North Marathon Shores Public Boat Ramp (aka. Dodge Lake) is a saltwater boat ramp on Florida Bay, and it earns its spot in Monroe County thanks to easy access and quick water. Boaters here tend to be a friendly, early-rising bunch — get there at first light and you'll see why. It runs a single lane, so plan to arrive early on peak weekends. As of the last FWC inventory update, launching is free here.
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At a glance
- County
- Monroe
- City
- Marathon
- Waterbody
- Florida Bay
- Water type
- Salt or Brackish Water
- Ramp type
- Stand Alone Ramp
- Launch lanes
- 1
- Ramp surface
- Concrete
- Dock
- Launch Dock
- Parking surface
- Not Paved - Gravel/Limestone/Packed Soil
- Restroom
- No Toilet
- Fee required
- No
- Managed by
- City of Marathon
- Status
- Open for Business
- Hours
- 24 Hours
Address: Aviation Boulevard and Harbor Drive, Marathon, FL, 33050 · Coordinates: 24.725104, -81.059543
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.
- Parking and lane space can be tight on weekends; have your gear staged and your plug in before you back down.
- There are no restrooms on-site, so plan accordingly before you head out.
- 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 Vaca Key, USCG Station, Florida Bay, about 3 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):
Boater discussion
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