Pinellas may be Florida’s second-smallest county in terms of landmass but offers 35 miles of powdery white beaches and a coastline that spans 588 miles! So, what are the best Pinellas County beaches?
Pinellas Country is home to 3 of the top 10 beaches in the US. Award-winning Fort De Soto Park takes pride in its over 7 miles of beach; Clearwater Beach voted as the ‘Best Beach Town in Florida’ by the USA Today; and Caladesi Island State Park for its historic Scharrer Homestead nature trail.
Here are the 14 best Pinellas County Beaches in Florida:
- Caladesi Island State Park
- St. Pete Beach
- Apollo Beach
- Fort De Soto Beach Park
- Honeymoon Island State Park
- Clearwater Beach
- Pass-A-Grille Dog Beach
- Thunderbird Beach Resort
- Bilmar Beach Resort
- Bermuda Bay by Affordable Beach Condos
- Indian Rocks Beach
- North Redington Beach
- Belleair Beach
- Madeira Beach
From the northern part of Caladesi Island State Park to the Pass-A-Grille channel in the south, this article will guide you in choosing among the best Pinellas County beaches. Want to immerse in luxury accommodations? We have you covered as well! Read along and take a pick among the finest Pinellas County Beach Hotels. There also are some select beaches in this article that are proudly Pinellas County dog beaches!
14 Best Pinellas County Beaches, Florida
Start finding the Pinellas County beach that perfectly matches your style and adventure preferences:
Best Beaches in Pinellas County
1. Caladesi Island State Park
Named by Dr. Beach as the nation’s best in 2008, Caladesi Island State Park would allow you to commune with nature apart from enjoying the water. While this rare untouched island along the Gulf Coast is only accessible by boat, you’d treasure the memory of walking along its pristine beachfront or kayaking through the bayside mangrove forest.
2. St. Pete Beach
Unanimously chosen by TripAdvisor’s community of travelers to be the #1 Beach in the US for 2021, you won’t regret spending time at St. Pete Beach, one of the most favored Pinellas County beaches. Cap your white-sand strolls and soothing beach-water dips by staying at the historical and architectural Don CeSar Resort. If you’re up for a laid-back beach experience, St. Pete Beach won’t disappoint.
Pinellas County Dog Beaches
Here are some pet-friendly beaches that you’d find within 20 miles of Pinellas Park.
3. Apollo Beach
Located at the South Shore area of Surfside Boulevard, Apollo Beach will give you and your canine pal a unique beach experience. While it’s not a place to swim, which sounds ironic since it’s a beach, you’d be fascinated by the swimming dolphins and manatees along the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve Bay. Lay your beach towel and prop a utility beach wagon (view on Amazon) on the beach’s shoreline. This heavy-duty all-terrain folding cart is quite handy in case the tide starts to rise. Another crowd magnet that’s innately Apollo Beach is the Big Bend Power Station, which powers the Tampa Bay area.
4. Fort De Soto Beach Park
Your dog companion would love you even more if you tag them along to Fort De Soto Dog Beach Park. Apart from spacious fenced areas, whether you have a Chihuahua or a Saint Bernard, the beach offers dog showers during hot weather. What’s more, Fort De Soto designates a special space where your pet gets to unleash its inner dog – the Paw Playground.
5. Honeymoon Island State Park
At the southern tip of Honeymoon Island State Park is a dog sanctuary. Your dog could run free along the beachfront’s white sand or dip its paws on the beach’s crystal-clear water. Of course, it also has ‘people perks’ for you. Apart from a beach that stretches over four miles, trek along a 3-mile trail of unadulterated slash pine forests. Look up and see ospreys, great horned owls, and eagles. Other adventures are paddling, fishing, and surfing.
6. Clearwater Beach
Starting at Somerset Street, the north side of Clearwater Beach is a dedicated space for you and your leashed dog to stroll-bond – both on the sand and in the surf. Bags are even provided at the beach entrance, so it would be easy for you to pick up after your pet does its ‘thing.’ But don’t forget to visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and see Winter the Dolphin in person. If you’re traveling with young ones, they’d probably recognize the Dolphin Tale star’s prosthetic tail and remember Winter’s triumphs despite her ‘disability.’
7. Pass-A-Grille Dog Beach
Like the other Pinellas County dog beaches, Pass-a-Grille Dog Beach assigns a portion south of the Merry Pier between the First and Third Avenues for your leashed pup to tread the warm sand. Just stay clear of the Gulf side, so you and your dog could bird watch together at all the fishing docks and piers along the bay.
Pinellas County Beach Hotels
Are you ready to pamper yourself with breakfast in bed while overlooking a scenic ocean? Choose any of the following Pinellas County beach hotels after your share of beach dips.
8. Thunderbird Beach Resort
Located on the gulf beaches of Tampa Bay’s Treasure Island, Thunderbird Beach Resort won’t give you a cramped feeling with its spacious courtyard and expansive beach area. Take advantage of this space and sharpen your soccer skills with ChipIt (view on Amazon). Created for kids, teens, and adults alike, this outdoor soccer game set is perfect for family bonding. Be in rhythm with the live music from its Tiki Beach Bar while walking barefoot on the beach’s white sand. Can’t get enough of the beach water? One of the luxurious choices among Pinellas County beach hotels, Thunderbird Beach Resort, gives you several options in non-ocean indulgence – a quiet pool, a hot tub, and a heated pool.
9. Bilmar Beach Resort
Planning a family or corporate event? Bilmar Beach Resort’s Beach Café is ready to serve up to 200 guests, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Even if you’re on the beach alone, imagine sipping an ice-cold drink of your choice at the outdoor beach patio while watching the sunset on the horizon. From studios to suites at the Bilmar Beach Resort, you’d be treated like royalty by the Pinella County beach hotel’s professional and courteous staff.
10. Bermuda Bay by Affordable Beach Condos
Expect more activities to try at Bermuda Bay apart from beach-related rowing, fishing, and sailing. Play on its tennis courts or grab a friend for a squash match. It’s a home away from home as you relax in a spa after swimming in the ocean. You could even book a private beach reservation for a family event.
Pinellas County Beach Access Parks
Each Pinellas County beach under this category won’t give you trouble parking, although the fees are varied.
11. Indian Rocks Beach
Whether you believe the urban legend that earned this Pinellas County beach its name or not, you’d be enchanted by how the place perfectly blends its original character with the lively mix of recreational activities like beachcombing and wildlife sightings. You might even swim with manatees and dolphins! In place of hotels and bars, enjoy the quaint ambiance in the beach’s wide selection of vacation rentals.
12. North Redington Beach
Right in the heart of Pinellas County beaches, you won’t run out of activities to explore at North Redington Beach. Go for a guided kayak tour of the beautiful Shell Key, including the Shell Key Preserve, participate in the Redington Shores Beach Yoga, or treat your little one to a Mermaid-For-A-Day Photo Shoot.
13. Belleair Beach
Experience the charms that Belleair Beach offers apart from its inviting water. Join other fishing enthusiasts in a Deep-Sea Fishing Tour aboard the Canaveral Star II in the Gulf of Mexico. If you wish to immense in Belleair Beach’s history and culture, choose between a 2-hour guided Segway Tour or mingle with other enthusiasts in a St. Petersburg Jungle Prada Site History Tour.
14. Madeira Beach
A trip to the Pinellas County beaches need not be expensive. At Madeira Beach, you’d get a wide range of indulging activities without making your wallet cry. Take a scenic walk through John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk, a large waterfront area surrounded by marinas. Are you traveling with your golf buddies? The Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf lets you tee off on a mini-golf course that you could cap with alligator watching! Pair your perfect swing with a black or green golf set (view on Amazon). It’s a 12-piece men’s golf pal made of metal fairway wood with a graphite shaft.
Pinellas County Beaches Red Tide
Amidst the red tide scare that started mid-June 2021, ABC Action News reported that according to officials, the red tide is beginning to leave Pinellas County beaches (as of July 29, 2021). While Redington and Madeira’s beaches still show high levels, Pinellas County Public Works’ Kelli Hammer-Levy assures that things are calming down and that the bay looks good.
Conclusion: 14 Best Pinellas County Beaches, Florida
Let’s review the 14 best Pinellas County beaches that you’d find in Florida:
- Caladesi Island State Park
- St. Pete Beach
- Apollo Beach
- Fort De Soto Beach Park
- Honeymoon Island State Park
- Clearwater Beach
- Pass-A-Grille Dog Beach
- Thunderbird Beach Resort
- Bilmar Beach Resort
- Bermuda Bay by Affordable Beach Condos
- Indian Rocks Beach
- North Redington Beach
- Belleair Beach
- Madeira Beach
Pinellas County recognizes that its 35 miles of sandy beaches make the county a favorite tourist destination. As such, it ensures that the beaches are well nourished to prime your beach-related indulgence.