around the world. Join us!

Visit Fort De Soto

  • Enjoy a picnic, walk the beach or go for a swim
  • Visit the Historic Fort
  • Bring your dog and visit the Dog Beach
  • Go birding!
  • Camp at Fort De Soto
  • Fish at the Bay or Gulf Piers

  • The Park has four beach accessible wheel chairs that are free to use.

  • The Park now has new electric car charging stations located at the Gulf Pier.

Fort De Soto County Park now has new electric car charging stations located at the Gulf Pier.

These parking areas are for charging electric vehicles only, please do not park in them if you are not charging a vehicle.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Memorial Bricks Fort De Soto close up

Honor your loved ones with a Memorial Brick. To help pave the way for enhanced Park projects and be a part of history, your commemorative brick will be placed at the base of the American flag which waves day and night at the entrance to the Park. Sizes are 4 by 8 and 8 by 8 with text.

Click here to order your Memorial Brick.

Sec. 90-7. – Activities within county-owned or managed lands.

· (q) Aircraft. No person operating, directing, or responsible for any airplane, helicopter, drone, glider, hang glider, hot air balloon, dirigible, parachute or other aerial apparatus, including those radio controlled or otherwise unmanned, shall take off from or land in or on any county-owned or managed land, except for purposes of public safety or where written permission has been obtained from the administrator or designee.

Contact PC office 727-582-2100 for additional info.

Fort De Soto County Park is a No Drone Zone

What Our Visitors Are Saying

We have had two perfect days here.

The rangers are incredibly helpful and kind. She brought us a beach wheelchair to shelter 5 for my mother to use.

I’ve been to beaches all over the world but this place was by far one of the best – due to staff as well as the beach itself!

Courtney Stocker

Fort Desoto park gives folks the chance to camp close to the best beach in the United States. That way you don’t waste time every day driving there. Staff is great. Thanks Fort Desoto park folks!

Melanie Moore

Beautiful place, we went there as a church group to baptize our members. The place was clean, a family environment and a lot to see and do in the entire Park!

Lillian Maysonet-Rentas

I have been going there for the past 15 years with my church every memorial day n i love it pastor thank u love u..

King D Lion

Was my first time been in Fort De Soto park and I love it.

Jenny Garcia

I’ve been going there as a child my father used to take me and my brother there I have photos of some of them never forgot my cherished memories Tampa native wow I still love going there ,, always!!

Felicia Skrypek

It is by far my favorite place to be. I find my sanity walking the beach or just watching the waves.

Dennise A Johnson Roesly

Map of Fort De Soto

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