Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL - Gulf To Bay 2024
PLAN YOUR VISIT
2024-05-10 04:58:12
Average air & water temps
St. Pete/Clearwater temperatures are moderated by the surrounding waters, keeping summer averages in the high 80s and winters rarely below 60 degrees. Familiarly known as the Sunshine City, St. Pete holds a Guinness World Records title for the most consecutive sunny days (768 from February 1967 to March 1969).
Getting packed
Sunscreen is a must no matter what time of year you visit. UV-protective sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats are also good ideas. And don’t forget bathing suits. Shorts and sandals, or resort-casual clothing, are the standard dress codes. Cooler breezes in the winter, especially on evening beach strolls, might require a light sweater or jacket as well as long pants.
Getting here
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE): Offering low fares, small crowds and connections from over 60 nonstop destinations in the United States, this conveniently located airport lands passengers close to area beaches and hotels. Parking and transportation services are particularly easy to access at PIE. 14700 Terminal Blvd., Clearwater, (727) 453-7800, fly2pie.com.
Tampa International Airport (TPA): Just 20 miles from award-winning beaches and waterfront resorts, Tampa International Airport is repeatedly rated by passengers as one of the best airports in the country. With dozens of restaurants and shops, the easy-to-navigate terminal was recently renovated for passengers flying on one of the 20-plus airlines operating from the airport. 4100 George J. Bean Parkway, Tampa, (813) 870-8700,tampaairport.com
Getting around on land
SunRunner: The SunRunner bus is the first of its kind in Tampa Bay – it even has its own traffic lane. The 10.3-mile, 30-stop route is a great way to get from the beach to the ’Burg and connects riders to some of Pinellas County’s most-visited destinations. (A 31st stop will be added in 2024.) The SunRunner offers free Wi-Fi and has charging stations at each seat. The bus runs every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and every 30 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Saturday. Download PSTA’s transit app to get started. psta.net.
Downtown Looper: The Downtown Looper bus connects major attractions within downtown St. Pete, including USF St. Petersburg, the Dalí Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Beach Drive and more. The free service operates seven days a week. psta.net.
Suncoast Beach Trolley: Visitors can explore all the beach towns along Gulf Boulevard, from Clearwater Beach to St. Pete Beach. Exact fare is required. psta.net.
Jolley Trolley: The vintage-style Clearwater Jolley Trolley’s beach and coastal routes operate daily around Clearwater Beach and neighboring coastal towns, including downtown Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs. 410 N. Myrtle Ave., Clearwater, (727) 445-1200, clearwaterjolleytrolley.com.
Trolley Pub St. Pete: Want to make a party out of getting around? The Trolley Pub is a BYOB, pedal-powered, pub-crawling trolley for up to 30 people. It’s not only a fun mode of transportation, but a great way to experience many of the craft beer breweries throughout downtown St. Pete. 1661 Central Ave., #6013, St. Pete, (727) 322-4608, trolleypub.com/stpetersburg.
Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority: PSTA is the public transit provider for the St. Pete/Clearwater area, including the beaches and Route 300X Airport Express from Tampa International Airport. psta.net.
Lime's Gen4 E-Bikes: Explore the best haunts downtown St. Pete has to offer on an eco-friendly Lime Gen4 e-bike. To access the Lime bike share service, download the Lime app on your smart phone. You'll be able to locate available Lime e-bikes near you and can cruise around the city to your heart's content. stpete.org/visitors/bike-share.php.
Electric Scooters: St. Pete has added popular electric scooter rentals to its transportation options. Visitors can download phone apps to find Razor scooters with a seat or standing models from Veo from a myriad of corrals around the city. Riders are charged $1 to unlock the scooters, then once they’re unlocked, they’re charged by the minute. razor.com and veoride.com.
Bicycles for One or More: Bike rentals are available in Dunedin, Safety Harbor, St. Pete Beach, St. Pete and Tarpon Springs. Visitors can rent cruiser bikes, double surreys for up to six riders plus two children and more. The types of bikes available for rent vary by location. wheelfunrentals.com.
Ride Sharing: Uber and Lyft are offered throughout the region. Get the apps and connect with a ride in minutes. uber.com and lyft.com.
Getting around on water
Boat Tours and Rentals: If you love the water, you’re sure to enjoy guided nature tours by boat, or try a sunset cruise, paddling trails or a ride on a pirate ship. There’s also the option to rent a small powerboat for an independent voyage out into the water. Choose your own adventure in the St. Pete/Clearwater area! VisitSPC.com/Boating.
Clearwater Ferry: Visit Clearwater Beach using this water taxi and avoid traffic and parking hassles. Free parking is available at downtown Clearwater and Dunedin stops, with taxi stops at downtown Clearwater, the Clearwater Beach Marina and the Dunedin Marina. Reservations are recommended. 42 Drew St., Clearwater, (727) 755-0297, clearwaterferry.com.
Cross Bay Ferry: This ferry connects downtown St. Pete to downtown Tampa by way of an approximately 50-minute scenic cruise across the calm waters of Tampa Bay. The ferry operates Wednesdays through Sundays (plus during NHL Tampa Bay Lightning home games) from October until June. (727) 273-6877, thecrossbayferry.com.
For your vacation planning, all the information you need is just a few clicks away. Check out our website for hotel recommendations, maps, events, videos, listings for restaurants and tons of ideas for things to do on your next trip to the St. Pete/Clearwater area.
BEST WAY TO GET AROUND
JOLLEY TROLLEY, CLEARWATER
➋ Cross Bay Ferry, St Pete/Tampa
➌ SunRunner, St Pete
➍ Clearwater Ferry, Clearwater
➎ Suncoast Beach Trolley (PSTA), St Pete
Accessible for All
The award-winning beaches, parks and museums of St. Pete/Clearwater are places that every visitor will want to enjoy. Local resident Beth Stombaugh (above), who has been a manual wheelchair user all her life, provides firsthand, expert insight on accessibility in the destination.
Clearwater Beach
Besides its gorgeous white sands and emerald-green waters, Clearwater Beach is one of Beth's top picks for beach accessibility because it offers motorized beach wheelchairs at no charge, which can make exploring a lot easier. Three powered and four manual beach wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis at Beach Lifeguard Station 0.
Boca Ciega Millennium Park
Boca Ciega Millennium Park, just 2.5 miles west of Indian Shores in Seminole, is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail and offers two wheelchair-accessible trails to explore. Its ADA-accessible playground features a poured rubber surface for easier mobility and offers barrier-free interaction for children of all abilities from ages 2-12.
From beaches and parks to museums and attractions, read more about Beth's firsthand experience at VisitSPC.com/Accessibility.
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