Set on Manatee River, Riverside Park Public Boat Ramp - Palmetto (LIMITED PARKING) offers Manatee County boaters a straightforward saltwater launch with a short run to productive water. It's a practical, no-drama ramp that does exactly what a good launch should. With 3 launch lanes, it can handle a busy weekend crowd without the usual bottleneck. As of the last FWC inventory update, launching is free here.
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At a glance
- County
- Manatee
- City
- Palmetto
- Waterbody
- Manatee River
- Water type
- Salt or Brackish Water
- Ramp type
- Stand Alone Ramp
- Launch lanes
- 3
- Ramp surface
- Concrete
- Dock
- Launch Dock
- Parking surface
- Paved - Asphalt or Concrete
- Trailer parking
- 18
- Restroom
- Flush Toilet
- Fee required
- No
- Managed by
- City of Palmetto
- Status
- Open for Business
- Hours
- 24 Hours
Address: 801 Riverside Drive, Palmetto, FL, 34221 · Coordinates: 27.511964, -82.5739
Get directions on Google Maps →
Where it is
Live NEXRAD radar from Iowa State Mesonet — past ~65 minutes animated. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Ramp location from the FWC boat ramp inventory. Not for navigation.
On-water restrictions nearby
No mapped state manatee-protection or boating-safety zones were found within 500 m of this ramp in the current FWC dataset. This does not mean the area is unrestricted — posted signs and other local, state, or federal rules may still apply.
Restriction zones: For general awareness only — not for navigation or legal determination. Florida Administrative Code and posted on-water signs prevail. Other local, state, or federal restricted zones may exist that are not shown here. Source: FWC manatee protection & boating-safety GIS layers. Zone data as of .
What to know before you launch
- Rinse your trailer and engine with fresh water after launching in salt — corrosion is the enemy on Florida's coast.
- Even with multiple lanes, prep in the staging area first so you're not tying up a lane while loading gear.
- Always check current tides, wind, and marine forecasts before you launch — Florida afternoons can turn stormy fast.
Tides at the nearest station
The closest NOAA tide station is Port Manatee, about 9 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):
Boater discussion
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