Fred Howard Park Reviews

Not what I was expecting for a gulf beach. It was not pretty at all! There was so much sea grass, the water was not clear. Parking was $5,and there was plenty of parking. $30 to rent 2 chairs and an umbrella. We were thankful for that!

Great beach & very busy. We went thinking it was a state park & we could get our yearly pass there. It is a county park so we decided to check it out anyway. $5.00 to park, so that's not bad for a full car. We weren't there to swim or tan, so we drove back to the out section where it didn't cost to park. We were able to do a little walking & exploring. Beautiful park, but main benefit is the beach. We will go back when we have a carload of beachers.

Nice clean beach, great white sand, nice causeway with parking, quiet. Kids love it. Drive out to sea.

Spent what was a beautiful Saturday at Fred Howard state park. All i can say us WOW. Truthfully did not expect such a fun and sun beach day at a "park". It was more then to be expected. Parking was cheap and convenient. The area was clean and safe. From secluded corners for privacy to open beach areas. Bathrooms clean and accessible. Even had a Kona ice truck (for the kid in us all). We will be back Fred Howard. All in all a great day..

This place was amazing there was kite surfing clean beaches and a lot of parking not really but the admission was cheap as the ground you stand on dirt cheap and not too many people so I highly recommend for tourists

Wife and I came here to see the sunset. We were not disappointed! Very nice beach area with rentals for chairs, umbrellas, and kayaks. Sunset was stupendous!

Awesome park for kayaking and relaxing.
The scenery is just breathtaking. They have metered parking and sections with beach areas. There are several picnic areas throughout the park.

This is a huge beautiful park with a large wooded area, looking like wild unspoiled Florida, also playgrounds, picnic pavilions and then you come to a causeway that takes you out to a gorgeous beach! So incredibly beautifu! We were just driving around Tarpon Springs, exploring in the rain when we came upon this incredible area, but I want to go back in good weather and actually use and enjoy the park and beach!

Our favorite beach near our house. The causeway over to the beach is filled with windsurfers and paddle boarders. It is a great location for a beautiful sunset.

It's on the River, but that means it is extra safe for kiddos who swim! I understand that they have weekend music festivals--can't wait to attend!

We went on a Wednesday and there was hardly a soul there. Great parking, rentals (including paddle boats), and areas to walk. Highly recommend!

Absolute Paradise- After 21/2 years of lockdown- areal treat- 5 dollars to par all day, if you can cope with the heat

Nice small beach. Mostly locals. Simple. But had a quiet day in the sun. Easy to get to. No frills. Ok.

Nice place in North Pinellas to go to a beach. Free parking up to the causeway. After that it's $5. There is a kayak vendor at the beach.

Want Shade or Sun? Want to beat the heat or tan and swim? Or maybe you want to fish? Paddle Boat? Fred Howard Park is it. It's the most northern naturally occurring beach on FL's west coast. Now, I have to admit. I used to go here at least once a week but after they started charging $5 for parking, I changed my path. I still walk the wooded areas--don't have to pay for that. But I'm insulted that I, who live 2 blocks away as well as others who LIVE HERE, have to pay for a day at the beach. There are other options. But if you don't mind the $5, go for it. LOTS of parking everywhere. Water is mostly sea grass so if it's sand you want in your toes, other than the beach it's not prevalent here.

A treasure of tarpon, enjoy the park, play in the water. Please leave nothing on the beach but your footprints!

Parking on the beach side is $5 a day with credit card only, but there are plenty of parking spaces. We love this park because there are areas with shady palm trees near the water. It is quite and peaceful and you can easily stay all day in the shade. (I burn.) As with any park there are "critters" to watch for. Crows/blackbirds will steal items from a picnic basket in a flash. Convenient restrooms and outside showers. Rental items are available on one side (kayaks, etc). A kona ice snow cone truck was there two days in a row that we were there recently. The rest of the park is full of trees, has picnic pavillions, and a kayak launching tunnel of trees. We used to go to Fort Desoto's beach until they cut down ALL the trees near the beach area. Fred Howard is our go to place now.

We went to Fred Howard several times while we stayed in Tarpon Springs. There is a cost of $5 to park at the point where the beach is located if you choose to go to the beach. The park itself is very nice with plenty of trails and shelter houses. The beach is nice for the area and has kayak, paddle board, and paddle boat rentals as well which are all very reasonably priced. It is no Honeymoon Island, but for a nice day at the beach, it is perfect.

We love this park but are concerned about the safety of children here. An example was captured on 3/30/2019 @13:30 by my dashcam when passed by a blue Dodge Charger , which then passed the cars in front narrowly missing small children and people walking on the causeway. Of course there are speed bumps and signs but no policing. Also no means for me to forward my dashcam video with the offenders license plate etc to the Sheriff or any Park Authorities.

Having a private area to ourselves to swim and just relax. Lots of palm trees if you don't have an umbrella. We were visitors, only $5 for the entire day! Clean and white sand beaches. Took a picnic lunch, swam and relaxed. It was wonderful!

Great spot to take photos of the sunsets/sunrises. We were staying in Tarpon Springs so this was a convenient spot for us. We parked along the causeway, others drove all the way down. There were lots of people fishing & walking but still quiet.

I love this park
So clean and beautiful. Makes you feel calm. The water is so blue and serene. Bikes kayaks for rent. Can watch para sailing. Have a picture Nicole. Walk your dog. Lots to see and do here.

Absolutely one of the most beautiful parks around. Plenty of shelters or open space for family time (cook-outs, picnics) along with several playgrounds for the kiddies. Well maintained and huge. Walking trails, boat launch, bathrooms and a very nice beach at the far west end off the causeway. Can walk to the beach or drive (plenty of parking).

The park is a nice place for a picnic and for spending some time on the beach and in the water. Parking is quite reasonable at $5 for the day. The causeway to it is a very nice and relaxing drive or walk.

We went there a couple of times - once to launch a boat. It's an unimproved sand ramp into very shallow water. If there's any kind of weather or chop think twice if you boat has any size or weight to it.

Beautiful beach, that isn’t quite as crowded as some other more popular beaches.. great beach to just chill with family..

Fred Howard has shaded walking trails, fishing , wind surfing and sunbathing beach.
There is no entrance fee and parking is free everywhere except at the beach parking lot which is $5.00 for the day. The park closes at sunset.
The beach is clean and swimming in the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There are public restrooms available at the beach and an ice cream truck usually stops by each day for beach goers. Dolphins are often spotted as you walk along the causeway there are kayak rentals near the beach area as well. This place is family oriented and very clean.

Looking for a nice place to get outdoors, have a picnic, enjoy the water views, take a swim? This is the place. A local favorite!

Came to enjoy the park, walk ....and have a picnic. Bathrooms only open Sat and Sun. We left ...looks like a nice park but evidently they don't really want people to visit

Although it wasn't a really hot day we headed to the park to catch a few "rays". The park causeway has all been redone since I last visited here.The parking spots are now clearly marked all along the causeway and a fee is now required. The beach area is quite lovely...nice white sand and clean beach.There is plenty of parking ( paid ) and on a sunny hot day I'm sure it is full. The washrooms are clean and well looked after. It would be a lovely beach on which to enjoy a family day outing !

Of you want to get away from the maddening tourist crowd and find a quiet relaxing reprieve on the beach, Fred Howard Park is a great choice. We loved it. Very affordable beach chairs and loungers rentals are available. Parking is only $5 for the day. Restrooms and dressing rooms are available onsite. Just take snacks, food, and a cooler with drinks and your all set. Makes for a great day!

There is a causeway for walking or fishing. It is a popular place to see sunsets. A nice man made beach for water activities. Picnic areas and a kyak or paddle board concession.in the park. Good place to visit. Well maintained and very clean.

This is a great Gulf of Mexico park. Drive out and enjoy the beaches and the calm waters. Watched dolphins swimming near sure and water on both sides of the road. Very peaceful and enjoyed immensely. 5 dollars to park car and enjoy. Enjoy Tarpon springs , great food, sponges and small interesting sho0s

Well maintained parkland with beautiful beach, swimming, fishing, spectacular sunsets, dolphin viewing, and plenty of parking. Bath house and restroom facilities along with picnic grounds are an added plus. Much quieter than the more popular beaches to the south (Clearwater, Readington, Madeira,..) but just as beautiful. Spotted several dolphins just off the causeway as we were leaving adding to the pleasure of our visit.

Fred Howard Park is about 10 minutes directly west of downtown Tarpon Springs. The park has 9 pavilions, clean restrooms, 2 playgrounds, and a ball field. It's a great place to have a family picnic before or after hitting the beach!

From the wooded park follow the mile long causeway straight to the Gulf of Mexico. At the end is Fred Howard Beach, with white sand, clear water, and tons of shade trees. We brought beach chairs and a hammock, but you can also rent these items right on the beach, plus umbrellas and canopies. The causeway itself is a great place to walk, jog, or bike ride, with sparkling views of the ocean on both sides.

The beach area is shallow enough to snorkel and see tons of shimmery fish. We also spotted a large pod of dolphins right off the beach! The day we visited we noticed one side of the beach was much windier than the other, perfect for windsurfing or kitesurfing. There are kayak and paddleboard launch areas up and down the causeway. If you love being in the water, this is definitely a place to visit. 

We decided one Sunday to visit Fred Howard Park. I remembered seeing a clean white beach months ago. It still was. The beach area had a lot of dried seaweed along the shore; the water was very calm and the weather was pleasant up until we heard thunder and saw lightning. The restrooms were nearby and appeared to be clean. There are no restaurants but a food truck was parked nearby. A vendor rented out chairs and umbrellas.

Great Pinellas county park with beaches and room to walk for exercise. Located out in the Gulf after entering a park and driving out a causeway there is something for everyone. It’s a nice beach for smiling with clear area of 30-50 feet depending on tides. Plenty of parking for $5, or a $70 annual pass for locals. Clean restrooms and a Kona Ice truck most days for snacks. Also a rental facility for kayaks, paddle boards and bikes. The park you enter through has hiking trails and wildlife to see, please be careful and watch for endangered Gopher Turtles on the road. Picnic facilities and fishing opportunities are well. Fred Howard is a park all Florida residents and visitors can be proud of.

Howard Park is a beautiful place to just relax or get some laps in. Wonderful views, beautiful water and sand, good parking, and lots of birds!! Love it!!

We stopped by to walk on the beach and to enjoy being outside. We were there for the sunset. The park is very well kept, beautiful sunset.

Don't stop until you get to the end of the causeway. Not to be confused with neighbouring Sunset Beach, I think this is slightly superior. Nice clean facilities. Well kept beach and services.

Also recommend you perhaps stay to sunset and then take the windy drive back through Tarpon Springs to eat at Rusty Bellies (but expect a log wait!)

This was a very nice place to take your family to picnic and enjoy the beach. It was beautiful with lots of parking and things to do.

Been coming for years. The park area is very pleasant, clean and still free. If you keep driving you'll come to the bridge. Parking here or on the beach side is $5. but worth it for swimming, picnicking or just relaxing. Setting still beautiful and still a family beach. Great for sunsets and weddings.

My husband and I decided to check out this park!! It was a great place to swim and check out the wild life!! Just a note if your looking to swim out deep there is sea grass in water once you get out past 4 feet or so..

First time here. Great family beach especially with young children. A wonderful time had by all!! Atmosphere and beach was perfect!

We enjoyed this park. The beach area was beautiful and you could rent chairs, paddle boats, kayaks, and bikes. $5 all day parking.

We live in Tarpon Springs and love to drive through the entire park frequently. Great place to watch our beautiful sunsets. Many covered picnic areas that are easily accessible and you can also make reservations for a particular site. Better hurry as they fill up fast!

I have been here many times in the past 30 years - when our children were small they loved walking around and playing, Always a nice relaxing spot.

nice place to spend a few hours or the day relaxing, take a picnic lunch- can easily pick up some food at the sponge docks - like Limani , There are tables throughout the park.

A group of us drove to the park and left our car before the causeway. We walked the entire length of the causeway, around the park, and back to our car. The wind was great for walking. People were fishing. Others were walking and with dogs. Others were swimming. The views are magnificent. The water is really clean and you can see the fish.

Wow, this was beautiful! Lots of folks out today, but there was still plenty of parking spots available. Beautiful beach with palm trees close enough to put out a hammock. Looks like an excellent place to watch a sunset as well. And the non-beach part of the park is also well maintained with lots of pavilions and walking trails. I plan to come back when I have more time and stay for the whole day. Only $5 to park too.

A nice park and beach if you just want to chill out. Not a huge beach, and the $5 all day parking is a bargain compared to the hourly parking at the other more touristy beaches in Clearwater or elsewhere. Dog-friendly areas on the causeway. The park is nice with picnic shelters, grills, plenty of shady areas to relax if you're not going to the beach. Good for families, kids, or mature adults that just want to get some sun, swim and relax.

This park is a real gem for the area. Lots of shady walking trails, playgrounds, pavilions for gatherings and beach areas. Gorgeous views from rustic to waterside. Restrooms are available throughout and even showers out by the sand. There’s something for every age with an interest in the outdoors. It’s all well-maintained. The parking has a fee by the sand areas, but it’s a reasonable $5/day.

The best bargain in town. You can spend all day at the beach and it costs only $5.00 to park. The beach is off the beaten track and is pretty secluded. The water was clean and clear and the scenery is very pretty. It was also so calm that you felt like you were floating in a lake. I have only been there twice but plan to go back once it's not as hot as it has been all summer.

This is a nice beach. White fine sand and plenty of shells to hunt through if you wish. But its nothing special, no real facilities, take your own food. The day we were there it was very quiet.

The drive out to the beach was beautiful! There is a large parking lot, which charges five dollars to park for the day. There are bathrooms and showers stations located the beach. The water is pretty shallow and was raked for a good 40-50 feet. While this was nice, it left lots of floating seagrass and piles of seagrass in the water and on the shoreline. My son loved finding hermit crabs in the shells near the rocks.

The park extends out into the Gulf of Mexico. This is a great place to go to watch the sunset. Once the sun goes down the park closes.

This beautiful spot is just moments from our community. It it so very easy to leave about 15 minutes ahead of sunset so that we can get parked, select the music from our pandora lists, and get a glass of wine going for my bride. Then we just kick back and watch the beautiful sun sink into the horizon. It is spectacular. We used to take our children there to play. Now that they're all grown up, mom and dad have found a great use for the park for themselves! Just awesome all the way around.

Close to Tarpon springs, this beach area is nice to walk around on a coll day. It has ample parking and is clean. There is a fee since it is a state beach. sunset beach that is nearby is just as nice.

Better than some of the other beaches in the area because you can actually find parking in a holiday weekend. Beaches not huge and the sand is not thick but it's white and clean and the water was nice.

nice park for a family day out.water toy rentals showers and rest room available. Picninc shelters can be reserved for large groups

The park is lovely with great walking trail. But the beach is beautiful! And parking is only $5 for all day!

IT was a cool and windy day when we were there but it was still a nice spot. Easy to get to and lots of parking.

This is a great beach on the gulf. Parking is $5.00 for the day. You can rent many different items kayaks, paddle boards. We rented a kayak fun time. There are restrooms. A beautiful place to sit and relax at the beach.

Anytime the fam wants to go to a beach, we go here! It's always clean, even during red tide season! You can spot dolphins every now and again. This park is just overall AMAZING! The rangers that take care of the park are friendly, helpful and informative. They help me get an injured turtle to the right people for help. I love this park!

i just wanted to clear up the $5 parking figure that keeps getting thrown out. the rest of the reviews all do a good job describing the place. the park is open sunrise to sunset, so that $5 fee is for the whole day. they have half day and hourly fees, so it is not normally anywhere near that expensive to park there. if you go there a lot, there is an annual parking pass that might save a little.

Beautiful Park, beautiful place to watch the sunset, just go. Nice facilities. Nothing really much else to say.

It's a beach for locals and visiting family to chill, hike, nature watch and put in a boat. Rentals of small personal craft available and plenty of shallow bay to play around in.

Good place to relax and enjoy sun bathing. There were a lot of wind surfers and kite skiers on the water. We stayed a little while longer than we wanted to just to watch these guys on the water. Very fun to watch.

Decent place, but crowded and very difficult to find a parking place. Restrooms OK, there is a foot wash. Pavilions can be rented. Picnic tables. People doing all sorts of water activities, fishing, and sunning like us.

We were there twice this week with April 3rd our second visit. The bathrooms are still closed. Plenty of Porta Johns. Station with soap, water and paper towels to wash hands. Kona Ice truck there and they offer a variety of flavored ice cups, chips and hot dogs. Beach chairs and umbrellas for rent and they are setup in only one area near one of the closed rest room buildings. We arrived each day around 11 and were fortunate to find space under palm trees for shade but each day at 2 more people arrived and beach started getting crowded. On the other side is the kayak, water bikes etc. but no porta johns on that side. There are several pay stations where you use a credit card to pay for a day of parking. The water is still cool although I was determined to go in all the way. Water is clear with a few areas with seaweed but most clear sand. Had a great time.

Fred Howard Park has such a beautiful beach with all the accommodations for kayaking , sail boarding, and other types of outdoor sports. Sun or shade areas and picnic areas.

Nice beach with easy parking and well maintained restrooms easy access for fishing was a plus. We all enjoyed ourselves.

My daughter-in-law and I were there for a long weekend. The beach was clean and quiet. We very much enjoyed out weekend getaway.

This is a very nice beach to spend some time with friends and family. This beach is very clean with plenty of room to spread out. Recommended to spend some time here to just relax!

Great park to walk, watch wind surfers and those kite surfers (they are the best). Beach area can be crowded on nice days - limiting those of us who social distance. Pick an off day and you will be rewarded with a great day.

Beautiful park! Lots of hiking trails. Beach is well-maintained. No pets in the beach are. Causeway is great for walking, running, sitting. Rentals to use on land or in the water. $5 to park near beach. Pavilions look nice. Not many in use today. Many shady areas to enjoy. Water views are awesome!!

Fred Howard Park is a great and relaxing beach. the best time to go is during the week. The rentals are absolutely amazing. They are tons of fun for a cheap price. My two favourite things to do there are the Kayaks and the Paddle boards! Amazing sunsets and overall just an amazing beach.

We enjoyed the drive across the causeway. It's pretty but very low key. I'd rather not spend $5 to see it / park there. I'd rather go on the Dunedin Causeway and park for free, even though there is less sand... and have more to watch like boaters, kayakers etc. It did have lots of families and 2 bathrooms. There were laughing birds but really no others like we enjoying watching in Honeymoon Island state park or on the causeway.

Great beach and park area for all activities

Beautiful safe and not crowded the friday we were there of Memorial Day weekend. Clear calm water and you could see the fish swimming. Waves are calm and great for kids. Rest rooms close by. Palm trees scattered about. Very family friendly. Close to my son and family home so happy for them!

I found this park and loved it. There are walking trails, a playground for different ages and an island with white sandy beaches. You can even rent kayaks and paddle boats. There are restrooms and food trucks. Did I say that beach parking is only $5.00 for the day. Bring a picnic and watch the beautiful sunset. This is truly a hidden treasure for locals. Enjoy!!

Came here after some locals recommended to come here for a beautiful beach. This was more than what we expected. Beautiful neighborhood coming to the park and the beach itself was gorgeous. $5 parking fee for all day which is a great deal and definitely worth every penny. Beautiful sunset and peaceful. You can bring your hammock and set it up between the palm trees. They had a truck that sold Hawaiian Icee, and some icecream and hotdogs and chips. You can also rent water equipment and bicycles.
Definitely will stop here again.

A little tricky to find but worth it. $5 for all day parking. Beautiful Causeway to get to the little island. Lots of parking. Less crowded than Clearwater. Kayak & Paddle board rentals. Great visibility for sunsets.

Small but lovely breezy island end of causeway you will enjoy when not busy. $5 to park & toilets in restroom building. Bring all your own food & items.

This beautiful beach and Park has almost completely recovered from the devastating hurricanes that ravished our shores last October. The beach is open and the causeway repaired leaving only the restrooms to be repaired and reopened in near future. They have a long line of port-a-potties available for those in "need". It's been a long haul but the county is almost back to normal.

Shelters are always clean, beach it clean. Great for families and large groups. Rental kayaks available. Many people parasurfing.

I have family in the New Port Richey area who aren't beachgoers. We usually drive to Clearwater to spend the day at the beach. We were thrilled to discover this hidden gem on our last visit. The parking fee was $5. You could rent umbrellas/chairs for the day for about $30. You could also bring your own. There was a stand with snow cones and hog dogs but nothing else to eat. You can walk around the little island's beach area in the calm water. The water is basically thigh high throughout the clear, calm walking/swimming area. Lovely area.

I use to come to this beach often while growing up, but had not been here in about 15 years. Besides the pay stations to park on the causeway and beach, not much has changed. It's still a great park with a playground and a great beach. It is a smaller beach than some, but it is clean and maintained. I was not disappointed about any detail and am looking forward to another trip soon.

Perfect for families that enjoy being outdoors. Very clean and relaxing. You can go for a walk or jog in the park and enjoy the scenery or sit on the beach and soak in the sun.

We visited here while on a visit to Tarpon Springs. The beach is clean and tidy and there are different areas to sit or do activities. The beach is safe for young children and the addition of seeing dolphins was great.

It is definitely a hidden gem. We paid $5 at the kiosk to park for the day. The beach is really nice and clean. Beautiful views, and a great place to unwind. It is fun to watch the air surfers too.

The only place your dog can swim is off the side of the causeway, which is basically the highway. My feet were burning thru my shoes. Slippery side going into shallow, hot, stinky water. No place to rinse off. My dog immediately got terrible diahrrea after swimming.

Can get crowded on good days but not like Clearwater! Fun spot with fabulous sunsets. Worth the fee.

We stopped here based on other reviews and enjoyed our afternoon with our kids (10 & 8).

We hit up the playground first, after visiting the Tarpon springs sponge docks.

It was mid afternoon and we spotted two gopher tortoises coming across the grass near the play area. This was a real highlight and treat to see the tortoises up close; munching on vegetation and the kids even gently touched their shells.

The beach was fun....man made, so the sand is different than the pristine white you find at other local beaches.

Fun spot to go for a swim, rent kayaks or SUP boards, catch some minnows or crabs or just lay out on the beach.

Parking is cheap; $5 for the entire day.

A good find - we would return again!

My husband and I were in the area just for a super short stay and wanted to get some beach time in without insane crowds. We decided to try Fred Howard after a local recommended it and we are so glad we did! Lots of room for people to spread out, simple parking, and it never felt crowded. Definitely keeping this in mind for the next time we come down.

This is a well maintained state park. There is a long drive out to the beach area. Parking costs $5.00. It is a nice place to watch a sunset as well as sun on the beach. Convenient bathroom facilities.

Great beach. Lovely views. Folks were kayaking. Bikes and carts to rent. Lots of parking. Room for picnics and more.

We went snorkeling during our visit here. The sea grass is really rebounding. The water was clear. We were able to see a few scallops and various fish.

the park was quite secluded but we found it a bit of a wild beach with grass growing all over. it is close to communities and a lot of the locals go there. But it is a lovely place to go to read and relax.

The park is well maintained and has significant shade for those hot days. It's a nice place to walk, bike or kayak. The drawbacks are the rocky beach and $5 parking fee.

This is one of my favorite treasures of Tarpon Springs. The main park has multiple covered picnic areas, very shaded, with clean bathrooms. There is also a nice playground. Some of the shelters are close to water views. The road is well maintained and with easily accessible parking. The causeway to the beach also has nice walkways, both bicycle and pedestrian friendly. The beach has that beautiful white sand, several palm trees and clean bathrooms. This is a great place to visit, far from the maddening crowds of Clearwater Beach. Pay to park ($5), stay all day. There is no restaurant or food trucks, so make sure you pack whatever you’re going to want. It’s a smallish beach, and gets pretty crowded on the weekends and holidays. One of the local favorites.

This is a lovely Florida beach with beautiful palm trees to provide shade. Very large beach area, beach chairs and umbrellas available for rental. Kayaks, bicycles, paddle boards also available for rental. Large picnic area as you enter park. Great place to bring the whole family for the day. $5 parking fee if you do not have an annual pass.

Small beach, nice for an afternoon and picnic lunch. Watch out for the birds as they will share your sandwich if eating one.

We’ve been to Howard Park several times and it never disappoints. The sand is amazing, the parking is close and the bathrooms are simple and clean. Plenty of space to walk......or just sit and enjoy the beautiful view.

This is a great place to run or walk for exercise. The beach is also nice and it is not too crowded.

Fred howard has very ample parking beaches are quite clean great place to bring the family for a nice outing

Best beach option in T S, maybe tied with sunset beach because fred charges to park. All family friendly

Love going to this beach. It does cost $5 to park for the day. On the Gulf of Mexico. Great for laying on the beach and swimming.

Went to the beach here on the recommendation of a friend... it was perfect! Short walk to the beach, bathrooms close by, not crowded at all and palm trees scattered about the beach... it was beautiful... very quite too... water was shallow with no waves... perfect for kids. I can’t wait to visit again. Nature’s beauty at its finest.

We always enjoy fred Howard park for family outings . We go here at least 2 times a month to go kayaking or just lay on the beach and relax it's great for all !! Best little beach around hands down !!!

This is a locals beach. It's not very big, the water is a little too warm and stagnation and there are barely any waves because of it's location. If you are a tourist then I don't think it's a good destination. This beach is mostly meant for locals who don't feel.like driving down to Sunset or Clearwater Beach.

hello this a park and has a beach and restroom you can rent cayack and you can rent pavillions it has palm trees

We had a great time spending most of the day relaxing. We drove a couple of miles off us 19 and found this great spot. Come here for crowd free beach time.

The park looks very nice, but we just visited the beach, which is fabulous! Plenty of parking, very clean and well maintained.

Fred Howard Park is a good place for a picknic or sunning on the beach if you don't want to drive to Clearwater or St. Pete Beach.

Beautiful park! Beautiful sunset!!! Nice and quiet. Not a great place for shells or waves... not your normal “beach” but it’s perfect for a quiet sunset alone or with your special someone.

We ate the Oysters Rockefeller at a different place on the hotel zone every night for 8 days. Fred's was by far the best. All the food was delicious the service was outstanding. I cannot wait for next trip to Cancun to eat there again.

Very nice little park. Very well maintained with ample parking and access to a pretty nice beach. Parking is only $5 at the beach.

This park has several walking trails and you can walk right out to the water. There is plenty of parking and it's never too busy. Some of the paths are shaded which is nice during a sunny day.

After a very busy day spent as area tourists, we made it to Fred Howard Park to see a magnificent sunset. We were able to relax and take some very beautiful pictures.

Always lovely. They don't catch spring breakers and so it's pretty calm out there. Nice place to visit and chill. Surprised that dogs not allowed in parking lots either especially when you are traveling. Certainly worth a stop. Nice picnic area.

My husband, myself and our three children ages 12,7, and 4 spent a week in Holiday. We LOVED Fred Howard and lovingly referred it as Freddy Howard Beach. The waves are calm but present. It is not a busy beach AT ALL. They do have rentals such as kayaks and paddle boats and I believe umbrellas. We took an umbrella the first day but never used it. We spent a lot of our time here collecting shells and playing in the water. There was a large amount of sea weed but stormed almost everyday we were in Florida. I don’t know if the amount of seaweed was normal or due to the storms. Either way, it didn’t bother us. In fact, it makes it seem more natural this way. We found crabs and clams while shell hunting. It was truly one of our favorite spots to go and we plan to return next year! Also, the sunset is amazing!

We were there on Sunday...dogs on the beach/island... which is prohibited, deficating, no clean up... motorcycles using the area for a racetrack... very dangerous for children.

Beautiful place for visiting the beach and walking around on the paths. Very nice covered picnic pavilions. Parking and pavilions no doubt get very crowded on weekends.

Clean with lots of families. Lots of options for families and worth a driving excursion at the least.

We spent the afternoon here, and I think we did a little bit of everything. The kids and I looked for creatures and wildlife, swam at the beach, and even rented paddle boards. There aren't a lot of shells, but we did find several hermit crabs on the swimming side of the beach. The water had vegetation growing, but not enough to end up in swim suits or hair. Parking was really easy, and the drive out was beautiful.

I say this so I can enjoy this beautiful beach/area with one less person.
Out of the many Pinellas county parks this
Might just be my favorite. Soft white sands and off the path enough that you can enjoy the place on the weekdays without big crowds.
Bring your drinks and snacks..

Beautiful beach, not very crowded, islands and mangroves to explore and play around in. Facilities inland away from the beach lightly used.

My family who lives in area love this beach. As a visitor, I find it just ok and am more than happy to drive a bit to find a better and cleaner beach. You are able to park close to beach and the drive across causeway allows you to spot a dolphin. All told, nice for a quick stop or sunset but if you are looking for a beach experience I would recommend going somewhere else.

it is a beautiful clean beach that isn't too crowded and off the beaten path. If you are just going to swim and sunbathe then it is a great place

This is best place in Tarpon Springs to watch sunset. Came here for peace and solitude and I got it for sure. The beach is well taken care of and plenty of bathrooms closeby. The water was great and found lots of cool shells. I definitely recommend this beach and park to all that read my review. You’ll definitely enjoy this place.

Love this park. So easy to get to. So easy to park your car. Costs $5 I think it was. They have a kiosk to pay for the parking. Debit or credit card only. Easy to do. There are bathrooms and showers. Clean. Palm trees to sit under if you forgot an umbrella.very calm water. Great for kids and great to snorkel. Pretty white sand beach. Was vacationing & this turned out to be my family’s fave beach area!! Clearwater beach was so crowded. Howard park much more laid back and better for kids.

Amazing beaches and causeway with great fishing also... we visited several times to this place as it is a great place to relax and enjoy the beach... only 5$ to park for the day... kids loved it also... only downside is the cost to hire umbrella and sun beds so my advice would be to bring your own

Yes, he was my uncle!! His dad came over from Damascus, Syria in 1895. Long time ago. He owned Howard’s bar in Bowling Green, Ohio!! Well known.

Don’t miss this wonderful hide away along the water. Great facilities, rest rooms, pavilions. Beach parking is $5 a day. Also available for rent are chairs and cabanas. Make it a perfect Gulf day!

Unfortunately the red tide has settled in to Fred Howard Park. Check before going as you can’t swim and it will make you cough. Don't love the sand on this beach. Lots of rocks. Beautiful, calm water - great for very young children. I have seen dolphins here in the past.

Do you want to go to a quite get away? Try Fred Howard Park. My wife and I were riding the Pinellas Trail and heard from a local that it would be worth the side trip to go out to Fred Howard. The ride was mostly urban bike lane to the beach but once there it was beautiful! Small groups of palms can be used to hang your hammocks! The beach was white sand. In the park you can rent kayaks or launch your own. They also have pavilions that can be reserved for your group.

My wife and I were spending the weekend at Tarpon Springs and decided to go to Fred Howard Park and watch the sunset. A big storm had blown through the afternoon so we were unsure if it would be a good night to see the sunset.

If you go during the day, there are plenty of water activities available for rent (i.e., kayaks, paddle boards, water tricycles, etc) and even bikes.

There are self pay machines to pay the $5 parking fee for all day. You get a dated receipt so you could come and go all day.

The storm did not break quite as soon as I had hoped for the money sunset shot but it did provide some dramatic skies and a nice evening.

the drive into the park was beautiful, peaceful. Once back to the beach, you glimpse the beauty and, for me at least, the uniqueness of the Island. It wasn't large and it was possible to walk all the way around it, in the water. I loved it.

Visited on a Wednesday and there were still lots of people. But didn't seem too crowded. Parking was $5 for the day and there were lots of spaces available. Walked around and saw lots of birds and some beach flowers. Watched the kite sailing or ???. It was a fun day and we got a little bit of a tan :-) to take back up north.

I shouldn't rate this five stars, now the beach will become crowded! The beach is pristine, very family friendly with lifeguards, bathrooms and showers, also an umbrella and chair concession on the beach if you need one. Parking is by the carload for only $5! It's fun to just sit in the water while the kids romp in the surf at low tide. Great place to also just sit under a tree and read a book.

Great beach for families of small children, or just hanging out. Volleyball nets, bathrooms on site, rentals for paddle boarding. Great place to stop and watch the sunset and spend the day. The waves are generally not too big at the beach.

This beach was smelly and there was seaweed washed up everywhere. Not clean! Cigarette butts everywhere.

nice and clean. plenty of parking, water looked inviting, nice to know the history of how it came to be

Our family has been enjoying Howard Park since our teens were toddlers. The forested area has many picnic spots, walking trails and a playground. The beach slopes gently away and is perfect for kids. Now that the kids are grown my husband and I enjoy biking out to the beach to see dolphins, bird watch and watch the wind surfers. This is a very well maintained park. Enjoy!

Just had time enough to drive through...so glad we did. Not crowded. Very peaceful and absolutely beautiful. Hope to come back someday to enjoy the beach!

The drive into the park is pretty. It was interesting to see cars parked along side on the way to the beach. The beach was a little crowded but nice sand. It cost $5 to park & we were only there an hour but it's just one price.

Wonderful Beach on the Gulf of Mexico, 5 dollar charge for parking all day. Has chair and umbrella and a place for everyone,shade or sun or in between.

nice beach. not to crowded.. good place to fish if you wanted off the roads. towards the beach area its very clean

Went to Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks for some shopping, and ate at Rusty Bellies for dinner. I wanted to surprise my wife so I ordered us dessert to go. We drove to Howard Park to catch the sunset. It is a beautiful drive thru the park. There is a long peninsula to the beach area. The sand is very nice. We set up chairs, and watched a beautiful sunset. The beach isn't huge, but would be very nice for swimming and sunbathing.

There was parking along the whole causeway, as well as a large lot at the end. So much spac e walk along the causeway, and lots of skimmers, terns, and gulls on the beach. Clean and seemed to be beautifully maintained.

I go there by myself to relax or take my 5 year old son to play. It is a waveless, clear, shallow beach. Great for little ones to run around in and fun to find all kinds of sea life. It does have bathrooms and a couple of stations to wash the sand off before you head to the parking lot. We took our snorkel masks and saw all kinds of fish swimming along the grass beds. I would not want to walk in the beds and my son was terrified of swimming over them but is it fun to float along the surface and see all the fish. We saw a family having a birthday celebration with several tables, coolers and tents set up for the day. They do have beach chairs and umbrellas for rent too. There is no better way to spend a day then relaxing on this beach and soaking up the sun.

This is a large, gorgeous park! Its a great place to spend some time outdoors- whether going for a walk or relaxing on the beach...and bring your dog-- they allow them here!

I loves this beach. Was there most of the day and had nothing but fun. Awesome shell searching could have spent more hours looking lol. Highly recommend this beach.

With Covid there wasn’t much social distancing, very crowded beach. You had to pay to park so we left!
I totally recommend Sunset beach if your in the area

Park itself is nice. I’m a local. Typically come here everyday to watch the sunset. This review is to the park ranger who is very rude. We stopped at the park to watch the last 10 minutes of sunset and was ticketed $30. We even apologized to him nicely and he didn’t want to hear it. Who tickets during the last few minutes of sunset at a small beach with families?? It was also the first time for my guest as well. Ruined our mood for the night. Will now go to anclote park for sunset instead which is also small and nice. Check it out! There’s also a dog park near there and a really nice fishing pier and the people that work there aren’t rude like at Howard

Views were beautiful! Except for the nasty sea grass along the beach. In the water the sea grass is everywhere but they cut out paths for you to walk around in. They cut it back along the beach mostly to about your knees, so perfect if you have little ones. If you like to get out and swim not so much unless your ok with the grass. There are a ton of small fish and basic shells to find. (Most of the cool shells have hermit crabs- cool to watch.) We also saw a few big crabs and a baby shark. The area has lots of birds, walking paths, and areas to ride your bike. You can rent different water boats, beach chairs and umbrellas. They also have the basic outdoor rinse off showers and bathrooms.

Hint- If you are going to walk and explore the paths off the beach be sure to bring bug spray. We went on a very short walk and got ate up by bugs.

Terrible for swimming The water is filled with seaweed on the bottom, there are sand bars you can walk on, but they are narrow & don't go out that far. Plus tons of different size fish hitting our legs, it was horrible. Could not swim. Big disappointment.

Beautiful and full of nature.
Lots of wildlife to see and the room for biking and fishing and family games is great.
Always a nice time and the dolphins and manatees are so awesome to see.

We almost didn’t come here because it’s a way off the main highway but I’m so glad we did the sunset was gorgeous and parking was easy. It’s like your out on your own little island

We parked in the car park just before the causeway (which is free) and then walked on the causeway over to the beach.

It doesn't take too long to walk across and the views are amazing on both sides.

There are restrooms by the beach as well as where we parked before the causeway.

Great fun watching all the kite surfers on the island, and although it was very very windy we enjoyed walking round on the beach.

Definitely recommend coming here but park for free before the causeway and do the walk across.

One of Pinellas's county parks, Fred Howard Park offers shady picnic areas (with bbqs), a causeway with places to put in kayaks, windsurfers, SUPs and an island surrounded by a sandy beach. It's a great getaway, but be aware there are bathrooms but no vendors so bring your food and drinks with you!

Despite growing up in Tampa and frequenting Clearwater/St Pete beaches, this was our first time to Fred Howard. It was great! A little challenging with GPS for some reason (probably our own mistake) but parking inexpensive and close to shore, not overly crowded, nice bathroom facility. Great for families with kids because it wasn’t so crowded. Bring food if you want snacks or meals because there doesn’t seem to be any there!

This is one of the most beautiful little parks. I enjoy it every time I visit this area. Palm Trees, Beach, Sunset Views, facilities, ... it is great.

Not much of a beach compared to what Pinellas has to offer. We didnt stay. No sugar-sand & muddy water. Don't bother unless youre dropping in for water sports.

Very large park to walk around. I think about 200 acres. Travel across the mile long causeway to get to the beach. Nice sandy beach and you can also fish there. Wasn't too busy through the week. $5 charge for parking.

Fishy smell. Seaweed everywhere. Not the best place unless you are kayaking or with little kids. Np waves.

I saw maybe the most amazing sunset ever from this location. It is a very small island providing 360 degree views. Great family picture spot!

Found it by accident and it will always be on my list. So well maintained and huge.so gorgeous. Not easy to find.

First visit here. An island with a man-made causeway out to it. Perfect sand, beautiful palm trees, perfect place to watch the sun set with all water surrounding and no trees in the way and a chance to see the "green flash." It is $4.00 for all day, but there is also a large area on land with all the moss and live oaks and palms you could ask for.

Beautiful and serene. Great little side trip close to Tarpon Springs. We picked up lunch and had a picnic. Highly recommend

Visited today, lots of parking, nice sandy beach, walked around the island see dolphins and fish. Was clean, food truck and just a great place to relax.

This is a quaint little beach and park. You really need to figure out the best times to go. The weekend is a full house and your sitting on top of other people. Definitely go during the week to really take in the beauty.

The beaches in Howard park are white sand. It is a good place to go for families as the beech is not as vast as Clearwater. You might even catch a wedding being performed as we did. Then to end a perfect day watch the sunset.

The beach at Fred Howard Park was beautiful. There were many families enjoying a beautiful day. The water was extremely clear. There was plenty of parking which is a real blessing because some of the beaches require a majority of your time be spent in traffic or searching for parking. Swimming, fishing, or flying your kite it is a great place.

Very nice area for walking picnics or sitting on beach
The areas are clean and family friendly
Would definitely come here rather than fight the crowds and parking At Clearwater

Fred Howard Park is a lovely beach, and the place did not have a lot of people, but with the five-dollar park for each car, they should clean the beach so much seaweed in the water, and outside in the sand was uncomfortable to swim. Bring your food because one ice cream is $5. But my biggest complaint is the beach has so much seaweed and doesn't look nice when it is not free; the government should clean the beach with the money they get from us paying for parking.

Nice park with great beach – but St. Pete is my favorite

Fred Howard Park is definitely worth a visit. The location is fantastic, the access via the long dam to the small island is already fun, and the beach there is quiet and clean. Perfect for relaxing, swimming or just enjoying the sunset.

Nevertheless, I have to say – I personally like the beach in St. Pete (e.g. St. Pete Beach or Pass-a-Grille) even better. There the water is usually clearer, the sand finer and there is more life and infrastructure around it.

But if you like it quieter and more natural, Fred Howard Park is the place to be. A nice place for a relaxing day trip!

Well maintained family beach! Beautiful! Clean facilities and plenty of beach! Causeway caters to runners, swimmers, bikers, and walkers. Plenty of water activity options. Great place to day camp and picnic. Not pet friendly.

Beautiful scenery. There were few people around. We have spent a whole day there. It is easy to walk along shoreline.

This park has it all. Picnic areas covered tables, shade, bath houses. There is a fee, but it keeps the park in great shape.

Parking was $5 a car but plenty of spots close to the beach. Bathrooms were clean. Beach wasn't crowded on a Saturday Memorial Day weekend. No waves so great for little ones. We will return here!

Nice trail. Has several spots to park. Has public restrooms. Has a playground. Has a trail that is pet friendly. Has a beach at the end with paid parking.

Beautiful beach, kayaking and other equipment for rent in the lagoon, beautiful sunsets and nice ride out to the beach...there’s an attached park just before the beach with picnic pavilions and tables

One of our favorite places to watch sunset. The park closes 30 minutes after sunset so be prepared to leave.

We visited Fred Howard and loved being around the beach! There is a ton of sandy area so each family had their own space. It was a great family day at the beach!

Awesome beach to go to away from the Clearwater St Petersburg crowd. Clean. Clearwater water. Bathrooms and rinse off showers, Kona Ice truck. Would definitely go back.

Good beach area to chill out at, fish, swim, sunbathe or go boating
The water is very warm and shallow so is perfect for families although there is a little seagrass but this helps if you want to snorkel
Plenty of fish and wildlife to see so the kids should be happy for hours

This really is a good family park. The water is clear but there is a ton of sea-grass at this park. Plenty of water rental toys (kayaks, bikes, etc). Umbrellas and chairs for rent, at least on the weekends.
We enjoyed our family excursion out on paddle boards today, water is typically calm on one side of causeway so it always a good spot to drop in.
Bathrooms, showers on site, water fountain and new bottle re-filler are great to use!

Eeewwwwww. It’s ridiculous that the regular bathrooms still aren’t open. Is the park director someone who owns a porta potty business? Because there’s absolutely no reason for things to be delayed this long.

My husband and I drove to this park to take a walk on the beach. It was so nice there and the views were excellent

If you found Clearwater manic, couldn’t park or just too busy then this is a fantastic alternative. It’s a bit of a drive but once you’re there it’s great.

Parking is $5, but there’s lots of spaces and you get easy access to the water, toilets, beach shower, a small shop and water craft hire. Everything else you need to bring yourself.

Beautiful views and lifeguards to keep an everyone safe.

Very quiet when we visited, but as the temperatures go up, I expect visitor numbers will as well.

We had sunburn from the day before so we didn't want to sit in the sun. There are palm trees at this beach and we were able to sit under one. Brought a picnic and enjoyed ourselves. Beach was crowded, spring break, but it was fine. $5 to park all day.

Really lovely beach area and we spent quite a few hours here relaxing. The only thing that spoiled it was the people who feel the need to have their music on for everyone to hear. There were three different genres of music all competing against each other. We came away then as the peace and tranquility was well and truly shattered.

Staying locally we, like a lot of people enjoy experiencing the local parks. We don’t understand a lot of the negative reviews as this is a place to enjoy what the area has to offer.

We wandered around for 1.5 hours chatting to both locals and tourists like ourselves on the way and appreciated what the area has to offer.

Give it a go, you won’t be disappointed..I hope..!

the beach goes outa mile to the Gulf of Mexico there is swimming boat rentals shower and bath wonderful Beach, dolphin encounters also can go fishing there you can also see the lighthouse,across the bay on Anclote Island .

Lovely beach with plenty of little coves for privacy. There are rest rooms but you need to take food and drink with you. 5 dollars to park all day - card payment only. Great for swimming and we saw dolphins. Plenty of parking and quieter than Clearwater

Great little beach! My family loves it when they visit in March and October every year! Usually see dolphins here. Highly recommend.

Lovely picnic areas, walking trails, a kayak launch into incredible mangrove, and a beautiful beach as well. Bathrooms available, bike and kayak rental, and some of the best sunsets!!!

Husband and I drove around the park and out the causeway to the white sandy beach of Fred Howard Park. There is a $5 fee to park but it’s worth it. Lots of room to sit back on a beach chair, relax, watch the waves, people kiteboarding, wind surfing or just read. The sand is a beautiful soft white with sea shells mixed in. Just be careful it’s easy to forget the time and get a sunburn so set a timer to cover up or re apply sunscreen

Fun place for an afternoon trip to the beach. It was uncrowded with ample parking. It does cost $5 for parking. Chairs and umbrellas were available for rent. There were also canoes and other water toys were available.

We took him on awesome bike ride out through the park to the beach. Crossing the causeway was very fun. There is plenty of parking and the view from the beach is terrific.

I almost hate to let this secret out!!! This is somewhere I had not been in over 30 years but it is just as fabulous as it was then! My husband and I enjoyed relaxing days out on an island (just a short drive out from the park). Plenty of parking, immaculate beach, lots of room, NOT CROWDED at all!! What a lovely day.
Now that I have said this I hope it is enjoyed by all...but at the same time I hope to find it not crowded when we return next fall!! (ha)

The park is very peaceful and relaxing Just nice to walk around or sit and relax. I love the area. Worth a stop

We visited Sunset Beach because we heard how beautiful it was. We saw on the map Howard Park so we decided to check it out. This park is a hidden gem! The beach was beautiful and not crowded at all. There is a lifeguard there. The sunset was amazing! The park itself has picnic areas, ponds, walking trails, and so much more! I'll let the pictures do the talking. The park is free but it costs $5 for the whole day to park near the beach. Well worth it!

Very nice park. Nicely kept, pavilions for picnics and family gatherings. We parked in the main part of the park and walked out the causeway to the beach. Although it was a windy day on the causeway and at the beach, we enjoyed the walk. Loads of birds to see. Very enjoyable experience.

Our family loves it here! So clean and not at all crowded. You can easily separate and have a safe time (during this time of COVID). It is not commercialized, so no restaurants etc, but just a nice quiet place to get away from it all and experience beautiful nature and each other.

Beautiful location - very nice place to visit - wonderful views of the ocean. Very nice beaches. Loved it

This is a nice beach. The parking is limited just like most nice beaches in Florida. There is also parking along the causeway, if you don’t mind walking.

Picnic tables and pavilion amenities. $5 pay to park with plenty of spaces. Beaches. Kayak and paddle board rentals.

The park is beautiful with a lot lay ground and picnic area. We chose to eat on the beach and we’re entertained by the sea gulls-friendly but not aggressive. The beach is nice and had lots of families.

A delightful beach, easy to access, on the gulf, with small craft (kayak, paddle-boat, paddle-board) rentals available. areas to fish, swim, picnic and hike. Worth the visit!

What a beautiful & relaxing place to visit on a regular basis. Recharge yourself after spending a morning there. Come back in the evening for the ah-mazing sunsets. Even better on a cloudy day!!!

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!

One of my favorite beach to go to when in Florida, clean and usually not too crowded. If you have young children this is a good place to take them.

Convenient and nice beach. Not crowded. We spent a pleasant afternoon enjoying the gulf water and the view.

It was a nice beach with some shady spots under the palms. It was clean with public restrooms and parking was not expensive for the day. I recommend water shoes if you like to swim as the ocean has a seaweed floor not very far out. The water was very clean though.

We parked our car in the first parking lot and walked out on the paved area with our dogs to the sign that said "No Pets Beyond This Point". It was a Sunday afternoon and there were lots of people walking, running, riding, fishing, or just sitting by the waterfront. The water was very clear this day and the weather was perfect (70 degrees).

I would highly recommend Fred Howard Park for some exercise, scenery, and people watching.

Whether you like hiking, jogging, swimming, renting water equipment, playgrounds or just relaxing by the beach or under a shade tree, you will find it all at Howard park. Free parking until you get to the causeway and beach then it’s $5.

This park has everything you’ve been looking for. A touch of old Florida with trees and a nice walking trail. Then a short drive to a beach park with parking and restrooms. Plenty of space to find your own little piece of paradise. Calm waters for lounging in and great for kids to play. Rentals for water sports as well. Not a five star place for swimming but nice enough to cool off. I noticed the main part of the beach had clearer water than the inlets . They tended to be a bit brackish. Overall a great place.

Went here to avoid red tide further south. Lots of parking in the morning , lot filled up in afternoon. Nice beach for children, as water depth is gradual. However you were lucky as an adult to get in water up to your waist before you were in heavy weeds and a mucky bottom. It was suggested not to go out in the weeds as that is where small fish hide from predators. You could watch the schools of smaller fsh create a distinctive current in the water. Several times we watched as whole schools took to the air. Watched the dolphins as they broke the surface as they fished. Overall a nice clean park.

Spent a wonderful afternoon at the beach park and loved that it was clean, beautifully kept and that between the wonderful palm trees and the ocean it was a perfect beach to let my soul relax. I would absolutely go back to spend more time there. The park is small ... you can walk around it in about 20 minutes.
I loved it.

This is a hidden gem in Tarpon Springs.
It is a quiet and clean beach and not as crowded as the other beaches nearby. It is difficult to find because there are no directions other than a sign. You will have to drive past the park to see the beach at the end of the road. It is said that the locals want to keep it a secret.

Beautiful beach area, unfortunately it started to downpour so we left. There was a lot of sea grass in the water where we were.

Nice beach, and not busy at all. We went on a Tuesday and there were plenty of parking spots and places to choose from along the beach. The beach itself is well kept and the shoreline in good condition. The bathrooms haven’t been repaired since the hurricane, but there are porta potty locations and hand washing areas.

The park is beautiful and clean. There’s a $5 parking fee, payable by credit card in the parking lot. The beach is nice. My grandkids couldn’t resist climbing on the rocks. The playground is nestled among the shade of huge live oak trees.

Beautiful uncrowned sandy beach with palm trees and extremely
Clean. Easy access with plenty of parking. Water was very clear
And clean.

Stopped at this park for exploring migrating birds and ducks. Tons of parking, affordable, and the meters actually work. Restrooms located all around. Sand on beach had been combed. I saw zero trash anywhere. Hit the jackpot with my purpose of the visit. Paddle boats and kayaking available for rent or bring your own, lots of space for kids to run, picnic tables around, and feels safe! Will definitely return.

Nice and beautiful here! It’s safe water and no read tide. The flag is green and low hazard. There is a great view and you can swim.

Calm clear waters perfect for small kids. No waves. There is a $5 fee to park. Just okay beach because of sea grass and tiny shell filled sands.

Fred Howard Park has something for everyone. The park features several picnic shelters, hiking paths, waterfront views, beautiful trees and plants, playgrounds, water views, birds and other local small critters, and is very well kept. The causeway to the beach island is relatively newly paved and offers parking on one side for watercraft and fishing. The beach on the island is unspoiled and has the beautiful white sand the gulf coast is famous for, as well as some nice huge rocks along the north side for adventurers to climb on. You can spend the day at this park and have a variety of relaxing, beautiful experiences.

We have lived here for 5 years and frequent the park. Sunsets are amazing with Anclote Light House is the distance. Great beginner snorkeling on the leeward side, great shelling on the gulf side. And pretty sand.

It's a small beachfront but a great hike from the park to see it. The beach has mature palm trees, lots of birds and clean restrooms. To be honest I almost don't want to share the place to keep it to ourselves. Parking is $5.

The park's location gives it beautiful ocean views. It is located in an inlet. The beach is somewhat limited in space and it gets crowded on the weekends. When we went there may flies everywhere. We recommend you sit as close to the water as possible. They weren't a problem there. The bathrooms were your average heavily used with wet sandy floors. They also have showers to rinse off. There was plenty of parking. It's also nice to walk around to see the other views of the water.

Nice beach and recreational area, camping, picking. Parking is $5. There are places to rent kayaks, water bikes etc. water is amazing. Amazing sunsets.

Relaxing state park beach.$5 parking few playgrounds beach rentals and some food trucks. Took the kids and grandma to the park. Lots of parking. Off the beach they have playground and covered picnic areas. At the beach you can rent kayaks beach chairs and umbrellas. Bathroom s with outdoor showers to rise off.

We went for a long walk - a very pleasant beach and nice view. Could observe many families enjoying the water.

If you're in the area and you're looking for a nice beachy scene with a shady picnic area this might be your spot. If you're looking for Beach time in Florida's Tranquil Waters then look elsewhere. They do have two sides to this beach one with nice soft white sand but that's as far as it goes. Once you step out into the murky water, your toes will ooze into the bottom as you walk through thick brush of seaweed and unknown species to try and find some resting place of soft sand for your feet. This is not my Florida beach that I come to to cool off in the water and the only reason I gave it three stars is the variation of beaches where you do have the opposite side with no Mucky water, but it's just more or less a wading pool and you have a picnic area that is very nicely shaded.

Went here with my friend that lives here one windy afternoon to see the kite surfers. Plenty of free parking and Florida sunshine.

The park is well maintained, in fact; excellent. It is a really nice place to relax, enjoy a fine beach and take a hike on well maintained trails. Nice!

Awesome beach with a chill vibe BUT get here early or no parking for you! Clean sand and clear water good for the little kids to wade out with no problem (3yr old to 8yr old). Recommend if you need a low key day at the beach.

SUNSETS--Beautiful
MARINE LIFE--Good variety
SAND--Coarse and dirty
WATER--Seaweed filled and gross!

If you're looking for clean white sands and clear waters, this is not the beach for you (or me, really). The sand is rough, filled with coarse sediment, and there is a ton of stinky seaweed.

But!! If you're just looking for a beautiful sunset or up close encounters with small sea life (starfish, snails, whelks, small jellies, baby pufferfish, etc.) this is where we found it and that part did not disappoint!

Parking is great. $5 for the day at a pay station. Close walk to the beach area. Showers, restrooms. All were clean. Finally, there is a lifeguard shack.

Nice large park on the beach with lots of parking. Great picnic and family private areas with tables.

Very nice park, kayak launch, plenty of spaces, Bathrooms, great to walk with the dog or have a picnic.

I went here to watch the sun set after spending time in Tarpon Springs. It was a lovely drive thru nice neighborhoods and on the causeway into the park. The sunset was perfect. $5 parking, but worth it.

This is a great Park in Tarpon Springs the mile-long causeway offer some great fishing spots. One drawback is that it is not 3 they want you to pay $5 to park. I've never seen anyone patrolling for parking violators and I've never heard of anyone getting a ticket for that. Personally, I never pay.

Our family from Colorado took advantage of low air-fare and decided that a quick weekend trip to the Clearwater area would provide a perfect beach fix. We decided that on the last day, we wanted to try one of the more "off the beaten path beaches" and settled on Fred Howard. We are glad we did. Upon landing in Tampa early Friday morning, we got our rental car and headed straight to Walmart to purchase a beach tent, beach chairs, drink cooler, beach towels and pool noodles. (Note: All of those items cost only around 100 dollars, and we gave it all away at the end - easier and cheaper than renting for 3 days.) On Sunday morning, headed to Fred Howard. When we arrived, we parked car ( only $5/day!), and found a great spot to set up camp for the day. The sand, although not as refined as Clearwater Beach, was decent - a few shells. The water was warm and inviting. The toilet house and showers were clean and well maintained. The only thing we found awkward at this beach was the amount of sea grass. Although it did feel awkward on our feet and lower legs, it did provide for good fish viewing with our snorkel gear (brought from home.) Overall, if you don't mind the sea grass, I would fully recommend this beach park.

One of the nicest parks in the area. This little known park has so much to offer. There are hiking trails, picnic areas, and places to just sit and relax. If you like beaches, there is a wonderful small beach area that has very clean restrooms, sand washing showers and chairs and umbrellas for rent. The wind is just right for wind surfing or kite surfing. Best of all are the beautiful sunsets. Park all day for $5.

Fred Howard is a very nice park run by Pinellas County. Parking is free in the picnic shelter area and $5 a day if you go out to the beach and causeway. Good fishing from bridges (there are two) and nice sand beach with calm water (its not deep water)

Free Howard is seldom so crowded that you feel like it's a city beach. Weekdays are the best time to enjoy the white sand, palm trees, and gulf water.
This is one of my favorite beaches on the gulf coast.

Unbelievable vista, incredible facilities. The covered shady area has trails and pavilions that would be great for family gatherings, and then the causeway out to the island/beach is fantastic - with plenty of beachfront for families!

I've been to the park hundreds of times since I was a kid and have always had a good time. However, the last visit was horrible. A group of teenagers were playing loud, vulgar music and speaking very trashy to each other loudly. When asked to settle down, we were met with disrespect by the punks and we, in turn, had to be very assertive.

The big problem at the park is that there aren't any persons in authority to assist in situations like this. A big downer.

If you're looking for a small, quiet beach, this is the one. It's a short beach walk to the Gulf of Mexico. The sand is clean. The water is shallow, warm, without waves. There is a convenient restroom. You must, however, pay for parking.

If you are staying north of Clearwater this is a convenient beach to go to. The sand is white and there is plenty of shade if you need a break from the sun. It is kept clean and not very crowded. The park is nice with kayaking, hiking trails, picnic areas, restrooms, boat ramp parking fee $6 beach parking fee is $5. There is sea grass in much of the water therefore I prefer Honeymoon Island In Dunedin.

So much more relaxing than Clearwater Beach. I was worried the sea grass would be everywhere like I read, but this was a nonissue. If you went exploring, you really could find some interesting wild animals...starfish, hermit crabs, and the coolest thing we ever saw was dolphins so close trying to follow fish for lunch. Worth the visit!!!

The beach area was quite crowded, but it's worth driving out just to get a different view of the Gulf. There are places to park for free.

We visited this park on a Friday. Plenty of parking paid for by credit card. We went for the beach at the end of the park. Just keep driving and you will get there. We rented chairs. Only one vendor. Beach with lots of debris and not very wide. I can imagine a weekend being packed. Overall, ok for the afternoon. Says no alcohol but we packed a cooler of beer and poured discreetly with no issues. Tons of annoying seagulls

Beautiful park, good fishing. Parking is $5.00, but worth it. Fishing is best from the causeway bridges. Swimming area is shallow enough for small children.

Lovely beach. Middle of the week. Not busy at all. Warm water of the Gulf of Mexico. Interesting way to get there.

This is my favorite Pinellas beach.
View is spectacular.
Kids hang out mostly on the causeway while families, residents are on the beach.
Relatively quiet. Very clean.
No concessions except for shaved ice/slushee.
Paddle boats, cabanas, umbrellas for rent.
Separate park with free shelters for groups. First come first serve.
Playground for kids. Kayak launch.

Great for picnics, walks & watching for the adventurous dolphins & other wild life. We have been swimming & snorkeling almost daily at the park because we live close by. This we we saw a mother dolphin with her baby as we were leaving in the causeway. We stopped & got out of the car. They were no more than 10 feet from us. There were other dolphin farther away in deeper water jumping & playing. We always see large snook when snorkeling & we even had a manatee nearby 1 afternoon. It’s a great beach; snacks; restrooms; picnic area; kayak trail. It’s truly a great place!

Best place to spend an afternoon. Beach and swimming are excellent. Crowded on weekends. Not as crowded during winter months

You have to drive through the park and a little ways out into the water as it's a small island beach. There was hardly anyone there so we pretty much had the beach to ourselves. Only costs $5.00 to park for whole day. Kind of rocky in places, but the water was really warm!

Just went out for a short walk, to look around at birds and trees. Beautiful ocean views around you, thankful to enjoy this sight.

Beautiful beach and very friendly people. Driving into the park is absolutely beautiful with large live oaks and palms. $5 parking fee is a deal. Amazed with the fact the sand does not burn your feet like some beaches on the east coast. Smoking and alcohol not allowed which is fine with me, although a cold brew would be nice, but one can survive. Gets crowded early. Highly recommend.

Pretty park on the gulf. My husband fished from the causeway and I walked the dog through the park. The beach looked rather nice but does not allow dogs so we just drove through the parking lot to check it out. The walking trails through the park were well kept and the scenery was beautiful.

Visited on 4/30/19. Nice little park. Visited the beach mainly. A little disappointed. One bathroom with no place really to change. Lots of sea grass in the water and on the beach. Not many shells if you're into that. Nice shaded places to sit under palm trees though. $5 to park but that's most everywhere in the area. Picnic groves looked nice. Didn't have time to walk the trails but they looked nice as well. Dogs aren't "allowed " on the beach but we saw more than a few on the back side of the island.

Clean Beach which not far from the center of Tarpon Spring the Greek Village which a great experience by itself

Relaxing low key beach that's great for those with young families are those looking to relax by the water. The main beach is on a peninsula with picnic and walking trails on the mainland portion of the park. The water is shallow, clear, with light waves and plenty of fish to see along the shore. There is a kayak rental stand on the peninsula along with chair rentals. There was a good deal of seaweed, but there is still plenty of water that is seaweed free. Restrooms are clean. I recommend going early in the day and if you bring food, put it in a cooler or your car. The birds have no fear.

What a wonderful adventure Fred Howard Park is! This facility has it all 9 covered shelters for picnics in a variety of sizes that can be reserved, regular picnic areas many with water views, a ball field, handicap accessibility and restrooms. They even offer showers. Plan on a day to enjoy the fantastic view. The park closes at dusk. Just the ride out to the end of the road is enjoyable. The parking fee is reasonable at $5.00 per day. Many of the picnic areas are wheelchair accessible. We went on a weekday and found the restrooms open and accessible.

We took a morning stroll out and around this beach area. We enjoyed our walk and I would recommend to anyone who wanted to get a breath of fresh air.

One of the most beautiful parks and beach in Florida. Area for cooking out and picnic. The beach is wonderful. Playground, bike riding and even rent bikes or different things.

So the reviews were a bit of both so here’s what is really going on :)
the water is Uber clear but is full of seagrass!!! So the mow/clear the grass (not all) and cut paths out so you can explore around. Plus side is you littles won’t wander out too far.. Water isn’t deep for a bit so you can get out pretty far which is nice (I’m 5’4) LOTS of fish and hermit crabs so I recommend water shoes and face masks (plus to the seagrass) so you can snorkel and see them... saw a small hammerhead over by the rocks and stone crabs (they were big).

Found several shells (check for inhabitants) mostly scallop type ones. A few different colors. Not a large beach.

Shower, bathrooms, parking $5, Kona truck, rentals for chairs and such.

Only complaint the mowed seagrass was on shore :/ .... they hadn’t cleaned it up or made paths ran entire stretch of beach ... (see pic) looked like green hay bales! rest of beach was clean. (It’s the dark line you see when you look at the down the beach pics... at least 15 inches height and 2 foot width.

Howard Park is a great place to get away from the noise on Route 19. It is a safe place to allow children to run and play, play in the playground areas and ride their bikes. There are many covered areas that you can reserve to enjoy get togethers in rain or shine which have charcoal stations to cook on. You can walk out to the beach from the park or drive out and park for a $5 fee and enjoy the beach area. I have been going there for years to enjoy a little tranquility in busy Florida. You can also enjoy beautiful sunsets.

Not impressed. Good picnic areas and facilities, but not much else. No beach to speak of. Folks were tanning beside their cars in the parking area!
Would not visit again.

A drive thru upscale neighborhoods and winding around small bays and inlets gets you to the park entrance. As you wind thru the park there are many picnic shelters and parking areas. You cross a man made dike type road to the island/beach. Parking pay stations charge $5.00 for the day. This park closed at 7:45 PM when we were there, not much after sunset. Perhaps this time changes as the days get longer. No pets out on the Island.

We had so much fun we came back for a second day.

This park has plenty of picnic spaces, playground areas, paddle boats, bikes, trikes, and plenty of rental items to keep everyone busy for the day if you choose. We spent the day at the beach renting an umbrella and lounge chairs for $25 for the day. We were able to spend the entire day at the beach with three kids ages 2, 5, and 8. We had plenty to do for the day.

There is s lifeguard on duty, Kona Ice truck on site when you need a treat, bathroom facilities are clean and supplied. They are monitored often during the day.

There are lots of people walking or biking through the park.

Be sure to visit you will enjoy your day. The walk along the beach is good also. The sand is not hot, there is seaweed from the tide coming in but no trash or anything. We were able to walk out with the kids and stand in water up to our waist and watch fish swim around us. The kids thought that was great!

The beach and picnic areas are great. The beach is small so perfect for kids, you are close to your car. The sand is every bit as white and beautiful as Clearwater beach.

We enjoyed a kayak trip around the park and then a picnic lunch inside. We would have liked to have spent more time at the park since the rain held out but my keyless fob got wet so we spent a chunk of the day waiting on tech. Definitely will return for some trail walking and bike riding.

WE parked and enjoyed our time just sitting and relaxing on the beach. Not many shells but it was fun watching the little critters burrowing in the sand. Not a busy day, but there were several families enjoying their time. Nice white sand and more to our liking than say the noise and crowd at Clearwater Beach. Very unpretentious place and so easy to just sit there and relax and let the worries drift out to sea.

Howard Park is the Gulf beach of my choice! It is very family friendly, scenic and refreshing. The white sand beach is clean. The surf is gentle enough for little ones. There are concessions for food and water fun rentals - paddle boats, kayaks, etc. The palm trees and shrubs are picturesque and provide shade if you just want to relax in the salt sea air and read a book. I'm glad I live close enough to visit often!

We love to go here and this year bought the 6 month parking pass. It was well worth the money. We like to walk the beach and like to just sit there and enjoy the sun. Before you head down the causeway to the beach area there are lovely picnic areas and a large playground. This is a beautiful park.

We visited Howard Park while staying with friends in a delightful rented house in Tarpon Springs. Living as we do in upstate New York, we thought we'd be fleeing the cool weather, but we were met with "English summer" - some rain, some temps in the high 70°s and some temps around 60°. The park itself is beautiful with tropical flowers and trees and plenty of signs "don't feed the alligators". The wild life - flamingos and others we dont see in our local parks were spectacular. The beaches are sandy and clean. The one thing most prevalent in this part of Florida is the incessant traffic. You have to get in your car to go anyway, and of course so does everyone else. If it wasn't to visit friends, i dont think i'd bother to go to Florida.

I spent the day at this beach and it was so relaxing. The drive back is very pretty with well marked directional signs. It was a Tuesday so it was not crowded. Parking is $5, free with a handicap permit. There are no food or drink sales. The rentals booths were open for chairs, umbrellas, paddle boards, paddle boats and more. I packed my lunch, took a chair and found a shady spot on the beach under a palm tree. The beach has white soft sand. Nice patches of shells. There is some sea weed that’s on shore, but not in the water. The water is emerald and clear. It was calm and warm, great for swimming. You can take walks along the beach or on the many walking paths. The bathrooms and showers are clean and convenient to the beach. I really like this beach and will visit often!

I almost hesitate to write a review, because I want this place kept secret. It is hard to find parking as it is. But what a beautiful place to have a picnic or watch the Wind Surfers.

So it's a decent size beach, bathrooms, snocone stand, kyak paddle board rentals, places to rinse off, rental chairs. I will say there is TONS of seaweed. It may just be a seasonal thing but there is a lot right now. Still fun and functional.

This is such a quiet and out of the way park. It is well kept and clean and there has always been plenty of parking!

Fred Howard Beach is a very nice beach, one of our favorite places to hang out, family can swim, play in the sand or just hang out. The park is well patrolled, parking is $5 for the day, restrooms are clean, fishing is ok. Close to Tarpon Springs, so you can get a Gyro afterwards. On busy days you may want to go early to get a parking spot or a nice spot on the beach. Other beaches in the area Sunset Beach just south a couple miles and the new country park in Hudson, turn by the big chair on 19. Enjoy!!

This place was very packed and pretty small, there weren't many seashells to be found but we did find some live sea stars. There were only porta potties at the time we went, and it was $5 to park. The food truck (sno cones) was fun though. Probably wouldn't visit again when we could just drive over to honeymoon island which is beautiful and full of shells.

This is a popular beach, but we decided to come a little later in the afternoon in order to stay, have a picnic dinner and watch the sunset.
We were able to find a great parking spot, and a great beach spot. We walked all around the little peninsula and then the causeway to the main park and back. This is a great park! We wished we had bikes to ride around here.

We were staying in New Port Richey and wanted a local beach that would not require hours of driving. This beach doesn't have miles of shoreline to walk on but it's nice for one day. Restroom facilities are available. Lounge chairs and umbrellas can be rented as well.

This is. a very small island beach in Tarpon Springs. It is great location to watch an epic sunset. Parking is limited, beach is small and finding it can be a pain for the newcomer. Worth the effort for a sunset

Wow! I think this park is great. The park has covered picnic areas for large groups, grills, playgrounds, ball fields, kayak trails, running and hiking paths, lots of green space- Rocky on the gulf. FOR FREE! For 5$ parking all day- ride a long causeway into the gulf to an island. Park on the causeway and Watch the parasails, sailboats and sailboards. Fish right off the causeway. Continue I to the island and go to the beach. There are bathrooms that you can change in, beautiful sunsets, carriage bikes for groups to rent, aqua bikes and kayaks to rent. you can even rent beach chairs. So much beach stuff to do. We walked around the entire island. This beach is one of the closest beaches to Crystal River that is a wide, long, fun beach.

Our family went to Howard's Beach on a Thursday and it was not too crowded. This beach was recommended to us by folks who live in the area as it is not usually as crowded as some of the other beaches like Clearwater Beach. Getting there was a lovely drive and quite easy. We went around noon and we were able to find parking just a couple of rows away from the beach. They have restrooms and an outdoor shower as well as beach umbrella/chair rental. I highly recommend you rent an umbrella and two chairs. It was only $26 (they only take cards though, no cash) and it saved us from the hot Florida sun. Our umbrella was just steps from the water. The sand and the water were both really clean and the beach was not too crowded. Our 11 year old boys had a blast playing in the water. It wasn't too deep but we stayed within the swimming area. My husband snorkeled farther out and around the rockier parts but I did not feel comfortable having my kids do that. We didn't buy anything at the concession stand so I can't speak to that. We brought a picnic lunch but be warned you have to hide your food from the seagulls as the will rip it right from your hands. There is no alcohol allowed there either. We stayed about 4 hours and enjoyed every minute. The water was great, plenty of sunshine and fun!

I have visited this beach three times in the past year and was disappointed each time. I wanted to give this place a fair chance which was why I went three times. Each time there was so much seaweed that you can't even swim. Who wants to go to the beach in Florida and not be able to go beyond ankle deep water? Also disappointed that you need to pay to park at such a disappointing beach.

It is just a lovely spot. We were there New Years and thought it was going to be busy but wasn’t. It’s like a tiny island with a great strip of beach. They have a fair amount of amenities. Seems a little like a hidden gem. The kids had a lot of fun and it was wonderful for northerners like us. Highly recommend if you are looking for a distinct beach experience.

This beach has A LOT of see weed on the beach. They supposed to clean one a week, but they dont do that regularly. Its a shame. Somebody needs to take responsibility!!!

We use to love this beach, but seriously clean up the sea weed! It STUNK terrible! We took our out of state friends and were embarrassed after telling them how beautiful it was.

For a "smaller" beach, this place is great! The sand is nice and clean, not many shells when we visited today, though. We actually rented kayaks there, ota a great place to do so. Tnere were 2 sheriffs there while we were there just cruising through, which was really nice to see. It feels like they care about this place and it feels like a nice, old school beach.

$5 parking not bad for this beach. I love everything in this place except the grass and sea weeds under the water and in the shore. But I still would come back when we are in townl

We went here for our first beach day and returned every day! Great spot, great place to swim. Water is shallow and perfect for kids, there are paths to deeper water through the seaweed that are clear and you can swim comfortably. Water was refreshing but warm in early June.

We decided we loved this spot so didn't venture out to any other beaches in the area, as we don't love crowds, we love cheap parking ($5/day, come and go as you please), and they have super affordable rental equipment. Chairs with Umbrellas were $5, I rented a Stand Up Paddleboard for an hour for $20, for four hours it was in the mid $30 range.

The value was excellent for what we got, and we really enjoyed it! As always, those seagulls will snatch your tuna right out of your sushi, so be careful!

There are gopher tortoises in the area, and we got to see one crossing the road, lots of birds and fish, spots to drop husband off for fishing, restrooms, water fountain and bottle filler, feet washing and shower station, and everything you need in a good beach! They combed the beach so the seaweed was not bad. They patrol the beach. On weekends there were lifeguards (first week of June).

Have your kids bring a minnow net!