The Tampa Bay area is home to some of the best beaches in the country, with white powder sand leading to crystal blue waters. Explore these beaches below and make your plans to hit the beaches.
Ben T. Davis Beach
7740 Courtney Campbell Causeway
(813) 931-2121 7:30 – dark
Hugging Tampa Bay and offering one of the first sights of sand for hose entering Tampa Bay via Tampa International Airport, this narrow beach is attractively landscaped and stretches along the Courtney Campbell Causeway that connects Tampa with Clearwater.
Davis Islands Beach
900 Martinique Avenue
(813) 931-2121 daylight hours
Anchored boats sometimes crowd the beach in front of this sandy spit near downtown Tampa. It may not be best for swimming but it’s great for reading or sunning.
E.G. Simmons State Park
2401 19th Ave N.W. (813) 671-7655
Boating, fishing, swimming and camping, draw people to this 469-acre park on Tampa Bay. Bird watching also is popular in the shallow waters of the surrounding mangrove swamps.
Fred Howard Park Beach
1700 Sunset Drive
Tarpon Springs
(727) 943-4081 7 a.m. to sunset
This family beach is best visited on weekdays when it’s not crowded. But even on busy weekends, the gentle waves and clean shoreline make for a pleasant visit. It’s also a popular bet for fishing and windsurfing.
1 Causeway Boulevard
Dunedin (727) 469-5942
8 a.m. to sunset
Sandy shores surround this island getaway, though some are rocky. Dogs on leashes are welcome on the SE side; boaters can anchor off some of the north shores.
Caladesi Island State Park Beach
1 Causeway Blvd.
Dunedin (727) 469-5918
8 a.m. to sunset
Forget your worries as you take a ferry to this three-mile beach that ranks as the #6 beach in the county according to Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman. Explore the natural surroundings on one of the state’s last undeveloped barrier islands.
Clearwater Beach
West end of S.R. 60
Clearwater Beach (727) 462-6963
No set hours
Ranked the #1 city beach by “Dr. Beach”, this wide beach of sugar-fine sand draws volleyball players, sun worshippers and swimmers. In other words, this is where the action is.
Sand Key Beach
1060 Gulf Blvd.
Clearwater, (727) 588-4852
Sunrise to sunset
This flour-fine sandy beach may be one of the widest-and whitest- in Florida beyond the Panhandle. It’s best to go on weekdays, or early, or later in the day, because it’s a favorite with families.
Indian Rocks Beach
1700 Gulf Blvd
Indian Rocks Beach (727) 549-6165
7 a.m. to dark
Lots of restaurants are within walking distance of this beach, attracting a quieter crowd with low-rise shorelines. With more than 20 beach accesses along Gulf Boulevard, you’ll be able to hit this laid-back beach in a hurry.
Redington Shores Beach
18200 Gulf Blvd
Redington Shores Beach (727) 549-6165
7 a.m. to dusk
Neighbors have kept this quiet, secluded 400 foot-wide beach a secret. Homes border the sand, and nearby access roads require parking permits.
Madeira Beach
14400 Gulf Blvd.
Madeira Beach (727) 464-3347
7 a.m. to dark
A favorite among tourists and
locals- perhaps because alcohol is permitted here – this wide, sandy beach is
packed on weekends with families, singles, young and old.
Also home to Johns Pass.
129th Ave, along Gulf Blvd
Treasure Island (727) 391-1611
Sunrise to 10 p.m.
This popular beach borders the pass, so a constant parade of boats and watercraft can be seen on the water. The beach often has riptides, so swimmers have to be careful. But if you would rather sun than swim, it’s a good destination.
Treasure Island Beach
10370 Gulf Blvd
Treasure Island (727) 367-2735
Sunrise to 10 p.m.
This big, wide community beach has better shells than most beaches, but get there early for the best ones. Three public boat ramps and a marina are available. Try Treasure Island on the weekdays for a quieter scene.
St. Pete Beach
All along Gulf Blvd.
St. Pete Beach (727) 367-2735
Sunrise to 10 p.m.
Wide swaths of shelly sand and usually calm waters make this a popular family hangout on the weekends and an ideal place for a long walk. Water sports abound including wave runners, scuba diving, fishing parasailing and more.
Pass-a-Grille Beach
Off Gulf Way
From 1st Ave. to 22 Ave. (727) 367-2735
No set hours
Most of the beach is wide, perfect for sunbathers at this National Historic District (it was the first established town on Florida’s West coast barrier islands). Fishermen like it here too because they can fish from jetties. You won’t want to miss a brilliant sunset here.
Fort DeSoto Park Beach
3500Pinellas Bayway South
Tierra Verde (727) 866-2484
Sunrise to sundown
Ranked #7 in the country by
“Dr. Beach”, Fort DeSoto is a barrier island and 900-acre park.
Besides a clean, wide beach with lots of shore birds, this park boasts a
fishing pier, historic for and bayside campsites. A paved trail attracts cyclists and inline skaters.