How to Spend a Day at Honeymoon Island State Park
Located off the coast of Dunedin and Palm Harbor, Florida, Honeymoon Island State Park has beautiful white sand, clear blue water, hiking trails, and plenty of things to do.
Honeymoon Island is no longer the little-known off-the-beaten-path island it used to be, and traffic can get backed up in the summer months. Caledesi Island is less traveled and can be reached from Honeymoon Island.
Popular for a reason, there are so many things to do on the small island, and it is easy to spend a whole day at Honeymoon Island State Park.
I grew up in nearby Clearwater, and Honeymoon Island is a fun place to hike, spot wildlife, and have a picnic. It is easy to have a fun day out on Honeymoon Island.
How to Get to Honeymoon Island
Honeymoon Island is located 5 miles north of downtown Dunedin, 11 miles from Clearwater Beach, and less than 30 miles from Tampa and St. Petersburg.
When putting Honeymoon Island in your GPS, use their address:#1 Causeway Blvd, Dunedin, Florida.
Walk
Pedestrians can walk across the Dunedin Causeway, which is 2.5 miles long, with beautiful views the entire walk. There is a public restroom and a food stand located along the causeway.
Bicycle
Bicyclists can ride across the Dunedin Causeway. It is located along the Pinellas Trail.
Kayak
Kayak rentals are available on the Dunedin Causeway through Sail Honeymoon.
Drive
Take the Dunedin Causeway from the mainland over to Honeymoon Island.
Looking to rent a car? Book through Rentalcars.com.
Entry onto Honeymoon Island
Honeymoon Island State Park is open from 8 am to sunset daily.
Entry onto Honeymoon Island is $8 for a car of up to 8 people, $4 for a single driver, and $2 for bicyclists or pedestrians.
Annual passes to Honeymoon Island State Park are available for purchase.
15 Things to do on Honeymoon Island
Go Hiking
Osprey Trail is a 2.2-mile-long hiking trail at Honeymoon Island State Park.
The trail is flat and unpaved.
Named after the bird, it is easy to spot large osprey nests along the trail. Other animals such as gopher tortoises, armadillos, and a wide variety of birds can also be spotted along the nature trail.
Honeymoon Island is also home to rattlesnakes, though, after multiple visits, we have never seen one.
Guided trail walks take place throughout the year. Ask at the nature center for more information.
Fish
Fishing on Honeymoon Island is allowed, so long as the rules are followed. See Honeymoon Island’s rules for fishing off the island.
Ride Bikes
Bike rentals are available through Wheel Fun Rentals at both Cafe Honeymoon and South Beach Pavilion Cafe.
Bicycle options include standard bikes, tandem bicycles, kids’ bikes, and surreys. Helmets and bicycle locks are available.
I rode a surrey at Honeymoon Island, along with my sister and cousin, and it was a lot of fun. Note that you all need to pedal on a surrey, or it is very hard to move quickly.
Play on the Playground
The playground has slides, swings, and lots of places to climb.
Located near the restrooms, there are also picnic tables near the playground.
Have a Picnic
Picnic tables are scattered around the playground at the north end of Honeymoon Island.
Two shelters are available to rent, and there are BBQs and restrooms nearby.
Alcohol is not allowed except in designated areas at the cafes on Honeymoon Island.
Enjoy a Meal by the Water
Honeymoon Island has 2 cafes. Cafe Honeymoon is located at Main Beach, and South Beach Pavilion Cafe is near Pet Beach.
Cafe Honeymoon is a quick-service restaurant open daily with outdoor seating both in the front by the parking lot and in the back facing the water. Options include sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, and seafood.
South Beach Pavilion Cafe is open on the weekends. They have the same menu as Cafe Honeymoon.
Both cafes have gift shops, and beach rentals are available. Beach umbrellas, chairs, and kayaks can be rented from Cafe Honeymoon. Beach chairs, umbrellas, and bikes can be rented from South Beach Pavilion.
Walk on the Beach
There are 3 beaches on Honeymoon Island: Main Beach, North Beach, and Pet Beach.
Dogs are allowed on Pet Beach on a 6-foot leash. Pet owners must pick up after their dogs.
Guided beach walks are available. Ask the nature center for more information.
Collect Shells
Shells can easily be spotted along the beaches. Visitors can take shells home.
Learn the History of the Island
Stop in the Rotary Centennial Nature Center to learn about the history of the island. The nature center has artwork, hands-on information, and plenty of items to observe.
Also at the nature center is a sign with tide times and animals that have been spotted.
The Rotary Centennial Nature Center is also the spot to find out information about guided walks.
Complete a Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts for kids are available at the desk inside the nature center. There are multiple scavenger hunt options depending on the age of your child.
A prize is given at the end of a completed scavenger hunt. Kids can choose between 1 large shell or a bag of smaller shells.
Kayak
Kayaks can be rented on the Dunedin Causeway, near South Beach Pavilion on Honeymoon Island, or visitors are welcome to bring their own.
Both single and double kayaks are available to rent.
Get Married
Originally a honeymoon destination, Honeymoon Island is now a beautiful wedding venue.
Wedding packages and services are available for ceremonies to be held right on the beach.
Swim
Make sure to check the color of the flag before swimming at Honeymoon Island State Park. The color of the flag shows the current safety level.
No lifeguards are on duty at Honeymoon Island State Park.
Ideally, the flag is green, which means that the water is calm.
A yellow flag indicates moderate conditions, while a red flag shows that there are hazardous conditions.
A double red flag means the water is closed to the public and swimming isn’t allowed.
Sometimes there is a purple flag that shows that stinging marine life has been spotted nearby.
Spot dolphins
It is common to spot dolphins swimming off the coast of Honeymoon Island, but hard to capture them in a picture!
We saw two dolphins swimming very close to the shore.
Take the Ferry to Caladesi Island State Park
Ferries from Honeymoon Island State Park to Caladesi Island State Park leave hourly each day, with the exceptions of Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
The ferry begins at 10 am. During the busy season, ferry rides are available every 30 minutes.
Caladesi Island State Park has a cafe, restrooms, beautiful beaches, and hiking trails.
Honeymoon Island Tips
- Arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays in spring and summer.
- Bring sunscreen and bug spray
- Don’t feed the birds. Seagulls can be aggressive and will steal your food.
Where to Eat Near Honeymoon Island
Of course, you can enjoy a picnic or order from one of the 2 cafes on Honeymoon Island, but those who wish can leave the island for a meal and then return on the same day, as long as you keep your receipt.
Honeymoon Island is located near many delicious restaurants, including the following options.
Frenchy’s Outpost Bar and Grill
A popular local chain, Frenchy’s, has a restaurant near the Dunedin Causeway.
Frenchy’s Outpost offers a variety of soups, sandwiches, salads, and seafood options.
Madison Avenue Pizza
Craving pizza at the end of a long beach day? Madison Avenue Pizza has brick oven pizza as well as appetizers, salads, calzones, and subs.
Benedict’s Restaurant
A local family-friendly breakfast and lunch cafe, Benedict’s serves soups, sandwiches, salads, eggs, and breakfast favorites right near the entrance to the Dunedin Causeway.
Where to Stay Near Honeymoon Island
While it is not possible to stay overnight on Honeymoon Island, there are lots of options nearby.
Fenway Hotel, Dunedin
Located in Dunedin, Florida, the Fenway Hotel is a 4 star hotel that overlooks the water with a rooftop bar, pool, and restaurant that is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Honeymoon Island is less than 4 miles away from Fenway Hotel.
Hampton Inn, Dunedin
Close to the Dunedin Causeway that connects the mainland to Honeymoon Island State Park is Hampton Inn Dunedin, a 2-star hotel. The Hampton Inn has family rooms, pet-friendly rooms, a swimming pool, and a complimentary hot breakfast.
Just a 5-minute drive from Honeymoon Island State Park, Hampton Inn is a great location for those wishing to spend time on Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island.
Meranova Guest Inn, Dunedin
A bed and breakfast located in downtown Dunedin, Meranova Guest Inn has themed suites, a swimming pool, and, of course, breakfast is included.
Guests at Meranova Guest Inn can easily get to Honeymoon Island State Park.
Honeymoon Island FAQ
No, visitors can no longer stay overnight on Honeymoon Island. Honeymoon Island State Park closes each evening at sunset, which changes throughout the year.
Yes, dogs are allowed to visit Honeymoon Island. Dogs must be on a 6-foot leash during their visit to Honeymoon Island. All dogs are allowed on Pet Beach and on the nature trail, while service dogs are allowed anywhere on the island.
No, you do not have to take a ferry to Honeymoon Island. Honeymoon Island State Park can be reached by walking, bicycling, kayaking, or driving.
Yes, Honeymoon Island can get crowded, especially on the weekends. It is a good idea to get there early to avoid traffic on the causeway.
Yes, Honeymoon Island has 2 cafes and a store that sells snacks. Cafe Honeymoon and South Beach Pavilion Cafe are quick-service restaurants with outdoor seating.
Honeymoon Island State Park Wrap-Up
As you can see from the pictures in this post, Honeymoon Island is a nice place to visit year-round. Even when it is too cold to swim, there are plenty of things to do at Honeymoon Island State Park.
Besides spending time at the beach, swimming, playing, and relaxing, you can hike, enjoy a meal, and ride a bike on Honeymoon Island.
Honeymoon Island is an easy day trip from Clearwater Beach, Tampa, and St. Petersburg.
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