Sunwest Park
Hudson, FL
Sunwest Park turns a former limestone quarry into a 70-acre spring-fed lake with a wide, man-made white sand beach, a workaround for a stretch of Pasco County coast where the natural Gulf shoreline is too marshy to swim. An observation tower and roped-off swim area make it feel more like a designed lake resort than a public park.
A genuine sand beach and calm, clear water make it a solid substitute for a natural coastline that doesn't offer much swimming nearby, though it's a lake, not the Gulf, which surprises some first-time visitors.
How we score beachesBring exact change or a card for the 5 dollar parking fee, the machines don't always give change. The water is calm and clear compared to the tannic rivers nearby, worth the short drive inland from the actual coastline.
Parking is 5 dollars per vehicle.
The beach is a short, flat walk from the parking area.
Pets are not allowed at Sunwest Park's beach area unless they are service animals.
Winter and spring are mild and dry with lighter crowds. Summer brings the warmest water and hurricane season, June through November, along with the year's biggest crowds.
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