Sand Key Park

Visited Sand Key Park multiple times during my vacation in Clearwater, and it quickly became one of my favorite beaches in the area. Compared to Clearwater Beach, this beach is much less crowded and feels more relaxed and spacious. One of the best parts is the ample parking available right near the beach. The parking fee is very reasonable—around $6 for the entire day—which makes it convenient if you plan to stay for several hours. The beach is clean and well maintained, with restrooms and a cleanup area available. Sand Key Park is also a great spot to watch the sunset; the views in the evening are beautiful and peaceful. Sun umbrellas are available for rent (we didn’t rent one, but it’s good to have the option). Overall, this is a great choice if you’re looking for a quieter beach experience with good facilities and easy parking. Highly recommended for families and anyone wanting a calmer alternative to Clearwater Beach.

Absolutely beautiful!! Great place to watch the sunset. Good place to hunt for shells. Parking only $6 for the day. Beach closes at 6pm and beach patrol will run you off starting at 5:45. Lots of weddings at sunset so you need to pay attention where you're walking as some forget this is a public beach area.

Cheap parking spot near a large beach, also for RV's. Lots of nice sea ahells, sea gulls and views. Sand is very white so bring your sunglasses. Water is not clear and beware of currents. Some parts have rentable chairs, umbrellas and windshields. Would strongly recommend staying at this place.

Stunningly gorgeous beach and Tons of shells! You can find lots of mother of pearl and conch shells. We found several whole conch shells in the shallow water. Parking was $6, clean restrooms by beach standards, changing areas in the bathrooms, showers, food truck and ice sales, some shady parking areas. Can't wait to come back!

Clean, quiet beach with easy parking for a minimal fee. It’s a good option when Clearwater beach is too crowded. There was a food truck with a limited menu. Chairs and umbrellas were available if needed.

Absolutely stunning! 🏖️ This beach is a slice of paradise — soft white sand, crystal-clear water, and beautifully clean all around. It’s the perfect spot to relax, soak up the sun, and just breathe. Great for families, couples, or solo beach days. Truly a hidden gem . Play structure for kiddos available, restrooms, umbrellas and a little food truck.

This was such a awesome place to take the kids! They loved the white sandy beach and picking up shells and making stuff in the sand. The highlight was seeing the dolphins by the breakwater!

Great place that’s usually not too crowded. Parking is around $8, and the spots are big enough for trucks and SUVs. Plenty of trash cans are nearby, and the bathrooms are clean and well kept. The sand between parking lot and the beach have more shells than most the surrounding beaches so wear sandals.

Sand Key Beach Park is a great place to spend some time. Located right in Clear water, but not super crowded, at least in October. We were near the rock jetty where people fish, so you can see the bay side with all the boats and hotels on the water. Beach is clean, water is beautiful, there is a lifeguard stand (did not see a lifeguard), beach chairs and umbrellas for rental, food truck, clean bathrooms you can enter from front or the back, large amount of parking for only $6 the entire day (park closes at 8pm), big playground, and lots of walking trails. We saw several people bird watching with their big cameras as we drove in. This park is surprisingly large for where it is located. Just follow the clearly posted signs. People were friendly and kept to themselves. Looked a lot like a local crowds. I look forward to going back.

If you want to hang out at the beach all day, or you have a big group and need lots of parking, this is much better than Clearwater Beach. There is a huge parking lot. Download Park Mobile and parking is now just over $6 to park all day. They close at dusk, so after 7:59, you don't have to pay. The police will definitely kick you off the beach once sunset has passed. They drive their cars on the beach. Getting out of the parking lot can take some time, so be patient. They have showers and bathrooms here. If you do use the bathroom, once it's dark, make sure to use your phone flash light. It's dark. It is a bit of a hike from the parking lot to the beach so just keep that in mind. It is worth it when you get to the beach.

Beautiful! Clean! Very well kept and tons of shade for dogs and people to get out of the sun!

This 95 acre park is at the northern most part of the Sand Key barrier island, a short hop through Sand Key Bridge up to Clearwater Beach, and 21 miles west of Tampa airport TPA. The parking at the park is $5 for the day. The amenity (list) includes outdoor showers @ Boardwalk #3, and #4 which is behind the bathroom and changing room. I only used the beach because I'm here for the 1.2 mile open water swim: it was fantastic!!! Our event has 167 swimmers. I car pooled with my friend. At 7am on this Saturday, the parking lot looks vacant. But by the time we leave, at 11am, there are still many parking spots. Not sure it has anything to do with the water temp hovering around 69°F. Some swimmers say they saw dolphins. I see plenty pelicans, and a few other water birds: Willets, Laughing Gull in breeding plumage, and American Oyster Catcher.

The beach was stunning, it was a bit crowded but also there's enough space for everyone to be spaced out. The water was gorgeous, even with all the huge waves after storm Debby. We loved digging in the sand and finding HUNDREDS of tiny shells too!

This is a great beach if you want to avoid Clearwater, although it is super close to there. It's $5 to park all day, and the parking lot is huge. There are bathrooms and a food truck, which is pretty good. We went on Mother's Day and it was SO crowded. I think the secret is out about this hidden gem.

The beach and parking lot were very clean. It is a good walk from the parking lot to the water.

I'm originally from Largo, and this has been a beach I've been coming to since I was a kid! The water is gorgeous and calm. We always are in awe of the fish we get to see when in the water! This most recent time we were here we got to swim with large schools of fish! The park itself has a lot of space available for recreational activities like fishing, walking, shelling and swimming! A huge perk to this park is having showers, restrooms, and changing rooms! The park also has lifeguards on duty, and often will have police or security patrolling as well.

By far my favorite park in all of Florida! Just over the bridge from Clearwater and 100% more convenient! Perfect beach and fishing location and I never have to fight for a parking spot! The beach is always clean and beautiful! There's also a cute and convenient little food cart that sells ice cream, drinks and food, which is pretty decent!

This is a great spot, especially during the week. Had lots of parking and the place was well maintained and clean. Recommend going to the far end of the lot for the best spots.

Love this place ! Great family atmosphere love the cabanas thanks Capt Dave love that they had lifeguards and that was just a joyful time!

Beautiful park, white sandy beaches and facilities for public use. Make sure to bring your own food and drinks as there aren't many options close by.

Sand Key Park is a smaller park with a white sandy beach and beautiful views. Conveniently located near the heart of Clearwater, FL there's sufficient parking and amenities (including umbrella and cabana rentals). It's a great place for families to relax and enjoy the scenery and it is CLEAN! The fees aren't bad, and the staff we encountered were friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend Sand Key Park if you're in the area.

This park is a great alternative to Clearwater Beach when you want to avoid traffic and crowds. Just drive seven minutes further and you will have $5 parking and endless white sand beaches and a calm peaceful crowd to enjoy family and friends in the sun and sand. They have bathrooms, showers and everything you need within brief walking distance. There is a playground and walking trails as well as barbecue pits and places to grill. To make things easier you can download the parking app and pay by phone. We had a great day here at sand key beach!

This is a "hidden gem". Clean, easy access, great water. Beware, no public restrooms available.

If you're coming to Clearwater or Pinellas County for a vacation and you want to go to a huge white sandy beach away from huge crowds, Sand Key Park is the place for you! It's located on the tip of Sand Key on the gulf side of the island. There isn't any entrance fee but there is a $5 flat parking fee for the day. This park has two distinct area: a beach and a park. The park has two picnic shelters with grills, a playground, restrooms and a dog park. They do offer beach wheelchairs. In the 'off season' you would need to contact a park ranger to get one. The beach is beautiful and spacious. There are two very well kept public bathroom/changing buildings on the property. There are also umbrella and cabana rentals along with kayak and bicycle rentals. At present, there are no life guards on duty. There's also parking spaces for electric car charging. If you've never been to Sand Key, you should go! It's great!

I've stayed at the Sheraton Marriot which the hotel is right next to the park so I've been to the beach area before. Since I wasn't staying at the hotel this year but wanted to escape the craziness of downtown clearwater beach we opted to come here... twice over 4th of July weekend. Plenty of parking (despite clearwater beach having no available parking). Parking was $6 for the day. There were bathrooms, and water fountains, life guards. The beach itself was not crowded despite all the cars. It truly is a hidden gem, and not as crowded or expensive as clearwater beach.

This is a beautiful park. Only $5 a day for parking, with restrooms, showers, and changing rooms. I personally don't think that the sand is as nice as the other nearby beaches, but I will take less of a crowd any day. It's a little bit of a walk from the parking lot to the water, but it's doable because the sand is packed. I noticed some catering trucks and umbrella/chair rentals, but none were open, as we went later in the day, closer to sunset. My family really enjoyed it, and we can't wait to go back soon!

I was recommended this beach over Clearwater and the reviews looked good, so in the end I am very happy about my decision to drive the extra 5 minutes to get here. Parking is super simple and is $5 to park all day. The lot is very large. There are clean restrooms AND separate changing rooms (free of course) with easy access to the beach. We brought chairs and an umbrella, and weren't worried about anyone coming around our stuff when we were far into the water because it was a very small crowd. Easy to socially distance and everyone had a fun time. I will return here again sometime.

$5 dollar parking. Ok park, there's a peninsula you can walk out on which is pretty cool. The beach is ok, not as pristine as some other beaches close by.

Got here early around 5am for a sunrise run but found out the automatic gate in front does not open til 7am; so parked 3 miles down and ran to Sand Key. My favorite part was the bathroom as it turns out it is the only public restroom for miles. It was great to see different groups accessing beach such as CrossFit, kayakers, and group fit classes like yoga. There's also tons of parking. My pics tell a better story...

This is a great hidden gem. We rented chairs and umbrella. The man that we rented them from was very friendly and helpful. Enjoyed our day. Great beach.

Always love this beach so much, as a local it is my favorite beach to go to. Always plenty of parking, $5 to park and you can use an app. Well kept, bathrooms and wash off stations.

Sand Key Park & Beach is located on Sand Key Island, South of Clearwater Beach and North of Belleair Beach. Sand Key Park amenities include picnic shelters with grills, a playground, restrooms, showers, changing rooms, a dog park, concessions, a nature trail, and most importantly, tons of parking! Kayaks, bicycles, umbrellas, and cabanas are available for Rental. Parking is a flat $5 for the whole day with no hourly parking options available. Many prefer coming to Sand Key because finding parking is very difficult and a lot more expensive at neighboring Clearwater Beach. The Belleair bridge to Sand Key also does not get nearly as backed up as the Clearwater Beach bridge during busy days of the summer and spring break. Sand Key Park houses the base of operations for the artificial reef program, an interdepartmental cooperation program to build a reef in the Gulf. Sand Key Park's natural communities include a beach where sea turtles annually deposit eggs. The nearby Clearwater Aquarium takes responsibility for these nests and keeps statistics. Sand Key Beach Park offers a pristine, peaceful paradise among the hustle and bustle of Clearwater Beach, it's the perfect place to get away without going away. Its the best of both worlds with a beautiful white-sand beach and dog friendly park at the same locale. Two large full service resorts offering numerous amenities lie within steps of the park which is conveniently located next to Clearwater Pass, making boating access to the Gulf a snap. Restaurants on Sand Key include the Columbia Restaurant, Maggie Mae's, Backwaters, Rusty's Bistro but there are no beach bars at Sand Key Beach. Sand Key Beach is populated primarily with pretty high-rise condomoums with the exception of 2 hotels: the Sheraton Sand Key Resort on the beach side and Clearwater Beach Marriot Suites on the Intercoastal side. When visiting Sand Key Beach, I prefer to park south of the Sand Key Park at Bay Park for free and avoid the $5 parking fee. There is a public Sand Key beach entrance between Ultimar Condominiums and South Beach Condominiums. Some patrons complain that the Beach's sand is more coarse and less fine and soft as Clearwater Beaches but I don't mind it. If you're looking for more restaurants, hotels, and beach bars, head north to Clearwater Beach. Sand key provides more of a calm sleepy island feel with much easier parking options.

Oh boy, this place is a must when you visit Clearwater. This ample park has beach access, many parking spots available, it's not free for parking, and the view is simply outstanding. When we went it was too windy so we were not able to sit down on the beach but we still enjoyed it. It has also picnic areas and a playground. It's definitely a complete park.

This is a beautiful park on the beach that Mark family and I visit every time we are out Clearwater Beach. It's awesome pretty pretty the ocean is great the beach is great everything about this place is fantastic definitely worth checking out

I was a bit disappointed because I was expecting more of a hiking-trail park and most paths here just lead to the beach. I did find one circular foot path through boring brush that dumped me off where it started after about five minutes of walking. The beach itself is nice if you are looking for something less crowded than nearby Clearwater Beach. The northern shore of the park has great views of Clearwater Beach across the water. One interesting thing I saw near a sign saying "Construction Work Ahead" was a thick, huge, very, very long snake of some kind (see photos). I was scared to get too close.

I was coming to Clearwater Beach and didn't really see where to park at with the large amounts of car traffic. It doesn't seem that Clearwater has that much public parking as the only I saw was next to the traffic nightmare round about. So I kept driving looking for more public parking/beach access and encountered this beach park by chance across the bridge. It's free to get in but parking is $5 for until the park closes. There were tons of empty parking spaces as it definitely wasn't a busy day at the beach. It might been because it just rained, cloudy weather, and some distant thundering going on. Lol The beach was a short walk to from the parking lot. There was a nice wooden walkway with a shower on the side for when you get back. The beach itself wasn't too large but there wasn't many people here so it didn't matter much. There was a life guard but I believe they operate only until 5pm as we got our after 5pm and he was already gone. The beach was pretty and wasn't dirty at all. There was some small shells in the sand so it's the your white white sand. The water itself was decent and decently clear but since it wasn't sunny, I couldn't really see much through the water. I did see some medium sized fish in the water which was neat. There was minimal seaweed which was good. There are so many beach parks around this area. It's so hard to choose which one to go to. I didn't get to go to Clearwater Beach which was right across this park but I guess this is the next best thing especially beating the large crowds.

One of my new favorite beaches!! I didn't know about this area until my friend told me about it recently. It's breath taking! I love it! It's less busier than the main Clearwater beach area. I want to keep going back again and again. I wish I lived closer, takes us an hour to get there. Next time family is in town, I will take them to this beach! There's a playground we completely didn't even get a chance to go to but will have to check out next time we are in the area. There was a little food truck Sand Key Grille that was perfectly stationed on the beach for hungry beach goers. I look forward to making lots of memories on this beach this summer!!

Pros: $5 for parking all day. Bathrooms available. It is a bit touristy (not as bad as Clearwater). Water is still clearer than most beaches. Dog park available onsite, but not allowed on the beach. Easy place to find shark teeth! Cons: I did come for the sunset & the bathrooms weren't as clean. I was sad to see the amount of trash on the sand/water. :(

An excellent park that my family likes to frequent. It's never too crowded and there's a lot of space. As with most Gulf Coast beaches the sand is fine, white, and soft. The water is warm and not too rough. The park provides clean restrooms and changing areas. Parking is also readily available. It's a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the water but worth it. The park also isn't too far from the more popular beaches and all the eateries there. To address any covid concerns, on our Friday visit, we never felt at risk in terms of social distancing, and we stayed there pretty much all day. There's plenty of space to spread out on the shore. It's a little more difficult in the water with the current and all but everyone seemed mindful not to get too close.

I believe this is one of the best beaches in the area. We were planing to go to clear water beach. However, the parking lots in the area were all full, even though we came here close to 9 am. Figured I'd drive further and I was not disappointed. Day one. The water was very clear and calm, No waves, we were able to see fish swimming. Day two - we came here a few days later same experience except for some waves and no fish around. Side note. We ended up going to clear water beach and here are the differences. The sand is cleaner and softer at clear water beach. It's more crowded, possibly because it's geared towards tourism, the water wasn't as good as it was at sand key park.

Great alternative to Clearwater Beach! Much less busy, plenty of parking, cheaper parking....quieter. We came here twice on our recent visit to the area. Both time, there was plenty of parking...as in maybe 30 cars total? And for $5 (for the day!), you can't beat the price. If you like seashells, come here. They are everywhere. You can find good ones without even looking. The downside, you have to step over quite a few to get into the water. They have restrooms here which were pretty standard for the beach. There's a food stand/trailer which served the basics; burgers, dogs, beverages ect. The beach isn't as clean as Clearwater Beach. There were some piles of seaweed and some litter hear and there. But overall, hard to complain given the lack of crowds, noise ect. Again, great alternative to the business of Clearwater Beach. But do be mindful of the seagulls. They're just as bad here; if you feed them, they'll be around you all day.

My wife and I spent a week beach hopping through Florida, and came upon this gem by unintentionally. The water is beautiful, we could see fish swimming around our legs as we waded into the gentle, warm waters of the gulf. The beach was not busy, but instead rather peaceful, especially when compared to Clearwater Beach just up the road. One of the most beautiful beaches we saw during our time in FL. Our only qualm was that there is a ~0.25 mile walk from the parking lot to the water, most of which was on sand.

Easy beach access. Clean and relaxing beach. It helps that it's near Columbia restaurant which we love.

Sandy Key Park is just the place for when you need to get the heck away from the touristy hustle and bustle of Clearwater Beach. If you love a good walk along the sand, this is a great spot to do it. My husband and I got all our steps in and then some.

This is my favorite spot for the beach. Easy to get to, away from all the tourists, clean bathrooms and rents available for umbrellas and chairs. Flat fee parking $5.. easy to make a day out of the beach with the food truck that is on site.

Great park for a family visiting from out of town or locals. We enjoy the beach and views. It's really busy on the weekends so that's one downside. The sand is nice but pretty full of shells. $5 parking so really affordable.

Nice park with plenty of things to do. It only cost $5 to park, but you can hang out on the beach or walk along the side of the park that is on the water as well. There are other parts of the park you can walk around or enjoy. You should go down there yourself and walk around to see what you can find to better enjoy your stay.

I wanted to go to a beach close to Westchase and that wasn't too crowded especially since it's vacation time in Florida. I just hate the crowds it doesn't help me feel relaxed. So I like to look at near by big beaches and then smaller stretches that are near by. I found sand key a bit further down from Clearwater beach.an did it not disappoint there are umbrellas and chairs available or rent on the beach 2 chairs and an umbrella for 25 bucks. They take both cash and card so it's convenient. The water was clear the beach was clean. Only thing, while this is just a preference thing, it's shelly sand. But for less crowds and clean water it was great.

This is an excellent park that has access to the beach on Sand Key. We didn't see much of anything to do with the park, just access to Sand Key Beach just south of Clearwater Beach. It is a better experience with a bit lower activity than Clearwater Beach and is a nice experience.

Caught this beach the first day of our vacation. We couldn't find parking for IRB so traveling a little further down we found this beach. Plenty of parking here no problem. Cost only 5 dollars for the whole day. Park closed at sunset. They have a bathroom and shower/changing area. Unfortunately there aren't any water activities available here except for the ones you provide yourself. They have a food truck on sight that offers burgers, chicken tenders, sodas, and ice cream. Better to probably picnic at this location though. Careful doing it on the beach. The seagulls here are of the violent kind and get together in groups to attack people for food. No lie these birds are bold. Not the best beach around but a great alternative if you want to avoid the other crowded beaches.

What a great alternative to Clearwater beach! This place was less crowded and they had $5 all day parking. There was a food truck on the beach. Bathrooms were easy to get to. I would recommend this place for families. There are no bars on the beach line in Clearwater, but if you don't need the party scene, you may like this beach better.

"As good as it gets"? Well, that's quite subjective. If Animal House types were reviewing this beach, they'd give it 2 stars, and stick to Clearwater Beach. You know, they're the types to drink beer, play volleyball, drink beer, flirt with the girls, drink beer, show off in the Gulf, then finish at Hooters and drink more beer. But if you want a Gulf beach experience without the crazy scene, then turn left, cross the bridge, and go to Sand Key. Now, maybe the main beach at the end of Highway 60 is not the scene I just described. But we were looking for exactly what we got at Sand Key Park. Hot, white sand, going into the warm Gulf of Mexico. Parking is $5/day; we'd seen $30/day in the main Clearwater Beach area. Bathrooms, showers, and changing areas. One concessioner had set up a snack shack on the beach. Lifeguards with color-coded flags. Rent an umbrella with lounges for $26. And blend in with the other families, couples, seniors, and kids for a dream beach afternoon. We were here for several hours in the summer, and it was what we dreamed of. We left only because we had to. And I tell you, I like the idea of renting a room in one of the high-rise hotels on the island for a week or so and spending half of the days here. It would mean flying across the country, and Biloxi MS is far more convenient for me and my Texas in-laws. But Clearwater Beach is superior to Biloxi, and Sand Key is superior to Clearwater Beach.

Nice beach close to Clearwater but without the crowds. Parking cost $5 per car per day vs. $3/hr at Clearwater. You can rent a cabana and two chairs for $25+tax. They have a beach grill food truck and bathrooms so what more can you ask for? Lots of shells too so great for people who collect them.

Can't find parking in Clearwater beach???? Come here! Step away from the hustle and bustle from the touristy Clearwater beach area and have some quite time at this beach park. The parking is affordable and there are plenty of spots. I find this location to be great... The con.... No ice cream parlor is of walking distance. But that's ok! This park is quiet and very relaxing. Bathroom and changing room is clean and is near the beach as well. Is this the best beach the bay has to offer. No...... But it's worth a peek if looking for a beach to go to in Clearwater and don't want to be at the pier.

Since the Florida weather didn't want to cooperate while the Scot was in town for most of the time, we FINALLY got a beautiful day to go to the beach. The plan was to go to Clearwater, but apparently Spring Break had already begun, and parking was proving to be a nightmare. No worries! I've been in Florida forever, I have a few tricks up my sleeve, and so we went over the next bridge, and low and behold sand key park was there, with hardly anyone there. Parking was cheap $5 flat rate for the whole day, and it was plentiful. The beach was wide and sparsely populated as we made our way out to the shoreline. The tide was rolling in quickly so we only spent an hour - well the tide and pale Scottish skin that is. In that time, we spotted a dolphin in the waves, a live baby conch, many children and couples playing in the surf, and we were buzzed by a low flying plane. It was a great place, far better than the commercialized Clearwater Beach.

Nice beach that is less crowded than Clearwater. It has a ton of shells and is not as groomed as Clearwater. 5.00 flat fee for parking. Cabanas and chairs run about 35.00 for the day. Waves are great for body surfing.

We absolutely love this beach! We've been there twice and plan to return in the future. Parking is only $5 for the day, showers and restrooms are clean, the beach is beautiful with white sand and clear water. There's a pirate ship that comes out and shoots a cannon every so often which is fun to watch.