Gasparilla island - all beaches

When we visit from NY, this is our favorite spot to park and go to the beach. The bathrooms are currently under repair, but the shower is still functional. Additionally, there are porta potties available for restroom use.

This beach is a fantastic place to visit where you can relax and learn at the same time. The lighthouse museum was very interesting with friendly staff, and the State Park rangers were very helpful. We learned a lot about the history of the island, such as why the water cisterns were placed there. We really enjoyed our time there, including the beautiful beach and the special treat of seeing a local manatee swimming back and forth for us. It was a wonderful day full of fun. However, the parking space is quite limited due to the narrow end of the island. We needed disabled parking, but the two spaces were already taken. I suppose the size of the area limits the available space.

This beach is not ideal for families with young children. There is a significant drop-off, plenty of broken shells, and on the day we visited, the sea was rough. Despite only going in a little ways, we still managed to spot some fish. However, the water was not as clear as we had anticipated based on the area's reputation. (We visited in mid-October) We didn't come across any manatees or other wildlife. The church was closed, but the lighthouse museum was open. We didn't go inside as we were all in our bathing suits. We were able to find 2 Sharks teeth without much digging, and my sons collected some larger intact shells. There was an entry fee and a small parking fee. During this time of year, the beach was mostly occupied by senior citizens, except for our group. Although there were many people fishing from the beach, we didn't witness anyone actually catching anything.