Guides · Hudson, Florida
Hudson FL Boat Ramps & Marinas: 6 Best Put-Ins
Hudson’s marinas are not postcard material. They are working waterfronts, built on a history of timber failures and shrimp boats. They remain useful for exactly that reason.
How Hudson's Working Waterfront Built Its Marinas
Isaac Hudson moved his family into the brush of coastal Pasco County in 1878 and let a post office run out of his house. The town took his name. For a while, it was lumber that mattered—the Fivay Company cut timber and shipped it by rail to Tampa. When Fivay failed in 1912, the town stalled. The water took over. From the 1930s through the 1950s, shrimping and fishing employed about half the working men. The marinas that line the coast today are descendants of that shift, not tourist concessions.
6 Boat Ramps and Marinas in Hudson, Ranked by Reviews
None of these will impress anyone who wants valet docking. They are functional. That is the point.
| Name | Rating (Reviews) | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson Beach Marina | 4.7 (158) | Marina |
| Skeleton Key Marina | 4.6 (192) | Marina |
| Richey Boat & Motor | 4.6 (165) | Marina |
| Port Hudson Marina LLC | 4.6 (337) | Marina |
| Robert J Strickland Memorial Park Boat Ramp | 4.6 (25) | Public boat ramp |
| CMC Marina | 4.4 (49) | Marina |
Hudson Beach Marina tops the group at 4.7 from 158 reviews. Port Hudson Marina LLC has the most feedback—337 reviews at 4.6. Skeleton Key Marina and Richey Boat & Motor both sit at 4.6, with 192 and 165 reviews respectively. CMC Marina trails at 4.4 from 49 reviews. Want a public launch? Robert J Strickland Memorial Park Boat Ramp is your option—the rest are private operations with varying access.
Port Hudson's Canals: A 1950s Experiment That Shaped the Marinas
In 1950, W.L. Hendry and his sons dug inlets from the coast around Hudson Springs, using the fill to raise dry ground for houses. That became the Port Hudson neighborhood. The result is a coastline that is less natural shoreline and more engineered canal system. The marinas and ramps sit along these cuts. Boaters are navigating a landscape that was literally built for them. It is not scenic in the usual sense. It works.
Who Actually Boats in Hudson: Retirees, Snowbirds, and Weekenders
The census tells the story. Hudson’s median age is 64.4 years. Of 7,632 housing units, 1,298 are held for seasonal or recreational use, and 2,042 are vacant. The median household income is $49,063; median home value is $239,200. This is not a town of full-time working families. It is a place where many boaters are snowbirds or weekenders. The marinas cater to that rhythm.
Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park: Hudson's Public Boat Ramp and Beach
Built in the 1960s, Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park remains the community’s beach and its most reliable public access point. The boat ramp here is rated 4.6 from 25 reviews—not heavily used, but functional. It is a public amenity in a town otherwise dominated by private marina operations. It has held up for over half a century without pretending to be anything fancier than a ramp and a beach.
What Hudson Lacks: Nearby Towns for Festivals and Nightlife
Hudson has no annual events worth noting. If you want a festival, you drive. Dade City is 34 miles away for the Kumquat Festival. Cedar Key is 60 miles for the Seafood Festival. Clermont is 68 miles for Pig on the Pond. Mount Dora, 79 miles, has both the Arts Festival and the Craft Fair. Altamonte Springs, 92 miles, hosts Red Hot & Boom. Hudson’s appeal is not in its calendar—it is in the water access that is always there, whether or not anyone is celebrating.
Common questions
- Where can I launch my boat in Hudson?
- You've got several options. Hudson Beach Marina, Skeleton Key Marina, and Port Hudson Marina are all rated 4.6 or better. There's also the Robert J Strickland Memorial Park Boat Ramp, built in the 1960s, if you want a park setting.
- Which marina in Hudson has the best reviews?
- Hudson Beach Marina tops the list with a 4.7 rating from 158 reviews. Skeleton Key Marina, Richey Boat & Motor, and Port Hudson Marina all sit at 4.6. CMC Marina is lower at 4.4.
- Is there a public boat ramp in Hudson?
- Yes, the Robert J Strickland Memorial Park Boat Ramp is public. It's at 14104 Armand Way and has a 4.6 rating. The park itself dates to the 1960s and is still the community's beach.
- Can I keep my boat at a marina in Hudson?
- Most of the marinas here offer slips and services. Port Hudson Marina has the most reviews at 337, suggesting a well-used operation. Skeleton Key Marina and Hudson Beach Marina are also solid choices, all rated 4.6 or higher.
- What's the fishing like around Hudson?
- Good enough that from the 1930s through the 1950s, shrimping and fishing employed about half the working men. The marinas here—like Richey Boat & Motor on US-19—cater to that. You're on the Gulf, so expect inshore and nearshore action.
- Are there any boat rentals in Hudson?
- The listed marinas—Skeleton Key, Richey Boat & Motor, Port Hudson, Hudson Beach, and CMC—are all marinas and boating operations. They likely offer rentals, but specific rental availability isn't in our facts. Call ahead to check.
Every business named above is one we hold a listing for, and every date traces to a source on our sources page. We do not describe menus, interiors or service we have not verified. Details change — confirm before you travel.