As we reported last week, Lovers Key State Park is now open every day from 8AM to sunset.On Sunday we took a bike ride through the park to see what was open, what was destroyed by Ian and if the tram was running down to the beach. Watch the video HERE.
Here’s everything you need to know about the park…
The temporary park office is open 9 AM – 5 PM, M – F, and the temporary office phone line is 239-707-6328.
Many park facilities remain CLOSED at this time. The Big Carlos Bridge Parking Lot, Bait Shop, Boat Ramp, Fishing Pier, Hurricane Charlie’s, Manatee Outlook, Mid Beach Pedestrian Bridge, North Beach Pedestrian Entrance, Parking Lot #2, Welcome and Discovery Center, and the Welcome Discovery Center’s Learning Bridge all remain CLOSED. The Big Carlos Pass Parking Lot and North Beach Pedestrian Entrance are projected to reopen in June of 2026. No reopening timelines are available for the other facilities.
The park no longer has a Ranger Station, but they are still collecting admission fees. To pay, use the green Honor Boxes in Parking Lots #1, #3, & the Kayak Launch. Signs are located beside the Honor Boxes to assist you. Cash or online payment only. Park officials recommend bringing cash as phone service can be poor. Limited change is available at the Gift Shop in Parking Lot #1. No physical credit/debit card transactions are available. Entrance prices remain the same and are listed beside Honor Boxes.
The tram is operating during the same hours, but the route has changed. The tram still runs from 8 AM – sunset, but guests are now dropped off at the new South Beach Bridge Tram Stop located just before the last bridge. Guests are responsible for transporting themselves and their belongings the 800 ft across the last bridge to the sand. Beach wheelchairs are available at the tram stop.
The beach is OPEN, but not all of it. The sand from the South Beach Bridge to the Southern Point and from the Big Carlos Pass Bridge to the North Point is OPEN. The remaining portion of the beach is CLOSED for sifting. Wooden fences denote the closed area. North Beach is only accessible by boat or by walking the Service Road within the park. North Beach is NOT accessible from South Beach by foot.
The Lovers Key Adventures Gift Shop is OPEN. The Gift Shop is located in Parking Lot #1 and is open 9 AM – 5 PM, every day. The Gift Shop’s phone number is 239-765-7788.
Both hiking trails are OPEN. Because Parking Lot #2 is closed, visitors must use the Service Road to access both the Black Island Trail and Eagle Trail. There are signs to direct you.
The Kayak Launch and paddling trail are OPEN. Kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals are available at the Gift Shop. Swimming and gas-powered motors are not permitted in the canals.
The bathhouses are CLOSED, but restroom trailers are available. They’re located at the South Beach Bridge Tram Stop, in Parking Lot #1, & at the Kayak Launch. There are no restrooms on the beach.
There are NO water fountains available. Bottles of drinking water are available for purchase in the Gift Shop every day from 9 AM – 5 PM for $2/bottle. You must plan to bring your own water for your entire outing if you plan to visit outside these hours or do not wish to purchase water.
The sand beneath the water has NOT been sifted. The park recommends wearing shoes if you plan on swimming as there may still be debris in the water that could cause harm.
There is NO infrastructure on the beach. If lightning strikes within 1 mile of the park boundaries, tram services will cease. The park recommends sheltering at the South Beach Bridge Tram Stop restroom trailer if you’re caught on the beach in a storm.
There are NO umbrella, chair, or food services out on the beach. There are NO bicycle rentals available. Lovers Key Adventures is working to get these services back up and running as soon as possible, but there is no timeline currently.
There are NO grills available in the park at this time. Personal grills are NOT allowed on the beach, but guests may bring their own grill for use in the picnicking areas at the Kayak Launch or Bayside.
Lovers Key is not selling Annual Passes at this time. Annual passes can be purchased online at FloridaStateParks.org. A temporary annual pass will be issued immediately via email, the annual pass will be mailed. Koreshan State Park in Estero is the closest state park able to issue annual passes. LK will resume selling Annual Passes when their new Ranger Station is operational, but they do not currently have a timeline for when that will be.
Current Volunteer Opportunities:
Honor Box Attendant:
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- Encourage folks to pay their entrance fees when visiting Lovers Key!
- Explain honor box procedures when guests arrive
- Answer park questions and give directions to different areas within the park
- Hours: 2-4 hours per shift. Number of shifts is up to you.
- Tram Driver:
- Drive our passenger tram to and from the beach!
- Greet park guests, answer questions about the park, and assist with loading/unloading beach gear
- Safely drive a truck pulling two tram trailers with passengers to and from the beach
- Hours: The shift lasts from 3:30 PM – sunset. Prefer someone who can consistently offer one evening a week/every other week.
- Maintenance Volunteer:
- Work on maintenance projects throughout the park!
- Main projects include mowing, weed eating, trail trimming, and more!
- Current special project is constructing trash can holders
- Hours: 3-4 hours per shift. Number of shifts is up to you!
- Bird Observer/Beach Steward:
- Educate folks about our local beach wildlife, including shells, birds, sea turtles, and more!
- Walk Lovers Key’s beach and pick up debris along the way!
- Report unsafe behavior or conditions to Lovers Key rangers
- Hours: Fridays from 9 AM – 12 PM
Interested in any of these opportunities, send an email to Trisha.Schranck@FloridaDEP.gov
Thanks Ed for the ride through Lovers Key State Park! Very interesting and useful! 👍