Back
Fort Island Trail, Crystal River, Florida
Photo: The Bushranger · CC BY-SA 4.0

Drives Florida Orlando, Tampa Bay and Central Florida

Fort Island Trail

Fort Island Trail, CR 44 · Crystal River → Fort Island Gulf Beach

Leisurely8.9 mi15 min0 ft climbHigh point ≈ 0 ftOne way
Scan to drive it in CarvePoint a phone's camera here. It opens ready to drive.
Drive it in Carve, free

Opens this route in the app, or where to get it.

Drive this road
in the appOpen

The drive

Fort Island Trail is County Road 44, the road from Crystal River out to the Gulf of Mexico. It starts at US 19 and runs west about nine miles across salt marsh and tidal creeks to Fort Island Gulf Beach, a two-lane road with the water close on both sides and a few fishing and boating stops along the way.

Fort Island Trail Park, on the way out, has a fishing pier, picnic facilities and a boat ramp that reaches both the Gulf and Kings Bay. At the end, Fort Island Gulf Beach has a boardwalk, fishing pier, boat ramp, restrooms and showers, and one regional guide lists no charge to enter or park. Parking at the boat ramps is a known problem.

From mid-November to late March, manatees gather in Kings Bay and the springs around Crystal River, and the refuge there closes sanctuary areas to people. The drive itself is flat and easy.

Along the way

  1. Crystal River (US 19)
  2. Fort Island Gulf Beach
Elevation
0 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 0 ft
Crystal RiverFort Island Gulf Beach
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
Crystal RiverFort Island Gulf Beach
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Parking at the boat ramps and the beach fills up, especially on nice weekends.
  • Fort Island Trail Park (12073 W Fort Island Trail) and Fort Island Gulf Beach (16000 W Fort Island Trail) are separate stops, and the beach is at the end of the road.
  • Manatee season in Crystal River runs from about mid-November to late March.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Citrus County Parks and Recreation: Fort Island Gulf Beach.

Questions about this drive

How long does Fort Island Trail take to drive?

Fort Island Trail from Crystal River (US 19) to Fort Island Gulf Beach is 8.9 miles and takes about 15 minutes.

Is there a fee at Fort Island Gulf Beach?

Fort Island Gulf Beach is described as free to enter and park, open dawn to dusk, with a boardwalk, fishing pier, boat ramp, restrooms and showers. Check Citrus County Parks for current rules.

When is manatee season in Crystal River?

Manatee season at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge runs from mid-November to late March, when manatees gather in Kings Bay and the springs.

Where does Fort Island Trail go?

Fort Island Trail (CR 44) runs west from US 19 in Crystal River across marsh and tidal creeks to Fort Island Gulf Beach on the Gulf of Mexico.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.
Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
Record your drivesAPEXRecord a drive and turn it into a route to drive again or share.

Free on iPhone and Android. CarPlay and Android Auto come with Apex.

Download on theApp StoreEarly access onGoogle Play

More drives near here

All 44 drives in Florida ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

+ Plan a new route
Map of Fort Island Trail, from Crystal River to Fort Island Gulf Beach