Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

What a fantastic experience. I havent got to visit the fort due to a short time being there and had to catch a flight back home. Ill be coming back for sure! This place is worth your time! If you love the all year around warm weather. The beach is gorgeous . I love Key West. It was my first time and its amazing with friends and family.

Good place for half day hangout.Enjoy the beach which isn’t that big but considerably nice enough for key west. Stroll around the fort. Plenty of parking spots.$8 per vehicle to enter the park and beware of photography as their ja naval base beside the park and photography of such spots are prohibited.Very old modeled restroom near the entrance of the fort but pretty clean.

Nice place to spend an afternoon at the beach. The beach itself was partially rocks and lots of tiny shells, but there were plenty of sand areas to throw a beach towel down and sun bathe. The water is really nice here and there are picnic tables available if you prefer not to lay on the beach. I was told this is a popular snorkeling spot, and judging by the seashells washed onto the beach, theres probably plenty to find on any given day. The area feels safe and theres plenty of personal space, and lots of rock formations for photo opportunities.

Really cool fort to explore on a day of adventuring in Key West. It was within walking distance of where we were staying! Kinda creepy back in some of the recessed areas, but great photo ops with the brick and other architectural features! Nice to learn of the history of the fort and see some military displays exhibited. Bring water, though on a hot day, cause it was very hot when we went! After exploring the fort, walk to the beach area! Simply beautiful! Grab a bite to eat at the snack bar and enjoy the water and scenery! Remember to bring money to get into the area....it is a national park. We had a really great time in this area and will visit again next time we come to Key West!

Yes! I have been to Key West many times, but never knew this place was even here. There is so much to do. You can hike around the fort both the first and second floor. You can then go to the beach where there are so many places to sit a relax. In the shade or on the beach. Great place to grab a bite, snorkel and watch the channel. It isnt deep enough to dive, but a great family place.I would highly recommend making this a stop on your trip!

One of the best places to visit in Key west. Sunset here is so beautiful and calm. While the other places are quiet crowded, this place is very peaceful and can spend quality time exploring the fort, beach and sunset!

Best kept secret in Key West. The only real place to see the sunset. Magical. Wonderful. Mesmerizing. Great beach. No other place in Key West has the sunset views as here.

Best spot in Key West by far! Definition worth the admission fee. Not much sand so bring chairs. Also, if you get too hot you can sit at the tables placed in the shade. Try the Pina Colada at the local little food hut. This is a beautiful spot. I always remember it and hope to go back one day! Enjoy

A hidden treasure in Key West. Wonderful beach, great snorkeling, good fishing off the bulkhead on the west end. Bathrooms are fair with outside fresh water showers. Tour at 11am where a Ranger gives you history of the Fort. Concession area with good food and pleasant smiles from the owners and staff. Walking trails, dog friendly but must be on a leash. Beautiful natural landscaping. The staff and administration are more than helpful. Dont miss this wonderful State park. Entry fee is required.

The parking is exact change only ($7) so we ended up overpaying but its worth it, especially if you have a full car. The beach is great and it looked like there were good hiking trails. The beach is a little rocky in areas but I was able to wear my sandals to the edge and walk the rest of the way in fine. Theres a concession stand and picnic tables with bbqs. This would be amazing to visit with friends and family and food to grill (preferably when its safer to gather). This was the second beach we went to for that day and I like this one more.

Top must do in Key West! My husband and I loved the fort and the beaches here! The fort was beautiful and had stunning views! It’s doesn’t take long to get through, maybe about 15/20 minutes but is chalked full of great information!The beach was fantastic! Great parking and there is a separate section for fishing and for swimming and snorkeling.We went to primary go for the snorkeling and swimming. The snorkeling here was the best we experienced on the island. The fish were so bright and actively swimming around. You can rent snorkeling here there for around $15 or you can bring your own! Chairs and umbrellas are also available for rent.One thing we wish we knew about was the amount of calcium rocks that were there making walking barefoot until the soft sand a bit of a challenge but there were beautiful to look at!There is bathrooms, fresh water showers, a snack house with great food and a small bar!! If your looking for a great beach with clam waters this is the place to go!

We rode our bikes to this park, it cost us $5 for both bikes. The beach was very nice and very clean. We pick up trash at every beach we go to but here we collected just 2 small pieces of trash. They have a concession stand and rock piles in the water for snorkeling. Also picnic tables in a shady canppy of trees.

This is a beautiful beach. I went in the month of October and the weather was perfect. I got there a little before sunset and was able to see the sunset at around 7 PM. The beach is located with in a state park. There’s plenty of parking in the park.There is a small fee to enter the park. The water was excellent not too rough and the waves were calm. There was plenty of picnic area for the family and plenty of shade. The beach is completely shaded about 50 feet from the shore.

Beautiful beach and views. Very clean, accessible and ample parking. The self guided tour of the Fort was very cool.

Even though Key West is not known for their beaches.... this place however needs to be known. Great swimming spot...Great picnic spot..Great exploration of Fort Zachary . All rolled up in one. A must do!

Wow! What a beautiful place to sit or swim. They have a snack shop that has everything you could want including ice cream! Even a gift shop!They rent umbrellas and chairs but plenty of free picnic tables if you want to sit down and enjoy or just bring a towel and watch the beautiful sites! Lots of walking paths and people were fishing too.

Google is asking me to review since I had asked directions. I had a very good experience there. The key thing was talking to the park ranger who explained so much. Very cool!

Loved the fort! Pretty hiking trails through woods and next to the ocean. Beautiful views. Nice little beach and cafe.

Nice beach. Yes there are rocks. You can survive the 20 foot walk into the water. It isnt as bad as every post seems to make it.We had great service for renting a couple of chairs and umbrella. $35 or so for all day. Held it while we ran to Blue Heaven for lunch. Water was clear. Cost to come in is good for all day. Came back in the evening to watch the sun go down. Definitely a good value and a way to enjoy the water in Key West.

Fun times at the Beach and then you can dry out walking around the Fort! Seen two Dolphins of the point as well. It was an amazing experience.

Loved sitting under the pine trees so you dont have to bring an umbrella. They have wonderful concession stand, restrooms, and outdoor shower. You can also rent chairs and umbrellas. Also have picnic tables and charcoal grills.Water is rocky, so bring beach shoes.

I love historical sites. It was peaceful there, we self toured the fort! Weather was beautiful

This is not a sandy beach so dont get your hopes up, but it is a great place to snorkel if you are an amateur. We had a lot of fun and found a lot of cool shells and saw a lot of cool fish and wildlife while snorkeling around the Beach area. Be careful and wear shoes because it is very rocky.

Very quiet walk through the site, and very good information about Fort Zachary. Love the very top you can see the ocean. We encounter 3 baby birds

Beautiful ruins! A pivotal structure to the development of the American Nation. Walking up to the imposing walls with a most at its base is intimidating to say the least. Then, understanding the isolation that is the island you really gain empathy for the men who built and lived in this place. Beautiful snorkeling around the fire in the ocean too!

Best beach in south florida!!! I recommended to everyone during visiting Key West..The Fort is amazing!!!.. it is just 8 dollars the admission for the all day!! Great place to spend time with your family!!

We really liked this beach. Wasn’t too crowded for a Thursday. We stayed to watch the sunset. We didn’t get a chance to visit the fort. We will definitely be back when in the keys. This is the best place to watch the sunset. Not overly crowded and breathtaking view!

The view of the sunset was FANTASTIC. Also a nice place to swim and watch the boats. Make sure you have swim shoes though as the beach is all rocks.

Touring the fort was fun. Loved swimming and snorkeling. Will be back

Beautiful, historic site to visit. The beach is quiet and pristine.

A beautiful park, unfortunately tropical storm Eta has churned up the water. Give it a week and it will be beautiful water again. There are lots of fish to see while snorkeling.

Pretty good plase, spacious, near ocean. Big parking. Places for picnics. Nice views ...

Fun place. The guy before us paid for us. Thank you so much Random act of kindness. We were having such a rough day and then we were so happy

So cool ! Only seven dollers for two people parking included!! They have swimming areas with a cafe and chair/umbrella rental!they also have picnic tables and grill for cooking out . You can explore the fort go on hiking trails or just chill beach side . I will say I was a bit surprised that the beach is not sandy it is rocks so BE SURE TO BRING SWIM SHOES ouch lol

The place is amazing for photoshoots! Im not a photographer but still got some inspiration!

What a great place to be. Recharge those batteries!

Highly recommended to wear water shoes lots of rocks everywhere. We had some inexpensive ones we got on Amazon and we were so happy to have them. We went a few days after a big storm so the visibility in the water was low. Went back 2 days later and it was clearer. We were able to swim out to some rocks and used our snorkel gear to see some fish.

This park is the most gorgeous park and a hidden gem in key West. There was an entrance fee to enter the park which was $8 but it was well worth it! The sand was white and the water was very clear. There are many gorgeous places to take pictures. I really liked the key west sign that had many locations on it. This park is also located near a large cruise ship terminal so I witnessed a large cruise ship passing by which was really interesting. There is also a large fort but I did not get to explore that...maybe next visit!

Great park to come and explore. Bring exact change or a credit card as they dont break bills and give change back. Water shoes are a must for the rocky beach but the views are spectacular

Excellent stop. Easily accessible, easy walk thru for anyone. Theres a guide to pick up at the beginning of the property, it may have helped discern some of the property so be sure to pick that up as you enter.

The scenery is fantastic. There are restrooms, outdoor showers for rinsing, some chairs available, and even a small shop to buy drinks and such. This IS a coral beach so bring water shoes. The fee to get in is super cheap, but no alcohol is allowed. This was the best beach that we could find on the island during our early October trip.

History, peace, relax, fresh . Super Sunset HUGE !The Began USA . Love !

Pretty great beach. The gate was a long wait for us to get in. They close it after a certain number of people are inside for COVID I think. If you are coming from far, you may or may not be able to make it in. A lot of hotties were there. Felt like a proper beach. There were three small rocky islands there. Bring your snorkel. We saw a small school of parrot fishes, angel fishes and a 2 feet nurse shark hiding under the rocks. The beach was rather rocky to a point where it was so uncomfortable. Id recommend wearing your sandals or wear a wet boot. The water can get deep fast. I wouldnt venture out too far if you cannot swim because there were no life guards. The sign said swim at your own risk.

A very nice Florida state park in Key West that has some history and some recreation. The fort is well preserved and is fun to visit dive they have demonstrations and historical items on display and the views from the ramparts and where the cabin are located are terrific. The beach is pretty nice, but not as discussed as I was hoping for a location thats pretty much equivalent to what you should find in the Caribbean. Parts of the beach are eroding and this is the main area for lounging and swimming. Lots of picnic tables though so great for picnics. Parking is not problematic as there is a big parking lot. There is an entrance fee which is per person not per vehicle.

Beautiful beach. Very Nice area. Good prices at the cafe, lot of parking and scooter area. You will need beach shoes or sandals because there is a lot of rocks at the seashore.

This is a quiet, private beach we found on the far end of park. It was perfect for snorkeling and swimming without the crowds.

Great place to hangout. So peaceful we all fell asleep on the beach. The only problem is the sharp shells on the beach as you walk into the water. Beautiful place!

Spent a little time walking around the fort. It was pretty cool to see and the view is great from the top of the walls. Make sure to visit the beach side if you visit the fort!

You must come see this cool place cool beach lots of iguanas roam freely and explore an awesome experience

Be sure to make one of the tours. Our guide, Kevin, brought is right back to the Civil and Spanish American War. His story telling was superb. Very engaging guy, super smart. The architecture is well preserved as are several of the canons.The beach is not bad, but very Rocky in places. Wading shoes recommended. Small fee.to enter, I think it was $8 for family of four.Great sunset views as well

Great little spot that highlights the time during the Spanish war.

Loved the visit to the fort - very informative! And we watched the beautiful sunset over the ocean!

Nice place to check out and worth it if you’re in key west! Bring towels, have a picnic, check the beach out, enjoy the water, and soak up the sun. They have sufficient free parking. Admission was about $3 per person. They have a little cafe as well.Come early to get a good spot to camp on the beach!The lady at the park gate was super nice.

Great location. We almost did not run out to see this place when we stayed in Key West, but glad that we did. The story of Mr. English is amazing. We didnt have a tour guide, just went out and walked around a little bit. We have a full review on our blog site and YouTube channel.

The beach was great. The Fort was interesting. The wild iguanas were the highlight of my life!

Highly interesting. You can go on a guided tour, or just wander around on your own.

Very nice place. The beach is ROCKY! DONT FORGET YOUR SWIM SHOES!!! Beautiful beach amenities. Clean bathrooms. Bring your own snorkeling equipment no need for tents. Your can rent chairs and umbrella for $20 or setup under the trees. Also grills are available. Will come again. 4 stars only because its a Rocky beach.

Beautiful scenery however there are a ton of rocks... Make sure you have water shoes.

Beach are dirty. There is not white sand at all. I do not recommend this beach to swing.Good place to rest and hear the ocean.

Hidden treasure beach in KeyWest! It was great during COVID19 with social distancing keeping crowds limited.

Beautiful beach, and beautiful historic building. Highly recommend to visit.

Beautiful historic fort, with the best beach around. Its a great place to stop and take in the sights. The beach is my favorite in the area and where most of the locals or regulars Key West tourists go. Iguanas big and small run around the old fort. Definitely worth the trip out!

Beautiful! You do have to pay for parking but it’s worth it.. we paid $7 for 1 car and 2 people. There are numerous free shaded picnic tables, clean bathrooms, a snack bar, and even umbrella and chair rentals, if interested. An umbrella and 2 chairs are $30, $20 for 1 chair and umbrella, $15 for umbrella only. Water is clean and warm. Lots of trees to provide shade. We had a great day!

Nice beach and park, lots of shaded areas, you can find beach chairs and umbrellas for rent, its like $30 for all day, which is reasonable price. THERE is BBQ and grilling area available for free. The only downside for me is that its more rocky than sand beach. SO I would recommend this beach, water at the beach is clear. The nature is beautiful.

Of all the beaches I visited on the island Key West this is the one. At first I read some reviews that spoke a little negatively about this beach. It almost kept me from going. Im glad I went though and you should too. By far the best beach. Yes, it is a little rocky in SOME areas where water shoes would be helpful but if you dont have any then just go to the section where the rocks are not as bad. There are 3 rock sections out in the water. This is where you want to head for snorkeling. Lastly, the sunsets are amazing and completely unobstructed. Enjoy!!

Nice time to spend indoor. Also a nice beach inside the park. There is a guided walk inside fort at 11 oclock. Good for people who like to know the history.

If you want a nice beach in key west, this is the place to visit. Great beach, picnic area, food & drinks available. Some bike paths too!

What a great -private- beach. The fort is pretty cool too. I liked reading the history behind it....the confederates trying to bury cannons to keep them out of the hands of the union...

Its a great state park in key west ....This is a great way to enjoy the beauty of keywest by knowing the history. Also, this park has the beach access where u can enjoy ocean and a great spot for sunset.

It is beautiful and quiet. You will feel at peace and and tranquility watching the sunset. A perfect way to end the day!

So much to see. The fort, the beach, and fishing! I highly recommend!

Lots of history and you can walk around the fort at your own pace and discover and explore all the books and crannies. Very interesting place to visit

The park is great, they have a good picnic area. However, if youre there for swimming its not a good idea since the beach has a lot of rocks. Going there for snorkeling might be an OK idea, but bring your water shoes and snorkeling set. The fort is really nice to visit as well.

This is an absolutely beautiful place in one of the most beautiful locations in the world. Parking is free if you have an annual Florida state park pass or you pay the daily admission fee of eight dollars per carload of people which is a bargain in Key West. They discourage people from parking there and leaving the park and the signs threaten to tell you if you do that so be careful. One of the best places on the island to watch the sunset and write on the channel where the boats come and go including the big crew ships which have a dock adjacent to the park. They have beautiful restroom facilities and maybe the best place on all of Key West for snorkeling because there’s a shallow reef just off the beach with rental gear if you need it. One of my go to spots every time I’m in Key West especially since I got the annual pass which is only about 150 bucks for the whole year for your entire family for all of the Florida state parks and there must be hundreds! Note that if you get the individual pass they still charge you two dollars Monroe County Park fee for you but not if you get the family one

Great beach as far as key west beaches go

Best Beach in Key West! Great walking trails, concessions available.

We had a great time! The chair and umbrella rental was so easy and clean. We cant thank Paul for being such a great ambassador for the park and key west!

Beautiful park and beaches. Lots of lizards in the area. Concession stand has a good variety of food and seating. The staff and rangers are friendly.

Beach is the best on Key West. Great fishing, swimming, and sometimes snorkeling on days when the water is clear. Beachside grills and picnic tables.

Has entry feeNice walk around the fortBeach is nice, but you will want sandals and a towel to lay on, its ll rocks and coral

We loved this place. It was worth the 3 bucks to ride our bikes in!! They said it was the best beach in Key West and from the ones we saw, I would agree. It is a perfect spot to see the sunset. There are hiking trails and places to cook out. Its a really nice park.

Nice get away from the beach and appreciate some history. Admission is free as part of the entrance fee $8.50/ day as of Aug. 2020Fun fact, it has 5 foot thick walls made of brick, thats some engineering. Afterwards cool off at the beach right next door.

So beautiful, clean. Great views. Only negative... very rocky, must wear pool shoes!!

Really had a great time here ! How can you beat it ? Some light snorkeling just off the shoreline with visible macro algaes and even some soft corals nesseled down deep by the rock walls. You can find gobies and some damsel fish hard at work down there. While at the beach, you can rent an umbrella and 2 chairs for the day (till 5 pm) and theres even a snack bar by the beach (food can be better but its a snack bar so no expectations). The Fort itself was a gem to explore, well maintained for a an almost 200 year old building and has several military artifacts and weaponry around.

Its not like the forts in St Augustin this Fort is baren and not very well preserved but still the views are great

This place is also a spot great for any time of day, morning swim, sunset, checking out the old fort, super beautiful

One of the best parks, ever. Beautiful waters for snorkeling, plenty of parking, the fort is awesome, facilities are clean. We found a gem! Well be back!

$2.50 walk up fee or $5.00 for car with one passenger. Very scenic. Quiet during week. Saturday was super packed. Great view of ships and boats. A bit loud at times with planes and air Force flights taking off over head along with helicopters. Good spot to go birding, enjoy the ocean breeze or even watch for dolphins! The fort is small but neat to check out.

If you love history Fort Zachary is great, and the views are pretty awesome too. Watch for iguanas in the trees.

This is the prettiest beach in Key West. The fee to enter is fair and the park is very well maintained. Theres public restrooms, showers to rinse off after a swim in the beautiful turquoise water, a concession stand for snacks and drinks, a gift shop, chair and umbrella rentals, picnic tables, the list goes on. You can explore the fort, which is really cool, or relax on the beach and catch some rays. The water is great for swimming and snorkeling here! Its also a terrific spot to grab some amazing sunset pics! I love this beach!

Its beautiful. Wear water shoes because its all rocks but its beautiful. Well worth the trip!

Worth the $$. The fort was cool to explore and the beach is nice for swimming. Make sure to bring your water shoes. Lots of rocks and very little sand.

Was beautiful, a piece of history, 1st time there love it

Snorkeling here was awesome. Staff was friendly and very helpful. Make sure to check out the fort before you leave.

Beautiful view. Water nice and clean. So many fishes.

Very enjoyable visit. Was clean and able to find a spot on the sand still socially distant from other families. Kind of rocky along the shore better to wear water shoes. Also noticed many looking for seashells.

Very nice. Not too many people. The shoreline is mostly rocks. Wear shoes or sit and Scoot your behind into the water.

Great Florida park friendly staff very interesting very educational great place to take your kids they have weddings their parties the gift shop is good if you want to see iguanas there is quite a few of them making a home there there are trails to walk and plenty of walking through the fort there are lotta artifacts around to see what they used at the time of the fort they offer a guided tour as well as a self-guided tour with plenty of signs to see what happen at the spot very well worth seeing play in plenty of time as it will take a little bit a time to see

This park is literally perfect! I have no complaints at all.

Love it!! Clean surrounding and beautiful rocks up ahead to snorkel and look and fishes!