Monroe County Florida Keys · Florida
Fort Zachary Taylor beach
- State
- Florida
- County
- Monroe County
- City / community
- Key West
Florida Keys · Monroe County Florida Keys
A state-park beach with rocky shoreline, day-use facilities and a historic fort nearby. Choose it for beach time combined with history; bring footwear suitable for the shore and account for park entry fees.
Good fit: A state-park beach with rocky shoreline, day-use facilities and a historic fort nearby. Choose it for beach time combined with history; bring footwear suitable for the shore and account for park entry fees.
Plan around: Check park admission and closing times; the fort closes earlier than the park. Rocky-shore footwear and a dive flag for diving are distinct from current swim conditions.
PLAN THE BASICS
At a glance
- Parking
- Use the named public arrivalDetails & restrictions
- Dogs
- NoDetails & restrictions
- Restrooms
- YesDetails & restrictions
- Lifeguards
- NoDetails & restrictions
- Public access
- Public accessDetails & restrictions
- Beach driving
- Unknown · clarification pendingDetails & restrictions
- Accessibility
- Check the exact usable routeDetails & restrictions
Choose an entrance
Fort Zachary Taylor beach · named arrival guidance
See the entrance section for parking and entry details and sources. Follow the verified public arrival and posted manager restrictions; no private shortcut or additional entrance is asserted. See the entrance section for accessibility details and sources.
Official route / restriction details ↗Parking, route & accessibility evidence
Parking & entry: Use the named public arrival. Use the verified public arrival guidance and posted parking/payment instructions; exact current parking details remain unresolved.
Parking source ↗Accessibility: Check the exact usable route. Free beach wheelchairs available through Cayo Hueso Cafe or park office; exact independent waterline route unverified.
Accessibility source ↗Open the county entrance directory ↗
Use the directory to check each entrance’s identity and status. Guide map pins are approximate shoreline locations, not turn-by-turn entrance directions or proof of current opening.
Known for
Rocky-bottom swimming and shore snorkeling beside a historic fort.
Sources & review date ↗Check park admission and closing times; the fort closes earlier than the park. Rocky-shore footwear and a dive flag for diving are distinct from current swim conditions.
Rules & facilities
Check before you go
Check park admission and closing times; the fort closes earlier than the park. Rocky-shore footwear and a dive flag for diving are distinct from current swim conditions.
Sources & review date ↗Admission, payment & passes
Vehicle up to eight people $6 plus $0.50 per person; single occupant/motorcycle $4.50; walk/bike/extra passenger $2.50 (surcharge included in last two).
Sources & review date ↗What to bring & supporting visit details
Plan your visit
Enter Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park; the fort and swimming shore are separate visitor destinations.
Sources & review date ↗Public or private?
Public access
Who can visit: Open to the general public, including visitors, during permitted hours and subject to posted rules.
Entry route, fees & access boundaries
- Manager / access authority
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida State Parks
- Access basis
- This listing covers a publicly managed beach access or park, not a private guest-only beach.
- Where to enter
- The named manager lists Fort Zachary Taylor beach as a public visitor shoreline destination. Enter Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park; the fort and swimming shore are separate visitor destinations. Admission, permitted arrival routes and current closures remain separate; this is not a present-opening guarantee.
- Fees & reservations
- Vehicle up to eight people $6 plus $0.50 per person; single occupant/motorcycle $4.50; walk/bike/extra passenger $2.50 (surcharge included in last two).
- Restrictions & exceptions
- Follow the verified public arrival and posted manager restrictions; no private shortcut or additional entrance is asserted.
- What this label covers
- Named shoreline eligibility, not current opening or approval of every historical entrance.
Beach ownership, the route across land, public shoreline-use rights and access to facilities are separate questions. Rules vary by state and location. Use the identified public entrance or documented permission; neither a nearby resort nor an admission fee by itself establishes that a beach is private. A mapped beach is not permission to cross private property.
Access policy reviewed 2026-10-04. Not a live closure report or a property-boundary survey.
Allowed & prohibited activities
Florida State Parks prohibits consuming alcohol in public beach, paddling and first-come picnic areas. Separately designated concession, event and overnight accommodation exceptions do not authorize drinking on this bathing beach.
Sources & review date ↗The park provides picnic charcoal grills and permits personal grills in its picnic guidance; this does not authorize a shoreline bonfire.
Sources & review date ↗The park visit does not authorize an overnight beach stay. Florida State Parks requires overnight stays in designated campsites, cabins or lodges; this does not establish that Fort Zachary offers any such facility.
Sources & review date ↗Park guidance identifies the rock jetty beside the shipping channel for fishing; this is separate from the swimming area.
Sources & review date ↗- Hours
- Check destination and facility hours
Park 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days; fort closes at 5 p.m.
Fort Zachary Taylor beach · managing authority ↗ - Dogs on the beach
- No ordinary beach pets
Florida State Parks excludes ordinary pets from beaches; permission in other park areas does not extend to this swimming shore. Trained service animals are treated under separate accessibility rules.
Fort Zachary Taylor beach · managing authority ↗ - Lifeguards
- No lifeguards
No lifeguards on duty.
Fort Zachary Taylor beach · managing authority ↗ - Restrooms
- Named facilities · check scope
Restrooms and rinse showers documented.
Fort Zachary Taylor beach · managing authority ↗ - Access & beach rules
- Named manager restrictions apply
Follow the verified public arrival and posted manager restrictions; no private shortcut or additional entrance is asserted.
Fort Zachary Taylor beach · managing authority ↗ - Beach driving
- Use designated roads and parking
Use visitor roads and designated parking. Florida State Parks offers no ATV/off-road riding areas; golf carts and utility vehicles may not use off-road areas, boardwalks, trails or service roads closed to guests. This is not authorization for recreational driving on beach sand.
Fort Zachary Taylor beach · managing authority ↗
Conditions & activities Surf, sand, wildlife and suitability
Conditions at the beach
Saved reports below are dated snapshots, not live conditions. JavaScript refreshes them from official sources when available. Source timestamps and tide times identify their time zone.
Weather observation
Saved report · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.
88°F · Mostly Clear
- Key West International Airport · 5.6 km from destination reference · nearby reporting station, not a beach sensor.
Observation: 2026-10-04T18:45:00+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-04T19:03:18.793Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-04T20:45:00.000Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.
UV forecast
No current-hour UV estimate is shown in this saved page. Use sun protection; the live forecast loads when available.
Daily forecast
Saved report · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.
Saved forecast for this beach’s NWS grid
- 2026-10-04T15:00:00-04:00–2026-10-04T18:00:00-04:00: This Afternoon · 89°F · Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms · wind 10 mph E
- 2026-10-04T18:00:00-04:00–2026-10-05T06:00:00-04:00: Tonight · 80°F · Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms · wind 5 to 10 mph E
Source issued/updated: 2026-10-04T18:15:24+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-04T19:03:18.829Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-04T22:00:00.000Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.
High & low tides
Saved prediction · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.
KEY WEST. NOAA KEY WEST (8724580) is the disclosed tide-prediction reference. Key West harbor regional tide reference; harbor predictions do not establish beach or channel swimming safety. Prediction times and retrieval time remain distinct; no current observed tide is claimed. Predictions, not measured water levels or safe crossing times.
- 2026-10-04 04:17 · High tide
- 2026-10-04 11:40 · Low tide
- 2026-10-04 18:49 · High tide
- 2026-10-04 22:34 · Low tide
- 2026-10-05 05:50 · High tide
- 2026-10-05 12:45 · Low tide
- 2026-10-05 19:38 · High tide
Prediction dates: 2026-10-04–2026-10-05 · station local time.
Retrieved: 2026-10-04T19:03:18.952Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-05T19:03:18.952Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.
KEY WEST. NOAA KEY WEST (8724580) is the disclosed tide-prediction reference. Key West harbor regional tide reference; harbor predictions do not establish beach or channel swimming safety. Prediction times and retrieval time remain distinct; no current observed tide is claimed. Predictions, not measured water levels or safe crossing times.
NOAA tide station ↗NOAA swim & rip-current forecast
No usable dated snapshot available. Follow the official source link for updated information.
Forecast risk is not the flag flying at this beach. Conditions can vary within the forecast area.
Official local flag & condition status
Flag color: not currently verified
No timestamped observed flag connector is verified here. Follow the named authority and posted conditions; a forecast is not an observed flag.
The Beach Database does not convert weather or a rip-current forecast into a colored flag. Check flags and signs on arrival and ask a lifeguard where available.
Weather warnings & alerts
Saved report · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.
Alerts returned at the recorded check
- Coastal Flood Statement · Coastal Flood Statement issued October 4 at 12:21PM EDT until October 5 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Key West FL · source expiration 2026-10-05T11:00:00-04:00
Source issued/updated: 2026-10-04T19:03:16+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-04T19:03:19.141Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-04T21:03:16.000Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.
Weather alerts do not confirm swimming safety, lifeguard staffing, water quality or beach closures. No alert does not mean safe water.
Water quality
The exact named official reference is FT ZACHARY TAYLOR STATE PARK, EPA FL092123, STORET Monroe170. Latest retrieved report sample: 2026-09-22; enterococcus 10 as reported; advisory column No. Retrieved 2026-10-04T16:08:09.156Z. This is dated sampled-water evidence, not a current advisory determination or guarantee for the entire shoreline.
Sources & review date ↗Crowd meter
No measured crowd level is available; plan around its actual arrival and facilities rather than a numerical crowd score.
Sources & review date ↗Sand & sandcastles
The park describes its beach as sand and pebbles with breakwaters. This is shoreline character, not current water-depth, footing or wave-safety information.
Sources & review date ↗Surfing profile
No researched surf break or approved surf launch is established here; use the manager’s designated activity rules and current conditions.
Sources & review date ↗Beachcombing
Enjoy observing shoreline finds; collection permission and shell abundance are not established here. Check the exact manager/zone rules before removing anything.
Sources & review date ↗This guide does not promote this beach for shark teeth or assign a yield rating.
Sources & review date ↗Snorkeling & scuba diving
Park documents shore snorkeling and equipment rental. Rocky sea bottom; water shoes recommended. The park describes snorkeling from the beach near breakwaters; bring water shoes and check conditions. No surveyed swim route or current visibility is established.
Sources & review date ↗Park scuba guidance requires a dive flag and a buddy. Offshore dive trips are separate from beach access.
Sources & review date ↗Shore & sky wildlife
The park is on the Great Florida Birding Trail, with spring and fall migration noted. Bird sightings are seasonal possibilities, not guarantees.
Sources & review date ↗History & interesting facts
No separate shoreline history is presented without an attributed location-specific source.
Sources & review date ↗A closer look
Photos of this beach and its surroundings. Select a photo to view it larger. These are recorded views, not live conditions.
View larger ↗Fort Zachary Taylor beach · archival photograph 2025-11-26 17:10:11 · Julian Lupyan · CC0
Taken: 2025-11-26 17:10:11File:Fort Zachary Taylor Beach from the West, Key West, Florida.jpg · Julian Lupyan · CC0
Resized/cropped for display; original colors retained. Adaptations retain the stated license.
View larger ↗Fort Zachary Taylor beach · archival photograph 2012-11-08 · Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0
Taken: 2012-11-08File:Zachary Taylor Beach FL1.jpg · Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0
Resized/cropped for display; original colors retained. Adaptations retain the stated license.
Food, stays & rentals
EXTEND YOUR BEACH DAY
Food & drink nearby
Local dining recommendations
Cayo Hueso Café provides a meal/refreshment stop in the park picnic area.
Sources & review date ↗Accommodations by the beach
Pier House at 1 Duval Street is an Old Town lodging base; its own location page lists Fort Zachary as a nearby attraction. Plan a separate journey to the state-park entrance and pay applicable park admission; guest beach/parking does not provide park entry.
Sources & review date ↗Activities & rentals
Snorkeling equipment rental/purchase at picnic-area concession. Canoe/kayak/paddleboard launch at east beach end; hard-bottom flotation devices must remain outside swimming buoys. The park concession offers chairs, umbrellas and snorkel equipment. Beach wheelchairs are requested at Cayo Hueso Café or the park office.
Sources & review date ↗Explore nearby beaches
Sources & review date
Guide desk research reviewed 2026-10-04; this is not a field-by-field current verification or an on-site inspection. Official facts, dated agency evidence and editorial assessments retain their own scope. Unknowns and conflicts remain open. Methodology · Rating explanations · Correction history
An exact-location hero photograph is pending. No photograph of another beach is displayed.
Visitor experiences
Original, moderated reviews and photographs. Visit dates and entrances provide context; visitor ratings and reports do not replace official facts or current conditions.
Read approved visitor experiences here when available.