Beautiful beaches and sunshine make Clearwater, Florida, the perfect place to spend your dream Gulf of Mexico getaway!

Clearwater, Florida, Visitors Guide

Q: Is Clearwater, FL, worth visiting?

Yes! Clearwater is a Gulf Coast beach community that is warm year-round, with beautiful beaches and tons to do! Clearwater is consistently ranked as one of the best beach towns nationwide, with a strong sense of history, community, and culture. Families will find lots of fun kid-friendly activities and tours, and adults will love the nightlife, dining, and relaxed atmosphere.

Q: St. Pete vs. Clearwater - Which is better?

St. Pete and Clearwater are geographical neighbors. The two cities rest side-by-side with Clearwater to the north and St. Pete to the south. These Gulf Coast cities are similar in the quality of beaches, types of tours, attractions, and restaurants, and coastal lifestyle. Where they differ is size. St. Pete is narrow on the east end of a peninsula, where Clearwater includes a big chunk of a coastal island, and is closer to the mainland. Clearwater includes more natural beach land, where as St. Pete has more of a "city" feel. St. Pete is well known for its eclectic culture, with a bold music scene, powerful LGBTQ community, and lots of museums including the The Dali and Museum of Fine Arts.

Q: What are Clearwater beaches like?

Clearwater beaches have the powdery white-sand that is famous on the Gulf Coast. The water is famously clean and clear, with an emerald-green tint.

Q: Are Clearwater and Clearwater Beach the same?

Clearwater Beach is the beach-island region of Clearwater, FL. Although many believe Clearwater Beach is a city, it is not. Clearwater Beach is located only about 4 minutes from mainland Clearwater, accessible via Walsingham Rd, or Belleair Bridge on the northside.

Clearwater has around 110,000 residents that sit right on the Florida Gulf Coast. The surrounding waters support an incredible variety of sea life, making the city a major destination for fishing and seafood enthusiasts worldwide.

If you think you have to leave the country to find a tropical paradise, think again! Clearwater, Florida has just the relaxing beach vibe you’re searching for. With beautiful waters, sugar-white sand, and world-famous sunsets, you’ll be on island time in no time!

When the Native Americans first founded this area, they named it Pocotopaug which literally translates to Clear Water. Settlers decided on this name after discovering the abundance of fresh springs the city has along the shore. Fast forward to today, visitors are still rushing to claim their spot on the beach in beautiful Clearwater, Florida. All relaxed-out and looking for some excitement? That’s okay! Clearwater is also known for its shopping, live entertainment, and hosting festivals like the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival. This ten-day celebration pays tribute to the Bay Area's sugar sands and breathtaking sunsets.

Geography

Clearwater is on central Florida's western coast and covers a large part of the Western border of the Pinellas Peninsula. It is located between the Gulf of Mexico on the west and Tampa Bay on the east. It is an approximately 50-minute drive to Tampa, FL, and about a 40-minute drive to St. Petersburg, FL.

Neighborhoods

South Clearwater Beach is the main tourism hub on the island where you will find most of the major attractions including restaurants, an eclectic bar scene, and laid-back cafés for unwinding in the morning.
The Cleveland Street District in Downtown Clearwater is a pedestrian-friendly mix of residential, professional, dining, retail, and entertainment spaces.
Sand Key is a quiet area on a barrier island known for its namesake park, featuring a playground, picnic facilities, and a beach. The beach is a nesting site for endangered sea turtles, while a salt marsh draws herons and anhinga.
Island Estates is a quiet island neighborhood in Clearwater Bay and is home to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a rescue and rehabilitation center with natural habitats for dolphins, sea turtles, otters, and white pelicans.

Top Places to Visit

Beach Walk

Beach Walk is the winding walkway that runs right along Clearwater Beach, lined with gorgeous landscaping, public art, hotels, eateries, retail shops, entertainment venues, and more.

The Dolphin Trail

The Dolphin Trail expands through Clearwater, FL and St. Petersburg, FL and includes a pod of more than 120 six-foot-tall dolphins made from glass, ceramic, fiber art, and decoupage, all designed by local artists.

Moccasin Lake Nature Park

Moccasin Lake Nature Park is 51 acres of six separate ecosystems that offer peaceful, oak-lined paths, educational walking tours, natural exhibits & educational kids' camps.

Sunsets at Pier 60

Sunsets at Pier 60 began as a festival, but it has evolved into the nightly sunset celebration featuring artisans, musical acts, street performers, outdoor movie screenings, arts and crafts vendors, and other fun with no admission costs.

Climate

In Clearwater, the summers are long, hot, intense, and mostly cloudy, while the winters are short, cool, windy, and partly cloudy and it is wet year-round. The best time to visit Clearwater Beach is between October and December when the humidity is low but January through March are some of the busiest months for tourism.

What is Clearwater Known for

Sunsets at Pier 60, Music, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Pristine Beaches, Beach Walk, Nature Trails and Parks, Fishing, Dolphin Sightseeing, Dolphin Trail, Home to the World’s Largest Speedboat, Delicious Seafood, Golfing, Shopping