Boat Ramps In Pinellas: Open For Launch?

Pinellas County, Florida, offers a variety of boat ramps for visitors and residents to access the water for recreational boating and fishing. These boat ramps are managed by different entities, including the City of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, and private organizations. The boat ramps vary in terms of operating hours, facilities, and parking options. Some ramps are open 24 hours a day, while others have specific opening and closing times. Additionally, there are a number of parks and conservation areas with boat ramps that provide access to different bodies of water, such as Tampa Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and Boca Ciega Bay.

Boat ramp parking fees

The daily parking fee for vehicles with trailers is $6, while it is $2 for vehicles without trailers. Fort De Soto Park charges a reduced rate of $5 for vehicles without trailers. An annual pass for boat ramp parking is available for $110, with a discounted rate of $55 for seniors aged 65 and older. Disabled U.S. veterans are exempt from parking fees.

Some specific boat ramps in Pinellas County with notable parking fees include:

• Belleair Causeway Boat Ramp: This ramp charges a fee for both trailer and car parking. It offers 108 trailer parking spots and 98 car spaces.
• Don Cesar Boat Ramp: Parking fees are payable at a kiosk near the ramp.
• Sutherland Bayou Boat Ramp: Parking fees apply and instructions are provided on-site.
• War Veterans Memorial Park Boat Ramp: Fees are charged for boat ramp use.

Boat ramp locations

There are several boat ramps in Pinellas County, Florida. Here is a list of some of the boat ramps and their locations:

• Belleair Causeway Boat Ramp: 3900 W. Bay Drive, Belleair Bluffs, FL 34640. This ramp is open 24 hours and offers access to saltwater. Restroom facilities are available, but they are closed daily between 10 pm and 3 am.
• Fort De Soto Park: 3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde, FL 33715. This boat ramp is open 24 hours and provides access to saltwater. Restroom facilities are available.
• Park Boulevard Boat Ramp: 18651 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores, FL 34635. This boat ramp is open 24 hours and offers access to saltwater. It also has restroom facilities available.
• Philippe Park: 2525 Philippe Parkway, Safety Harbor, FL 34695. This boat ramp is open from 7 am to dusk and provides access to saltwater. Restroom facilities are available within the park.
• Sutherland Bayou Boat Ramp: 2119 U.S. Alt. 19 N., Palm Harbor, FL 34683. This boat ramp is open 24 hours and offers access to saltwater. It also has restroom facilities available.
• War Veterans’ Memorial Park: 9600 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33708. This boat ramp is open 24 hours and provides access to saltwater. Restroom facilities are available within the park.
• A.L. Anderson Park: 39699 U.S. Hwy 19 N., Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. This boat ramp offers access to freshwater and is open from 5 am to 10 pm. Restroom facilities are available.
• John S. Taylor Park: 1100 8th Ave. S.W., Largo, FL 33770. This boat ramp is open from 7 am to sunset and provides access to freshwater. It is a small ramp for boats without gas motors, and no permit is required. Restroom facilities are available.
• Bay Vista Park Boat Ramp: 7000 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33705. This boat ramp is open half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset. It offers easy access to fishing and recreational boating in Tampa Bay.
• Clearwater Beach Recreation Center Boat Ramp: 69 Bay Esplanada, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767. This boat ramp offers a wide launching lane, courtesy docks, restrooms, and parking for about 15 boat trailers.
• Crisp Park Boat Ramp: 3500 Poplar Street NE, Saint Petersburg, FL 33704. This boat ramp opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes at 11 pm. Crisp Park offers two separate boat ramp areas, floating courtesy docks, shoreline fishing, rentable picnic pavilions, grills, a playground, and restrooms.
• Craig Park Boat Ramp: 400 South Spring Boulevard, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. This boat ramp is open from 7:30 am to dusk. Craig Park includes a paved boat ramp, six parking spaces, and restrooms located in the recreation centre.
• Coffee Pot Park Boat Ramp: 1st Street & 31st Avenue NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33704. Coffee Pot Park offers a paved boat ramp, courtesy docks, a playground, shoreline fishing, a picnic pavilion, and shaded areas.
• Demens Landing Boat Ramp: Bayshore Drive & 1st Avenue Southeast, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. This boat ramp is open 24 hours. Demens Landing offers three launching lanes, courtesy docks, a playground, picnic shelters, and restrooms.
• Don CeSar Boat Ramp: West Maritana Drive & Casablanca Avenue, Saint Pete Beach, FL 33706. This boat ramp offers a single launching lane and courtesy docks. Designated trailer parking is available nearby, and parking fees can be paid at a kiosk near the ramp. However, there are no restrooms at this location.
• Dunedin Marina Boat Ramp: Edgewater Park, 51 Main Street, Dunedin, FL 34698. This boat ramp is managed by The City of Dunedin Parks and Recreation and is open until 11 pm. Edgewater Park offers a boat ramp, picnic area, fishing, freshwater, playground, and restrooms.
• Egan Park Boat Ramp: 9101 Blind Pass Road, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706. This boat ramp is open 24 hours and is managed by The City of St. Pete Beach Parks Division. It offers a wide launching ramp, courtesy docks, restrooms, freshwater, a fish cleaning table, and handicap accessibility. There are 18 parking spots designated for vehicles with trailers, and a fishing pier is also on site.
• Fort Desoto Park Boat Ramp: 3100 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, FL 33715. This boat ramp offers 20 lanes, courtesy docks, approximately 200 parking spots for trailers, and restrooms. It provides super easy access into the Gulf of Mexico through Bunces Pass.
• Gandy Wayside Park Boat Ramp: On the western end of the Gandy Bridge (Route 92). This boat ramp is in rough condition and is recommended for small boats only or hand-launching kayaks or canoes.
• Grandview Park Boat Ramp: AKA Coquina Key, 3800 6th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33705. This boat ramp is open 24 hours and offers a single launching lane, courtesy dock, fishing, picnic areas,

Commercial use permits

Commercial vessels are required to obtain a permit before using certain designated public wharves in Pinellas County, Florida. The St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation website provides a list of locations where a permit is required for commercial use of City boat ramps. These include:

• 7000 4th St. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33705
• 37th Ave. NE. and Poplar St. NE. St. Petersburg, FL 33704
• Bayshore Dr. & 2nd Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (Open 24 Hours)
• 6th St. S. & 39th Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33705 (Open 24 Hours)
• Jungle Prada de Narvaez Park
• Park St. N. & Elbow Lane N. St. Petersburg, FL 33710 (Open 24 Hours)
• 9th St. S. & 40th Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33705
• 34th St. S. & Pinellas Point Dr. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33711 (Open 24 Hours)
• Northeast Exchange Club Coffee Pot Park
• 1st St. NE. & 31st Ave. NE. St. Petersburg, FL 33704
• 2nd St. NE. & Sunlit Cove Dr. NE. St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Boat ramp parking fees can be paid daily at a pay station or by purchasing an annual pass. The daily parking fee for a vehicle with a trailer is $6, and $2 for a vehicle without a trailer. The annual pass costs $110, or $55 for seniors aged 65 and older with a valid driver's license. Disabled U.S. veterans can obtain a pass free of charge.

Opening hours

Boat ramps in Pinellas County, Florida, are open 24 hours, including the Belleair Causeway Boat Ramp, Fort De Soto Park, Park Boulevard Boat Ramp, and War Veterans' Memorial Park. However, the restrooms at Belleair Causeway Boat Ramp are closed daily between 10 pm and 3 am.

The Philippe Park boat ramp is open from 7 am to dusk, while the A.L. Anderson Park boat ramp is open from 5 am to 10 pm.

In St. Petersburg, the Crisp Park Boat Ramp opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes at 11 pm, while the Maximo Park Boat Ramp opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes after sunset. The St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation boat ramps are also open 30 minutes before sunrise and close 30 minutes after sunset.

Boat ramp facilities

Freshwater boat ramps are also available in the county. The A.L. Anderson Park ramp in Tarpon Springs is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and provides access to freshwater areas, with restroom facilities on-site. The John S. Taylor Park ramp in Largo is another freshwater option, open from 7 a.m. to sunset, with a small ramp for boats without gas motors and no permit required.

In addition to the county-managed facilities, the city of St. Petersburg also operates several boat ramps within its parks. These include the Bay Vista Park Boat Ramp, which offers two boat ramps and easy access to Tampa Bay, and the Crisp Park Boat Ramp, which features two separate boat ramp areas, floating courtesy docks, and a range of recreational amenities.

Overall, Pinellas County offers a comprehensive network of boat ramp facilities that cater to a diverse range of boating and fishing enthusiasts, with options available for both saltwater and freshwater enthusiasts.

Frequently asked questions