ANCLOTE KEY PRESERVE STATE PARK

By  Mike Miller June 7, 2025

Anclote Key Preserve State Park is an island three miles off the coast of Tarpon Springs, Florida. It spans 11,773 acres across four islands: Anclote Key, North Anclote Bar, South Anclote Bar, and Three Rooker Island.

Accessible only by boat, it features white sand beaches and a historic lighthouse. Visitors enjoy swimming, fishing, camping, and birdwatching.

The park protects diverse wildlife and offers a secluded escape.

Anclote Key Preserve State Park

Native Americans used the area thousands of years ago. Spanish explorers named it “Anclote,” meaning anchor, in the 1500s.

In 1682, pirates raided local tribes. The U.S. Army built a lookout tower during the Third Seminole War (1855–1858).

The Anclote Key Lighthouse, built in 1887, guided ships until deactivation in 1984. Storms and neglect damaged it, but preservationists restored it in 2003.

The park was established in 1984 to protect the islands’ ecosystems. It became a key bird sanctuary. 

The park is three miles off Tarpon Springs. GPS coordinates for the lighthouse are N 28°10.020, W 82°50.687.

Access is by private boat or ferry from Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks or New Port Richey. Ferries include Odyssey Cruises (727) 934-0547 and Spongeorama Cruise Lines (727) 943-2164.

The park is open 8 AM to sunset daily. Primitive camping is allowed on Anclote Key’s north end; register with the ranger at (727) 241-6106.

Bring all supplies, as there’s no water or trash cans. Two composting toilets are available.

Check tides and weather before kayaking; it’s a 3–5 mile paddle. Visit in winter for fewer bugs. 

• The 110-foot lighthouse is a cast-iron skeleton, unlike most U.S. lighthouses.  

• Three Rooker Island hosts thousands of nesting shorebirds from May to August.  

• The park has no electricity or running water, ensuring a primitive experience.  

• Snook and redfish spawn near the shore, attracting anglers in summer.  

• A boardwalk leads to the lighthouse, fenced off except during monthly open houses. 

•  Manatees and sea turtles swim in the park’s clear waters.  

• Raccoons on the island may steal unprotected food or water. 

ANCLOTE KEY PRESERVE STATE PARK WEBSITE