Sunrise on the River — Grant-Valkaria, Florida
Center-console fishing boat backing off a trailer at a concrete public boat ramp on the Indian River Lagoon at sunrise
Local launch guide

Boat Ramps near Sebastian Inlet & Grant-Valkaria

Six public ramps, compared honestly: how many lanes, how much trailer parking, what it costs, how far it is, and which one we send guests to depending on the day and the tide.

The short answer

Which ramp should you use?

  • Staying in Grant-Valkaria and heading to the inlet? Grant Boat Ramp — 1.2 miles, free, no bridges.
  • Big rig or a busy Saturday? Micco / Barefoot Bay, two lanes and about 30 trailer spaces.
  • Going offshore today? Sebastian Inlet State Park — you are in the inlet in five minutes.
  • Spoil islands or the sandbar? Sebastian Yacht Club on Main Street.
  • Kayaks or manatees? Goode Park on Turkey Creek, or Long Point Park just north of the inlet.

If you are staying with us, the simplest option is no ramp at all after day one: the house has roughly 50 feet of private dock on the Indian River and handles a 26-foot boat year-round. See the dock specs and the boat route to the inlet →

Sebastian Inlet tides

NOAA station

Loading tide predictions…

Predictions for NOAA station 8722004 (Sebastian Inlet bridge), MLLW datum, local time. Outgoing tide against an east swell makes the inlet mouth roughest — the calmest run out is near slack water at the tide change.

Ramp by ramp

Every public ramp within 25 minutes

Grant Boat Ramp (Kirby Park / Grant Municipal)

3 min · 1.2 mi from the house

Off US-1 at Grant, Grant-Valkaria

Lanes
1 lane, concrete, floating-side dock
Trailer parking
~15 truck-and-trailer spaces
Fee
Free
Water access
Indian River Lagoon, direct — no bridges to the Sebastian Inlet run
Best for
Fastest launch for a morning inlet run or a lagoon fishing trip

Small and local, so it fills up on winter weekends before 8 a.m. Shallow at the far edge of the basin — stay in the marked channel until you clear the last piling. This is the ramp our guests use most.

Open in Google Maps →

Micco / Barefoot Bay Ramp (Ted Moorhead / Micco Landing)

6 min · 2.0 mi

Micco Road, Micco

Lanes
2 lanes, concrete, dual boarding docks
Trailer parking
~30 truck-and-trailer spaces
Fee
Free
Water access
Indian River Lagoon south of Grant, closer to the inlet run
Best for
Bigger rigs, second choice when Grant is full

The double lane means two boats launch at once, which matters on a Saturday. Restrooms nearby and a cleaning table. Closest ramp to Barefoot Bay.

Open in Google Maps →

Sebastian Inlet State Park Ramp

20 min · 12 mi by road

9700 S. A1A, Melbourne Beach (park side)

Lanes
2 lanes inside the park basin
Trailer parking
Large lot, shared with park visitors
Fee
State park entry fee per vehicle
Water access
Protected basin, then straight into the inlet and the Atlantic
Best for
Days when you want ocean access without running the lagoon

Launch here and you are in the inlet in under five minutes. Traffic backs up on holiday weekends; get there before sunrise. Check the inlet conditions and tide before you commit — the inlet mouth runs hard on an outgoing tide.

Open in Google Maps →

Sebastian Yacht Club Ramp (Main Street)

18 min · 11 mi

Main Street at the Indian River, Sebastian

Lanes
2 lanes, concrete, boarding docks
Trailer parking
~40 spaces, overflow on the street
Fee
Free
Water access
Indian River Lagoon at Sebastian, near the spoil islands
Best for
Spoil-island days, sandbar runs, and clam-flat fishing

Popular and well kept, with restrooms and a fish-cleaning station. Riverview Park next door means shade, playground and food within a two-minute walk.

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Goode Park Ramp

25 min · 17 mi

Palm Bay, Turkey Creek at the lagoon

Lanes
3 lanes
Trailer parking
Large paved lot
Fee
Free
Water access
Turkey Creek into the lagoon north of Grant
Best for
Manatee and creek trips, kayak launches

The best kayak-friendly launch in the area, with a low-bank put-in beside the trailer ramps. Turkey Creek is a reliable manatee spot in the cooler months.

Open in Google Maps →

Long Point Park Ramp

22 min · 14 mi

700 Long Point Rd, Melbourne Beach (just north of the inlet)

Lanes
1 lane plus kayak launch
Trailer parking
Campground lot
Fee
County day-use fee
Water access
Lagoon side, minutes from the inlet's north jetty flats
Best for
Kayaks, small skiffs, and campers already on site

Quiet alternative when the state park is full. Great flats within paddling distance and a swimming lagoon for kids.

Open in Google Maps →
Before you back down

Launch-day checklist

  • Florida saltwater fishing license for everyone 16+ (buy online at GoOutdoors Florida, minutes)
  • Boat registration and current decals visible on the port bow
  • One wearable PFD per person, plus a throwable Type IV
  • Sound-producing device, visual distress signals, fire extinguisher
  • Kill-switch lanyard worn — required by federal law on boats under 26 ft while on plane
  • Idle speed inside every ramp basin and in all posted manatee zones
  • Trailer straps off and drain plug in BEFORE you back down the ramp
  • Fenders and lines out before you leave the staging area, not on the ramp

Licenses and current regulations: FWC saltwater fishing · FWC boating regulations

Questions

Boat ramp FAQ

What is the closest boat ramp to Grant-Valkaria?

The Grant Boat Ramp off US-1 is the closest — about 1.2 miles and three minutes from the house. It is free, single-lane, has a boarding dock, and puts you straight into the Indian River Lagoon with no bridges between you and the run south to Sebastian Inlet.

Are the boat ramps near Sebastian Inlet free?

Most of the lagoon-side ramps are free, including Grant, Micco and the Sebastian Yacht Club ramp on Main Street. The ramp inside Sebastian Inlet State Park charges the standard state park vehicle entry fee, and Long Point Park charges a county day-use fee.

Can I launch a 26-foot boat at these ramps?

Yes. Micco, Sebastian Yacht Club, Goode Park and the state park ramp all handle a 26-footer comfortably. Grant works for a 26-footer too, but it is single-lane with limited trailer parking, so go early on weekends.

Do I need to trailer at all if I stay at Sunrise on the River?

No. The house has roughly 50 feet of private dock frontage on the Indian River and handles a 26-foot boat year-round, so most boating guests keep the boat in the water for the whole stay and only use a ramp to launch and retrieve at the start and end of the trip.

Where do I park a boat trailer while I stay in the area?

We have driveway space for a truck and trailer at the house, which is one of the main reasons boaters book here — many rentals in the area cannot take a trailer at all. Tell us your rig length when you book so we can confirm the fit.

Is there a fish-cleaning station near the ramps?

Yes — the Sebastian Yacht Club ramp and Sebastian Inlet State Park both have cleaning tables. Guests are also welcome to clean at the house; we keep a hose and a table by the dock.

Bring the boat. Skip the ramp.

Roughly 50 feet of private dock, room for a truck and trailer in the driveway, and 5.4 miles of protected lagoon to the Sebastian Inlet sandbar.

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