Clearwater Beach

The bay area's headline beach

⏱ Half-full day👤 All agesFree

Clearwater Beach developed as a resort from the early 1900s, connected by causeway to the mainland, and its modern identity, with high-rise hotels, a promenade and the Pier 60 sunset ritual, took shape over the late twentieth century. The sand is the draw: fine, white quartz that stays cool underfoot, and a shallow offshore slope that keeps the water calm for long stretches of the year. It has repeatedly topped Tripadvisor's rankings of the best beaches in the United States. Sea turtles nest on parts of the beach in summer, and the nearby waters hold resident bottlenose dolphins.

Visit craft: go early to claim parking and space, or stay near the beach and walk. Set up away from Pier 60 if you want a quieter patch; the north end of the beach, toward the residential area, is calmer. For sunset, join the Sunsets at Pier 60 festival, which returned to Pier 60 Park in November 2024 and runs daily from late afternoon into the evening with free entry, craft makers and street performers, or take a sunset cruise from the Clearwater Beach Marina. The pier itself reopened only partially, for fishing, in September 2025. If you want a dolphin trip, the marina operators run short, family-friendly cruises. On a rainy afternoon, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is the obvious backup.

Practicals and fit: on the barrier island at the end of the Memorial Causeway, about 30 minutes from Tampa International Airport; beach access is free, with paid parking in public lots and meters. Allow half a day to several days. If you are staying over, Opal Sands and the Hyatt Regency put you on the promenade south of Pier 60, the JW Marriott at the south end, and the Sandpearl at the quieter north end. Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands, 30 minutes north, are the antidote when the main beach feels crowded. Fit: beaches, families, couples and first-time visitors to the Gulf coast.