How to find a boat ramp in Florida
Many boat owners launch their boat from the same ramp over and over again thanks to convenience and proximity to their dock or boathouse. While that process becomes routine, finding a quality boat ramp in an unfamiliar location can be a little more difficult. Fortunately, in today’s day in age, we have more resources than ever to find a Florida boat ramp…or anything else for that matter.
One of the best tools available to start your search for a boat ramp in Florida is the suitably named Florida Boat Ramp Finder from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Not only does this map highlight a huge number of boat ramps in Florida, it provides a ton of useful data beyond the location.
The map legend showcases open boat ramps in blue and closed boat ramps in red and offers symbols for hand launch only ramps, stand alone ramps, and boat ramps with marinas.
Also Read: Do you need to register a new boat in Florida?
As you zero in on a location that looks suitable, you can click any of the map indicators to see the name of the ramp, what type of access the public has to it, the hours it can be used, its street address, potential fees, ramp surface and condition, and so much more.
Additionally, you can search the map by address or a nearby location so you can easily explore your options in an unfamiliar part of the state.
After using the Florida Boat Ramp Finder, you can easily do a little more research. Now that you have the name of the ramp and its street address, you can turn to your favorite search engine to get a little more insight.
Simply type in the name or address of your prospective ramp and use the search results to determine whether or not the ramp is right for you. You should be able to find images of the ramp or use Google’s Street View or Google Earth tools to get an actual glimpse of the ramp. You can also quickly identify any nearby restaurants, gas stations, etc. in case you have plans outside of the day’s boating trip.
Finding a boat ramp that gets you into the water safely and comfortably is important to starting a trip the right way. Use these tools to begin your day on the water right.
