10 Of The Best Beaches Near Tampa To Visit This Summer
×
Jennifer Young
Author
Tampa, Florida is well known for its incredible beaches. And even though there aren’t many beaches within Tampa’s city limits, a short drive from downtown will lead you to an endless number of beautiful white sand beaches. The only problem you’ll encounter is choosing which beach to visit.
When it comes to beaches within the Tampa area, these are the 10 best:
Clearwater Beach, located on the west central coast of Florida, is a busy beach that stretches for 2.5 miles. In 2013, Clearwater Beach was voted "Best Beach Town in Florida" by the readers of USA Today. This popular beach offers several local attractions such as dolphin watching and fishing charters.
Caladesi Island State Park, located west of Dunedin and north of Clearwater Beach, offers one of the most beautiful stretches of shoreline you'll ever set foot on. This park's beach area is a great place to collect shells. Keep in mind, Caladesi Island can only be reached by boat.
Fort De Soto Park, located in Tierra Verde, is a great place to visit if you enjoy camping on the beach. With more than 1,000 acres of land, you're sure to find the perfect camping spot. This park's beach is great, but what's really fantastic is the special lagoon area where kids enjoy playing. In 2014, USA Today named Fort De Soto Park the "Best Beach for Families."
In 2013, St. Pete Beach, located in Pinellas County, was named "One of America's Top 10 Best Beach Towns" by Parents magazine. St. Pete Beach offers many beach amenities, including cabana rentals, jet ski rentals, tiki bars and restaurants.
Sand Key Park is located on a barrier island that's just south of Clearwater. This popular park gives its visitors access to a beautiful beach, a stunning boardwalk, and an exciting nature trail. A couple of other amenities include picnic areas and a playground.
Treasure Island offers wide beaches and many fun activities. Because of its wide beaches, Treasure Island is the perfect place to fly a kite. At the north end of the beach is St. John's Pass. This area offers great eating and shopping spots.
Indian Rocks Beach is a beach city that's located in Pinellas County. Compared to other Tampa-area beaches, Indian Rocks Beach is far less crowded. Its laid-back atmosphere attracts people from all over.
Honeymoon Island State Park, located in Dunedin, offers visitors a 4-mile stretch of beautiful white sand beaches. A few of this park's amenities include kayak rentals, a playground and covered pavilions. Walking along nature trails and birdwatching are two of the park's most popular activities.
Ben T. Davis Beach is the closest beach to downtown Tampa. It's also one of the most popular Tampa beaches, both day and night. Speaking of night, Ben T. Davis Beach is a great place to experience a Tampa sunset.
Fred Howard Park is located in Tarpon Springs at the north end of Tampa Bay's barrier islands. In addition to having access to a beautiful beach, this wonderful park also protects endangered wildlife. If you're lucky enough to visit Fred Howard Park, don't be surprised if you happen to see a variety of wildlife such as dolphins, manatees and eagles.
Which Tampa-area beach is your favorite?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.