Take the Shell Island Ferry® over to spend a day enjoying the sugar-white sand and emerald green waters of Shell Island, a pristine undeveloped barrier island that is a star attraction in Panama City Beach, Florida. The Shell Island Ferry® offers multiple departures daily from the docks at 5709 Lagoon Dr. Panama City Beach, FL 32408.
The original Shell Island Ferry® is your link to fabulous Shell Island, one of the top attractions in Panama City Beach Florida. You can buy tickets for the Shell Island Ferry® online right here with a few clicks, give us a call at (850) 753-8288, or visit our headquarters at 5709 N Lagoon Dr., Panama City Beach Florida 32408.
Shell Island is the undeveloped 7-mile-long barrier island that separates Saint Andrew Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. It is a unique place—a remaining example of the original natural beauty and wonder of the Florida Panhandle. On Shell Island, time stands still. Just as it did in centuries past, emerald Gulf of Mexico water washes miles of pristine white-sand beach. A few yards inland, the beach gives way to native coastal scrub, small ponds, and grassland where rare birds and animals flourish.
Any list of best things to do in Panama City Beach should include a day trip out to Shell Island, and the Shell Island Ferry® is the safe, convenient, and quick way to access this isolated seaside playground. Since 1994, visitors seeking out the best of Panama City Beach and local residents taking advantage of the natural gem right in their backyards have counted on the Shell Island Ferry® for the best transportation out to Shell Island.
The long stretch of resort hotels and condominiums lining the Gulf Coast west of Panama City Beach comes to an end at St. Andrews State Park, a popular location for camping, boating, and beach-going. The developed portions of the park only extend to the narrow channel that connects Saint Andrew Bay with the Gulf of Mexico. Across the channel, Shell Island stretches eastward like a sugar-sand daydream—unspoiled seashore far from the bustle of human activity. It’s the ultimate destination for beach lovers, romantics, outdoor adventurers, and anyone looking for a fun, relaxing day of sun, sand, and water. Shell Island is a true haven for wildlife, marine animals, and beach-goers searching for a pristine natural setting away from the urban development that closes in the beach to the west.
Among Panama City Beach highlights, Shell Island is renowned as the perfect spot for a day of playing in the gentle waves, swimming, or simply enjoying the beach. Walk the long stretch of white sand along the Gulf of Mexico or watch the children splash in the calm, protected waters just behind the Shell Island Jetty. Try snorkeling to spot colorful tropical fish, crabs, and many other types of small marine life. If you are lucky, you might encounter one of the dolphins or sea turtles that make their home in the waters around the island. Hiking the narrow island’s interior reaches and the shore along the bayside offers the opportunity for a closer look at Florida coastal native plant, bird, and wildlife communities. It truly is a different world out on the island, a rare slice of nature that has remained preserved and untouched by human development.
Shell Island is only accessible via private boat or the Shell Island Ferry®. With regular departures throughout the day, 7 days a week year-round, the Ferry is absolutely the safest, quickest, and most convenient way to reach Shell Island. Departing from the Adventures at Sea private marina at 5709 N Lagoon Drive, on the east end of the Thomas Drive/Grand Lagoon Bridge in Panama City Beach, the Shell Island Ferry® can have you on Shell Island with a scenic 15-minute run down the Grand Lagoon and across the entrance to Saint Andrew Bay.
The Shell Island Ferry® has a stable, spacious, catamaran design that offers plenty of room for up to 40 passengers. You can bring beach chairs, a cooler, and everything else needed for a fun day out on Shell Island. If you would like to try some snorkeling on your Shell Island day trip, snorkel gear rentals are available at the Ferry headquarters, with convenient pickup and drop-off on your departure and return Ferry trips. For those who crave even more on-water adventure, our famous Shell Island Pontoon Rentals are available in the same location.
Let the Shell Island Ferry® carry you away to a great day on one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States. The Ferry departs for Shell Island and returns about every 30 minutes from 9am to 5pm during the summer high season and runs every 60 minutes from 10am to 4pm during the spring and fall. Parking is free, with plenty of additional parking just across Thomas Drive at Captain Anderson’s Restaurant & Waterfront Market.
Get more information including seasonal schedules in the FAQ section below. You can also buy your Ferry tickets online with a few clicks, give us a call at (850) 753-8288, or visit us at 5709 N Lagoon Dr., Panama City Beach Florida 32408. Welcome aboard for your Shell Island adventure!
Ride the Shell Island Ferry® out to beautiful Shell Island to experience pure white sand beaches, emerald water, and the rare natural wonder of an undeveloped Florida coastal island.
Where are you located?
We are located at 5709 N Lagoon Dr, Panama City Beach, Florida right next to the east end of the Grand Lagoon Bridge. The Shell Island Ferry departs from the docks at Adventures at Sea.
Do ticket prices include a round trip?
Your Shell Island Ferry® ticket is valid for a round trip to and from Shell Island.
Do you offer group rates?
We offer a discount of 20% off the price of Shell Island Ferry tickets for groups of 20 or more people when you pay as a group. Contact us for more information and reservations.
Where can I park?
There is plenty of free parking in the lot serving the marina/boat ramp at the docks where you catch the Shell Island Ferry®. There are a number of pull-through spaces that can handle RVs or truck-trailer combos—space should be available if you arrive when the lot is not too busy. If the main lot is full, additional parking including pull-throughs can be found surrounding Captain Anderson’s Restaurant & Waterfront Market directly across Thomas Drive.
What time does the Ferry depart for Shell Island in the summer high season?
In the summer, outbound departures to the island run 7 days a week, every 30 minutes from 9am to 3pm, with return trips from the island to the docks roughly mirroring this timing. After 3pm, ferries continue to run from Shell Island back to the docks until 5pm. NOTE THAT THE LAST SUMMERTIME ISLAND-BOUND FERRY DEPARTS THE DOCK AT 3pm. NOTE THAT YOU MUST CATCH THE LAST FERRY OFF THE ISLAND AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30–4:45.
What time does the Ferry depart for Shell Island in the spring and fall low seasons?
In the spring and fall, outbound departures to the island run 7 days a week, every 60 minutes from 10am to 2pm, with return trips from the island to the docks roughly mirroring this timing. After 2pm, ferries continue to run from Shell Island back to the docks until 4pm. NOTE THAT THE LAST OFF-SEASON ISLAND-BOUND FERRY DEPARTS THE DOCK AT 2pm. NOTE THAT YOU MUST CATCH THE LAST FERRY OFF THE ISLAND AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30–3:45.
How can I find the correct departure time for my Shell Island Ferry® trip?
Ferry schedules vary according to seasonal demand and weather/water conditions. Spring and fall hours may vary according to weather conditions and passenger demand, so it is best to call ahead at (850) 753-8288 for the Ferry schedule during these times of the year. Be sure to confirm timings when buying your tickets and again when you arrive at the docks because weather and water conditions can sometimes alter the Ferry schedule during the day. Any time of the year, it’s fine to stay on Shell Island as long as you wish during operating hours for the Ferry, but you must catch the last Ferry of the day when it leaves the island.
How long can I stay on Shell Island?
There is no time limit for your stay on Shell Island. At any time of the year, it’s fine to stay on Shell Island as long as you wish during operating hours for the Ferry, but you must catch the last Ferry off the island at the end of the day. Ferry schedules change with the seasons, so please be sure to check the daily schedule when purchasing your Shell Island Ferry® tickets.
Are there restrooms on Shell Island?
There are no restrooms on Shell Island. The island is a nature preserve with no restrooms or any other visitor facilities such as trash receptacles, picnic tables, or shade pavilions. There is no trash removal service. Visitors are asked to be responsible and take everything they bring to the island with them when they leave. Please help to preserve the beauty of Shell Island.
Are drinks and snacks available on the Island?
Sorry but there are no concessions on the island. Shell Island is a pristine, undeveloped nature preserve. You should bring your own snacks and drinks and please be sure to pack out everything you bring in to preserve the beauty of the island.
Can I bring my own cooler?
Yes, you may bring your own coolers, beach chairs, umbrellas, and other beach gear. Be sure to take any beverage containers and food packages with you when leaving the island.
Can I rent a beach chair?
Sorry, beach chairs are not available at this time but you are welcome to bring your own.
Are pets allowed on the Shell Island Ferry?
We love dogs, but are sorry to say we cannot allow them on the Shell Island Ferry®.
May I keep shells that I find on Shell Island?
You may keep any shells that do not have living creatures inside. To find empty, unbroken shells, try snorkeling or wading in shallow water just off the shore and away from the main boat landing and beach areas.
Is it safe to swim on Shell Island?
Swimming is great on Shell Island, but be aware that there are no lifeguards or beach warning flags on the island. You can check online for water conditions, look for the warning flags near the beach in front of the St. Andrews State Park Jetty Store, or best of all, ask for advice from your Shell Island Ferry® captain and crew members.
What is the best place for swimming on Shell Island?
Water conditions vary widely at different spots on Shell Island, and can change rapidly during the day. The water along the bay shore of the island is generally much calmer than along the Gulf shoreline. When in doubt, stay on the beach or play in the protected pool behind the Shell Island Jetty. This is the best area for small children or non-swimmers to enjoy the water. Remember, your Shell Island Ferry® captain is always happy to answer your questions about water conditions on the island. On the Shell Island Ferry®, your safety is our number one priority!
Can I swim with dolphins?
No, human contact with dolphins is illegal under Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation regulations. There is always the possibility of seeing dolphins during your Shell Island Ferry® ride. You may even see some dolphins while snorkeling around Shell Island. However, these are wild dolphins in their natural habitat and it is best to not bother them. If you see dolphins, do not approach too closely. Please enjoy our dolphins from a respectful distance only!
