Clearwater Beach is settled across the Gulf of Mexico, Northwest of Tampa. Ranked as America’s no.1 beach by TripAdvisor (in 2016, 2018, 2019), Clearwater Beach is famous for its white sands and blue waters in amazingly clean and pristine condition. With more than 200+ things to do and activities near the beach.
A walk on the beach is therapeutic itself, but Clearwater Beach has plentiful activities and thrilling adventures for its travelers. The number and variety of water activities, seafood restaurants, luxury hotels, vacation rentals, resorts, and unlimited fun things to do are unbelievable. Besides the beach, Pier 60, Clearwater marine aquarium, Sand key park, and the $30 million beach walk promenade are the main attractions.
HomeToBeach Clearwater Beach travel guide will help you plan the best trip to Clearwater Beach with the best accommodation, transport, clearwater beach restaurants, clearwater beach parking, fun, clearwater beach things to do, activities, and places to visit. It would be your best clearwater beach tips & Clearwater Florida information to help to stay safe.
“It’s a wonderful Beach destination; we will come back next year for sure!”
Place to Stay Near Clearwater Beach Area
The crown jewel of Florida has a lot of hotels and resorts for all its visitors. From luxurious to budget-friendly, the options are endless.
Luxury resorts of Clearwater
Hilton is the closest resort to pier 60. It has the only tiki bar on the sand, private beach cabanas, pools, a spa, and a Starbucks.
Wyndham Grand is the largest resort, closest to the marina. The top-rated resorts in Clearwater include top amenities such as a swimming pool, a large fitness center, a spa, and a coffee bar, and more.
Budget Hotels Clearwater Area
Located within the beach’s spitting distance, highly-reviewed Hampton Inn & Suites provides modern amenities and comfortable rooms at low prices.
Popular accommodation sites like La Quinta Inn, Clarion Inn and Suites, and Red Roof Inn are also under your budget!
Clearwater Beach has hotels, resorts, beachfront weekly rental condos and vacation homes available at a broad range of prices, weddings, romantic getaways near clearwater fl, family vacations, or a trip with friends, all available at sites like airbnb,booking.com and kayak.com for reservations.
Traveling in Clearwater Beach
A 30-minute drive from Saint Pete Clearwater airport or a 45-minute drive from Tampa International Airport leads you to a stunning view of Clearwater. Being the no.1 beach means traffic, which is higher during winter and spring than in summer. Rental cars, Uber, Lyft and taxis, and public transportations are available for large groups but are not necessary to roam around Clearwater.
Ferry
Clearwater ferry from downtown has free parking. The ferry is pet-friendly and makes three stops on Clearwater beach.
Jolley Trolley
Jolley Trolley offers unlimited rides for $5.00.
Biking across the memorial bridge is also a viable option.
Fun ride rentals
For a ‘wind in your hair’ adventure on 3-wheeled scooters that hold up to 2 passengers are available. Surrey, a four-wheeled scooter that can take a group of 8 people on a fun adventure ride, is also at hand.
Things to Do Near Clearwater Beach Florida
At Clearwater Beach, water-sports and activities like kayaking, parasailing, scuba diving, surfing, and fishing are only stage-1 of the fun it has to offer. The availability of various activities and tourist spots made Clearwater beach the no. 1 beach in the country.
Pier 60 is the hub of Clearwater beach. Fishing is just a part of the iconic pier and park. Waterslides and trampolines are available, where $30 provides unlimited waterslides per day.clearwater Florida attractions
Two hours before the sunset, street performers, magicians, breakdancers, and live bands set up a family-friendly street fair at Pier 60. It also has an outdoor movie theatre, completely free.
From the opal sands to Pier 60the beach walk is a 30 million dollar promenade where walkers, bikers, roller bladers surf in the sun.
Nothing compares with a peaceful and pristine time spent at Sand Key Park. Playground, dog park, beach cabanas, showers, and bathhouses are some of the facilities available. Sand Key Park is a popular tourist attraction on Clearwater beach with aqueduct parking spaces and all the amenities for a family outing.
Besides these, a visit can be paid to celebrity dolphin Winter resides at the Clearwater marine aquarium. Winter is well known for her role in the film Dolphin Tale.
Another incredible recreational spot is the iconic pirate ship Captain Mimo that sails around Clearwater beach. $30-$40 entrance fee gives you access to a 2-hour ride of pirate antiques, including treasure hunts, water gun fight, facepaint, stories, and dancing for all ages. Comment below or email trip@hometobeach.com if you want a list of things to do in clearwater beach Florida.
Top 5 Attractions Near Clearwater Beach
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium
- Sand Key Park
- Pier 60
- Spectrum Field
- Beach Walk
Clearwater Beach Things to Do with Family
- Sunset Cruise Clearwater
- Little Toot Clearwater Fl
- Clearwater Beach Fishing Spots
- Celebration Station Clearwater
- Clearwater Beach Parasailing
Food and Shopping Near Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach is a foodie’s adventure land with tons of flavorful dishes to explore. The beach is lined with locally-owned restaurants serving seafood that could not be fresher. Frenchy is one of the most popular restaurants at Clearwater beach with five different locations. The whole menu is tempting, but the garlic crab fries are what everyone raves. Cooter’s is another locally owned seafood restaurant near Clearwater beach that offers a laid-back atmosphere along with unique and finger-licking dishes like the old bass steamer bucket. For fish-based meals that you cannot make at home, Rumba Island Bar and Grille is the place to go. Their signature Hogfish supper and Seared Tuna Nachos are the best on the menu.
For large groups and families, Grants Crab’s seafood & Grille serves meals in one large dish for everyone to dig in and enjoy.
Mandalay avenue has a variety of shops, starting from surf shops, souvenirs, and beachwear clothing. The finds at these locally-owned shops are exclusive and sold at great deals. Celebrity wrestler Hulk Hogan’s shop is also there for you to check out!
Nightlife in Clearwater Beach
Lights and music from bars and tikis bring Clearwater to life when the sun goes down. The brown boxer is Clearwater’s hottest venue, is always packed. Their combination of colorful disco lights, unique drinks, and the coolest DJ will make sure you have a fun night. Another trendy spot for a great night is The Shipwreck. It is a groovy dive bar with awesome jukebox music and a great vibe.
Tropix Beach Bar, Monkey Bar, and Ms. Hyde Bar are other must-visit bars that will have you partying into the AM. Family nights are equally fun at the no. 1 beach of the country. A trip made to Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf can be made for a relaxing evening after supper. Congo River Golf, best visited with kids, has tons of entertainment like bumper boats, go-carts, games, etc.
Day Trip to Clearwater Beach
The ways to spend your day at Clearwater beach are endless. It can be relaxing a day of sipping watermelon juice at the beach, an adventurous day of cruising, or a dive trip to the reef. The Sea Screamer speed boat in Clearwater beach gives a one-hour-long adventure tour of celebrity mansions and historic landmarks on Clearwater’s waterfront. The Encounters with Dolphins boat stop at Compass Island, where you can collect shells, swim, and snorkel. For a more thrilling and adrenaline-filled experience, there are helicopter tours of the entire Clearwater city. Websites like viator.com have many options, at different price points, to help you plan your day trip.
Best Time to Visit Clearwater Beach Florida
If the hot and humid weather does not bother you or love the shining sun, then summer is the time for you. Even though hotel prices peak, the traffic is comparatively low, which makes traveling through Clearwater easier. In the off-season of winter, temperature, and accommodation cost, both drop. If the budget is low, it could be an excellent time to visit, but the top activities and beach vibes have to be sacrificed. Hence, spring is the most suitable season to visit Clearwater beach, when hotel prices fall and the atmosphere is not too hot and humid.
Nearby Beach Destinations
Miami Beach =358 km Key West Beach =392 km Siesta Key =81 km