St Pete Beach & Pass-a-Grille: A Visitor's Guide

St Pete Beach is the rare Gulf Coast town that gives you both: a wide, white-sand beach that Tripadvisor named the best in America in 2021, and a genuinely historic neighborhood at its southern tip where the streets are still lined with cottages from the early 1900s. Whether you're here for a long weekend or a whole snowbird season, this guide covers what's worth your time — from Pass-a-Grille's little main street to an undeveloped island you can only reach by boat.

Pass-a-Grille: Old Florida at the South End

Drive south on Gulf Boulevard until the road narrows and the condos give way to low-slung cottages — that's Pass-a-Grille, the historic district at the southern end of St Pete Beach. What makes it special is what isn't there: almost nothing is built directly on the sand, so the beach stretches wide and open, backed by dunes and walkovers instead of hotel towers. The lone exception is the Paradise Grille, a beachfront concession where you can eat breakfast with your toes practically in the sand.

Eighth Avenue is the neighborhood's tiny main street, a block of pastel historic buildings with art galleries and beachwear boutiques. The Hurricane Seafood Restaurant, a Pass-a-Grille institution on Gulf Way, is back open after the 2024 storms and remains the classic spot for grouper with a Gulf view. One note for history buffs: the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum, housed in a 1917 former church on 10th Avenue, is temporarily closed for hurricane repairs, so check its website before planning a visit. Parking along the beachfront is metered and fills early on weekends. And keep an eye on the water while you're here — bottlenose dolphins cruise this shoreline regularly.

Take the Shuttle to Shell Key

From Merry Pier — itself a pleasant spot to fish or watch the pelicans work — the Shell Key Shuttle makes a roughly 10-minute run to Shell Key Preserve, an undeveloped barrier island just south of Pass-a-Grille. There are no buildings, no concessions, and no shade out there: just sand, shorebirds, and some of the best shelling on this stretch of coast. Bring water, sunscreen, and a bag for your sand dollars, and pack out everything you bring.

The shuttle departs from 801 Pass-a-Grille Way. Fares run $30 plus tax for adults, half price for kids 12 and under, and free for children under 2 — call ahead for the current schedule.

The Don CeSar and the Heart of the Beach

You can't miss the Don CeSar — the enormous pink hotel rising over the beach has been a Gulf Coast landmark since the 1920s. Hurricane Helene's storm surge tore through its ground floor in September 2024, but the Don reopened to overnight guests in March 2025 after a six-month restoration, with its electrical and mechanical systems rebuilt higher to better handle future storms. Even if you're not staying there, it makes a great turnaround point for a long beach walk. And since the whole beach faces west, every clear evening ends with a sunset show — bring a chair and stay for it at least once.

Corey Avenue: Shops and the Sunday Market

Corey Avenue is St Pete Beach's downtown — a walkable strip of shops, galleries, and restaurants near the middle of the island. The star attraction is the Corey Avenue Sunday Fresh Market, which runs year-round with more than 100 local vendors selling produce, baked goods, art, and gifts. From October through May it runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; June through September it shifts to 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free, and on Sundays you can park free at the library and City Hall lots.

Day Trip: Fort De Soto Park

A short drive south over the Pinellas Bayway, Fort De Soto Park spreads 1,136 acres across five interconnected keys. The county park is open 7 a.m. to sunset daily with $6 parking, and it earns the trip: nearly three miles of white-sand beach, a historic fort whose 12-inch mortar battery is on the National Register of Historic Places, two fishing piers, a 6.8-mile paved trail, and the area's only beach where dogs are allowed in a designated section. If you have one free day beyond the beach itself, spend it here.

Getting Around Without a Car

The SunRunner, Pinellas County's rapid bus line, connects St Pete Beach to downtown St. Petersburg along a 10-mile, 16-stop route — handy for a day at the museums or dinner downtown without fighting for parking. Buses run every 15 minutes until 8 p.m. and every 30 minutes until midnight, seven days a week, and fares are $2.25 per ride, paid contactlessly. Around the beach communities themselves, free Freebee shuttle rides can get you between Pass-a-Grille, the mid-island hotels, and Corey Avenue.

When to Go

High season runs November through April, when snowbirds settle in and the weather stays dry and sunny — book earliest for February and March. Summer brings hot mornings, bathtub-warm Gulf water, and reliable afternoon thunderstorms that usually clear by evening. If you want the beach nearly to yourself, September and October are the quietest months of the year, with warm water and the best rental rates.

Where to Stay

A vacation rental puts you in a real neighborhood — a cottage a block from the sand in Pass-a-Grille or a condo near Corey Avenue — with a kitchen, laundry, and room to spread out, which matters on a beach trip that stretches past a few nights. Stay Occupied manages vacation rentals across the Tampa Bay beaches and the greater Gulf Coast, and as locals we're happy to point guests toward the right part of the beach for their trip.

Own a property on St Pete Beach or anywhere on Florida's Gulf Coast? We offer a free rental property analysis showing what your home could earn as a vacation rental. Email info@stay-occupied.com or call or text 815-325-9295 and we'll run the numbers.