North Beach at Honeymoon Island

Drive to Dunedin via Causeway Blvd and follow signs to Honeymoon Island State Park's main entrance — about 10 minutes by car. Entry is $8 per vehicle (waived with a Florida State Parks annual pass), and you park in the main Honeymoon Island lot; there is no separate parking at the north spit. From the lot, it's a 1.5 km walk north on soft sand — allow around 20 minutes each way. The north spit is walk-in only; no vehicle or wheelchair access exists beyond the main parking area.

The main draw is shelling — the north spit produces the best finds on Honeymoon Island, so bring a bag and low expectations for the walk back (it fills up fast). Watching the osprey colony in the dead pines is a genuine wildlife spectacle, and the narrowing spit itself rewards anyone who simply walks to the very tip. Just 1.5 km south, Honeymoon Island State Park's main beach offers facilities, slash pine forest trails, and the ferry terminal for Caladesi Island State Park — consistently ranked among the top beaches in the US and only about 3 km away by water.

There are no food or drink facilities at North Beach — pack everything before you leave the car. Back toward Dunedin, HopScotch Cafe and China House are both around 6.7 km away, while Cafe Alfresco, Crown & Bull, and Casa Tina are all within about 7.2 km for a post-beach meal.

The J Hotel & Suites is the closest base, roughly 4.9 km from the park, making early-morning arrivals easy before the day heats up. Grant Street Inn in Dunedin, about 7 km away, puts you in the heart of the Scottish-heritage downtown with craft breweries and the Pinellas Trail on your doorstep.

Shoot at sunrise when the turquoise water is glassy and the light hits the white sand at a low, warm angle that makes the spit glow. The narrowing tip of the spit, with water visible on both sides and birds overhead, makes for a striking and distinctive frame.

No dogs are permitted in this section of the park, and fires are strictly prohibited — both rules are enforced. The osprey nesting colony is protected: do not approach or disturb nests, and stay below the high tide line near nesting areas. There is no lifeguard at the north spit, and currents can be stronger at the tip — swim with real caution and never alone. There is zero shade and no facilities on the walk or the spit, so bring plenty of water and strong sun protection; afternoon thunderstorms are common June through September, so watch the sky and head back early if clouds build.