Round Island Beach Park Reviews

Kayak and boat ramp. Nice short loop trail. Bathroom shower lifeguard and information. Picnic tables and grassy areas. Good job! Starviajera

If you are looking to spot manatees this is the place. We stopped by and there was a group taking paddle boarding lessons and the manatees were out! They seemed to be curious maybe of the paddle boarders. It was great. Also kayaking there is good.

Love going there by boat, by car, by bike, by kayak. Lovely walk ways and things to do for the family. Often a kayak company brings kayaks down for rental. Do call them first here in Vero. Soon there will be a bike and walking path going down there built by the IRLT. Beach is across the way and there are toilets available.

A lovely spot - right alongside the beautiful river. Enjoy watching the pelicans dive for Fish and the teeming bird life. Free admission and lovely restrooms. We saw the fishermen catch so many sheeps head along the banks. We didn’t see the manatees but when the water is warmer - this is the spot !!

We have beached, body surfed, shell collected and kayaked! Seen pelicans, dolphins, and manatees! Lots of parking, clean restrooms!

Visited here at least twice this year. Love the views and calmness.
We looked for manatee and only saw "needle fish" and pelicans.
This is a great park to take pictures--the water and sky look so blue.
Great parking. Walkways to observation areas including a walkway bridge.
Will return here again next year.

Great place to go kayaking! Must make arrangements to rent kayaks. A guided tour of the surrounding ing areas was conducted by th company at this place. You can picnic if you want. Great family spot and a day event.

The address shown on Trio Advisor is for the Riverside Park not Round Island!
The correct address for Round Island is 2200 South A1A and is locates some 7 mikes south of the Riverside Park.

Went to Round Island early this morning to see the Manatees since we were told early a.m. was the best time to see them and we were not disappointed.

A couple of nice board walks and a kayak slip are the main features of the Park which was a peaceful haven away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Recommended

We launch our kayaks from here often and enjoy the boardwalk and manatee when we are not on the water. ☺

We visited twice on our vacation because the manatees are just that awesome. You don't need to spend a lot of time here...it's kinda small with a nice little trail and a pool of water teaming with manatees. We also fished a little a caught catfish. Take a walk on the trail and you'll find a nice observation tower nestles in the trees.

We liked it because there was easy access and nice beach; not too crowded when we went. Very relaxing and nice public restrooms.

We enjoy stopping at Round Island Park to walk the nature trails and we almost always are able to see manatees from the boardwalks on the river side. The park is always clean with plenty of parking and restrooms.

Round Island is a great place almost in its natural environment. Great for picnics, hiking, and shearing with family and friends.

This was suggested to us by David from Carlson Hotel where we were staying. I was a cool place to hike with trails and bridges leading to water views. We saw crabs as we were walking but we were told if you go at the right time we could see manatee and other forms of sea life due to bracken waters. We will go back to explore more. then we went across the road to the Round Island beach ocean side. We saw a beautiful sunset there.

This is a wonderful little park! There are places to have a picnic, place to launch a kayak, a little playground for the kids and lots of beautiful areas to explore but the BEST part of this pretty place, is that the Manatees, float freely around the water there. There is a bridge walkway that goes over the water, so you can see them from above. It was Wonderfull to have them come up for air right under where we were standing!
There were a lot of them hanging around.
I wish I had a kayak to launch though because the manatees, seemed to be enjoying playing with the kayakers. So, if you're planning to visit, bring a kayak and play with some manatees!

Great little park to dump your boat or kayak to paddle around. Every time we go here, we SEE manatees swimming around the little island.

The boardwalk walkway is very close to the parking lot making this an easy quick stop to see manatees. We were lucky and saw a few warming their backs in the sun. They occasionally come up for air but otherwise just float there warming up.

My husband and I were looking to take a nice drive, explore something we hadn't seen before and then have a nice lunch for our anniversary. We drove to Round Island Beach Park and enjoyed walking the small area of trails and bridges, climbing the lookout tower and watching manatees on one side and then drove over to the beach side just to see what it looked like and found a nice quiet beach area with plenty of parking. Would definitely recommend this as a very nice outdoor area. As it is located just south of the shopping/dinning area of Vero Beach you can also do as we did and stop there for a nice lunch or to poke through some of the shops.

Wanted to view manatees without much ado. Nice stroll. Saw cranes, egrets, herons and about a dozen manatees. Even saw mom and baby right from the footbridge! Almost left because 2 couples with a dog (always that one person who disregards posted rules) were standing on bridge talking. We strolled around the islet on the other side and thankfully they were gone when we returned. Waited a little bit and saw several manatees swimming right there! The observation deck on the river was flooded but we enjoyed the park just the same. Free. Clean bathrooms as well!

Just beautiful clean safe would take my grandson there, great to just relax great for anyone, just need some sunny 🌞 days

got to see the manatees in the lagoon lots of people kyaking the area is always very clean. you can spend as little or as much time here as you want and there is no charge

Nice little place to visit, can walk around a small island on narrow cut paths. We saw pelicans, fish, and manatees. Clean bathrooms. Will be back with my kayak to explore the island. Go onto east side for beach access, clean beach with a life guard. Adequate parking. On site outdoor showers for rinsing off.

TX & TN visitors enjoyed the area even though we saw only a couple of manatees. We had lunch at the picnic tables on the ocean part of the park. Will return when weather is cooler.

Manatees frequent the waters at the park. Walk onto the boardwalk and look for them on either side as well as further out in the water. A pleasant place to stroll the trails and see wildlife.

If you want to see manatees this is the place to go. Just arrive early in the morning, when they seem to be most active. There is a boardwalk near to the parking area, or you can take the pathways to explore from the island which is connected by a bridge. Be sure to take your cameras/video recorders.

Great place to view manatee, coastal birds including osprey, very nice board walk, boat ramp, parking, playground, and easy access to the Intracoastal.

Follow the path over the bridge and climb the tower for a nice river view. Take the kids to watch the manatees, or bring a kayak and tour the river.

My husband and I visited the river side of the park today. What an amazing day for it. The morning weather was cool and breezy. The bridge overlooks were nice saw two manatees in the distance and birds hunting fish. My favorite part of the park was the trail, so many unique trees and pretty glimpses of the river through the trees.

Went with my husband two teenagers and 3 year old. All enjoyed walking the trails and the views. Near little spot

Saw 11 manatee this morning near the boardwalk. And the trees around the observation tower have been cleared out, providing an unimpeded view of the river.
Well worth a stop.

Gorgeous building and very impressive art in a small town. Interesting classes and lectures, wonderful place to change up the pace of beach life. Very sophisticated and elegant.

Such a beautiful park! It's a lovely place to take a walk; there is so much to see. I highly recommend a visit to Round Island Beach Park.

Round Island Park has both a river side and an ocean side both of which are nice parks. Right on the Indian River and Saint Lucie County border. You will find that the ocean side is set amongst mansions and the riverside has boat ramps. Nice boardwalk and a kayak launching point both sides have bathrooms and picnic tables a perfect spot to take the family.

We came to see manatees and they were there. Our visit was only about 30 minutes because it was so hot, but we saw many.

My husband, son and I like to fish and take our dog, so we made a visit to round island. I have been camping with the scouts there in the past and it is a beautiful, well kept park.

Such a relaxing beach, very peaceful. There is are restrooms and a shower for your convenience. It doesn't get crowded to the point where people are of top of each other. Very clean

My wife & I are 6 month snowbirds and we enjoy the Round Island Beach Park tremendously particularly in season when the Jaycee Park, Humiston Park and South Beachs'are swamped with beach goers. There are clean restrooms, showers, and a beautiful under utilized strand of beach to enjoy as well as A wooden walkway to enjoy the birds, gaters and wildlife on the Indian River located on the west side of highway A1A.

Living in Vero beach, we find ourselves spending a lot of time at the Round Island park beach. It's beautiful, never overcrowded, clean and has a nice picnic area, along with nice shower facilities to get the sand off.

We stopped here to drop off two of our group who wanted to kayak. What a beautiful spot!!!

Easy in & out for kayaks. However, while there, I took advantage of the raised observation decks to view all the boaters. While I didn't see a manatee, our kayakers did!

I can only say that I never got my shoes wet, and I got some great pictures!

Also, there are NO FEES to use this park!

So go! No need to wait!

Went to the lagoon side and saw a family of manatees, including a baby! Many birds, fish, lizards, crabs etc. went across to the ocean side and saw a small shark and another manatee swimming along the beach. Not a very crowded beach and beautiful water! Awesome park!

I go here quit a bit as well as the riverside park both are well maintained and have all the things I need to kayak.

We visited this park on the advice of a Cast Member at Disney's Vero Beach Resort. The park has two sides to it: an ocean beach on one side of A1A and a more natural woodland environment on the river side. We spent our time on the river side because we wanted to see some manatee. There are boardwalks, wooden bridges and trails through the woods and several spots are viewing areas to see manatee. We were lucky on our visit to see a couple of manatee frolicking in the water. There's no guarantee that you will see manatee, as this is not a zoo. But all in all it is worth a visit as there is no fee to enter the area. There is even a small covered playground for kids, a grill area and covered picnic tables.

We love seeing the Manatees, and the lagoon and the beach on the other side is wonderful for families

We went twice. So much fun to take little walks along the river and try to spot a manatee. The second visit we did!! Enjoyed an older playground area there too.

Clean restrooms in the parking area off the beach. Ample parking spaces if you arrive before noon. Lifeguards on duty. Just a short walk from the car park along a wooden walkway down to the beach.

Even though I've lived her for quite a few years, I just visited this little park for the first time. For starters, lots of free parking! Take a quick walk to the beach and you will find a pretty beach, more shell hunting opportunities than other beaches in our area and less people. It's just a laid-back beach where you can take a walk, shell hunt, or just park yourself under and umbrella or just take your beach chair and soak in the beautiful ocean view. I'll be back for sure.

We live very near the beach so going to another beach can be a so, so experience. Not with our Round Island visit. We loved the wide expanse of sand and the length of the beach, as we like to sit away from the crowd. If you require a lifeguard, then you will need to sit with the masses. On the day of our visit, the sky was a clear blue and the water color was turquoise. The waves were gentle with a water temp of 78 degrees. There was ample parking, there are showers and rest rooms, a drop off area, grills and picnic areas. You do have to carry your stuff quite a ways as this is a big beach. We are considering a beach cart purchase as we would like to come back and have a little bit more ease in bringing all our stuff down to the water. We took a walk heading south as it was not crowded and walked for 2 miles enjoying the large mansions set back from the ocean. There are no food or drink services, so you need to bring your own. On the river side of this park, you will be able to see wild life, fish, and have a picnic. This location has something for every kind of nature person.

Forget all the other state parks and beaches. This one by far was our favorite. The lagoon for viewing manatees on the west side and shade picnic areas with shower/ rinsing stations on the east side. By far the cleanest water and beach of all the ones we visited in the area. Just beware of chiggers under trees/ grassy areas and I don't recommend braving the wooded walking trails due to mosquitoes in the summer. The only exception was the manager bridge and connecting short trail to the larger lagoon which was fine.

Spent time looking at manatees and then kayaking the Indian River. Always a great time when visiting Vero Beach. A must if you want a 90% chance of seeing a gorgeous sea cow!

a piece of unspoiled Florida. saw manatees in the distance. Very tropical paths and and nice water views

The water and beach is beautiful. The parking is good and they have life guards. I like that is a close walk from parking to beach to water. They have a shower to wash off the sand. They also have bathrooms at the entrance to the park. I did not take any pictures when I went last Saturday.

Great small town of Vero Beach, Florida great park with shallow water, manatee viewing, good fishing and easily accessible..

Great location as you can enjoy the ocean on one side of A1A and then visit the boat launch or nature trail on the lagoon side. Good for families to see Manatees, fisherman and those who want to swim in the ocean.

What a beautiful park! We stopped by on a random Tuesday, and it was pleasantly quiet and peaceful. There were just a few people around—some pulling kayaks from the water and one man loading up his jet ski in another area—which made it feel relaxed and uncrowded.

Parking was plentiful, and the park offers nice amenities including a children’s playground and restrooms on site. The bathrooms were quite warm inside, as there’s no air conditioning or much airflow, but they were convenient to have nearby.

We walked several of the trails, which led us through a mix of boardwalk paths and dirt trails, eventually taking us to a large observation tower overlooking the bay. The view from the top was incredible—an open, sweeping look over the water and surrounding landscape. Along the way, we spotted a variety of birds, making it a great spot for birdwatching.

Apparently, there’s another section of the park located across the way that we didn’t get to explore this time, so there’s still more to discover on our next visit. Overall, this park is a hidden gem—peaceful, scenic, and perfect for anyone who loves nature, wildlife, and a bit of quiet adventure.

We saw two off the walkway. They were so beautiful. Nice well maintained park and easy to get to. Manatees out just before sunset

Manatees are my most favorite animal in the world. I had never seen them in the wild before this. If you have a spare 15 minutes in your trip to Vero, this is definitely worth the stop. We were privileged enough to witness their mating rituals- lots of splashing involved. Small tip- Google maps and Waze will take you to the Oceanside portion of the park- a left turn off highway A1A. To see the manatees, you have to turn right, to the Riverside area of the park.

Nice island nature walk....about 15 minutes or so to do the route. Includes a multi level structure for birds eye view. Day we were here had one manatee for brief viewing. Looked like ideal place to kayak...but must set that up in advance (no onsite rentals).

This is a tale of two parts, one on the ocean and one on the river. Try the river side. Small paths to walk thru the areas. Great for kayaking, fishing, paddle boarding. Also great place to see manatees that swim around in the river side. Good viewing from the boardwalks. Free

we have visited Round Island Park several times over the years and always enjoyed our visits- the walks, the manatees, and environs. We now have a small dog and were very disappointed to read on the signs that well-behaved leashed dogs were not allowed.

Round Beach is beautiful and is often very quiet.
Great beach to go to get away from the crowd's.
There is a life guard on duty and sprinklers to rise off.
Great place for picnics. Grills provided.
Then take a walk across the street to see the manatee's in the lagoon park.
Always a pleasure to visit.

Round Island is a nice place to stretch your legs for either a walk on the beach or a walk on the river trail. The boat access is fine for smaller craft but less then ideal for anything of size at low tide. On the River side the hiking trails are fun with lots of birdlife great views of the river. On the beach side this is a great beach for walking or just reading the paper, but beware there is no life guard. There are nice picnic tables on both sides of A1A (River and Beach) both with restrooms and playground...Enjoy!

The GPS got me lost twice. When we did end up finding it we were glad we persisted. The ocean was amazing. The tide was too high to swim but there was plenty of crabs and shells.

Go. If you are vacationing in Vero Beach and have a car, this is well worth the trip south 9 miles from your hotel. Almost every time I have gone I have seen Manatees, especially in the winter. There is a bridge to a small round island you can walk around but it is not a paved path so it's not for disabled. And there is a tower you can climb up to get a view of the Indian River Lagoon.

I love Manatees and the last time I was in Vero was disappointed that I didn't see any. We stopped at Round Island two times while on Vacation and both times we were able to see the manatees. Made my day!

We stop here a couple of times a month in the winter and it is always a very relaxing spot. Very common to see manatee and dolphins in the water. It is a short walk but offers shade on a hot day. Beach side has plenty of picnic tables and each side has a bathroom. Florida does an excellent job with their parks and beaches and this spot is no exception.

Park has beach side and river side. River side good fort kayak. No cost parking. Park is at the very end of Indian River County going south on A1A.

What a fantastic place you can go in and see barracuda , manatees, pelicans, and all kinds of birds. The foliage is spectacular. Plenty room for the kids to play in the Play ground. Hop across A1a and you have a fantastic Beach. Super clean restrooms in both places

Go over to the bridge over the lagoon and watch the manatees and dolphins. Great for launching your kayak too, and, the beach on the iceanside is great too.

The fishing can be hit or miss. The trails are rugged but easy to follow. Not many services found here. Mostly a boat ramp and small playground. The ramp facility is good w adequate parking

Beautiful park next to the water. Boating, Tennis, picnics, walking, a great time to be had by all. Worth visiting anytime of the year.

Near to our hone just up the a1 about a few mikes snd fairly new about three years. Nice facilities snd plenty of parking during the week snd conducive to quiet oriole. Great facilities to barbeque and restrooms nearby make it ideal. Love the vib here

Lovely place to go and observe nature and walk. There are bathrooms here. During the weekends it can be pretty busy but during the week it is perfect. It's a beautiful place with a small boardwalk along the water with places to sit and a bridge to look for manatees. Although we didn't see manatees this time because it was kind of cold we still saw some pelicans up close and needle fish along with other birds. My parents went when it was warmer and saw so many manatees they couldn't believe it so GO WHEN ITS WARM! There is a great jungle path across the bridge that breaks off into a path that leads to another deck out near the water and the other leads to an observation tower which is very cool. Across the road is the beach and it is very quiet and beautiful. If you want to avoid people go to this beach.

We had flew down to Vero beach for a few days vacation after today’s of bad weather everything got nice and we had a chance to stop by a few places that we like visiting we love stopping by round Island Park it’s a quaint little park they have a boat launch bathrooms they have a walkway over the water and a little bridge over the water where during the season time you’ll see the manatees when they come in for maybe I don’t know if you see dolphins as well We have course bring shrimp with us and go fishing For a little we do a little catch and release we have fun down there catch a little sun they have a little seating areas on the walkway so you can sit if you get a little tired and then they have a path that walks through the woods to another little open area

We were passing through and stopped here. Beautiful beach with free parking. Shower was also available.

Amazing park. Great location with beach and lagoon access. Restrooms available, which are always a plus.
We were hoping to see manatees, but instead were treated to a dolphin sighting on our visit. Lots of birds and lizards were around as well. There is a boardwalk as well as a sandy trail to explore. Great overall experience and worth a visit or two.

Great park, we saw dolphins, manatee, turtles, all kinds of birds. Quiet and relaxing place to go, you can kayak too.

The park is a short drive from Vero on A1A. This day we arrived and saw 6 Manatees grouped together near the bridge. This is a must see pace if you visit Vero Beach. Bring your Camera !!

We visited twice. First time on a recommendation to visit the wildlife area to see manatees. We saw the fishing pier on the island but missed the treehouse. 2nd time visited the beach and the treehouse. Great views but no manatees!!

Brought the grandchildren here--walked short trail and up to the top of the tower.
Watched nature--no manatee today--saw birds, pelicans and osprey and some skinny almost irridescent teal colored fish. Always come here and love this park. It's free. Will come back here every year.

Lovely park with interesting trails. Did not see any manatees but still a fun day. Was a little worried about possible dangerous creatures about but maybe that's just me lol.

Great park close to the Indian River County border along A1A. Canoe, kayak, paddleboard launching area as well as motor boat launches. Nice picnic area and manatees are usually found in these waters. Paddle or board to explore a spoil island or two. Relaxing and enjoyable.

If you want a good look at manatees, this is an excellent spot. Several manatees hang out in a pool very close to the parking area on the Riverside part of the park. Also, a short walk through the mangroves leads to a couple viewing platforms where you can observe several fish and birds. It's a beautiful, accessible location. And if you want the beach, it's just on the other side of the road on the Oceanside part of the park.

Great place to view manatees and the fishing is superb.. Easy access for kayaks and canoes. Nice nature trail for hiking. Picnic area.

We went walking around today and saw many birds but no Manitees. I will the trails were labeled better. Very clean and enjoyed our afternoon.

This is a top notch beach. Nice bathrooms, grills and picnic tables. A little park with some history of the area. If you cross the street there is an area to launch boats, kayaks etc. it also has a few trails and a viewing area which we have seen manatees and dolphins.

Great place to spot Manatees in this quiet small state park on North Hutchinson Island off A-1-A , located on the Indian River. Also a good place to launch your kayak and have a picnic. Nature at its best.

Best place in the Vero Beach area to catch manatees hanging out. It also has a tower you can climb to view dolphins out in the lagoon

County parks are one of the most overlooked treasures in the US. This one, just south of Vero Beach, provides quiet trails through mango groves, along river banks, on a boardwalk that takes you over the edges of the river, and through pine forests. I would have liked a bit more information about the park - like a trail map - but the overlooks, the peace and quiet - were a lovely change of pace from the ocean coast.

This park offers the nature lover several features. First off, it is generally un-crowded, I have only encountered other walkers a couple times over the course of many excursions. Good walking trail, can bike it too but is sugar sand in a couple places. Observation platform offers serene vistas of the river, keep an eye open for porpoise and in the colder months I have spotted manatee as well. You can launch kayaks here too and it is a nice part of the river to padle around in. Rainy season in summer can be buggy so a little deet isn't a bad idea but all in all, a great little island park to explore and enjoy.

Great spot to kayak! We paddled past manatee, dolphin and countless birds. Beautiful spot! If you stand on the bridge, you can easily spot manatee on any given day. They often swim under the bridge. There is a nice and short walking trail to a cool look out tower. Worth a visit. The beach across the street is the perfect spot for a dip in the ocean. The showers are terrible though! Be warned! They get no sand off your body at all!

We went there to do some early morning walking. The park is a great place for a walk around. You can see all kinds of wild life as well as sea life. The manatees were not there this day but are usually there in the winter. The board walk is great for fishing and the have a nice boat ramp.

We never visited round Island Beach as the TripAdvisor location put it in Vero Beach, but it is actually 10 miles south on A1A.

We went to the left on the island but it wasn't the real trail and after crossing wet areas we came to a dead end. The trail actually goes to the left once on the island and goes to an observation tower where the view is mostly obscured by australian pines. The beach side is nice but the beaches had some erosion and had drop offs. The water was a beautiful greenish blue. There was a real nice white sandy beach to launch a kayak or canoe.

When in season (May on) the Manatee are here! Off season, great birds and ramp for boating, kayaks etc.
The bridge that takes you over to one of the islands is great for viewing the varied habitat. They have bathrooms (clean) and across the street is the beach area. Very nice...ocean front, clean with small picnic tables and bathrooms. Shower for feet to wash off the sand.

There is a small park here where they have some displays of WWll era devices used as anti-submarine deployments, The beach is nice and clean (most are). Cross A1A and you have the perfect spot to watch manatees who prefer the calmer waters of the lagoon

The park is kept clean and is easy to navigate. We recommend taking the trail out to the other side.
You may or may not see manatees but it is a special place by itself. Take time to enjoy the quiet!

Vero Beach has a lot to offer, including this little hidden treasure. The well-maintained boardwalk trails take you along the Round Island creek edge. Lots to discover, but it’s not overwhelming to novice explorers, like myself. It’s a tranquil place to go fishing, read a book and soak up a Vitamin D, get your bird nerding on, go kayaking, scout some elusive manatees, discover some dolphins, or just breathe in the fresh air.
Round Island Oceanside Park is a new facility with showers, restrooms, water fountains, restrooms, paved parking for autos and boat trailers, covered pavilions, grills and picnic tables, easy beach access and a children’s playground. Lifeguards are on duty from 9:10 am – 4:50 pm. The park hours are from sunrise to sunset. ADA beach access.

Went with Adventure Kayaking at this park and had a great time. Great inlets, saw manatee, dolphin and plenty of sea birds too. Lovely park and wanted to explore more of it, but ran out of time.

Ocean to river park. Great place to launch a kayak, walk on the trails and see manatees. They are usually always there. Nice beach access also with restrooms.

Lovely day to commune with nature. A little ride. A little picnic. A little walking. A little admiring God’s beauty! Lots of blessing bundled in beauty.

We love Round Island. It's a wonderland of nature. Usually dolphins are swimming about; many native birds to watch and always there is the beach or riverside to enjoy.

We visit Vero Beach yearly and we always stop at Round Island park. We always go to the river side of the park. On the surface it looks like a boring boat launch with nothing to do. This is however one of the best places around to spot manatees. The first time we stopped we had a manatee surface right next to the dock and had several other good views as well. The second time we stopped out we brought a paddle board with. We were able to park ourselves right in the middle of 5 or 6 manatees and just watched them. So cool.

There is also a nice walkway along the mangroves in addition to walking trails and an observation deck.

I highly recommend anyone to at least stop to see if the manatees are present.

We have been to Vero for years and this was our first visit to this park. We got lucky and saw five manatees! The park is free as is the parking. We will certainly return on our next visit.

Went there for surf fishing and it is easy to access the beach.....will be back. It has tables, grills and dressing rooms....very quiet area.

What a wonderful place to walk around. The trails and views are amazing.
The wild life is truly amazing. My friends go kayaking here. They have seen manatee going out through the groves.

Visited this place several times over the past few years. Parking is more than ample and there is a lot to see but the big attraction is the manatees. On one visit there were none to be seen so I told my spouse to go near the water and make seaweed sound. She was not impressed and it failed to attract any animals. The park is located in a very picturesque area and when not swamped with kayakers a pleasant respite from the hubbub of the surrounding area.

One of those free places that you will go to over and over. The walkways must have just been finished. You can view all kinds of wildlife from fish to birds, manatees may make an appearance. Right across the road is a beautiful beach, this place will not disappoint

Walked over the bridge (past a very large and colorful spider) to the bay. Climbed the observation tower to overlook the lagoons, and then returned via the boardwalk and saw a manatee. Best to go in the late afternoon to avoid the crowds.

My husband and I were traveling North on A1A from PSL looking for a beach we had never been before, as this was hubbies 1st time to the Treasure Coast. What a great find when we came upon Round Island Beach Park. This is our favorite beach out of all the ones we visited. Picnic area was nice and clean, RR's are small but the cleanest one ever. Hubbie went to change into his trunks and returned saying you could eat off the floor, it was that clean! The women's RR was also extremely clean. The beach was wonderful! Water was clear and warm. We were there on a Saturday late morning/early afternoon for a few hours and it wasn't crowded at all. Great family beach with a lifeguard on duty. We can't wait to return!

great place to sit and relax. The city keeps it very clean and the water view is teriffic, will want to bring a picnic and just enjoy

Park ison both sides of a1a. Beach side has nice guarded beach. Rest facilities usually clean. Ample parking. Easy access.
River side has boat/kayak launch. Excellent kayaking and often used by kayak rentals. Short trail on right across bridge with elected viewing platform with limited view of river. Longer trail to left of launch parallels Indian river but with occasional view of river. Good for birding.
Manatees often but not always seen. Viewing platform right of launch.
Painted buntings not unusual. Killdeer in parking lot. Warbler spring and fall. Black and yellow crow night herons at times.

We walk about the island looking for wildlife. We did see some Manatee's floating about. A lot of tours will rent you kayaks or canoe's if you like that sort of stuff. We will be going back with a tour soon.

This is a gem of a park in the southern end of Indian River County on A1A. You can launch kayaks or canoes, hike, fish, bird watch, see manatee, picnic, and go for a dip in the ocean. Beautiful location.....tranquil.....serene.

A very peaceful and well maintained area park. Lots of great green space, water views and if you're lucky, lots of manatees!

Visited with grandson this week. Many manatee in the water just of pathway, including mother and calf. A great spot to see manatee up close. Also saw multiple dolphin in these waters. Finally, a great kayaking spot, easy entry to water.

Went here looking for Manatees, and we were not disappointed! A family (or pod, I think) were right under the bridge. Got some photos, but since they were underwater, it was hard to capture them.
Nice walk around the island to a overlook tower. Great scenery.

Canoeing kayaking I want trim for the motor boat fishing plenty of benches for picnicking been there in several occasions we have seen many manatees the place it always spotlessly clean

Both the beach park and the Inland Waterway park are spectacular sites to view and enjoy nature. The waterway park was our favorite as it offers walking trails with boardwalks over and near the water. We enjoyed seeing birds and dolphins. It offers a place to use your boat or kayak and has clean rest rooms and picnic facilities. It can be a short visit or an all day event.

Great place for short hikes, beautiful area! Clean park with boat ramp. Boardwalk over the water. Restrooms are clean.

We have shared Round Island Park with all of our guests - a beautiful place to walk around with the added bonus of seeing manatees. Recently we had the good fortune to watch a mother and her two calves playing under the bridge...a very special treat. And even on days when the manatees aren't visiting we have walked to the observation deck and to the tower to observe the very serene view of the water. A perfect place to sit and relax.

I live in Vero Beach and have taken many of my house guest there as it is very private and there is usually always a parking space. They have a playground and bathrooms and the beach is clean and not crowded. If you have never been to Vero please try this Beach. Life guards are also on duty there.

Quiet and peaceful kayaking and fishing from the kayak - unless of course if you go when the manatees are mating and then it is a thrilling frenzy to watch these usually lazy, docile animals.

Great Manatee viewing from the bridge, beautiful trail. Loved the solitude. Fabulous kayaking from Adventure Kayak.

The park has a lot to offer. There is a boat launch there as well for those who want to access the river. Manatee often bathe there and you can get up close to them. A good place to take the family.

Such a relaxing place to go out to the lagoon/ river and see manatee, birds, beautiful trees and nature trails. It's a wonderful nature spot.

This is great place to go for a short walk. They have a boat ramp too. You may see Manatee, Dolphin or kayakers floating around. The beach is beautiful there too.

Visiting the beach was a nice surprise! There was a short walking area with a boardwalk which was pretty cool. We say manatees, and stingray swim by while we were there.

Went to see manatees and were successful (river side) very close to the car park. Great for those that might have trouble going too far. The river side also has a series of trails and is great for launching kayaks or paddle boards. This side also had a playground with a canopy.

The beach side had areas for picnics and another playground.

We visit Vero every year but didn't know about this place until looked on Tripadvisor. I'm so glad it was reviewed! What a nice little spot to visit! Next time we go we will definitely rent kayaks and do some exploring in the water. This location is peaceful and beautiful. The manatees were very active and seemed to be attracted by our voices. They swam right to the bridge and swam under it so we got a great close-up view. There's something magical about seeing manatees in their natural habitat. We went one day after the beach after the afternoon rain. Sky was overcast and there was a nice breeze - perfect conditions for hanging out and enjoying nature. We also saw some beautiful birds and the kids found a banana spider to scream about. 😜.

This is a must stop when we show off visitors to Vero Beach. The drive south is 10 miles of manicured barrier island development. Round Island itself is a regular destination for families of manatees, and is has a beautiful boat ramp for motor boats and a separate launch site for canoes and kayaks. Across A1A is the beach park which is one of the best in the county. It is guarded and has restrooms and shaded picnic areas, and it is the perfect width for an Atlantic Beach

Parked lagoon side and walked the sweet trail; saw pelicans and herons and a relaxing manatee! Easy access and worth a trip

You can hike, launch you boat or kayak, or if you’re lucky catch a view of manatees , dolphins, otters, rays, etc from the overpass. Sometimes we’ve seen them and other times we’ve seen nothing at all. The beach is across the street too.

Of the 5 or 6 times we have stopped to enjoy the nature tril and lookouts, we spotted dolphins and manatees only couple times. So, it's the luck of the draw if you'll get to see anything. Lots of free parking, picnic area, walking trails, 2 lookout areas. Need to bring my kayak next time. great boat and sandy beach area for kayak launching. Beautiful scenery of the mangroves and waterways.

The park is pretty with great parking. We walked the bridge over the water and saw probably a dozen manatees swimming in the water below us. There a very pretty path through the trees to more water. There are decent bathrooms on site.

Round Island has something for everyone. If you like the ocean, there's a lifeguarded beach on the east side; if you like to kayak, hike, fish, or watch manatees, you can do all these on the river on the west side. Fall, winter, and spring are the best time to most of these activities, as the weather is cooler. If you want to go kayaking or paddleboarding, call Adventure Kayaking to rent a kayak or a board and launch from the park. They're on the web and are very well-informed. Finally, both sides also feature covered picnic areas with grills. Whether you're a local or from out of town, this park is a great place to visit.

Nice place to see birds dolphins and manatees , canoeing , I saw people bring their own boats , there are 2 docks to release/ attach boat

The park is well set up for boating. There is a specific small beach for kayaks another for other small craft with docks and a ramp. The harbor is well protected and there is a marked channel that leads to the Intercoastal. Very scenic.

The trails are short and well laid out with docks, an observation tower, and a foot bridge.

No usable bicycle trail.

Beautiful beach. February. 85 degrees. Free parking. Not crowded. Emerald green clear water. Soft sand (No, not as soft as Clearwater beach on the Gulf side but way better than the beaches up near Melbourne) 10 minute drive south from South beach park at Vero Beach. Shorter walking distance from parking lot to beach that South Beach park. Bathrooms and outdoor showers. Perfect!

We had read that this was a good spot to see wildlife. We went there one day on our vacation and just missed seeing manatees up close. We decided to go back the next day and see if we had better luck. Day two was much better. We saw 3 manatees swimming under the bridge ( one was a calf). Dolphins are present as well. Overall good trails with several observation areas. This is a good place to spend a couple of hours.

Very nice place with some wildlife, unfortunately I was not able to rent a boat and see the manatees but I loved the place anyway.

Read that this was a good place to go to see Manatees. Lucked out and saw five right under the bridge. Stayed and watched them play for about 30 minutes.

Saw many manatees. Great place to walk around. Beach side is also very nice. You can spend many hours in both sections of the park.

Great place, plenty of room lots of tables etc. We set up many Ham radios. Not a lot of people there - had a lot of fun

Round Island Riverside State Park is a great place to launch a boat or go for a walk on the short trails and the boardwalks. It is all a prime spot to see a manatee. We got lucky and saw 2 swim right under the boardwalk! What a thrill to be 6 feet away from a wide manatee! The beach side is typical Florida fun too - well maintained and a lifeguard on duty, but the chance to see a manatee is a don't miss thrill...

Great Public Beach with paved parking, restrooms, and rinse showers at the walk over. Nice spot for picnic, some pavilions have a grill too.

We borrowed kayaks from friends (you can easily rent) and had an incredible time paddling to the lake and around the nearby islands. Saw a ton of fish, birds, and manatees. Was so cool to see pelicans and ospreys nailing fish right in front of us. Will definitely be back to camp and continue exploring.

This is the park on the Indian River that our kayak trip launched from.
I have been here twice--once with Tropical Kayak Tours and once with Adventure Tours.
Both have lovely sea kayaks and friendly guides.
I did not see any manatees the first time I was here--in March, 2016.
But, I did see a few this time, from my kayak, in mid November.
Our guide did not want us to get too close, so what I saw was more along the lines of a few large gray lumps protruding from the water, along the shoreline, near the bridge.
Further into the estuary, we saw dolphins frolicking. There were several types of herons, anhingas and cormorants. We also saw an osprey that had just caught a fish and was perched in a tree on the shore, about to enjoy his catch.
We did not see any pelicans, though, and there had been a lot of pelicans in March of 2016, the last time I was here.
The views were gorgeous, with the clouds in the sky perfectly reflected in the water.
This park has a large parking lot and washrooms.

If you love nature, the water, wildlife . . . then you have to add this to your "must see" list. Wonderful for families and children, too. So much wonder to see and explore. Kayaking is also an experience you will never forget at this marvelous location.

First of all the address provided in tripadvisor is incorrect. This is not on 2201 Highway A1A, so please, this needs to be removed.

Because I didn't read all the reviews I didn't know the one I was looking for was just across Round Island Beach Park. We went to the beach side instead of the riverside. Finally we found the place. It was a cloudy day, and there were so many mosquitos. We barely couldn't enjoy it. We didn't see manatee's nor any other animals. Yet the place is beautiful and well maintained.

Have been here numerous times to launch a small boat and fish the river. Scenic river views with many kayakers and paddle boarders.........snake through the narrow channes and head for the open river to fish for snook, redfish, snapper, tarpon and be aware depending on the time of year sharks! Oceanside is well maintained, great beach and a playground for the kids. Because it is about 15 minutes south of the main Vero beaches it is usually not as busy.

Round Island beach has two parts- the river area where the manatees love to frolic- such a treat for children and adults alike!
Then you can cross over to the beach which has a generous sandy area- not easy to find- and a park and decent restrooms. You can bring a picnic- there are tables and some play equipment - nice for a little break. One of the better beaches aroun!

When the manatees are in the area, this is THE SPOT to see them. There are great new walkways around the water to observe. There is a walkway that goes through a wooded area to acces more viewing. You can boat and kayak there, as well. I have taken breath-taking photos of the manatees there and it is always a must to bring company to. The beach is very nice, one of our favorites. It has life guards and restroom facilities.

Baby Manatees were very close to paddle board. Very exciting to see them so close. Reminded of us of Crystal River.

Arguably my favorite slice of sand in Vero! With both beachside and riverside where there is a playground for kids, Round Island is such a gem! We sometimes get dinner and watch the sunset on the long quiet stretch of beach.

One of our favourite places to visit each time we go to Vero Beach. We visit here mainly for the manatee spotting. And there hasn’t been a time we’ve not seen them. Stand on the bridge on the River Island side and wait for them to drift under. Brilliant. Lovely walk along the tracks and a small pier looking out over the water. All very relaxing.

Went kayaking with my son. Saw manatees. Dolphins, herons, egrets, and not many people. There is a good boat launching area and a playground for kids. Worth while.

Great launch spot for kayaking and easy touring around the small islands nearby..This used to be THE spot for sighting manatees, but I have been back twice in the last 2 weeks and yet to find them..Still, the walk through the brush to the river's edge is lovely and a nice walk too.

A great park just off A1A, some 5 miles south of Vero Beach. A great location to launch your own kayak/SUP or rent one from Adventure Kayaks.

View from the platform was amazing. The manatees viewed from the boat launch/boardwalk were an added plus

Every time I come to Vero to visit my mom, we take a trip to Round Island. I love both the beach and the park. The manatees have always been around when we visit the park and the beach is always a thing of beauty. If you enjoy beaches that are crowded, with boardwalks and hotels inches from the beach...this place is NOT for you! But if you like to enjoy the beach in a peaceful, serene way, please make a point to visit Round Island. You will not be disappointed!

The day we went was cool & breezy, but if it were nicer, I would've walked the beach for miles. A couple of families were enjoying grilling their lunches and engaging in some family time.

When we go to Round Island, we enjoy walking and photographing wildlife. We have seen dolphins, and often see manatees. There are some resident osprey's that you are apt to see diving and catching fish. There is a nice boardwalk with rails so it is easy walking. Watch for land crabs. It's fun to observe them dashing into their little holes in the ground. In addition stroll the short trails and if you're quiet you may see some warblers. Delightful little birds. At the end of the trail is a look out, and it is a nice place to watch the sunset.
We visit often. There are boat launches also, including kayaks. For convenience there are restrooms, and plenty of free parking.
If you enjoy the beach, just across A1A is a pleasant sandy beach.

Come here every year for the last four years. This year, we spent a lot of time sitting in the sun on the boardwalk between two and four o'clock. Saw manatee and got great pics. Saw herons and saw stingrays this year. Less crowded during the weekdays. The boardwalks are all new since last year--very nice. They added a playground with a trap canopy (sun protection) near the pavilion. Free and restrooms near the parking.

Very pretty area, always manatee around, some water snakes (harmless), dolphin and shark from time to time as well. Free parking and kayak/canoe launch. Another reason we love living here.

We had a great time kayaking and taking pics of the manatees. The park is clean and safe and easily accessible.

We love Round Island! It's probably in my top 3 favorite beaches in this area. We really like it because it's the best of both worlds...ocean side and river side. Can't ask for much more!

You can Kayak and also watch the Manatees swimming. As well as walk the trial to the tower...enjoy the view.

This place has it all. You can kayak or SUP on the river side or swim on the beautiful beach site. Love love love it

nice nature walk area, launch area. Lots of Manatee's with their young as this is a sanctuary for the young. A well kept park.

This park is just north of Fort Pierce. There is plenty of free parking and it has public restrooms. There is a nice boardwalk and bridge to look for manatees. We waited and sure enough we saw a few. I think morning is the best viewing and I also recommend being patient if you don’t see any right away.

Wife and I took the nature walk. Very nice canopy of natural foliage. Was very windy and cool the day of our visit so really didn't get to appreciate the beauty of the area. Hopefully will be able to return at later date to be able to enjoy the surroundings.

Full facilities on the ocean with restrooms and showers and an area on the other side of Route A1A for boaters and fishermen. ALL FREE to use..

This park has two sections, one a beach park on the oceanside of Highway A1A and one on the waterway/river side of A!A. The beach park has a nice sandy beach and lifeguards. The park on the west side of A!A overlooks a lagoon off the Intracoastal Waterway, where people can launch kayaks and small boats, fish off wooden platforms, and watch for manatees and other life in the water.

This park is a gem. It has a beach-side with a free guarded beach and parking and restrooms. On the lagoon side, there are very good boat ramps and day parking for cars and trailers. There is a great trail along the lagoon with bridges over the water and lookouts in several places. If you are going to see manatees frolicking, it will be here.

Wonderful beach with all kinds of Navy Seal monuments and information. Decent bathrooms and picnic and grill areas are available. Across the highway is a nice boat landing, fishing pier, and a walking path that takes you over the Indian River Lagoon (on the bridge you can often see manatees) and further in to elevated observation towers.

For years I have gone down when in Vero to R.I. Beach park on A1A. Great spot for looking for manatees and other wildlife and has walking trails a raised platform tower and nice boardwalk. You can rent kayaks there and across from the inter coastal is the beach on the Atlantic. Nice nice place and free.

Great little park - lots of Manatee doing their "thing". Bathrooms are clean - and boat ramp area was well maintained. Cross the bridge to the "island" and walk down to the look out towers for great veiws of the river etc.

Very cool little park and got to see tons of manatees. Got lucky and ran into a naturalist who answered lots of questions about manatees habits and the wildlife in the lagoon. Neat area to explore!

Round Island is one of my favorite places to watch the Manatee and in the fall see the land crabs in Blue and Red.. There were many kayaks there as well as a dozen or so fishing boats.. A Great place for a family picnic..

It is very exciting to see the Manatees at Round Island. Last week they were rolling around under the foot bridge. It is the season for the development of manatee families.

I found out about this from a friend and made a visit. It was like a quick trip to the tropics, with about 6 or 8 manatees just lazing around.
I had never seen them before, so this was fun, especially on my first excursion.
There is a nice walk in the forest toward the pier. People apparently fish off the pier, but many were in kayaks. It was too hot for me to kayak in 100 degree weather, but I will in the future.

What a great spot to visit! The beach is stunning and you can walk across the road to the boat launch / deck overlook. There are lots of manatee and porpoise, a perfect place to kayak and SUP. Very peaceful.

The boardwalk took you over calm water to view pelicans, fish and manatees.
A play park was entertaining for the little ones.

Park with a walking trail (wish it was marked better), manatee viewing spots, and benches to sit and enjoy the scenery. We saw a number of manatees up close. Great experience, and will visit again.

We love to take our friends to Round Island Park. We usually go for the kayaking on the lagoon side that is protected, with much wildlife. There is usually manatees in the area for great photos, but, they are protected, so stay away from them if you can manage.

On the ocean side, the beaches are clean and welcoming. The water has a nice bottom that gradually drops off, so a lot of swimming and wading. We have found some beautiful shells on this beach, but it is mostly soft sand.

Wildlife galore! We saw a whole family of manatee from the bridge and it was truly amazing! My wife and I love to go on nature walks and were turned on by there being a geo locator clue hidden on the island. So happy that we made the trip. There is an observation tower on the west side of the island that offers a wonderful sunset view. A warning though to bring bug spray because in the woods the Mosquitos can be pretty vicious.

We have enjoyed many trips to this park and always spot manatees. Just make sure to bring bug spray or are covered with clothing!

This is a lovely small by accessable park that has been created within the last two years. It is delightful and not heavily traveled with easy access, parking and great beach. I love a quiet place on hopefully it will not get too crowded from this review.

We spend a lot of time here every year seeing the manatees on the river side. A great place to launch your kayak or canoe. And a wonderful place also to walk your dog. The beach is also exceptional....but no dogs allowed there.

A must to take visitors to see the manatees and the only place you are almost certain to spot them, now that the power plant in Vero Beach has shut down (they used to like it thre when there was warm water coming out of the cooling system).

The River side usually has a bunch of manatees hanging out- they are awesome! Look for a little about coming up and breathing heavily- that’s how you spot them. The beach side is amazing too. Great beach with life guard. And some history about WW 2 .

Take some time to walk the boardwalk with some peace and quiet while you look for manatees snacking on the brackish waters and mangroves. If you can rent or get a kayak or canoe, this location is a great place to launch and paddle for hours. Best times would be early or late in the day as you'll have an opportunity to see some great marine life and birds.

This is our second visit to Round Island Beach and we love it. It is so quiet and peaceful. This is my favorite beach in the Fort Pierce area. Just wander along the edge if the water, take a swim or just enjoy the sound if the waves. Always clean and comfortable.

Nice park with lots of options - walking, biking, launching a boat, having a picnic, viewing various wildlife (hopefully including manatees)

Great up close view of manatees and beautiful scenery. Very worthwhile visit. We were a little cautious on the trails because it seemed there could be alligators. Otherwise nice wooden bridges.

A few of my friends have seen manatees at this park. I didn't the day that I visited but it was a beautiful and scenic park. I would definitely go back during the manatee season to try to find them. There were a few people out on kayaks and I took a nice walk around.

Get yourself a kayak and head out for a day full of wonder on the river. There are birds of all kinds dolphins and manatees-if you're lucky and observant. And lots of fresh air. A beautiful way to spend your day

Walking around with the hope of seeing the manatees snuggling is just a plus for this peaceful sanctuary. Seldom crowded, always clean, quite and a lovely spot to talk a daily walk.

We were looking for a park close to Vero Beach to check out some manatees and our local friends took us here. We walked around the the inlet, but no luck. As soon as we went up on the bridge, we spotted manatees on both sides. Great viewing spot. I wish there were a few more trails to get closer to the water near the bridge. We next crossed the highway onto the beach. Beautiful expansive beach, lots of shells and not many visitors. Parking is ample on both sides. Bring water as it does get hot! Try this park out.

I live on the treasure coast and love to go to the beach at Round Island park! The beach is guarded, clean and very wide. Also you can wade far out as it is not too deep here. Across the street is the intercostal side. Here you can hike out onto the island in the inter coastal waterway and explore the vegetation. As you cross the little bridge to get to the hiking trails pause awhile and if you are lucky you may see the many many manatee that live there!

Anytime my husband have free time we like to go here. One of the many up sides of this park there is a beach side and an ocean side which are very different. The last time we were there we were the only people on the beach. It was so nice and peaceful. Depending on the time of year on the river side you can see many animals. Last March we got to see a group of 4 manitee and a few weeks ago we saw birds, butterflies fish jumping and we think dolphins. A very pretty place to visit.

The ocean side is nice, for those that like the beach. Very nice to walk along the beach as well.

The river side is nice for kayaks or just walking. There is a nice short trail to a high deck overlooking the Indian River Lagoon.

Also, be on the look out for manatees. They always congregate on the river side off the boardwalks as you enter it. But usually they are there when the water gets cooler elsewhere.

This is also a great spot to launch a kayak. Plenty of parking & has rest room facilities.

We bring our bikes and park in the lot and bike down A1A south. Very pleasant scenery. But we always find time to walk that short walk & climb the stairs to the deck, to look out at the lagoon. Very nice, peaceful spot.

I love going to Round Island for having a chance of manatee & dolphin sightseeing. This November we saw both with the dolphins even breaching clear of the water! Just playing?? I love the river side in the mornings then to the ocean side for a picnic lunch and cooling off in the ocean waves. It's a wonderful Florida day.

There are two sides to Round Island Park. The East side has a beach and ocean views, but can sometimes be rough waves. I go to the park on west side of A1A where there is a small playground, boat ramp, and kayak launch areas. The real attraction here is the frequent sightings of manatees, who like to hang out in the quiet waters of the lagoon. Manatees can frequently be seen off the bridge crossing the small lagoon on either side of the bridge. Follow the trail over the bridge and walk through the wooded paths to the Indian River Lagoon, where you can see lots of wildlife such as native birds and dolphin. There is a viewing deck on the lagoon. For extra fun follow the path to the south and you will find an observation tower, that kids and adults can climb and get a birds eye view of the lagoon. Bring your own kzyak or pre arrange with kayak rental company to have kayaks delivered to Park. Many offer kayak tours, Orchid Island Kayak delivers to the Park. Park is open 7 days a week and is free, but closes at dusk. Have fun exploring Florida's natural beauty and wildlife.

Was able to view Manatees sun bathing, dolphins jumping in the background and some funny looking fish.

I visited friends in Vero Beach and I can't wait to move there. Easy beach access all along the coast. No high rise buildings blocking the view. Round Island Beach Park has access to the Atlantic coast and the Indian River inland waterway. It wasn't even crowded during the busy season. The city was planned from the start with protecting nature and it continues while also supporting the arts and education. I'm sold on Vero.

A lovely beach, a Florida forest AND manatees (sometimes.). Our favorite outdoor spot in Vero. Last time with family from "the North." No manatees this time, but plenty of shells at the beach and almost no other visitors except a couple launching their kayaks.

Great park to kayak and get up close to the Manatees. Very calm water for beginners. The only draw back is you have to unload your kayaks and gear at a drop site and then park a little ways away and walk back.

I didn't even know this was here, silly me, until I scheduled a SUP Yoga class and this is where it is held. Easy accessible by bikes.

First time coming to round island. The view of the coves are breathtaking and, like many other visitors, you can’t beat the dolphin and manatee sightings! Little trails along the shore within the vegetation are near too!

This place was recommended as a good place to see manatees. As we were in the area in July, it was not really manatee season., and we were disappointed not to see any on our first visit. Despite that, it was a nice serene walk. There are picnic tables - but in the heat of July it was not very conducive to eating outside!

We went back the next day with a plan to rent kayaks, because we saw rentals there the day before. Maybe we should have known this, but YOU HAVE TO RENT THE KAYAKS FROM ELSEWHERE, AND THEY ARE DELIVERED TO THE SITE FOR THOSE WITH RESERVATIONS. The good news was ...we saw manatees the second day. Not many, and not much of the manatee is visible (except their nose when they come up for air) but exciting for me nonetheless!

Nice spot to see manatee. We saw a few today and they were very active. Also saw a baby. The trail is nice to walk and just enjoy nature.

We have just visited the Vero Beach area and this park was exceptional. We saw mandates, Dolphins, and even a small shark. The trails are rigged but a great walk about.

Nice park with riverside and Oceanside access. Parking and bathrooms available. Lifeguard on duty on the beach side. Nice play area for kids

The most beautiful beach park in Vero Beach. It has services and most of all the most wonderful beach! 10 minutes drive from downtown Vero Beach. You should also explore the Riverside of the park, if you are lucky you may spot some manatees!!

I was able to see my first manatee up close because of this location! The walking trail is a nice little path for a family hike, don't forget your camera and binoculars!

Our first experience was awesome as we saw many manatees. Unfortunately, every time we bring visitors, we can't find any. Regardless it is a great place to bring your visitors.

It was a rainy, cool day so the manatee were not near the surface. Nonetheless, our children and grandchildren spent an hour walking through the beautiful park, along well-maintained boardwalks, ever hopeful of spotting a manatee.

Beautiful place to go for walking, kayaking and enjoying nature. I saw lots of manatees when I was there recently!

Park is clean, safe and a great place for a quick hike and/or kayak! entie family enjoyed a quick visit.

My daughter and grandson wanted to see manatees so badly so I took them there first thing in the morning when the park opened. There are several trails to follow and wildlife galore. Needless to say they were not disappointed. On the bridge we saw many and they swam all around us.

We visited the Atlantic side of the park. The beach here is less crowded than other beaches in Vero Beach. There are life guards on hand. You are just a short walk from the parking lot. Very relaxing afternoon.

Indian river county beach just over the ft pierce. Lovely me. Lots of parking and facilities of rest room one. Barbeque areas and tables for picnics. Playground for kids and a dog run. Are here as. Well.

Nice park, great place to see manatees. Nice walking bridges. Boat launch.
Nice place to take kayaks.

Been to this beach many of times. It is always beautiful and never busy. White sand and beautiful water. Perfect place to spend the day!

Keep in mind this park has two sides that are across the main road from each other. We did visit the ocean side which seem to have good parking and good access to the ocean. But where we spent most of our time was on the lagoon side. They have a boat ramp there but more importantly to us was a little wooden walkway along the lagoon that allowed you to view some wonderful manatees. These gentle sea cows would come up for a little snort of air and then submerge back down. They were a little camera shy but we did get a few photos. Definitely a great place to see them if you are so inclined. When we were there, parking was easy and the place is free. Just a nice diversion.

We visited Round Island Beach and enjoyed reading under the umbrella and watching the people. The parking was close by, and we enjoyed wonderful sunny weather seaside while we were there.

Great little trail. We saw the snout of a manatee but nothing else. It would be a great place to kayak. We will try that next time.

One of my favorite places in Vero! On one side of the park you have the ocean. The other side is this beautiful area in and along the Indian River. Beautiful walking trails and you are definitely going to see wildlife there! Last time I was there, I saw two dolphins swimming around the river area! It was really neat! My parents and sister have definitely seen manatees there, too. And if you are a birder, you will see many different types of birds. Pelicans, egrets, herons, osprey... So peaceful and pretty there!

Love this place. Nice to have quiet time with ones self. If you are lucky. Watch the manatees. My favorite.

One of the main things that I wanted to see while we were in Vero Beach were the manatees. Everything I read said that manatee viewings were better in the spring when the water was cooler so I went not expecting to see any. I was pleasantly surprised that not only did I see one, I saw several! The river side was absolutely beautiful and the bridge over the water was perfect for viewing. I can't wait to go back.

Surf fishing sun bathing picnic with good friends..Beach is beautiful clean and the water is gorgeous. The is well taken care of.

Manatees, osprey, jellyfish, gars, egrets, pelicans, dolphin...and it looks like a great place to kayak and boat. Picnic shelters and restrooms, too.

This place is awesome for nature watching, dolphins, manatees, birds and even gators...Lovely place to Kayak and fish. Do bring the bug spray if you are coming out to watch the sunset over the river. Follow the trail to the watchtower...great place for the kids..

We went to Round Island in February 2014, but there were no manatees and we were disappointed. But, went again in April 2015 and saw many manatees, so maybe February was too early in the season. There are hiking trails, but we did not walk them so cannot review the trails. We stayed on the bridge.

At Round Island there are two options - beach side and river side. Beach side offers a clean bathroom (plus), lifeguard, pretty deserted beach with showers to rinse off. Picnic area is clean with several covered tables and a small area with swings and children slides etc.
On the river side options are pretty much the same but during season you can often see manatee and a varied bit of wildlife in the lagoon area. Lots of boardwalk-which was recently repaired- for viewing and fishing.
Take the bridge over to the island and walk to the back to climb (Lots of stairs) the larger viewing area. Worth the trek in! Great spot to see Vero Beach and get a taste of what it was like -back in the day!

We are a couple who loves to walk on the beach and collect shells.
There is free parking with showers, and lots of security.
Don't forget to visit across the street for a wonderful board walk and boating.

This is where manatees go to hang around almost daily for a great portion of the year. You can see moms and babies from the bridge or the dock. Early mornings are most productive. With a short walk across the foot bridge and down the path you get to a multi-story wooden tower that gives you a commanding view of the Indian River Lagoon for miles. Well worth the trip, and a great place to launch a boat or kayak. FREE!

History and nature combined! There are 2 sides to this park on either side of the highway. On one side, you learn about its history during WWII and the other side has a nice walk through nature. We learned a great deal and enjoyed the ocean as well.

My boys and I visited Round Island park hoping to see the manatees. There were none around when we visited on 12/26, but we enjoyed a short walk through the park and then ventured over to the ocean side. The beach was beautiful and the waves that day were great fun for my boys to ride. We'll be back on our next trip to Vero!

Lagoon side manatees, fish, crabs, kayaking, paddle boarding, Wooden bridge nice stroll thru the mangrove paths with 3 story viewing area. Ocean side beautiful sandy beach, picnic areas and facilities. Both sides free.

Hate to share this great place. But, we're here for readers and we expect you to do the same, eh? Enjoy! See you there.

This is a broad expanse of beach only about 15 minutes south of Vero Beach. Good parking, bathrooms,and lifeguards but no concession stand so bring your own lunch/snacks and drinks. Lots of beach to walk along. There were a number of surf fishermen who had their lines in the water a little way down on the beach. Very tranquil. It is across from Round Island Park where you can often seen dolphins and/or manatees near the walking bridge. Check it out.

Never crowded for dropping the canoe into the river. The island is fun to explore on foot and the water is an awesome place to be, we love canoeing this area of the Indian River.

Me and my dad came out here to go on a kayak tour. There's a nice wide shallow slope boat launch as well as a separate launch for canoes and kayaks. There is a bridge heading to the closest island and also a boardwalk between the two boat launches that are perfect for manatee/dolphin/bird watching. There's a table for cleaning your fish that runs off into the lagoon.

While we were watching a pelican at the boardwalk we heard a manatee breathing and spotted the tail fin a few times, but it was pretty far away so we didn't get a good look at it, but it was still cool to see.

Lots of islands to navigate around. There is a hiking trail that leads to an observation tower. Round Island is a good place to see dolphins and manatees, as well as ospreys, blue herons, and pelicans. The water is warm and fairly shallow.

Had teenage gkids come to visit over spring break. One of our trips was to this park. We had a nice time just walking the grounds & over to the tower. We saw a few manatee but none up close. Saw jumping fish & big birds! Nice place for a picnic, too!

Love this park. Come here every time we are in Vero. Construction on the dock area so we went across bridge. Must of been 10 or more manatee.

OK, so the mosquitos weren't that great, but there were quite a few. Don't do this without DEET. There is both an ocean and "river" side. The river side has some pathways, a bridge, viewing tower and boat/kayak launch area. Both sides have restrooms. There are no maps or informative pamphlets or plaques. You're on your own. The wildlife activity when we were there Dec 1 was quite high for noontime. There were fish jumping everywhere and we also saw a manatee. So maybe that's the main attraction.

Really nice place. Didn’t see any manatee but still pretty. Nice bridge and small boardwalk. Nice place also to put in any boats.

We just moved to Vero Beach and being beach people, we had to go to Round Island. There is limited parking, which makes this beach park even more delightful. It's snowbird season and there were more people on the beach....but that ocean....those dolphins....the sound of the waves....priceless. There are bathrooms, which is an added benefit....along with a lifeguard. Great spot to spend the day....or days!!!

Nice place for families, fishing, sightings of birds, good parking. Very clean park with families enjoying there selves. Manatees are in the waters as well as rolling Tarpon Fish!!!

This park is on the smaller side so is good for a short visit. A little trail by the water and a board walk. A couple of picnic tables and your done.

We just love this beach. So quiet and then you can go across a1a and do kayaking and watch manatees and climb the observation tower.

We have been to north beach, south beach, cocoa beach, new smyrna beach, daytona beach, playalinda beach, all since moving to the area last month and this beach is by far the best one weve been to. We had a blast! Saw sea turtle nests, found a coconut, caught (and released) a crab, the kids enjoyed the length of shallow waters and I enjoyed the very few people that were there! Next trip out will be to the river side to look for manatees and dolphins!

Beautiful area to see the Manatees and dolphins. If you stand on the bridge on the river side you will see Manatees when it is warm out.

Beautiful area! We saw a couple manatees, which was fun. Nice walking trails. We did not kayak but saw several people doing it. We did not have a lot of time the day we visited but would be great for a picnic. Highly recommend.

What a great park. The is an excellent beach on the ocean side with a lifeguard. On the other side of A1A there is a river park with access for paddle boards and kayaks. There are also trails and bridges where you may observe manatees.

You will see Manatee, Birds, Dolphin and so much more. A beautiful, short walk through a lovely spot. Totally worth it.

Excellent place to teach children about Florida's natural world - easy walk across foot bridge over the lagoon gives visitors a microscopic view of the amazing estuary system. Also a good place put in a kayak or have a picnic. The oceanside is a nice and rarely crowded beach. Bathroom facilities are on both sides.

We enjoyed the portion of the park that is across the street from the beach - the portion on the Indian River.

There is parking and a boat ramp , and a nature walk over the water so that you can get close-up views of the manatees with their babies!!!!!

There is a little bridge over to Round Island!! Round Island is about a 5 min hike. On the other side of the island there is a pier where we saw large stingrays!!

There is no vendor - so take water and TAKE BUG SPRAY FOR THE ISLAND!!!!!!!

As you park your car, it give you the feeling that only a few knows about this place. The were only 3 people that we bumped with. I believe this is the place to see manatees. On our visit, we saw 6 kof them. There is that walk across a small island and u ou will come to a dock. If you look into the water, you will see a lot of fishes. There is an information board that shows the kind of fishes there. Its like the place hasn't been touched by human hands. Nature is beautiful except for some mosquitoes,& "no see 'ums."

This county park has two parts, one on the ocean and the other across the highway on the lagoon. The lagoon part has a boat ramp, parking for boat trailers and cars, a kayak/canoe launch, walking trails, picnic tables, an observation tower and a boardwalk that extends over the lagoon where birds, manatees, dolphins and other wildlife may be seen.

The ocean part has a lovely beach, picnic tables, grills, walking trails and restrooms. Lifeguards are on duty most of the day.

There is no admission fee and parking is free. There are no canoe/kayak rentals and no food service, so bring your own boats, kayaks, food and non-alcoholic beverages.

The park is fairly far from densely populated areas so it is usually not very crowded; however, on hot summer days or on weekends both sides of the park can get filled up pretty quickly.

I would like to give this park four stars because the beach and lagoon are so nice, but I have settled for three stars because of the park's small size and its lack of amenities such as food service and kayak/canoe rentals.

Because it is a county park it is important to note that the following are not allowed: pets, glass containers, alcohol, fishing, camping, overnight parking, or open fires.

Facilities are very good for a county park, including water, boat launches, bathrooms, life guards on the ocean and bridges over the islands on the waterway.
Wildlife is prevalent, most notably the manatees and the birds.

A nice stop to walk the boardwalk or launch a kayak. We saw a manatee while we were there on a Saturday afternoon.

This beach is south of Vero Beach along route A1A. There are restrooms and picnic tables at the parking lot.

Park has access to both river and ocean. Picnic pavilions available. Winding narrow road not great for large campers.

Great beach and better Manatee viewing on the River-side of this Park. Foot bridges take you to otherwise unseen places. Great walking trails through natural island forest. Plenty of parking. Lots of covered picnic tables. Family fun. Romantic strolls.

Went to the inland side to view manatees, but there were none there. It was a nice short walk regardless. Then took a long walk on the beach on the ocean side. Very nice on either side.

We visited Round Island this year as we do every Thanksgiving. Great place to see manatees and explore the trails on the island. We took a picnic over on the beach side but spent most of our time on the Indian River side. My only complaint is that they are not dog friendly, which I understand given all the wildlife but it is still disappointing. We will definitely be back because the price is always right.

The park used to be very primitive but now has been upgraded to paved roadways and wooden boardwalks over the dunes. You can take your surf poles down from the beach and catch fish from shore or catch your own sand fleas to use for bait. You draw an audience of your line shows action so be ready for pictures!

Whether you have children or not, this park with its walking trails, lookout tower, birds and manatees is a winner.

Stopped to take a walk and hopefully see some wildlife and were treated to pelicans diving for fish and manatees slowly swimming around. Great place to launch kayaks.

I took my 6 year old there in search of Manatees. We did not see any, but we saw dolphins, Osprey, Herons, it was a wonderful and peaceful way to spend a morning enjoying nature and walking the different trails and exploring.

The beach is beautiful. More gradual entrance to the water that South Beach. Good amenities. Park is just across the street from a Manatee viewing spot on the Indian River.

Easy to get to the park off A1A. Lots of parking. We arrived mid morning and walked down to the bridge. In a matter of minutes we saw 4 manatees in the water. At one point a cow and calf swam under the bridge within 10 ft of us. An amazing overall experience.

Bring your kayak or canoe and see all matters of wildlife especially manatees. We've been here several times but never with out kayaks. The manatees are everywhere, you're not supposed to approach them but they sought us out, apparently they are very curious animals and very gentle. They would touch the boat ever so gently as if to see what we were. You can't take your dog to the park proper but you can put a small dog on your kayak to go with you. This is one beautiful place. Don't recommend swimming, there are bull sharks in this area. But you will see dolphins, manatees and tons of different birds if you tour by boat.

Love coming to this park. On one side of A1A is a very nice, wide beach on the side is an excellent spot to fish or look for Manatees. It does have place to put in kayaks. There is a little something for everyone.

Used the Park's west side to kayack brought the Lagoon and onto the Indian River. Saw many manatee, water fowl, and fish breaking. Great location to kayack, fish, paddle board, observe.
Next trip used east side entrance to access beach. Once again, Round Island proved delightful. Great beach walk. Another time parked vehicle to ride bikes south to Ft. Pierce State Park.

Round Island has two parks one on the ocean side and one on the lagoon side. We went to the lagoon side and there was lots of parking for vehicles and boats. We took the walking path/bridges out and there were a lot of fish in the water. We continued to the second bridge area and everywhere you looked, manatees. We counted 10 just swimming around in the area. Just as we were turning, there was a little shark in the water only about 2 feet long, but it caused a lot of excitement!! There is a boat launch here so it is a great place to put your boat or paddle board in the water. After our walk went over to the ocean side to the beach to enjoy the warm sun and ocean.

I've been to Round Island a few time in the past. Today was the first time I kayaked there, so beautiful and peaceful. Sad that there wasn't any manatee or dolphins today, I have seen them there before. Definitely will be going back as it is close to home.
Restrooms are always clean, and park is always clean. Easy access to boat ramp and walking paths.

This park on the lagoon was a pleasant surprise. There is ample parking and a raised boardwalk through the mangroves. Luckily we were able to see multiple manatees up close. We were there on a beautiful day in January 2019.

Beautiful beach with few people but lots of charm. Hidden gem for anyone who loves a quiet, clean, and gorgeous view of the Atlantic Ocean...

Manatees there many times during the year. Great place to see manatees. Short walking trail. Boat ramp.Folks bring kayaks and their paddleboards here too.

Manatee are usually in the area and are best seen by kayak or paddle board. If you are in a motor boat, please be very careful as they are usually in the boat's path. There is also a very well maintained bridge, trail and viewing area that is accessible to those that are handicap. There is a walkway with benches to sit on along the river. Tons of wildlife - dolphins, birds, fish, manatee - to watch. Very rarely do we not see something beautiful every time we go! Highly recommend.

Went to see if we could get a glimpse of a manatee or two but didn't have a lot of luck but did enjoy looking at the waterway and walk along the nature trail to the back side of the river. We will return there again to see if we can catch a glimpse of our sea cows of course if we don't we will not be disappointed because of the natural beauty of the area.
Will also venture across the street to the ocean on our next visit, from a distance it really looks inviting.

One each side of A1A. Beach side offers a very pretty and unspoiled beach. A nice and quiet/family setting. On the bay side is great place to take your little one for his/her first fishing experience. Plenty of small fish to catch. Always see manatees. A nice spot just 10 minutes south from the tourist zone.

We walked out to the pier in the river. No amenities to speak of but saw kayakers coming back from a day of the water. Few people there. Walk was not easy as we got off the beaten path. But view would be beautiful at sunset.

Didn't see any manatee's but still a nice place to walk. Worth a half day. Nice place to launch a Kayak or small boat.

Just a heads up for those wanting to visit, it is closed for repairs from May 2 to May 16, according to the sign. . No worries though. Just go across the street to the beach. It is never busy, and always has a nice breeze.

We spent a rainy week in Vero Beach and trust me, this was truly the highlight of our trip. Round Island Beach Park is just bucolic. So peaceful. There was a pelican just sitting there trying to try himself, a beautiful blue heron, dolphins swimming around and of course the manatees. This is a lovely part of Vero Beach. High recommend that you visit.

Vero Beach has added new walkways that overlook the manatee sites. Place was clean and good spot to picnic and make manatee siting's. We did not observe but would come back when it is a little warmer.

I have been kayaking several times from Round Island and love that the manatees come here. It also seems to have good beach access across the road, although I have only been on that side once. Nice facilities and no charge... one of the things I love about Vero and IRC. I do wish it had a long Mt bike trail... there seems to be a lot of land that is not accessible, which is a shame

We were told that this was one of the better parks to visit if we wanted to see manatees. On one side of the road is the Beach Park which has a parking lot, playground and facilities along with the beach. Not much more, but a great destination for a swim. On the other side of the road is the Riverside Park where you can hike and enjoy nature. We made our way down several paths to different points where you could see the water and hopefully get a glimpse of a manatee. There was one in the murky waters where we periodically could see it's nostrils come up for air every several minutes. Kind of anticlimactic from seeing a whole manatee. Lots of fish, birds and wildlife. We enjoyed our hike.

One of the Treasure Coasts best parks for a relaxing day on Hutchinson Island. Parking on both sides of A1A with a kayak launch on the riverside. The beach is well kept and we have never felt crowded. A great park and a beautiful location!

This is a fantastic place for a great nature walk and also fantastic opportunity to watch manatees playing in the water nearby. And on the opposite side of the highway is a beautiful Florida beach. Manny people kayak or canoe there’s a very nice fish cleaning station also.

The lagoon side of the park has easily accessible launch sites for boats and kayaks. The boardwalk is a great fishing spot and a fun place to watch. Short trails on the island lead to the open lagoon area. On the other side of A1A is the beach. Fine sand, great walks and shell hunting are finished with showers and restrooms. Plenty of tables for lunch unless you like to eat on the sand with me.

I am a kayak fisherman, and have found the waters at Round Island productive.
The river side of the park has a beach next to the boat launch that is perfect for putting in a kayak. Round Island is home to several Osprey families who fish the waters. You will also encounter manatees. Some swim up to your kayak! The best fishing is in the flats area just southwest of Round Island. Good luck!

This is one of our favorite spots to launch our kayaks. Great place to watch manatee. (Please don't touch!) Good fishing, always beautiful photography trip.

My wife and I did not go to the beach side but I took her to the intracoastal side. I didn't tell her what we were going to see so when we walked across the first bridge and looked down into the water and saw a manatee swimming directly at us and under us she was amazed. There is a nice trail to walk on and a cool lookout tower to observe from. The the bridges were the best though. The manatees were really close and many swam up to lay in the shade by the mangroves. Bonus, it's free!!!

We were there the last week of June (2018) and it was time for the males to 'power-struggle' each other for breeding rights.... so many manatees splashing and tail-flapping and rolling! We were there for 3 hours, I took 1500 photos AND we saw two mom's with calves AND a MOM WITH TWINS!! I literally could have stayed there all day!
This was BETTER viewing than when we did the manatee swim in Clearwater (Jan 2017)!

**Please be respectful of the "50 feet rule"--once your feet touch the water, you need to be 50 feet AWAY from the manatees. This is to protect them AND the young AND to protect yourselves! Manatees are NOT aggressive OR mean and do 'not' attack. BUT, whenever a human (or kayak/etc) got into the water, the males would swarm and splash as a way to say "um, this is OUR beach, this is OUR water, and we want you GONE so we can breed!" The ranger/docent in the area said the manatees WILL surface UNDER your kayak and flip you over and can/will splash kids near shore (which can cause little ones to fall into the water....which ups the risk of drowning, etc)**
Please be kind and RESPECTFUL of the manatees and do not harm or bully them. Thank you!