Fort De Soto Dog Beach

I can’t talk about my time in Florida without talking about the beaches. Although I didn’t make it to the iconic white sand beaches in the northwest part of the state, I made sure to take advantage of the ones close to me, especially on three-day weekends or when I had company.

I think my hands-down favorite beach is Fort De Soto. It’s a massive park run by Pinellas County with multiple beaches (including a really nice dog beach), camping areas, kayak and canoe rentals, piers and lighthouses.

I usually went to the dog park with my German Shepherd, Cairo. There were some dog beaches closer to where I lived like Davis Island. However, since I lived in the bay, I found that the water at those beaches was usually pretty nasty. Since my sweet pup already had sensitive skin, I opted for the longer drive to Fort De Soto, which offered clearer water and more space.

The thing that surprised me when I first went with Cairo was that the dog beach was open. As in, no fences. So, if you take your pup, I would recommend making sure they listen off-leash. Since I didn’t know that it was an open beach and we were already there, I figured I would just test him out and see what happened (looking back it was a super dumb decision but thankfully it worked out). Cairo LOVES swimming, so he was loving exploring the water more than the walking trails behind the beach. And, as long as I had a tennis ball, he was more than willing to listen.

I had noticed at other parks and beaches, we had some issues with other owners because of Cairo’s size. At Fort De Soto, the vibe was totally different. Every time I went, all of the owners were fine with dogs being dogs and if their dog wasn’t well behaved, they kept them tied to their beach chairs. Since it is a dog beach, everyone is understanding that their beach setup may be disturbed by dogs, so they keep food and water in a cooler and hide the dog treats. The dog beach is also really long so even on busy days, there is room for people to spread out and the dogs to form their own little cliques to play.

Cairo would really rather play fetch with me at the beach (which makes my dog mom heart so, so happy), so we didn’t have drama any of the times we went. If you do go for the dog beach though and you bring your fur baby, don’t expect to just lay out for a chill beach day. There’s a mutual understanding that everyone knows where their dog is, so it’s more of an active beach day. The other thing I really appreciate

Another plus to the dog beach is the huge dog park. This is a great place to rinse off your pup (no shampoo though, so bring a towel or seat cover!) or just have them run around to dry off. There is a park for small dogs and one for large dogs, so everyone is happy. I always made sure to have Cairo run around at the dry dog park for 15 or 20 minutes before we went home.

Since I brought Cairo every time that I went to Fort De Soto, I didn’t get a chance to explore the rest of the park very much (it was strictly people-only, unless the dogs are ESAs or Service Animals). However, based on how well-kept the dog area is, I would guess that the rest of the park is a beautiful escape to nature as well. I’ve found that the more popular and well-known beaches near Tampa are pretty crowded and don’t have free parking. While there is a $5 entrance fee for Fort De Soto, it’s only $5 and covers parking (which is conveniently close to all of the beaches). Parking at the other beaches can get a little pricey. And during the summer, it’s hard to find a good spot. I think Fort De Soto is ideal if you’re looking for a more relaxing beach trip and honestly a hidden gem. And, compared to other beaches, the water is very clean (even in the dog area), so I always felt fine hopping in the water, too, if I needed to cool off.

I always made sure to pack snacks or at least a big bottle of water if we were there for only part of the day since there wasn’t any drinking water and Cairo and I needed to hydrate. There aren’t any restaurants at Fort De Soto and I think the closest option is either a gas station or Taco Bell (but neither are within walking distance), so I would plan for that if you’re thinking of doing an overnight trip. I also brought along plenty of towels for me, him and the car for the drive home (I just recently decided to invest in a cover for my backseat). It’s also good to bring cash for the tolls and park entry. Aside from that, I make sure to have the normal beach day items along: sunscreen, sunglasses, sunhat, swimsuit and of course dog bags, tennis balls and a ChuckIt if you’re like me and can’t throw.

Personally, I found Fort De Soto to be a hidden gem. The serene beaches and beautiful sunsets make it a must-do on any Tampa trip.

XOXO,

Natasha