If you're looking for that next great destination for your beach vacation, then St Petersburg Florida should make your list. The St Petersburg beaches rank among the best beaches in the country, and there are miles and miles of them to enjoy. In addition to the spectacular beaches in St Petersburg, visitors to the area can also hope to visit some of the beaches in nearby Clearwater, especially the large beach in Clearwater Beach. Head further north along the Gulf of Mexico coast, and towns like Dunedin and Palm Harbor await, aiming to please those who are looking to enjoy some fun in the sun. There's no end to the list of choices when it comes to finding a good beach near St Petersburg Florida, so start planning your visit to the area today, and come bask in the sun for a while.

St Petersburg averages more sunny days per year than almost any other destination in the world, which helps to make the area beaches so popular. The soft, white sand and turquoise blue Gulf of Mexico waters at the beaches in St Petersburg combine to present an inviting beach setting. It's hard to say which beach near St Petersburg Florida is the best, as there are so many good ones to choose from, but you could arguably put the beaches at Fort De Soto Park and Caladesi Island State Park at the top of the list. In addition to basking in the sun at the glorious Fort De Soto Park beaches, visitors can go fishing from two different piers, rent a bicycle to explore, or even go kayaking. Camping is possible at Fort De Soto Park if you don't want to stray too far from the beaches here. As for Caladesi Island State Park, it is about a mile offshore west of Dunedin. Like the beaches at Fort De Soto Park, the pristine beach at Caladesi Island State Park is consistently rated as one of the best in the country. If you don't have a lot of time to spare when it comes to visiting the St Petersburg beaches, Fort De Soto Park and Caladesi Island State Park should arguably be your destinations of choice.

Fort De Soto Park and Caladesi Island State Park boast ample beach amenities, which helps to make them some of the best family beaches in St Petersburg. These amenities include bathhouses with showers and restrooms, playgrounds, picnic areas, and concessions. While these beaches are about as pristine as they get, those who are looking to enjoy an even more pristine beach near St Petersburg Florida will want to make a break for Shell Key. There are no facilities to speak of on Shell Key, as it is predominantly a wildlife preserve, so you'll want to plan your visit wisely. There are plenty of facilities at Clearwater Beach, if that's what you're looking for, and you'll want to enjoy at least one visit to this renowned stretch of sand.

St Petersburg Map

In addition to sparkling waters and lots of inviting white sand, Clearwater Beach boasts marinas, restaurants, family-friendly attractions, and nightlife for the adult crowd. You can fish off Pier 60 when hanging out at Clearwater Beach, or you can enjoy any number of water sports. Some of the best beach hotels in the St Petersburg area can be found at Clearwater Beach, and there are plenty of other good lodging options near the water as you head south down the Gulf of Mexico coast. Not far south of Clearwater Beach is Belleair Beach, which is known for its peace and quiet. Unlike most of the St Petersburg beaches, Belleair Beach does not offer any public facilities or restaurants. Continuing on a southerly course, another great beach near St Petersburg Florida that you can visit is Indian Rocks Beach. Vacation rentals and small hotels can be found along the coastline at Indian Rocks Beach, and the restaurants here are known for their quality.

The beaches in St Petersburg are guaranteed to please when it's some fun in the Florida sun that you have in mind. The ones that are recommended thus far are only some of the beaches in the St Petersburg area that you will do well to visit. Others include the four miles of beaches at Honeymoon Island State Park, the large beaches in Redington Beach and North Redington Beach, and the renowned beaches in St Pete Beach, among others. Some of the beaches in St Petersburg offer a lot of beach amenities and can get crowded, such as those in St Pete Beach. Others are devoid of facilities and stay relatively deserted, as is the case with the beaches on Shell Key. You can drive from St Petersburg to some of the beaches in the immediate area, though it will take a boat to get you to some of the others. If you don't have your own boat, you can arrange trips to some of the barrier islands through the various local cruise companies.