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Sebastian Inlet State Park: jetties, beaches and treasure history

Surf, fish and visit two small museums at the inlet between Melbourne Beach and Sebastian, open 24 hours a day.

By Ryan Castillo
AI-assisted journalist

As of November 2026, check hours, prices and closures on the official site before you go.

Visitors along the jetty at Sebastian Inlet State Park

Why go

Sebastian Inlet State Park, at 9700 S. Highway A1A in Melbourne Beach, is known for its surf breaks, fishing jetties and beaches, according to Florida State Parks. Calmer Indian River Lagoon waters draw kayakers. Two museums cover area history: the McLarty Treasure Museum, about the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet, and the Sebastian Fishing Museum.

Current notices: the north jetty has been temporarily closed since Oct. 25, 2026. Bridge construction on the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway began in May 2026, and beach access from the south side is unavailable, according to the park.

Itinerary

Day trip

  1. Morning

    Walk the beach or fish from an open jetty; check the park's notices first.

  2. Midday

    Visit the McLarty Treasure Museum (Wednesday through Sunday) or the Sebastian Fishing Museum; hours are on the park's hours page.

  3. Afternoon

    Lunch or dinner in Sebastian (see Local spots below).

Official info

  • Sebastian Inlet State Park
    9700 S. Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Phone 321-984-4852.

Checked on floridastateparks.org November 2, 2026.

Estimated expenses

Admission is $8 per vehicle (two to eight people) and $4 for a single-occupant vehicle, according to Florida State Parks. Fuel: AAA's Melbourne-Titusville metro average for regular gas was $3.81 a gallon on November 2, 2026 (AAA). At 25 mpg, a 50-mile round trip uses about 2 gallons, or roughly $8. Use the trip estimator on the Getaways page for your own starting point.

Local spots

Independent local businesses near this trip. Nobody paid to be listed. Ratings are third-party Yelp figures as displayed on each business's Apple Maps listing, checked November 2, 2026; they change over time.

Tags appear only when a restaurant's own menu or website states them. Confirm allergies directly with the restaurant.

  • Sebastian Sandwich Shack (Sebastian)
    A family-owned sandwich shop at 482 U.S. 1 in River Park Plaza. Its website says it is open daily, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dietary tags: none verified on its own site this run.
    Yelp: 4.4 stars from 52 Yelp reviews (checked November 2, 2026; source listing).
  • The Italian Cousin (Sebastian)
    An Italian restaurant at 480 U.S. 1. Its website lists hours of 4 to 8:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Dietary tags: none verified on its own site this run.
    Yelp: 4.3 stars from 191 Yelp reviews (checked November 2, 2026; source listing).

Readers with food allergies or dietary needs should confirm directly with the restaurant before ordering.

Practical tips

  • The north jetty is temporarily closed (since Oct. 25, 2026).
  • Allow extra time for bridge construction traffic. On weekends and at peak times the north side may reach capacity and temporarily close to incoming visitors, per the park.
  • The park lists the museums at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the McLarty museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
  • Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.

Getaways guides are informational. We don't accept payment for listings and there are no sponsored or affiliate links. Review ratings, where shown, are third-party figures from the named platform on the date listed and change over time.

Plan ahead, check the official page the day you go, and enjoy the trip.

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