Fort DeSoto in Tampa Bay

Once we paid umpteen tolls (8 different toll stops) to get to Fort DeSoto from our last stop we found the trip well worth it. It’s like being in the Florida Keys as the park is located on spits of land or keys extending out into Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico with nothing but palm trees, live oaks, beaches and beautiful views.

The north beach at the park is rated as the #1 in the nation and is huge. It must stretch for 3 or 4 miles with parking all along. One area to the south is used for parasail or kite boarding which is quite exciting to watch.

The Campground is nearby and is really quite nice. It is highly wooded and you are warned upon arriving about the low hanging live oaks. It was most exciting getting into our spot and of course we have not been able to use the Datastorm to connect with internet because of all the foliage. As you can see the campsite is quite nice with the water right behind our coach.

Early morning and dusk views with the water so close is most peaceful. One morning we even had a small dolphin just off shore.

Fort De Soto was built and activated around 1900 and was really only an active post for about 25 years. Around 1940, some of the areas nearby were used as a bombing range with the resultant “holes” now offering excellent fishing on the nearby flats. We won’t have time this stop to do much fishing….maybe next time.







The campground at Fort DeSoto needless to say was super place to stay....nice and quiet and lots to do and see. We would highly recomend it to anyone.