Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge

About Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge

Egmont Key NWR was designated as a national wildlife refuge in 1974. Egmont Key is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a national wildlife refuge to protect the island’s diverse natural, cultural, and historical features. Egmont Key is also cooperatively managed as a unit of the Florida Park Service as Egmont Key State Park. Egmont Key is on the National Register of Historic Places for playing a prominent role in Florida’s Seminole Indian Wars, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War. Situated at the mouth of Tampa Bay, this remote island preserves the remains of historic Fort Dade and is home to an over 100-year-old lighthouse. It also provides important habitat for nesting sea turtles, gopher tortoises, over 30,000 nesting pairs of birds, and other wildlife. Bird sanctuaries on the south of the island make up about 1/3 of Egmont Key, which is crucial habitat set aside for wildlife to rest, nest, and feed. Egmont Key NWR is managed as part of the Crystal River NWR Complex.

How to Get There

Egmont Key is located at the mouth or entrance to Tampa Bay. There are no bridges connecting it to St. Petersburg (to the north) or Anna Maria Island (to the south). Access is limited to watercraft only. Private charters are available in both Manatee and Pinellas Counties for a fee.

Plan Your Visit to Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge

Heading to Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)