Visit Beautiful St Pete Beach and discover the gorgeous and laid-back St. Pete Beach voted TripAdvisor’s No. 1 Beach in the U.S. in 2021, based on millions of reviews from travelers around the world: when you visit this magical expanse of sand, you’ll understand why. Our Beautiful St Pete Beach Travel Guide will give you everything you need to plan a wonderful beach side vacation here.
St. Pete Beach’s shores include the longest undeveloped stretch of public beach in the county at Pass-a-Grille Beach. Live it up with a variety of water sports, from parasailing and stand-up paddle boarding to windsurfing and kite boarding. White-sand Florida beaches with crystal-clear water, a foodie and arts scene praised by Travel & Leisure, and glittering nightlife options that range from craft beer bars to New York-style dance clubs—in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, the options are endless for whatever kind of vacation you’re yearning for, be it rejuvenating or exhilarating. Visit the best beaches in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area here.
Best St Pete Beach Area Beaches
Treasure Island
Treasure IslandTreasure Island offers a very wide, white-sand beach – and just off the beach, visitors will find plenty of hotels, condos and conveniences such as restaurants and shops. To find a beach access point, look for the bright blue and orange seagull signs.
.
Madeira Beach
Madeira BeachNicknamed “Mad Beach,” Madeira Beach can best be summed up as “old Florida beach town,” largely because of the influence of rustic landmark Johns Pass Village and Boardwalk, just across from the beach. You can rent a wave runner here or book a fishing trip, too. To end the day perfectly, take a sunset cruise from the marina.
Fort De Soto Park
Fort De Soto ParkYou can call it a beach, but Fort De Soto Park is much more than a beach. This much-praised county park – part of the boating community of Tierra Verde – covers five islands and 1,136 acres on the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, and offers activities and amenities to entertain you for a day or more (campsites and abundant hotels nearby enable extended stays). With so many possibilities, set an agenda that’s full or freewheeling: Rent a canoe, kayak or bike to explore the park’s trails; fish from a pier; visit the historic fort; or simply lounge on the beach.
Sunset Beach
Sunset BeachThere’s a bit of a backyard party vibe going here – meaning that this beach is small-scale and friendly. After some sunshine and a swim, mingle with the locals and enjoy a grouper sandwich and a cold beer at one of several outdoor bars and restaurants nearby.
.
.
Egmont Key State Park & National Wildlife Refuge
Egmont Key State Park & National Wildlife RefugeAlthough this park is primarily a wildlife refuge, it is a place to relax and collect shells along secluded, prestine beaches. Accessible only by private boat, Egmont Key has a unique natural and cultural history, including a lighthouse that has stood since 1858. You can tour the historic sites and trails, enjoy swimming, fishing, wildlife viewing, and picnicking.
St. Pete Beach Weather (Best Time to Go)
The best time to visit St. Petersburg is from March to May, when the weather is comfortably hot and a plethora of outdoor events make the city come alive. You’ll find more affordable room rates from June to November, but the threat of hurricanes is imminent and the weather can often be scorching. The temperature cools down significantly for the winter months. The Sunshine City is great to visit year-round but it’s particularly pleasant in the springtime when the temperatures range from the lower 60s to the mid-80s. Sporting events bring huge crowds, so hotel rates may be high. But the increase in outdoor festivities and the blooming purple jacaranda trees make the visit worth it. June to November is hurricane season and average temperatures in St. Petersburg during these months range from the mid-60s to the high 80s. July and August are the hottest months and rainfall is most frequent in the month of August. Though the heat and threat of hurricanes may dissuade you, there are a few upsides to a trip at this time: bargain rates and plenty of events and festivals. It is a little chillier in the winter months with average temperatures fluctuating between the mid-50s and mid-70s. The sun shines nonetheless and manatee sightings are frequent.
Best St Pete Tours & Activities
Best St. Pete Beach Restaurants
Snapper’s Sea Grill $11 – 30
Long-regarded as the “Gem of St. Pete Beach Restaurants,” Snapper’s features generous portions of fresh-caught seafood straight from the Gulf, exquisite desserts, and the finest, top-quality service you can find. Savor a restaurant experience like no other at Snapper’s! A gluten free menu is available. Menu Telephone: 727-367-3550 Web: Snapper’s Sea Grill.
Bongos Beach Bar & Grill $11 – 30
Their popular menu consists of mouth-watering selections and dishes. If you’re searching for tempting light bites such as coconut crusted shrimp, crab cakes, mango glazed scallops or some outstanding buffalo wings, then look no further. Telephone: 727-360-1811 Web: Bongos Beach Bar & Grill.
Sea Turtle Restaurant $Under 10
This is a gathering place for friends and family, offering time-honored American favorites, hand made with fresh ingredients. They have a large menu to choose from, a children’s menu and a beer & wine bar with a fun wine list. The menu offers seafood, steaks, burgers and sandwiches, with many vegetarian dishes also available. Telephone: 727-367-1727 Web: Sea Turtle Restaurant.
1200° Chophouse $31 – 60
For decades, St. Pete Beach faithful asked for a “great steak place on the Beach”. Chef/owner Dan Casey, Chicago native, answers by birthing his original Chophouse concept delighting Gulf coast residents and visitors nightly (indoor & outdoor year-round). The result: upscale comfortable ambiance with mouth-watering complete dinners that exceed the highest expectations priced very reasonably. Menu Telephone: 727-367-1300 Web: 1200° Chophouse.
Shells Seafood $11 – 30
Shells Seafood mission is still to serve only the finest quality ingredients prepared by experts in a fun, casual atmosphere. You’ve discovered the best place for seafood in the neighborhood. Menu Telephone: 727-826-0729 Web: Shells Seafood.
Best St. Pete Beach Bars
Bongo’s Beach Bar & Grill
Dine with your toes in the sand or on one of the multi-level deck areas. As the sun sets and the air cools, enjoy lounging fireside while enjoying live music every night from some of the top bands in the area. Telephone: 727-360-1811 Web: Bongo’s Beach Bar & Grill
The Drunken Clam
One of the things that is very special about this little beach bar is that all of the guests are friendly with each other. Locals and staff remember the seasonal visitors’ year to year. It is as though they were away on vacation and came back. The Drunken Clam has live music Tuesday through Saturday nights. Telephone: 727-360-1800 Web: The Drunken Clam
Sunset Cabana Bar
Situated on a picturesque sundeck and overlooking the beautiful Treasure Island beach, the Cabana Bar is open from noon until two hours after sunset every day. An extensive list of locally brewed beers, as well as wines, spirits and non-alcoholic smoothies, sodas and teas are available. Telephone: 727-360-4400 Web: Sunset Cabana Bar
Harry’s Beach Bar
Harry’s Beach Bar, a favorite local’s hangout, has a new look, new menu and more! Experience open-air bar space, breathtaking ocean views and sublime sunsets next to The Sirata Resort’s newest sparkling swimming pool. Telephone: 727-363-5125 Web: Harry’s Beach Bar
Jimmy B’s Beach Bar
Jimmy B’s is a quintessential beachside hangout. Paved pathways lead directly from the wooden deck to the soft white sand of St. Pete Beach. Multiple bars serve up cold drinks and mouth-watering meals all day long, from an ice-cold beer and a gorgonzola bacon burger to a mai tai and shrimp flatbread. Telephone: 727-367-1902 Web: Harry’s Beach Bar
Best St. Pete Beach Hotels
Hi, Leahrae,
I like very much how sunset looks like while being watched from this fantastic place – St Pete beach! I will have to see it in person!
The other thing that attracts me is the atmosphere – it seems like a place with its face that you cannot confuse with an average one!
Last, but not least – it seems like you will need a year to visit all interesting places and attractions there:) There is something for each taste.
What is your favorite spot on St Pete?
Thank you!
Well, I have more than one favorite spot. I love Fort de Soto and Egmont Key, St Pete Beach, and John’s Pass is a blast! You are right, it has atmosphere. I think that is what I love about it so much! Thanks for reading!
This is so inviting! Our family’s looking for a domestic trip this summer and this might just be the place. I love the beach. Our family usually go to Asia for it. But hailing from the East Coast, Mexico is a good alternative. And now I see this St. Pete’s. Your travel guide is awesome! I saved your site for other beach destination. You are the Master!!
Thank you Gigi 🙂 I absolutely love St Pete, the beaches, the atmosphere, the people, the food….it has everything! Please let me know if you need any other information, and thanks for visiting my St Pete Beach Travel Guide.
Wow! There are so many things to do and explore at St Pete’s Beach! I am especially interested in all of the rich history of the area! Do you happen to know if you need to make a reservation to swim in the huge fish tank? That seems so surreal. Also, if you had to pick the best spot to go snorkeling, which one would it be? Thank you for this excellent write-up!
Yes, you should make a reservations for sure as it is popular. My favorite for snorkeling is to go to Egmont Key. You get to find TONS of unique shells and sand dollars as well. Plus you also get to head to the fort ruins. We love this trip! My son and I take it with Adventure Cruises.
As I viewed your site, I was getting more excited and wanted to start packing. I want to get into traveling more. Love the info on St. Pete. Nice colorful photos. Wouldn’t mind having me a drink at ‘The Drunken Clam.’right now.lol Overall nicely done.
Thank you so much Ron! I am glad you enjoyed reading.
Hi Leahrae,
First, I love your site, and I have already shared it on my facebook page.
Second, you gave me so many ideas for what to do during the day and also during the night 🙂
I definitely am going to try the island ferry and I’m going to swim with the fishes.
I will tell you how it was.
Thank you so much Efi! I am glad I could help you with your trip. Make sure to go to Rick’s Reef! The best place hands down for food, drinks and atmosphere. Thank you for visiting the St Pete Beach Travel Guide!
Thanks, Leahrae. This guide is really great! It’s very detailed, I can get information from how-to-go, things-to-do, where-to-eat up to accommodation, with all the product and services details provided in your linked posts. Look at that blue and green colors of the sea, that makes me want to jump into it right-away, it looks so crystal-clear and clean. I’ll plan a trip there one day…
Great Kiev and when you do, make sure to come back to my site! I am always adding additional information. Thanks for visiting the St Pete Travel Guide!
WIll do, Leahrae. Cheers~
great job on the website, just the brightness makes me know your true to your page an word. keep up the great work, everyone needs a paradise to go to an now they know how. keep that look up high an you will be a motivation to everyone. an on some of the bars I dropped down highlight the great ones.
Thank you Michael, you can tell that I love beaches…like paradise for me. Thank you for visiting the best beaches of St Petersburg and Clearwater.
Wow, that was awesome. I wish every place I wanted to visit had a detailed post like that! I am from Jersey and looking to head south sometime next year for vacation and heard a lot about this beach. I’m so glad I found your page! What do you think is the best time of year to go…like when are the least amount of people there? And which airport is closer? Thanks for researching all those places and writing from experience. This was great!
Ok, I went last October and it was great. The beaches were not crowded and the weather was still very nice. You will find less people in September and October and in April and May. Of course, don’t go during spring break. Thanks for visiting the St Pete Beach Travel Guide Erika!
Very well written article and it also makes people interested about this place. After reading it I would definitely like to go there one day although its in the other part of the world from where I live. The second thing I really liked is that you have very detailed guide about different activities that people could do there while visiting.
Thank you so much Antti. It really is a wonderful location. One of the top four beaches in the U.S., but that is for a variety of reasons..not just to lay on the beach and soak up the sun. Because of their night life, restaurants, atmosphere, and activities. Thank you so much for visiting my St Pete Travel Guide!
Hi, thank you for your sharing!
It seems that St Pete Beach is both attractive and beautiful! I like water activities like snorkeling very much. I also like clean water without much rubbish. So, I am very interested in visiting there, although I have never been to the US before. Maybe next time I will visit there!
Yes, you should Anthony! Rated one of the best beaches in the U.S. Thank you so much for reading!
Thanks for the very comprehensive guide! I’m going to Florida soon, and beaches like these are just what I think of when I envision the trip! St.Pete looks like a real attraction. It has some of everything. I especially like the diversions! I actually prefer those to the beach itself, and they look mighty fun, the swimming in particular. Thanks for the helpful guide!
You are very welcome Mohammad. Have a fun trip to Florida and let me know if you need any other information. Thank you for visiting the St Pete Travel Guide!
I’ve been to a beach in Miami and also one in the Keyes and they were both amazing, although very hot. And living in the UK, we don’t cope will with heat too well. LOL.
However, looking at St Pete Beach, I really wanna be there right now 🙂 From your guide, there is a great deal of things to do there. I’m a huge fan of water sports and love snorkling too. Nightlife is usually a must for me, so St Pete sounds perfect for my next vacation to the USA.
Neil
It really does have everything. I love St Pete Beach. I don’t like to just lay around and bake. I like water activities and I like nightlife. Thanks for vising the St Pete Beach Travel Guide!
One of my favorite hangouts: Beaches:D
Thank you for the detailed article, love water sports and it seems like there are tons of water activities on this beach!
When I visit Florida I will definitely visit St. Petes beach.
Cheers,
Yaser
Yes, Yaser there is tons of water activities. You can find any activity you want really. I have not seen water skiing rentals, but I am sure they are out there too. I think my family has done pretty much everything. Gives us something to do along with just playing on the beach. Thank you for reading the St Pete Beach Travel Guide.
Hello there,
That beach looks absolutely amazing! I would love to go there one day, however, it’s quite a far way from here. Perhaps in a year or two when I finish my university. Would definitely be fun!
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Are there any interesting sites for scuba diving there ?
Dejan
You are welcome Dejan. Yes, there are several companies that take divers out, as there are diving sights all around there. Thanks for visiting Beach Travel Destinations!
great, a very detailed summary of st Petes beach. I loved the way that you gave me the reader lot of options to click and play around with, good stuff! In fact, not only does the beach itself look stunning but there would appear to be a lot going on around it, right I’m off to pack – sold!
Simon
This is definitely my favorite go-to beach. I love the atmosphere, the beauty, all the things to do. There are so many choices and thank you for reading my St Pete Beach Travel Guide!