St. Pete Beach
A wide Gulf beach anchored by the pink Don CeSar hotel, with the old fishing village of Pass-a-Grille at its tip.
You have breakfast in Pass-a-Grille, spend the day on the wide Gulf beach and stay for the sunset.
The scorecard
Tap any score for the local's take.
Nightlife3
Resort beach bars along Gulf Boulevard have live music, and Corey Avenue adds a Sip and Stroll with drinks and bands on the last Friday of the month. Pass-a-Grille is quiet once the sun is down.
Meet people3
Corey Avenue is the gathering spot, with a Sunday market year round, a monthly Sip and Stroll and movies at the Beach Theatre, which reopened in 2025. The Suntan Art Center runs classes and member shows.
Peace and quiet2
A resort town with resort traffic. Gulf Boulevard and the bridges slow down through winter and spring, parking in Pass-a-Grille is tight, and the big hotels keep the beach busy most of the year.
Walkability3
Two walkable pockets, Corey Avenue at the north end and 8th Avenue in Pass-a-Grille at the south. In between is a long stretch of Gulf Boulevard, covered by free Freebee rides and the SunRunner bus to St. Pete.
On the water4
Water on three sides. Blind Pass and Pass-a-Grille Channel run to the Gulf, canal homes line Boca Ciega Bay, and Shell Key and Fort De Soto are a short boat or paddle trip from the south end.
Beaches5
Miles of wide white sand, from Upham Beach Park in the north to Pass-a-Grille in the south, with the pink Don CeSar in between. In Pass-a-Grille you park right along the sand.
Dining and arts3
Corey Avenue has nearly all its storefronts open again, plus the 1940s Beach Theatre. Pass-a-Grille has Paradise Grille on the sand, and the Don CeSar's restaurants are back after its 2025 reopening.
Outdoors and wellness3
Fort De Soto Park is just down the Bayway, with trails, kayaking and miles of shoreline. In town it's long beach walks, sunsets at Upham Beach and the Corey Avenue market on Sundays.
Affordability2
Among the more expensive towns on this coast. Houses near the sand and in Pass-a-Grille run high, older condos are the lower rung, and flood insurance is a real line in the budget.
Airport access4
Tampa (TPA) is about 35 to 40 minutes by the Bayway and I-275, and St. Pete Clearwater (PIE) is about the same. Add time on spring weekends.
Scores last checked October 2026. Scores rate what the town offers, never who lives there. How we score
Community and social scene
Start with the sunset, from Pass-a-Grille or a beach bar deck. Then dinner on Corey Avenue or along Gulf Boulevard and a band at one of the resort bars. For a later night the SunRunner goes to downtown St. Pete.
Community at a glance
Tap any row for places and times.
PickleballOn the map
See pickleball courts near St. Pete Beach on the mapTennisOn the map
See tennis courts near St. Pete Beach on the mapGolfOn the map
See golf courses near St. Pete Beach on the mapLive musicSip and Stroll
Sip and Stroll. Drinks and live music on Corey Avenue the last Friday of the month, 5 to 8pm.See live music near St. Pete Beach on the mapTrivia nightsOn the map
See trivia nights near St. Pete Beach on the mapPro sportsTeams nearby
Tampa Bay Rays (MLB) in St. Petersburg, 6 miles awayTampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) in Tampa, 23 miles awayTampa Bay Lightning (NHL) in Tampa, 23 miles awaySpring training: Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, 17 miles awaySpring training: Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, 19 miles awayMiles are in a straight line, so the drive is longer.Places of worshipOn the map
See places of worship near St. Pete Beach on the mapWe don't list or rate congregations. The map shows what is in and around town.More ways to meet people
Corey Avenue Sunday Market
Vendors and local produce every Sunday, year round.Beach Theatre
The 1940s movie house on Corey Avenue, reopened in July 2025.Suntan Art Center
A volunteer run arts group with classes, member shows and weekend Art on the Patio in Pass-a-Grille.Corey Avenue street parties
Mardi Gras and St. Patrick's Day take over the avenue each year.We write about places and events, never about who lives there. Times and dates change, so confirm before you go.
Things to do
The honest details
- Home prices
- About $606K median sale price, all home types (fall 2026)
- Nearest hospital
- HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital, about 2 miles. Nearest trauma center: Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital (Level II), about 7 miles. Straight line distance, so the drive is longer.
- Airport
- Tampa (TPA) or St. Pete Clearwater (PIE), about 35 minutes
- Season
- Busy winter and spring
- Heads up
- Barrier island flooding. Hit by Helene in 2024
- Insurance
- Florida averages about $10,384 a year for $250K of coverage (MoneyGeek, 2026). Get a quote and check the flood zone for any address. Read more
- Why people love it
- A wide, soft sand beach. Close to St. Petersburg.
- Know before you go
- Visitor crowds. Flood risk.
- Schools
- See official grades and district info on the Florida Department of Education site.
Common questions about St. Pete Beach
Is St. Pete Beach walkable?
In parts. Some errands are walkable, most are a short drive. Two walkable pockets, Corey Avenue at the north end and 8th Avenue in Pass-a-Grille at the south. In between is a long stretch of Gulf Boulevard, covered by free Freebee rides and the SunRunner bus to St. Pete.
Does St. Pete Beach have a good beach?
Yes. It is among the best on the Florida coast. Miles of wide white sand, from Upham Beach Park in the north to Pass-a-Grille in the south, with the pink Don CeSar in between. In Pass-a-Grille you park right along the sand.
Is St. Pete Beach affordable?
It is on the expensive side for the Florida coast. Home prices: About $606K median sale price, all home types (fall 2026). Among the more expensive towns on this coast. Houses near the sand and in Pass-a-Grille run high, older condos are the lower rung, and flood insurance is a real line in the budget.
What is the nightlife like in St. Pete Beach?
Good bars and some live music, though it is only busy now and then. Start with the sunset, from Pass-a-Grille or a beach bar deck. Then dinner on Corey Avenue or along Gulf Boulevard and a band at one of the resort bars. For a later night the SunRunner goes to downtown St. Pete.
How busy does St. Pete Beach get?
It gets busy, especially in season. A resort town with resort traffic. Gulf Boulevard and the bridges slow down through winter and spring, parking in Pass-a-Grille is tight, and the big hotels keep the beach busy most of the year.
Is St. Pete Beach good for boating and fishing?
Yes. This is a strong boating town. Water on three sides. Blind Pass and Pass-a-Grille Channel run to the Gulf, canal homes line Boca Ciega Bay, and Shell Key and Fort De Soto are a short boat or paddle trip from the south end.
Which airport is closest to St. Pete Beach?
Tampa (TPA) is about 35 to 40 minutes by the Bayway and I-275, and St. Pete Clearwater (PIE) is about the same. Add time on spring weekends.
What should I know before moving to St. Pete Beach?
The main things to plan for: Barrier island flooding. Hit by Helene in 2024. Florida homeowners insurance averages about $10,384 a year for $250K of dwelling coverage (MoneyGeek, 2026). Get a quote and check the flood zone for any address before you commit.
The closest matches to St. Pete Beach across our ten scores.
Siesta Key
Also strong on beaches and boatingAn island of quartz white sand so fine it stays cool underfoot, with a small, lively village at the north end.
Clearwater Beach
Also strong on beaches and boatingSoft white sand, a walkable beach strip and nightly sunset gatherings at Pier 60.
Fort Myers Beach
Also strong on beaches and boatingSeven miles of soft sand on Estero Island, rebuilding after Hurricane Ian with its beach town spirit intact.
Treasure Island
Also strong on beaches and boatingA barrier island with one of the widest beaches on the Gulf.