Fred Howard Park

This was our first time going. The beach was clean and easily accessible from the parking lot. It was quiet and very family friendly. The water was calm and gradually got deeper making it perfect for my two young boys to play. The beach at the busiest time was not crowded with plenty of space around each family. It's located close to the sponge docks and restaurants if you wanted to make a day out of it. We will definitely be taking our kids back this summer!

Went to Fred Howard to kayak. Easily found the launch, which was not busy. You start the day in a mangrove tunnel, which was a lot of fun. However you do need to get in the water briefly to get your boat deep enough in the water and it's muddy. Recommend to have bug spray applied as you go through the tunnel. Be prepared to break your paddle down and use it like a canoe paddle as the tunnel is very narrow. Between marker 1 and 3 it goes well. At 3, the path narrows nad you have no choice to turn towards open water. Once on open water, it's calm and relaxing.

A park ranger came around immediately at sunset and kicked everyone out. He was nice about it. Just seemed a little early. People were still trying to take photos. BEAUTIFUL place. Highly recommend!

Nice for a relaxing time to walk & get grounded They have portapottie right now. Great place to bring small children It's not very deep. The park is also shaded and beautiful before you get out to the beach

Beautiful location. Kids friendly beach. When we were there, too many sea grass on the beach. Even though we live in east coast of Florida, my daughter still enjoyed it.

Beautiful white sandy beaches. Not crowded on a Wednesday afternoon. Clean water.

I love this beach. It’s not usually as crowded as other beaches in the area, sometimes I see dolphins, there’s a little bit of shade here and there, and the sunsets here are gorgeous!

Nice spot to stay in Family, we love being so close to nature, this particular park has trail's bikes roads and kayaking zones to bring visitors safety and comfort. Visit and enjoy

This is my favorite beach to take my toddler. Parking is $5 and extremely convenient access to the beach. On summer days the lot can fill up quickly but if you get there before 10am you can typically find a spot. Some parts of the beach are shaded and the water is pretty calm, which is great for little ones. We always see wildlife when we go- horseshoe crabs, fish, birds, etc. the park also has pavilions and a playground. Last I went the playground was being redone. I haven't seen the finished product but it looked really nice. They also have great areas to walk and fish.

What a beautiful state park. It's almost a hidden gem. Perfect for relaxing for the day. Perfect spots for fishing. Great day trip for the family. Perfect date day trip. Affordable prices for activities. White sand beach almost. Can't wait to return :)

We loved this beach! It's a great family friendly spot- shallow spots for kids to play, parking is easy and bathrooms close. We found all kinds of critters in the water and just had the best day!

Fred Howard Beach is an awesome locals hangout. A great beach that is less known about by those vacationing in FL. Easy parking, clean beach, fishing, grilling, kids park, water activities, outdoor showers.

Perfect Sunset Spot with Gulf Views (and a Touch of Wildlife Comedy) Fred Howard Park is a beautiful slice of Florida coastline and an ideal place to catch a Gulf sunset. We visited in the evening with beach chairs and Subway sandwiches, and it made for the perfect low-key outing. The beach was definitely busy, but there was still space to relax and take in the view. At one point, a seagull swooped down and stole a bite of my friend's sandwich right from her hand--it was hilarious and a reminder not to get too comfy with your food! The sunset itself was absolutely spectacular, dipping directly into the Gulf with vivid colors and a peaceful breeze. We even spotted a mermaid on the beach (someone dressed up, of course), which added to the whimsical atmosphere. The park is large, with a scenic causeway leading out to the beach, and it offers lots of amenities like picnic shelters, playgrounds, a butterfly garden, and trails--though we didn't use any of those this time. There were plenty of trash and recycling bins, which helped keep things tidy despite the crowd. We didn't check if the bathrooms were open (they may still be closed), but the rangers were out after sunset gently encouraging folks to head out, which was appreciated. A gorgeous, family-friendly spot for sunsets, beach time, or just soaking in Florida's natural beauty. We'll definitely be back!

It is worth the drive to check out this piece of land, taking out in the ocean. Your first drive through a beautiful park and then come out on it just a road surrounded by water which provides lots of parking which is paying.

There's something magical about starting your day at Fred Howard Park--nothing beats watching the sunrise over the Gulf with your toes in the sand. This spot has become our go-to for peaceful mornings, salty air, and wide-open views that reminds us how lucky we are to live here! The water is crystal clear and perfect for floating, kayaking, or just letting your pup splash around. There's free parking in the park and along the causeway, or it's just $5 for all-day parking at Howard Beach located at the end of the causeway. Totally worth it, especially since that's how much you would pay hourly at other gulf beaches. At the park you'll find multiple pavilions, clean restrooms, and lots of space for grilling, gathering, or picnicking with a view. The walking trails are shaded and great for getting your steps in. Fred Howard Park isn't just a beach--it's a gem in our little community. It's one of my favorite places, and it will be one of yours too.

Fred Howard is a top highlight of this area! The park is full of beautiful winding banyan trees and is great for walking, biking, or driving through. There are several shaded play structures and quite a few pavilions that can be rented out for gatherings. The top highlight, though, is the causeway and extremely underrated beach! Tons of pay by plate parking, which is $5 for the entire day. Perfect if you need to sneak out for lunch and then come back. The causeway is great for walking the pups (no pets allowed at the beach) and the beach itself is phenomenal. Features full structural bathrooms which are temporarily under construction from the hurricane last year (temporary arrangements in place). And on busy days there is often a food truck serving snow cones and snacks. Great for a longer beach and also one of the best spots to watch a sunset over the gulf!

Beautiful beach worth checking out, especially for a beautiful sunset. The beach isn't as large or crowded as others in the area. Perfect spot to chill

Now this is what I would call one of the most random chill places I've found in a hot minute. One random afternoon I just decided to charge over here to see the sunset and what I found in as a park with a ton of trees then a causeway which took me to an island! The island was chill I found some rocks to post up on on the far left and just relaxed and watch the beautiful sky do the thing it was cool because everyone took off like right as the sun dipped leaving the whole island to myself for about the next hour until it got pitch black outside as there is little to no light here which just made for a really unforgettable night! Overall this is a radical spot I really hope to venture here again one day as it was just that much fun in soo many ways!

Another BEAUTIFUL regional park we "discovered" on my recent trip down to FL. If you want lighter crowds, (even on a weekend!!) AMAZING scenery, and clean, convenient facilities, this gem is a GREAT choice!! Lots of shaded spots, lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent, and more... Hope to be back for future visits, to catch those AWESOME sunsets!! ENJOY!!

I'm updating my review. We visited the park on 02/09/2025. I was thrilled that the park facilities were finally reopening after Hurricane Milton however the restroom facilities were not. They had outdoor Johnny on the Spots that were beyond disgusting. We arrived around 11:30 am. I have never been inside something so gross. To my left was a urinal filled with 8" of pee. The toilet had a mountain of toilet paper that extended beyond the seat. I don't understand that there is no one on duty to maintain this and why are the existing facilities closed?

I'll be Frank, this place is decent. The trails are nice and the ocean view is nice for a quick sunset gathering, and there are plenty of areas to have a picnic. If you have kids, then you'll be happy to know there are plenty of playgrounds. There's also a small baseball field for anyone to use too. Having said that, the beaches are really underwhelming...it's rather quiet (no waves), and it's filled to the rim with seaweed and other gunk; the water is kind of murky too. Basically the beaches are nice for fishing or relaxing, or seeing the sunset...but swimming? Hard pass. I'd recommend this park only if you want a picnic or gathering or even a birthday party. But beach-going? Not really.

Good for kids with little to no waves. Seaweed was extremely prevalent and after 20 feet into the water the sand turned into mud and seaweed.

We started visiting this beach more than a dozen years ago to walk our daily 2 miles (from the beach side of the Causeway and back to the beach is 2 miles) after we got off work. We always had a cool breeze as we walked. When we finished, we'd get out whatever we packed for dinner, and sit on the beach, eating our meal and watching the sunset. I don't remember when the park system started charging $5 a day for the beach portion of Howard Park. But when they did, we stopped coming. We found other places to see the sunset that did not require a parking fee. It is a 20-30 minute drive home, and the other beaches we found were closer. This morning I met a friend here, and she comes every Monday. Both of us are considering the annual park pass as it is less expensive than the daily $5 fee IF you plan on visiting at least twice a month. And it's good for Sand Key Beach and Fort Desoto Park. The pass is also good for two cars. Since the pass I paid for this morning was good until closing, Husband & I returned this evening (6/30/22) for the cool breezes & sunset. We both like this park for its soft, even sand, the clean restrooms, and plenty of parking. The parking fee is the worst part of the experience, and $5 is not that much to keep the area and restrooms clean!

Wonderful park and beach. Has a long causeway with several areas to fish. The beach is clean and beautifully landscaped. The sand is not the pure white like other beaches, but it's a great place to swim and catch a sunset or just spend the day. Kayak rentals are available as well as chairs and umbrellas.

Sweet little park. Really liked the little beach and walking trail. It was a beautiful place

An awesome park with beautiful views and many ways to stay active in a relaxing environment. We spent most of our time walking the trails and watching windsurfers enjoy the breezy day out in the Gulf. Along with peaceful walking trails, Fred Howard Parks amenities include Howard Park Beach, a baseball field, numerous pavilions, two playgrounds, multiple restrooms, and an on-site rental provider; of bicycles, kayaks, water trikes, pedal boats, and more. It cost $5 to park all day here. We did not incur any charges upon entry or while parking in the main section of the park. It seems you can park just about anywhere for free until you cross the causeway and enter Howard Park Beach. I highly recommend a visit to Fred Howard Park if you are in Tarpon Springs. The park is a wonderful place to enjoy the day with family, friends, and loved one's. If you do visit, be sure to stay until sunset, you won't regret it.

We went back today to one of the nicest beaches on the West Coast of Florida. The sand is sugar white and the water very blue. It was not overcrowded and the breeze coming off the Gulf was very cool. The park is as clean as you will ever find one. We even saw a Park Ranger cleaning a Grill Pitt which is so very rare. Another Florida hidden gem.

Great place any time of year except spring break, plenty of parking for $5 all day, there is lots of water access for kayaks all along the causeway and at the secluded kayak trail launch. The usual obnoxious doofuses on Jet skis (hence this review having four instead of five stars) are around so fishing will be dependent on if they are there or not, usually during the week is okay, but forget weekends for fishing anywhere but from the rocks on the NW corner of the park where the boats and jetskis are off limits.

Fred Howard Park has a beautiful white sandy beach. I visited later in the afternoon so much of the crowd left for the day. It was calm and wonderfully peaceful. My grandson enjoyed the water and played nonstop with several little friends that he met during our visit. Parking was easy with the automated pay station and the bathrooms were open. They were very clean and well maintained.

My cousins live near Tampa, so when they heard we were looking for a nice beach that's not overly crowded, has little traffic and easy parking, they recommended Fred Howard Park! Honestly 10x better than Clearwater. It took us 5 minutes to find parking, there was no traffic and it was 5 bucks to park all day. They have a strict rule of no alcohol, but that was perfectly okay for us and fairly normal for beaches in FL. We loved our day here. Would 100% go back!

Love this setting! Fred Howard Park is a park that lies right along the water in Tarpon Springs. We recently attended a party that was housed in a shelter that looked out over the water. The shelter was covered and had a number of picnic tables under it. There was a grill adjacent to the shelter and a bathroom a short walk away. In the vicinity of the shelter there was a playground, a walking trail and a biking area. The big draw of Fred Howard Park, for my family at least, is the beach. Fred Howard Park has access to a sandy shore that leads into the water. On the way to the beach we saw people boating, fishing and sun bathing. Parking at the beach costs five dollars. Credit cards are accepted. Rentable shelters, playgrounds, hiking, biking, fishing, boating and beaching. These are just some of the desires that Fred Howard Park can fulfill.

This is another of our favorite places for people watching dog walking paddle boarding etc. the kite surfers come out as the winds allow to put on a show. Or if you're lucky you get to see the mommy and baby dolphins come by and feed. One of the best spots to watch the sunset and the beach and trails are great! The Chapel comes out and even does beach baptisms there! Simply an amazing place

Awesome beach for families of all ages! $5 parking for the whole day which is a steal. Was busy when my fiance & I arrived to meet up with grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, siblings, cousins, nieces & nephews. A great family outing just soaking up some sun, playing in the water and building a sand castle! I always have a blast building sand castles with the youngsters in the family and creating memories that will hopefully last a lifetime for them all, and myself :) Will certainly return next time I am down visiting this area from new England. Though I did not partake, there are multiple locations renting kayaks, water tricycles & a few spots to buy food/cold treats. Be sure to be cautious when eating, like at any beach; the seagulls will steal your food. Be a kind beach patron and dont let your children throw sand at the seagulls... you just hit everyone around you with it ;D

Amazing place to relax, the nicest local spot. I love the quiet mornings, with my dog & meeting lovely people.

This a a great place to go for the locals. Very clean restrooms are available, and for a flat parking fee of 5 dollars, you can't beat it. There aren't any restaurants in walking distance, so you'll want to bring you own food and drinks. The beach isn't as "clean" as the St Pete beaches, and there's quite a bit of seaweed, but very nice overall.

Beautiful Beach Park no waves calm water nice Sandy Beach clean restrooms . Bring your beach chair and enjoy the day. 11/22/22 there is a parking fee

Fred Howard park is my favorite local park for easy access to the Gulf of Mexico. Upon first entering the park, there is a winding road leading through the wooded picnic areas with an abundance of picnic tables. The road eventually leads to the causeway out to the island. Many fishing enthusiasts park on the causeway and fish or sit in the sun. Once reaching the island, there is ample parking, bathroom facilities and access to the beach. The fun part is walking all the way around the island. It's a great opportunity to watch birds and fish, many different kinds of Florida plants and look for a few nice shells...or you could just go for a swim and sun yourself on the beach! Don't miss the opportunity to get a great sunset photo. Fred Howard Park and beach is larger than nearby Sunset Park, which also has an island beach. The sand is pretty clean and the beach isn't overcrowded.

I loved Fred Howard Park! There are options. The beach is on one side and water rentals are on the other side. When coming into the park you are surrounded by beautiful water on both sides of the road. There are trees when you first enter the beach and folks brought hammocks. What a great idea! Plus the beach is huge! There is space to lay under the trees which offers an alternative to laying in front of the water with no shade. The trees are just before the dunes but you can still see the water. There are restrooms which were pretty clean. But be prepared to wait in line as there are not many stalls. There was an ice cream truck on site which offered ice cream and snow cones. If you are in the area this is must stop. The water on the golf is so incredibly clear you can see to the bottom. I don't know about you, but that gives me a sense of security! There is a no alcohol rule so bring your solo cups! There is a park police presence so don't act up lol. Seriously, this is a must visit this park beach!

I have now ventured into Fred Howard twice and walked every inch of the park and beach. On my first visit here, I completed a 5K. We arrived early on a February day and it was cold. So, we explored the park before the race to stay warm. I loved what I was able to see. The park sits along the Gulf and has a beautiful view. There were a lot of birds and mangroves along the water. It has a trail that goes around a lake (which is where we ran). There is a really nice picnic shelter that juts out onto the lake. We also found a few fun spots like the rope climbing web. Today was my second visit. It was a very different day. It was hot, sunny, and packed. We parked near shelter 6 (the main shelter area) and walked to the beach along the path to the right. We walked all the way down and back. The beach actually looked pretty nice. Most of the spots were super shallow and there was a lot of space for family to spread out and distance. The very end of the beach was more sandy and "typical" Florida beach. The walk out there is incredibly beautiful too. If you want, you can drive out to the end of the beach and park. We were wanting to walk and sight see. It is a fun place to spend the day. There is a baseball field, swings, rope climbing web, beach, picnic areas and more. I would love to come back and spend some time in the water here. I also wouldn't mind coming back and walking around again. I recommend it.

What a wonder this place is; absolutely astounding in that you have a forest right along with trails that lead you out of the park that take you to a beautiful paradise island surrounded by crystal turquoise waters. Of course you can always just stay on the park side at all the picnic tables and have a leisurely barbecue with friends and family. Who could ask for anything more?

Absolutely Gorgeous!!! FHP is a great place to take your family, young & old, have a picnic lunch/dinner, enjoy the beach & surf and having a great day. You can take a wall along the shore line or the walking trails. Me, I prefer to be lazy and just enjoy laying on the beach and watching everyone enjoy themselves & their families and if you're looking to do the same, don't hesitate to visit FHP. You'll love it as well & will make it your go to place for sun & fun.

First of all, this park is not really easy to find, but once you get there it is worth it. I tried finding it from downtown Tarpon Springs by just following the signs. There are not enough signs so I had to whip out my waze. The park if free to enter, and the park part if free. There are several pavilions which I am sure you can reserve for a fee but other than that, no charge. The park has several walking paths and playground areas for kids, and even a baseball diamond. If you are quiet, you can spot several different types of birds. There were several hawks flying around an open field area, which was really cool. The park is a nice place to go for a walk, ride your bike, have lunch or just sit and read. However, not every bathroom is open every day. Some of the park's restrooms are only open on the weekends. Once you hit the causeway out to the beach, you have to pay for parking. It is clearly indicated on a big sign as you drive to the causeway and there are pay stations along the causeway and in the beach area. Parking is $5 a day (I think, I did not park here.) There is a vendor renting buggies and kayaks out by the beach so if you want to try kayaking it is a convenient way to try it. The beach is also really nice. There was no lifeguard on duty when I was there, but there is a lifeguard station so I assume that they may have lifeguards on the weekends or busy times of the year. I live closer to Honeymoon Island and Wall Springs Park so I would probably go to one of these first, but this is definitely a nice, well kept county park.

This is a great beach for the entire family. It costs $5 for a carful of people, but worth it. The park has a playground in the beginning and many great picnic shelters throughout. There is a mini causeway that leads to beach on the end. Dogs are welcome in the park and on the causeway to swim, but not at the swimming beach on the end. The parking is very close to the beach and so is the bathroom. There is an outdoor shower to rinse off. On busy days there is usually a shaved ice van on the beach. They also have beach rentals; kayakes, paddle boats, etc. The water is very shallow and great for small kids to play in. The sand beach area facing the beach has the best sand (to me). The sand on the other side of the peninsula is a little mushy for me.

Windsurfing, skim boarding, snorkeling or just relaxing under an umbrella gazing out at Anclote Key and the Barror islands that surround northern Pinellas county and the Tampa bay area. Howard park is the cutest beach and the ride out on the causeway is a dream. We brought snorkeling gear and after parking we hit the beach, put on our snorkels and headed out into the gulf. The temperature of the gulf was 84 degrees, perfect for me. I like warm water. We put on our mask and fins and started swimming out around the rocks. It was high tide and we saw mullet, snook, trout, grunts, sun fish, san dollars, horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, scallops and were hypnotized by the flowing sea grass that surrounds the beach. I give Howard Park 5 stars! Great perfect location for family and nature lovers. It is the REAL florida.

Ok for Local spot if you grew up here sure. just ok. and too crowded for what it was. Didn't stay. .

The best place to see the sunset , I go every time I get a chance , perfect place to relax and envoy

Considering how nice the beach and views are here, it's amazing that it never seems to be crowded when we visit. I've been here on numerous weekends and the parking lot is barely 10% full! Come by and check it out!

This is a great family beach particularly if you're looking to skip a crowd. It's rather small so you gotta get their early before all the parking is filled up unless you don't mind walking.

Why do I love Fred Howard Park...ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS! Who was Fred H. Howard? I'm sure many of you are like me when you visit a park and you're like wow how did this person get a park named after them...hhhhmmmm...well The park was named in honor of Fred H. Howard, former Mayor of Tarpon Springs first elected to the office in 1945. Mr. Howard also served as a City Commissioner and Vice Chairman of the Pinellas County Park Board for more than 30 years. Fred Howard was a successful real estate businessman who was very civic minded and served the area in many political and organizational capacities. Fred Howard worked to secure the property for development as a north county park for the enjoyment of residents. A bronze plaque at the base of the park's flagpole commemorates Mr. Howard's, "untiring efforts (to make) this park a reality. This park stays clean (I have to say I always see people picking up after themselves), the beach area has restrooms and outside wash-out shower nearby and the beach is never really crowded (mostly because it is off the beaten path) but as most beaches it's all about the timimg. Parking is $5 for the whole day (not sure how enforced it really is...so pay just in case - especially if you plan on being there all day) They take credit cards as well, and you can rent umbrellas and beach chairs. It is kid-friendly as the water is very shallow for a good portion of the beach, but then drops down drastically. So plenty of splash zone for little ones.  Dogs are NOT allowed on the beach. Only allowed in the entrance picnic area and causeway of the park, They must also be on a leash. Additional Amenities: 9 picnic shelters - reserve shelters online - 6 restrooms - 2 playgrounds - ball field - parking (fee charged) - Beach Parking Permit - Automated pay stations with daily parking fees of $5. Annual beach parking passes are available. white sandy beach - swimming area - wind surfing area - launching area for canoeing & kayaking - fishing, beach showers There is a vendor renting buggies, bicycles and kayaks out by the beach so if you want to try kayaking it is a convenient way to try it.  There are trees when you first enter the beach on both sides so if you have hammocks bring them :)  The only other beach in this area is Sunset Beach right next door and it is very very tiny in comparison.

Wow, what a beautiful area we discovered leading to a beautiful beach. It's worth a trip.

A beautiful place to visit. It's hard to compare it to so many other beautiful places that Florida has to offer, we are spoiled in that sense. If you are located in the Palm Harbor or Tarpon Springs area this is for sure a very convenient spot to visit.

Love a beach girls day. Not too many people. Beach is so clean and so are the bathrooms !!! Shocker !!!

Lovely park with a beautiful scenic drive to get to. Parking is a flat rate fee and will cover you all day. Tons of parking and spots on the beach for everyone. They have bathrooms and fountain water, but nothing for purchase, so bring everything with you. Since Howard Park is out on a peninsula, it can be very windy. Be prepared as I got wind burn in addition to a sun burn.

Beautiful at the end of the point. Watch the sunset from here. 5 miles from the docks

There is so much to do! There are walking trails, bike trails water, lots of wild life and so much more! Walk the causeway to the beach and do some snorkeling or kayaking!

This is a decent park located in Tarpon Springs. You have to go through it to get to the Beach. It has a ton of places to BBQ or hang out on the benches. A lot of great views. I see a lot of people wind surfing out here and kayaking. It seems to be a great park for gatherings. Not so great for a solo person. Check it out for yourself and see what you think.

Love this place! Depending on where you sit (I like to sit by the rocks away from everyone) it can make you feel like you are somewhere on vacation. Just peaceful and a great place to bring kids.