Clearwater Beach, FL

Clearwater Beach is a barrier island beach on the Gulf of Mexico, just west of downtown Clearwater in Pinellas County. People come for about 2.5 miles of fine white sand and calm water, the busy promenade around Pier 60, and boat trips to see dolphins in the Intracoastal Waterway.

Where is Clearwater Beach?

Clearwater Beach sits on the Gulf side of the Pinellas peninsula in the Tampa Bay region. You drive in on the Clearwater Memorial Causeway (State Road 60) from downtown Clearwater, and a short bridge at the south end connects to Sand Key. St. Pete-Clearwater International (PIE) is about 20 to 25 minutes away, and Tampa International (TPA) is roughly 35 to 45 minutes over the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

Things to do in Clearwater Beach

Pier 60 is the center of the beach, with a fishing pier, a playground and Sunsets at Pier 60, the nightly gathering of street performers, artists and musicians. Beach Walk, the landscaped promenade south of the pier, makes for an easy stroll with showers and water fountains along the way. Out on the water, you can take a dolphin cruise, go parasailing or book a fishing charter from the marina.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a working marine rescue and rehabilitation center on Island Estates just off the causeway, is the best-known stop away from the sand. For a quieter beach, Caladesi Island State Park lies just north and is reached by ferry from Honeymoon Island or by boat, and Sand Key Park offers a calmer stretch to the south. The Jolley Trolley runs along the beach and connects to nearby towns.

When to visit Clearwater Beach

March through May has the best weather and the biggest crowds, with spring break filling the beach and backing up traffic on the Memorial Causeway. Summer brings hot afternoons, warm water and frequent thunderstorms, mostly between June and September. Fall and winter are quieter and pleasant for walking the beach, though the water cools. Public parking lots near Pier 60 fill early on weekends, so arrive in the morning or take the trolley or a ferry from downtown Clearwater.