Clearwater Beach
Clearwater, FL
A lively Gulf-front strip with a fishing pier, a nightly sunset celebration at Pier 60, and calm, shallow water that makes it an easy family favorite.
Calm, shallow water and a nightly sunset show at Pier 60, but it's a lively, developed strip that draws a big tourist crowd year round.
How we score beachesGet to Pier 60 about thirty minutes before sunset if you want a good spot for the nightly celebration.
Dogs aren't allowed on the main public beach, but leashed dogs are permitted on the north end past Somerset Street.
Winter here is genuinely mild, which is why snowbirds fill the sand from January through March more than in the sweltering middle of summer. Gulf water stays swimmable nearly year round, dipping only into the mid 60s at its coldest.
More Gulf Coast beaches
Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Key, FL · Gulf Coast
Fine quartz sand that stays cool underfoot even in summer, sloping gently into calm Gulf water, and consistently rated among the best family beaches in the country.
Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach, FL · Gulf Coast
Sugar-white sand within the Gulf Islands National Seashore, with dunes protected from development and water clear enough for snorkeling near the jetties.
Gulf Shores Public Beach
Gulf Shores, AL · Gulf Coast
Broad, quartz-white sand along Alabama's short but scenic coastline, with warm, calm water and a slower pace than its bigger Florida neighbors.