Gulf Coast
Clearwater Beach
Sugar-white sand, three miles of it, and the kind of sunsets people set phone alarms for.
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Clearwater Beach is the one that shows up on every "best beach in America" list, and it earns it. The sand here is the consistency of powdered sugar, stays cool under bare feet, and stretches for nearly three unbroken miles. The water is shallow and clear enough that you can see your toes thirty yards out.
Pier 60 is the center of gravity. Every evening, about an hour before sunset, a rotating cast of street performers, artists, and food vendors sets up for the nightly Sundown Celebration. Free to show up, worth the walk.
It's the most-touristed beach on this list, and you'll feel it in peak season. Go early. Go weekdays if you can.
Practical notes
- Best time to go: April–May and September–October
- Parking: Beach Walk lot, or one of the garages on Mandalay Ave
- Vibe: Postcard-classic, family-friendly, busy
- Nearest town: Clearwater