The Ultimate Beach-Lovers' Getaway in St. Pete/Clearwater

The beaches of St. Pete/Clearwater stretch for 35 miles from north to south, so divvying up your days by geography is your best bet. We suggest starting at the north end of the region, where beachscapes in Dunedin and Clearwater offer two very different experiences.

Morning

• Start your first beach day by picking up breakfast goodies to go from Dunedin Coffee Company & Bakery, a hip indie coffee shop in Dunedin, then drive west across the Dunedin Causeway to Honeymoon Island State Park. At this popular park, wander the long, undeveloped shoreline, explore shaded nature trails and take advantage of the park’s many amenities, including a café, nature center and equipment rentals. Want to really get away? Hop aboard the ferry and head to award-winning Caladesi Island State Park, where natural beauty and enchanting wildlife take center stage. Relax under a beach umbrella rented from the concession near the ferry landing, or rent a kayak and paddle along shaded mangrove trails.

Midday

• Your next destination is too-pretty-for-words Clearwater Beach, which has been named the No. 1 beach in the U.S. three times. Work up an appetite with a beach volleyball game or a swim in the gentle surf, then dig into a grouper sandwich at Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, set right on the sand. Next up, head to Clearwater Harbor to board the boat tour of your choice. Opt for an eco-tour, a speedboat adventure aboard the Sea Screamer, or Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise, a perennial kid favorite.

Evening

• Dine at Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar, a popular restaurant right on the beach, or check out more Clearwater Beach dining options. As the sunlight starts to fade, wander over to Pier 60, where the lively sunset celebration, complete with performers and vendors, is an all-ages crowd-pleaser. Looking for nightlife beside the Gulf? Dance the night away – in the sand, of course – to live music or a DJ at Shephard’s Tiki Beach Bar & Grill.

The beaches that make up this stretch of St. Pete/Clearwater’s Gulf of Mexico shoreline promise a laid-back, family-friendly experience. They’re low-key and loved by locals, and you’ll always find great dining spots just steps from the sand.

Morning

• Get a solid start to your day with a hearty breakfast at Maggie Mae's Waterfront or pick up a breakfast sandwich or wrap from Shorty's on the Deck before heading out for some serene shoreline-wandering and shell-collecting. Explore Sand Key Park, a stunning expanse of undeveloped shoreline just south of Clearwater Pass that offers nature trails, lifeguards and concessions. Then, meet members of the local avian population at Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, a nonprofit bird hospital and rehabilitation center in Indian Shores that cares for sick and injured local birds.

Midday

• Spend the afternoon at John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk, a nautical-themed waterfront attraction on Madeira Beach’s southern tip. Start with lunch at Sculley's or one of the other celebrated restaurants, then rent jet skis or paddleboards, book a fishing charter or head out on a parasailing tour to get a birds-eye view. If it’s a pirate’s life the kiddos seek, check out the Pirate Ship at John’s Pass, which sails four times daily. This is also an excellent place for a bit of retail therapy – find souvenirs and stylish beachwear.

Evening

• Toward day’s end, enjoy tropical cocktails, dinner and panoramic sunset views over the Gulf at the Ember Rooftop Lounge at the Cambria Hotel, or dine at family-friendly Caddy's, a two-level, open-air spot on the beach. Find a table on the upper deck, snag a shaded picnic table or settle into a cabana in the sand. Nightly live music adds to the festive vibe.

From secluded beaches to loads of kid-friendly activities, the southernmost beaches of St. Pete/Clearwater invite beachgoers of every stripe for hours of beachfront fun.

Morning

• Start your day in St. Pete Beach – pick up artisanal coffee drinks and pastries from the Leaping Llama, or head straight to the beach for coffee and breakfast on the sand at Paradise Grille, which has locations at Upham Beach and Pass-a-Grille. Once you're fortified, drive to Fort De Soto Park, a vast, spectacular park south of Tierra Verde. Build sandcastles with the kids or soak up sun and solitude on award-winning North Beach, join a kayak tour to Shell Key Preserve or take a ferry to historic Egmont Key.

Midday

• If there’s a good breeze – and there usually is – pick up a kite at Windworks and head to Treasure Island around 112th Avenue. The extra-wide beach there gives you plenty of room to stretch out. In the mood to chill? Rent a cabana from a vendor behind the Bilmar Beach Resort. Active sorts can rent paddleboards or beach cruisers at Suncoast Surf Shop, which also has fashionable beach wear from stylish surf brands. When tummies rumble, head to Sloppy Joe’s (at the Bilmar) for crowd-pleasing options, or to VIP Lounge for Mexican food and margaritas. Thrill-seeking beach-lovers of all ages will love sliding down the giant inflatable waterslide directly behind the public beach access – you can’t miss it.

Evening

• Nothing beats sunset at Pass-a-Grille, where the occasion is marked by the ringing of a large bell at Paradise Grille. Grab dinner at The Dewey, a chic rooftop restaurant steps from the beach, or explore more St. Pete Beach dining options. End the night by showing off your dance moves to live music at Undertow Beach Bar, Jimmy B’s or Postcard Inn. 

We know that it can be hard to tear yourself away from the beach, but we promise that the rest of St. Pete/Clearwater is just as worthy of exploration – and you don’t even need to drive. From Clearwater Beach, the Jolley Trolley will take you to walkable downtown Dunedin and the Greek community of Tarpon Springs. A ferry shuttles across to downtown Clearwater, where you can check out brand-new Coachman Park. If you’re hanging out in St. Pete Beach, board the SunRunner to be whisked away to must-see St. Pete spots including the Grand Central District, Tropicana Field (where the Tampa Bay Rays play) and the Central Arts District.

Learn more about transportation in St. Pete/Clearwater. 

Wherever you’re staying along the beach, the Suncoast Beach Trolley will transport you up and down the coast, and you won’t have to worry about parking. Catch it at stops all along Gulf Boulevard, from Clearwater Beach to St. Pete Beach. If you’re driving, you’ll find paid parking areas up and down the beach as well. We recommend getting there early, as parking spots tend to fill up by 10 a.m., busy season or not.

Here’s a full guide to beach parking in St. Pete/Clearwater.