The Florida Guide
Tampa Bay, FL
Tampa Bay is Florida's big Gulf Coast metro: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and a string of barrier island beaches around one wide bay.
1,332 places This weekend in Tampa Bay
Today in Tampa Bay
- Tonight Mostly Cloudy 68°
- Thursday Mostly Cloudy 79°
- Thursday Night Chance Rain Showers 62°
Forecast: National Weather Service
Tides
- High 1:56 AM 3 ft
- Low 10:08 AM -0.1 ft
- High 5:30 PM 1.8 ft
- Low 7:57 PM 1.1 ft
Predictions: NOAA CO-OPS
Tampa Bay is the metro area that rings Florida’s largest open-water estuary on the Gulf Coast, with Tampa on the east side of the bay and St. Petersburg and Clearwater on the Pinellas peninsula to the west. People come for the barrier island beaches, the museums and waterfronts of two very different cities, and an easy mix of big-league sports and old Florida towns.
Where is Tampa Bay?
Tampa Bay sits on Florida’s west coast, roughly midway down the peninsula and about 85 miles southwest of Orlando by I-4. The region usually means Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, with Manatee County across the mouth of the bay often included. Three crossings tie the two shores together: the Howard Frankland Bridge (I-275), the Gandy Bridge and the Courtney Campbell Causeway. To the south, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge carries I-275 over the mouth of the bay toward Bradenton and Anna Maria Island.
Tampa International (TPA) is the main airport, about 15 minutes from downtown Tampa and 30 to 45 minutes from most Pinellas beaches. St. Pete-Clearwater International (PIE) is closer to Clearwater and Dunedin, and Sarasota Bradenton International (SRQ) is the easier choice for Anna Maria Island.
Towns and beaches in Tampa Bay
Tampa is the region’s largest city, with the Tampa Riverwalk, Bayshore Boulevard, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and the historic cigar district of Ybor City. Across the bay, St. Petersburg is the arts and waterfront city, home to The Dalí Museum, the St. Pete Pier and a walkable downtown along Central Avenue.
The Gulf beaches run up the Pinellas barrier islands. St. Pete Beach covers all of Long Key, including the historic Pass-a-Grille district at its southern tip, with Fort De Soto Park just across the water. Clearwater Beach is the busiest beach town, built around Pier 60 and its nightly sunset celebration. Just north, Dunedin has a lively, chain-free downtown, Scottish roots, Toronto Blue Jays spring training and the causeway to Honeymoon Island State Park.
At the north end of Pinellas County, Tarpon Springs is known for its Greek heritage and the Sponge Docks on Dodecanese Boulevard. South of the Skyway, Anna Maria Island is a seven-mile island in Manatee County with low-rise beach towns and a free trolley.
When to visit Tampa Bay
March through May is the sweet spot: warm, mostly dry days, Gulf water heating up and spring training in Dunedin and nearby towns. Expect the heaviest beach traffic around spring break and holiday weekends, especially on the Memorial Causeway into Clearwater Beach. Summer is hot and humid with near-daily afternoon thunderstorms, and hurricane season runs June through November. Late fall and winter bring cooler, clear days that suit festivals, museums and walking the waterfronts, and Tampa’s Gasparilla Pirate Festival fills the city in late January.
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