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At Clearwater Beach, “best beaches” can mean a lot of different things to different people. A common refrain from visitors to Tampa Bay, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, or just Pinellas County is that there are so many amazing beaches on the Gulf, it is impossible to fit them all in over just a vacation.
To some, the many state park beaches and pristine white sand are the best. To others, fishing off the causeway, soaking up the sun, or enjoying a Florida family-friendly beach option makes the trip worthwhile.
The Best Clearwater Beach Area Beaches To Explore
Here are just a few of the most laid-back, fun, and family-friendly getaways beachgoers have in the Clearwater, Tampa, and St. Pete area.
Fort De Soto Park
The beach options at Fort De Soto Park are made up of five islands and over 1,000 acres. The most popular beaches are the North and East beaches. Both are white sand beaches with plenty of room to spread out and multiple fishing piers. Lifeguards are also on hand in season.
Fort De Soto is an old Florida, gulf coast gem, offering education and fun. It is available to tour and has many artifacts to examine from World War II and the Spanish American War.
Pros
- Family Friendly, something for everyone in the family to do
- Accessible with top-rated facilities
Cons
- There is almost too much to do, which can make planning difficult
Sand Key Park
This family-friendly destination is more than just a beach. It offers a dog park, playground, bathhouses, and cabanas. It also has picnic areas and nature trails.
If you are a nature watcher, Sand Key offers an array of birds (egrets, herons, ospreys, to name just a few) that call it home, but it is not uncommon to see endangered sea turtles laying eggs on parts of the beach. Shelling is also popular in this area.
In the water, kayaking, surfing, and fishing are all great choices.
Pros
- Lots to do for the entire family
- Many opportunities to enjoy nature
Cons
- No restaurants – so bring your food
- Red Tide can occasionally be an issue
Clearwater Beach
Much like St. Pete Beach, Clearwater Beach is a public beach located in a beach town that helped put the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida on the map. A gathering place for locals and visitors and considered a perfect beach by many, at this city beach, it is not uncommon to see beach volleyball, water sports, enjoying the boardwalk, and, of course, sunbathing.
The beach has a 2.5-mile promenade that leads to hotels, beach bars, rooftop bars, restaurants, and boutique-style shopping opportunities. For great sunsets, Pier 60 is world-famous; at night, visitors can enjoy a vibrant nightlife with live bands, food, and street performers.
Pros
- Large enough that it is never crowded
- Great access to shops and food
- Excellent deep-sea fishing opportunities
- Pier 60 sunsets
Cons
- Like many Florida Beaches, parking can be a challenge
- Some beach attire may not be family-friendly
- Hotels and high-rises line the beach
Caladesi Island State Park
As the name implies, this beach is part of an island, although it is located in Dunedin. It is the sister island to Honeymoon Island State Park, a more touristy version of Caladesi.
It is one of Florida’s few remaining undisturbed barrier islands.
The island offers nature walks and both mangrove and slash-pine forests for exploring. It also has a renowned bird population, which makes it a birdwatcher’s paradise. To get there, Clearwater Beach has rentals for kayaks and boats.
Pros
- Remote and largely untouched, which means not crowded
- Amazing beaches, beach walks, water, and forests
- The wildlife, from birds to fish, is abundant
Cons
- The park has strict hours of operation
- Food options are limited
Treasure Island Beach
The beach itself is immense, so big it even has a playground. If the playground is not your thing, swimming, shell collecting, snorkeling, parasailing, sport fishing, or just renting beach chairs and sunbathing are just a shortlist of Treasure Island Beach opportunities.
Throughout the year, festivals are held on the beach, including the famous kite festival and Sanding Ovations, a sandcastle festival. Centrally located, Treasure Island Beach sits in the middle of Tampa Bay, St. Pete, and Clearwater.
Pros
- Easy to get to
- Lots for everyone to do
- Amazing beauty
Cons
- Red tide in summer
- Can be busy
Visitor’s Guide
You can pretty much pick a beach in the Clearwater, Tampa, or St. Petersburg area and make a great choice. The area prides itself on tourism, and almost every beach is well maintained. If you like the water and outdoors, you can find something on each beach to entertain yourself.
Red Tide
The only downside to any of the beaches in the Clearwater area is the seasonal red tide. This must be factored into any visit to the area as it can affect the stay immensely. When the red tide is in, the water is off-limits, and wildlife suffers immensely. Ignoring this reality can result in a trip that falls below expectations.
The best advice for avoiding the red tide is to check the websites of the local cities and each of the beaches you are interested in. Also, visiting sites that review different beaches can give you recent insight from other travelers regarding the state of the beaches, how the tide is affecting the wildlife and the water.
Expenses
Visitors also should keep in mind that, like any tourist area, it is easy to run up a fairly hefty bill. You get a lot for your money, but between parking and beach costs, food, lodging, and souvenirs, it is easy to spend a lot of money.
Centrally Located and Family Friendly
One of the best features is how close everything is to each other. The entire area caters to making it easy to get around. The locals are friendly and used to helping out lost or confused tourists.
Because the area relies on tourism, almost every venue is family-friendly. Even the more remote beaches cater to families. It is easy to entertain children, teens, and adults virtually at any beach you choose to go.
Something for Everyone
No matter what your interests are, you can find something to do at Clearwater’s beaches. Even if your trip is short, spending a few hours taking in the sand and Gulf water is worth every minute. The largest challenge for many is running out of time before coming close to running out of activities.
Schedule Early
If you opt for activities that require scheduling, especially in season, make sure you reserve space early. Contact vendors that offer services you are interested in and find out when you should reserve time and what any deposits are. Preparation will ensure you will not be disappointed.
Conclusion
Because the area is so diverse in terms of what the beaches offer, it is impossible to pick a clear winner. Clearwater Beach’s best beaches is a tough question as they all have something fun and interesting to do. That said, some beaches stand out more than others.
For history, For de Soto is hard to beat. If you like birds, any of the islands are a birdwatcher’s heaven on earth. Clearwater Beach and Treasure Island Beach offer something for everyone. You really cannot go wrong, though, no matter what Clearwater area beach you choose, so book a stay today!
