Sand Key Park
1060 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater, Florida
With 95 acres of mostly undeveloped land, Sand Key Park is the serene tip of one of Clearwater’s barrier islands. Looking directly across the Clearwater Pass at Clearwater Beach, Sand Key Park offers wildlife viewing, picnicking, loggerhead sea turtle hatching, a nature trail, a boardwalk, fishing piers, a concession stand, and the white sandy beaches this part of Florida’s Gulf Coast is known for.
The highlight of Sand Key Park is that it has two distinct areas for the beach and the park, which means you can enjoy the sights and sounds on the key without planning a formal beach day. If planning a beach day, remember that lifeguards are only seasonal. You can come empty-handed and find kayaks, umbrellas, cabana rentals, two grills, a playground, and a concession stand to enhance your visit.
You can rent a boat on the bay side of Sand Key outside of the park at Clearwater Community Sailing Center.
The only fishing piers are located on the Clearwater Pass side of the park.
Sand Key Park doesn’t have an off-leash dog beach; only an off-leash dog park away from the beach.
Sand Key Park is located directly across from Clearwater Beach via the Sand Key Bridge. It’s on the north end of a barrier island that runs down to Pass-A-Grille Beach, so you can access it by car either from the Pinellas Bayway connecting to I-275 or via Gulf Boulevard from Highway 60 that connects Clearwater City to Clearwater Beach. Self–parking costs $5.
Sand Key Park is open every day from 7am to sunset, except the days after Thanksgiving and Christmas. As with most Gulf parks in Central Florida, arriving earlier helps you beat the heat. Though it will be most crowded at sunset, watching the light disappear over the horizon is one of the most popular activities in the area for good reason.
Clearwater Beach is ranked as one of the top beaches in the United States because of its nightly sunsets, which draw huge crowds. If you aren’t interested in the congestion in Clearwater Beach, you’ll find almost an identical view with fewer crowds if you stay at Sand Key Park for sunset.
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