Your Ultimate Guide To Visiting Honeymoon Island State Park In Florida (2024)

Discover insights about Honeymoon Island State Park in Florida in this informative blog post. Uncover tips, highlights, and practical advice from a local for planning your visit to this coastal sanctuary. Explore its pristine beaches, wildlife, and landscapes for an unforgettable experience.

I have to admit I’m spoiled; I live just 5 miles from Honeymoon Island State Park via car, bike, or on foot. It’s just 3.5 miles to this stunning Dunedin Florida beach “as the crow flies”. Of course, I have a state park pass so I visit often. In fact, Honeymoon Island is where I go on Friday evenings after a long week of work – to walk the beach, watch the sun set, and relax.

In this guide to Honeymoon Island State Park, I’ll share a little about the island’s history, including how it got its name; things to do in the park; where to stay and eat nearby; share Honeymoon Island State Park photos; and provide my best tips and recommendations for your visit.

Where is Honeymoon Island State Park?

Honeymoon Island State Park sits along Florida’s Gulf coast, about halfway up the peninsula in the Tampa Bay area. It’s a barrier island off the coast of Dunedin, Florida and is one of the best things to do in this quaint town.

How to Get to Honeymoon Island

Honeymoon Island is accessible by car, boat, kayak/SUP, bicycle, and on foot. There is only one two lane road (one lane in each direction), Dunedin Causeway, providing access to the state park, the beaches and activities along the Causeway, and the condos adjacent to Honeymoon Island. The Causeway has one drawbridge. Traffic on weekends, holidays, and when the bridge opens can back up significantly.

From Dunedin, visitors can drive to Honeymoon, rent a boat or kayaks to arrive by water, rent bicycles and ride there, or walk. There is no public transit to Honeymoon Island, though rideshares will pick up and drop off at the entrance.

Honeymoon Island is a 30 minute drive from Clearwater Beach and about 45 minutes to an hour from Tampa or St. Petersburg.

19 Things to Do at Honeymoon Island Florida

Get ready for a day filled with outdoorsy fun when you visit Honeymoon Island Florida. It’s one of the most popular state parks in Florida with more than 1 million visitors annually. Here are all the things you can do on a visit to this state park, though you might decide to go more than one day to do it all.

1. Play on the Beach

With more than 4 miles of beach, a favorite activity at Honeymoon Island State Park is (not surprisingly) playing on the beach. It’s a wide beach so there’s plenty of space for setting up beach chairs and umbrellas. And lots of space for throwing footballs and building sand castles.

A couple of years ago, the state of Florida decided to let some parts of the beach return to a more natural state rather than replenish with dredged sand. In places, the beach can be rather rocky. Though this is annoying for beachgoers, it’s more representative of the island’s geology, and it’s better for the wildlife, marine life, and birds.

2. Go Swimming

The water along Florida’s Gulf coast is generally pretty calm so swimming is a great activity at Honeymoon Beach. There are no sharp drop-offs to worry about either. I often see triathletes out there swimming along the shoreline during practice swims.

LOCAL TIP: Despite mostly calm waters, there can be strong currents and rip tides so it’s important to stay alert and know your limitations. People HAVE drowned at Honeymoon Island.

3. Find Beautiful Shells

Honeymoon Island beach offers a great location for shelling. Gulf of Mexico beaches are known for producing stunning shells in pristine conditions due to the gentle nature of the surf. Dunedin Florida beaches are no exception. Shells commonly found along this beach include clam shells, scallop shells, coquinas, oyster shells, penshells, lettered olives, conchs, and whelks. Learn more about shells found here at the Honeymoon Island Nature Center.

4. Relax While Sunbathing

With so much beach to enjoy, it’s easy to set out a beach towel or chair and enjoy the sun. Set up away from the water for a more private setting, or close to water for the occasional dip. If you’re new to Florida, be sure to slather on the sunscreen often. Few things suck more than enduring an epic sunburn while on vacation.

5. Walk the Beach

If you’re like me and can’t just stay in one place while at the beach, you’re in luck – there are 4 miles of beach to walk along at Honeymoon Island State Park. This is a favorite activity among locals who come after work or at sunset to get some exercise in. While walking the beach, you might find unusual shells or rocks, see birds in the pond, find the seashell tree, or stumble across fun finds in the mangroves and bushes.

6. Enjoy the Nature Trails

There are three trails and more than three miles of trails for hiking and wildlife viewing. The shortest is the ¼ mile Nature Center Trail found next to the Nature Center. The longest is the 2.5 mile Osprey Trail found at the north end of the island near the playground and picnic area. The Pelican Cove Trail clocks in at one mile and is a good addition to the Osprey Trail for anyone who wants to hike a bit further.

7. View the Wildlife

As a protected place for wildlife, there’s lots of that to view at Honeymoon Island. Along the beach you can see manatees, dolphins, fish, sharks, and a variety of shell-dwelling creatures, including crabs. Along the nature trails, one can find a variety of birds, racoons, snakes, gopher tortoises, and other island-dwelling animals.

On my first trip to the nature trails on Honeymoon Island, I nearly stepped on an Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake. They’re well-known residents of the island though they usually stay to themselves. On this particular day, it was March and cold. I was walking along looking up to find osprey, and this guy (or gal) was hanging out in the sun on the trail warming up. Thankfully, my dad was with me and stopped me before I walked into the strike zone.

8. Go Bird Watching

Honeymoon Island State Park is home to several breeding pairs of birds which draw birders year after year. There are bald eagles, osprey, great horned owls, and kestrels. The park is also home to common species such as mockingbirds and blue jays, and wading birds such as herons, pelicans, pipers, and spoonbills.

9. Visit the Nature Center

The Nature Center at Honeymoon Island offers informational and educational opportunities (plus air conditioning!). The building is filled with exhibits, old photographs, and artifacts found on the island. Learn about the history of the island, the plants and animals which live there, and all of the interesting finds through the years.

10. Take the Pets to Dog Beach

Honeymoon Island Dog Beach is one of the best pet beaches in Florida. There are two access points though one is much easier than the other. The first parking lot one comes to when accessing the pet beach involves a quarter mile walk down a sand path through marsh. The path may or may not be under water. We call this one “the gauntlet” because the mosquitoes are relentless along the sand path, even in winter and in the middle of the day. Our dogs, however, always loved “running the gauntlet” because we literally ran to the beach as fast as we could. This side of pet beach is the least crowded and leads to some quiet benches overlooking the Dunedin Causeway.

I can no longer run thanks to a chronic ankle injury so I access the pet beach now from the larger parking lot beside the South Beach Pavilion. Most of pet beach is very wide and sandy, giving pet owners plenty of room to keep their distance. Swimming here is allowed, too. Pets are required to remain on a leash which is no longer than six feet.

11. Enjoy a Picnic

Picnic tables and covered picnic shelters are available at the north end of the island. Though the picnic area is located away from the beach, it’s next to the Osprey Trail and a short drive or walk from the North Beach parking lot. The picnic area offers a restroom and barbecue grills.

12. Let the Kids Play at the Playground

Beside the picnic area sits the playground, and it’s the perfect shady place to finish off a family beach day if the kids still have too much energy, and you want to avoid letting them get sandy and wet all over again. The playground next to the picnic area also makes this the perfect place for a family get together or birthday party.

13. Rent Kayaks

The concessions rent kayaks for anyone who wants to paddle along the shoreline or cross the inlet, Hurricane Pass, to Caladesi Island State Park, Honeymoon’s sister island. Visitors can also bring their own kayaks or paddleboards though there isn’t a designated kayak launch so you’ll have to launch from the beach.

14. Watch the Sunset

If you love to sit or walk on the beach while the sky turns from blue to pink to orange to purple, Honeymoon Beach Florida wows with amazing sunsets. The miles of beach and unobstructed Gulf of Mexico, fleeting clouds, and interesting focal points along the beach make these some of the best Florida sunsets.

We’re lucky in this day and age to be equipped with amazing cameras in our pockets at all times, though I still like to share these specific tips to make your sunset photos better:

• Find a focal point to make your sunset photo more interesting, such as the trees at Dog Beach or the jetties at Oasis Beach
• Arrive at least an hour before sunset time to scope out your best shots.
• Wear bug repellant – the mosquitoes are vicious at dusk
• The show doesn’t end when the sun sets. The hour after official setting also shows off amazing colors, especially if there are clouds in the sky.
• The park closes at sunset so stop along the Dunedin Causeway on your way out to shoot the blue hour.

15. Capture the Perfect Shot

If you’re a photographer, particularly a bird photographer, the Dunedin Florida beaches offer so many subjects. In 2023, a wayward flamingo brought by Hurricane Idalia spent a few weeks at Honeymoon Island and drew hundreds of photographers. Don’t wait for an unusual subject though. The state park is home to roseatte spoonbills, herons, pelicans, sandpipers, terns, warblers, osprey, owls, and eagles.

If you’re a landscape photographer, there are literally miles of beach to explore and photograph, and those beaches are covered in interesting finds. I often see photographers with cameras on tripods trudging out to the north point, and I know they’re in search of fantastic photo opportunities.

Likewise, many local photographers use the part for photo sessions for family portraits, engagement photos, graduation photos, and more. I don’t think there’s a special fee or release for formal photographs but check with the park if you have concerns or questions.

16. Explore the Native Plant Garden

I’m a huge advocate of planting native plants rather than exotics, and the recent trend to plant native gardens in public and government spaces thrills me. If you see my personal Facebook page, my bio reads simply “Plant food, not lawns”, and that’s a philosophy I live by in my own yard; if it’s not native or edible, it doesn’t get planted. So, naturally, I was over the moon to pull up to the Honeymoon Island Nature Center one morning and see a native plant garden.

It’s a small one but has all of the main plants we find in native gardens around here – American beauty berry, native coffee, blanketflower, coreopsis, passionfruit vines. The path around the garden is covered in crushed shells, and there’s a bench to sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of bees and butterflies flitting from plant to plant.

17. Go Fishing

Many people come to Florida beaches, including Dunedin FL beaches, for fishing. To be completely honest, the only time I’ve caught anything shore fishing was years ago when my then-husband and I hooked into a school of tarpon at 3 AM in the Keys. That was unexpected and exhilarating and highly recommended if you love fishing. Your experience might vary from mine, though.

I often see anglers walking the rocky protrusions at Honeymoon Island, and I assume they keep coming back because they catch something. But fishing is also about just being out there, listening to the sound of the water, being silent and waiting. Many people also fish from shore, especially around dog beach where the island juts into the inlet more. If fishing is your passion, have fun but be sure to follow all state guidelines for fishing licenses.

18. Hold Your Special Event

With beach weddings one of the most popular wedding ceremonies, it’s little wonder that Honeymoon Island has its wedding website and often plays host for this very special day in a couple’s life. Honeymoon’s history, beautiful setting, and allure as one of Florida’s most romantic beaches makes it the perfect location for a wedding.

Weddings aren’t the only special events here though. South Beach Pavilion has a large covered balcony with many tables which can accommodate a large gathering. It’s elevated, too, so offers spectacular views of the beach and Gulf of Mexico.

19. Take a Bike Ride

A paved trail winds 1.5 miles through the park from the entrance to the trails at the north end. Visitors can bring their own bikes, ride them in (there’s still a charge to enter the park), or rent bicycles from the concession. The 3-mile round-trip ride takes you through the park’s various ecosystems and is a good way to explore the different parts of the island without a car.

Tips and Reminders for Visiting Honeymoon Island

Keep these tips in mind when visiting Honeymoon Island State Park. DO:

• Wear sunscreen (here’s my favorite reef-safe brand)
• Bring rashguards, hats, umbrellas/canopies, and cover-ups to protect you from the heat and sun
• Bring plenty of fluids, especially water and juices
• Stay alert for wild animals such as snakes, stingrays, and sharks
• Keep your dog(s) on a leash
• Be mindful of currents and rip tides
• Leave no trace – pick up your trash and debris
• Pick up any trash and debris you find while walking the beach
• Have FUN!

DON’T:

• Bring alcohol. It’s prohibited at the park though you can purchase beer and wine at the concession
• Take your dog(s) anywhere but pet beach
• Swim where people are fishing as sharks are more attracted to the sounds and scents around anglers
• Swim if the conditions are unsafe for you
• Leave behind beach chairs, umbrellas, etc if you can’t take them home with you on a plane – there’s a thrift store at the corner of the main road leading to Honeymoon Island
• Take live shells/animals with you such as sand dollars, starfish, and conchs

The History of Honeymoon Island State Park

The history of Honeymoon Island State Park starts long before the island was a park. In fact, it began long before Europeans first set foot on Florida’s west coast. The island itself is probably between 4,800 and 7,000 years old. After its formation, Native Americans probably used the island for temporary camps while fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.

In the 1800s, Honeymoon Island and neighboring Caladesi Island were still one island known as Hog Island. Fishing rancheros used it much as the Native Americans did before them, for temporary camps while fishing or for safe harbor when squalls popped up. In the 1890s, Swiss immigrant Henry Scharrer landed on Hog Island and decided it would make a good home. He lived there for nearly 40 years, a life which is chronicled by his daughter Myrtle Scharrer-Betz in the book, Yesteryear I Lived in Paradise. What remains of Scharrer’s homestead can still be seen on Caladesi Island.

In October 1921, a category 3 hurricane passed near Hog Island and divided the island in two with the creation of a new inlet, Hurricane Pass. By this time, Myrtle Scharrer had married and moved to the mainland though she visited her father often. Henry Scharrer continued his homesteading existence while battling poachers and thieves until his health declined in the early 1930s. He moved to the mainland as well and died in 1934.

The story of Honeymoon Island begins in the late 1930s with businessman Clinton Washburn, who had purchased the island. At lunch in New York City, he told his friend, Joseph Bryce, that the island would make an ideal location for a honeymoon. Bryce happened to be the editor for Life Magazine and ran a story about the island. The name Honeymoon Isle was born. Fueled by interest in his idea, Washburn built Honeymoon Village on the island which consisted of 50 thatched huts, the king’s palace, a recreation hall, a chapel, and water tower, and a common building with bathrooms and showers. Initially, a contest was run to giveaway a two week honeymoon vacation to Honeymoon Isle. After that, more than 150 couples spent their honeymoons on the island in 1940 and 1941.

During WWII, the island was used by an Ohio government contractor as a vacation spot and for amphibious training. After the war, the huts were in such disrepair the island was sold to one of several developers who would attempt to turn the island into a residential community. The causeway was constructed in 1964 and the developer who owned the island at the time began trying to build it out by dredging the nearby waters, hoping to expand the island from 335 acres to 3000 acres.

Fortunately for us, the developers’ plans all failed. The last permit expired in 1969 and the State of Florida refused to renew it, in part due to public pressure to keep Honeymoon Island natural. The state bought the island in 1974 and opened Honeymoon Island State Park in 1981.

When to Visit

Honeymoon Island State Park is open 365 days a year from 8:00 AM to sunset. The best time of year to visit is the same as the best time to visit Florida – during the mild early spring months. March and April have warm but not hot weather, and the water has begun to warm up; however, this is also the busiest time of year. Fall and winter are also great times to visit. Summer can be prohibitively hot, especially if you aren’t accustomed to Florida’s heat but can be manageable if you visit the park early or late in the day to avoid the worst of the sun.

• Address: 1 Causeway Blvd, Dunedin, FL 34698
• Phone: (727) 241-6106
• Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM to Sunset
• Fees: $8/vehicle; $4/single-occupant vehicle; $2/pedestrian, bicyclists

Honeymoon Island Hotels

The most popular places to stay in Dunedin near Honeymoon Island are vacation rentals. There are several great places right on the Dunedin Causeway and many offer bicycles to ride to Honeymoon and kayaks to explore the waters around the park and the Causeway. There are no hotels on Honeymoon Island, nor any vacation rentals, cabins, or camping. The closest hotel in 2024 is the Hampton Inn Dunedin though a new hotel is currently under construction.

• Closest hotel to Honeymoon Island: Hampton Inn Dunedin
• Non-traditional lodging options: vacation rentals on Dunedin Causeway
• Luxury hotel in downtown Dunedin: Fenway Hotel, Autograph Collection

Where to Eat Nearby

Dunedin is home to many really great restaurants representing a variety of cuisines. Though there’s a cafe on Honeymoon Island, Frenchy’s Outpost on the Dunedin Causeway remains a favorite stopping place for a drink and a fresh seafood meal. Down the street, you can also enjoy Benedict’s for breakfast or lunch, Madison Avenue Pizza (consistently voted the best pizza in the Tampa Bay area), and authentic Mexican at Happy Cactus. If you have time or are spending a couple of days in town, be sure to check out other great restaurants in Dunedin, particularly those in the downtown core. Here are my go-to recommendations:

• Breakfast restaurant: Benedict’s
• Seafood restaurant: Frenchy’s Outpost
• Pizza: Madison Avenue or, for vegan pizza options try Corvo Bianco
• Sushi: Pisces Sushi
• Mexican: Happy Cactus
• Special occasion: The Restorative or Sallie’s Bistro

The Wrap Up: Honeymoon Island State Park

Honeymoon Island State Park is one of the most popular state parks in Florida and one of the most adored beaches in Dunedin Florida. Its beautiful white sand, crystalline waters, stunning sunsets, and abundant wildlife make it a great choice to visit for a day. Next time you’re in the Tampa Bay area, put Honeymoon Island on your must-visit list. You won’t be disappointed!