Clearwater/Tampa Beach Guide

Over the years, Clearwater has become one of our favorite domestic vacation spots. I am rounding up our favorite beaches in the Clearwater/Tampa area for you. Be sure to check out the links below for the latest Covid-19 updates at these beach locations before you head out there.

Egmont Key
Do you want to enjoy emerald green pristine waters without leaving the states? Egmont Key is it! This is a secluded island at the mouth of Tampa Bay, rich in natural beauty along with a lighthouse that has stood since 1858. This is an untouched island with no stores or restrooms so keep that in mind when you visit. The island is accessible by private boat or taking the ferry from Fort De Soto.

Fort De Soto
Even if you don’t take the ferry to Egmont Key, you can still enjoy the beaches at Fort De Soto Park. This is a huge park with 5 interconnected islands. This state park is rich in nature trails and plenty of amenities – restrooms, picnic areas, playgrounds, fishing piers and the ferry services to Egmont Key and Shell Key.

Pass A Grille
A recent find was Pass A Grille at St. Pete Beach. This laid back quaint beach town is reminiscent of something you would see in a good-feel movie. I was practically gawking at the beautiful homes in the area. This beach is accessible by car with plenty of metered parking. There are cute little boutiques and shops, restaurants and fishing piers. You can also take a shuttle to Shell Key, another beautiful untouched island, which is something on our bucket list for next time.

Sarasota
About an hour south of Tampa is the city of Sarasota with multiple beaches to visit. The beach we visited was Siesta Key – highly rated and regarded as one of the best beach in the world!

Clearwater Beach
We visit Clearwater Beach each time we visit the area. Trip Advisor named it the nation’s #1 beach in 2018 and rightfully so because of its incredibly soft sand. If you are looking for a lively beach vibe with a pier, shops, restaurants, hotels, and an endless amount of water activities and tours, this is perfect for you. Right in the area is Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the home of Winter the dolphin who swims with a prosthetic tail. She also stars in the movie ‘Dolphin Tale’.

Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi Island
Honeymoon Island is a state park accessible by car from 8am until sundown. You pay $8 per vehicle to enter the park. When you enter the park, there are multiple beach entry points along a four-mile trail. There are restrooms at each entry point but not much for restaurants or eating options. I recommend taking your water shoes to this beach because it is a bit rocky to enter the water. But worth it! One of the times we visited Honeymoon Island, we saw a family of manatees and it was amazing! While you are at Honeymoon Island, you can catch the ferry to Caladesi Island, another untouched island worth visiting.

Treasure Island
Treasure Island has more of a lively beach feel like Clearwater Beach with hotels, restaurants and family-friendly activities and entertainment – near St. Petersburg. For parking, the City of St. Petersburg Municipal Beach lot is in the heart of Treasure Island at 112th Avenue beach side. At 104th Avenue, just south of the Bilmar Beach Resort, there is a public lot with many parking spots.

John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk
If you are around Treasure Island, you will be close to John’s Pass Village in Madeira Beach. We love John’s Pass because you can spend the entire day there without having to worry about anything – swimming at the beach, plenty of water sports rentals, boardwalk, shops, entertainment and restaurants. Parking is ample at 129th Avenue across Gulf Boulevard from the beach, metered on-street parking, and a multi-level parking garage adjacent to Bubba Gumps and the marina.

I hope this was helpful and a good starting point to guide you on which beaches to visit next time you are in the Clearwater/Tampa area. Stay safe friends!