Looking for inspiration for a Gulf Coast trip? Beach destinations in Florida are famous for their crystalline waters, sugary sand, and sea breeze. After a long day of exploring its shores, you may find yourself wondering where to stay in Clearwater Beach.
A stone’s throw away from Tampa Bay, Clearwater Beach is an award-winning vacation destination. The Clearwater Beach area bursts with life. It teems with areas & neighborhoods perfect for families, art lovers, and solo travelers. Whether you’re looking for fresh seafood in luxury restaurants or a secluded cove, it’s all waiting after near one of the best hotels in Clearwater.
Not yet sure where to begin your Clearwater accommodations search? Find the perfect neighborhood and lodgings with this complete guide to the best places to stay in Clearwater, FL.
Looking for more ideas for your trip? Check out our other hotel & accommodations guides and our Florida Travel Guide for recommendations on when to visit, where to go & what to do!
Best places to stay in Clearwater Beach, FL
From the pristine beaches of Sand Key to the art galleries of Downtown, there’s something for everyone around Clearwater Beach. Clearwater’s small-town atmosphere attracts visitors all year long. Travelers flock here to enjoy the white sand adorning the Gulf Coast and the city’s friendly character.
Families, couples, and solo travelers alike are certain to fall in love with the area, from sunset celebrations on Pier 60 to secluded beaches. Different qualities attract, from sun-kissed shores to migratory birds and endangered sea turtles.
While it’s a small area, there are different options for finding accommodations in Clearwater. Some areas are full of luxury resorts; others offer more affordable hotels & apartments.
Whether you want to be in the heart of the town or a quieter area away from the beach, there are lodgings in Clearwater to suit all types of travelers.
The best areas to stay in Clearwater, FL, are:
South Beach
✓ Best area to stay in Clearwater Beach for first-time visitors
Visiting Clearwater for the first time? Set your compass for South Beach. If you’re searching for a sun-kissed stretch of sand and a prime location, South Beach is the perfect place to stay in Clearwater Beach.
Looking over the Gulf of Mexico, South Beach places you right in the heart of the action. The area is full of mid-range and luxury condominiums. All are strategically placed overlooking the lovely turquoise waters. Accommodation options in South Clearwater Beach vary, with oceanfront hotels leading the way. Many are adorned with swimming pools, tennis courts, and other leisure facilities.
Grab your shoes and get ready for an adventure. Pier 60 is just a short walk away. This long pier is one of the top attractions in Clearwater. It offers some of the best sunset views in Clearwater, as well as excellent spots for fishing. A real hit with families, Pier 60 features a smattering of vendors and performers.
There’s the added benefit of plenty of dining options in Clearwater Beach South. Excellent restaurants can be found around every corner, as well as bars serving iced drinks and craft beer. Looking for somewhere with lots of coastal flavors and fun? Grab seafood and drinks at Jimmy’s Fish House & Iguana Bar.
As you’d expect with its central location, accommodation prices in South Beach start in the mid-range and higher. For budget lodgings, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Recommended hotels in South Beach
Pier House 60 Clearwater Beach Marina Hotel
One of the best hotels for sun-seekers in South Beach, Pier House 60 Clearwater Beach Marina Hotel is perfect for relaxing. From the swimming pool to the short walk to the beach, everything you need is right on your doorstep. Experience fine panoramic views of the area from Jimmy’s Crow’s Nest, the hotel’s popular rooftop bar.
Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa
Looking for a slice of luxury? The Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa is a 4-star hotel with all the top amenities. From spacious suites to stretch your legs into a rooftop pool on the 8th floor, one of the best spots for watching the ocean is waiting for you.
Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach
Ready for a high-rise beachfront getaway? The Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach comes complete with an outdoor swimming pool and incredible views of the Gulf Coast. You can step out onto your furnished balcony to see how beautiful these are. This hotel places you by the main pier and the marina where excursions leave.
Opal Sands
Searching for ocean views? Opal Sands might tick your boxes. This ultra-modern resort is unique. You’ll love peering through floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a perfect view over the ocean. Staying here, you’ll be on Beach Walk, a seaside promenade close to dozens of hotels and bars.
Opal Sands is also a stone’s throw away from Clearwater Marine Aquarium. If you’re looking for top attractions, contemporary surrounds, and enchanting artwork you’ll feel at home here.
North Beach
✓ Best neighborhood to stay in Clearwater Beach for quieter seaside pleasures
Ready to lose yourself to natural beauty? North Beach attracts nature lovers from around the world. The area is much less crowded than Clearwater Beach South and comes with a small-town charm that’s hard to beat.
Clearwater Beach is a huge stretch of sugary sand on this barrier island. The quieter areas of the sandy shore fall around Clearwater Beach North. You can grab your sunscreen and find a spot of your own in minutes.
When you’re done relaxing on the beach and visiting nearby attractions, restaurants nearby are aplenty. The party areas are all closer to South Beach, making North Beach the best option for families and couples who want to relax. In North Clearwater Beach, you can watch the stars with nothing but the sound of the ocean surrounding you.
A short excursion away, you can find Caladesi Island State Park and Honeymoon Island State Park. Caladesi Island is untouched, full of pristine beaches and lush greenery. Honeymoon Island attracts migratory birds and hosts a wide array of native flora and fauna. As its name implies, It’s the perfect place for a romantic getaway.
Recommended hotels in North Beach
Barefoot Bay Resort Hotel
It’s time for a journey back to the past with the heritage of seaside vacations. Barefoot Bay Resort Hotel offers simple surrounds, great value, and an outdoor pool. The location is perfect, too; it’s just a few minutes away from Clearwater Beach, Pier 60, and many of the town’s top shops and restaurants. Don’t forget to rent a jet ski and take to the waves.
Palm Pavilion Inn
Ready to watch the sunset from an observation deck? Palm Pavilion Inn offers that and more. The hotel places you right on the doorstep of Clearwater Beach. This award-winning boutique property features only thirty rooms and a swimming pool. At these ideal lodgings, you will be able to relax and unwind.
Camelot Beach Suites
Ready to stretch your legs? At Camelot Beach Suites, every room is a suite. You’ll be able to destress after a long day at the beach or on the pier with the extra space. Renowned for its old Florida charm, this award-winning boutique hotel draws families and couples for its privacy. With twenty suites, there’s space for everyone to enjoy. The sandy shores are just a short walk away, too.
Sandpearl Resort Private Beach
Dreaming of seclusion? Sandpearl Resort is a favorite among North Beach visitors. You can dive headfirst into luxury with a private beach and a lagoon-style pool. Afterward, tuck into delicious meals at the award-winning restaurant. Families with children are certain to appreciate Camp Ridley. Campfire stories and treasure hunts are the tip of the iceberg. A holistic approach leads the way at Sandpearl Resort, with everything you need right on your doorstep.
Downtown Clearwater
✓ Best place to stay in Clearwater Beach for budget travelers
Traveling to the Floridian coast on a budget? Downtown Clearwater offers cheaper accommodations than the beachfront. The is, however, a more limited selection.
Still, Downtown Clearwater is easy to access. A 30-minute drive across Old Tampa Bay to Tampa International Airport shows just how easy it is to get to.
The Clearwater city center has undergone an amazing beautification process over the years. Cleveland Street District, in particular, offers a breathtaking view. The neighborhood overlooks Clearwater Harbor and Marina. Here, you can find dining, entertainment, and a realm of urban activities. This attractive spot is perfect if you’re looking to relax away from the beach.
When it comes to activities, they’re a-plenty. For festivals and concerts, head over to Coachman Park. Interested in baseball? BayCare Ballpark (Spectrum Field) is the best spot if you want to see the Phillies spring training camp.
Get your camera ready for this next one. Downtown Clearwater is home to Clearwater Aquarium. With a huge focus on “Rescue Rehab Release,” it comes as no surprise that marine life thrives here. The aquarium is also home to Winter the Atlantic bottlenose. With her prosthetic tail, Winter is the star of the heart-warming Dolphin Tale.
Recommended hotels in Downtown Clearwater
La Quinta by Wyndham Clearwater Central
Ready for a day at the park? La Quinta by Wyndham Clearwater Central is one of the closest hotels to Spectrum Field. Start your day with a free continental breakfast before dipping in the outdoor swimming pool or exploring downtown. Many top attractions are a short drive from the hotel.
Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown Clearwater
Want to be right in the heart of the action? Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown Clearwater offers a great home base for exploring. This all-suite hotel is minutes away from the beach and attractions, including SimCenter Tampa Bay. A short drive away from the barrier island and Clearwater Beach, the hotel has everything you’ll need.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Clearwater
Happy to be a little further away from the hustle and bustle? Fairfield Inn & Suites is conveniently located between Clearwater Beach and Tampa International Airport. With a car, you can get to the beach in minutes. It’s the exceptional environment here that guests talk about the most, with amazing service and a heated pool available. Not to mention the recent renovation, leaving everything looking pristine.
Sand Key
✓ Top area to stay in Clearwater Beach for a romantic getaway
Looking to escape to a pristine paradise with your partner? Sand Key is one of the best areas for a romantic getaway around Clearwater Beach. The atmosphere here is much more relaxed than on the barrier island or in downtown.
Get your swimsuit ready and head to the beach. Sand Key is surrounded by turquoise waters and pale, white sand. Cabanas, umbrellas, and beach chairs are all available. When you want to relax for the day, picnic grills and tables will lend a welcome hand, too.
From sailing classes to birdwatching, there’s a lot happening in Sand Key Park. Endangered birds and sea turtles are frequent visitors to the barrier island, using the rare salt marsh to nest. The sky stretches forever, making it easy to spot pelicans and herons in flight.
If you want to relax and watch the sunset in peace, this is the place. You’re only a short journey away from Clearwater’s top attractions, but you have the privacy of a secluded haven.
Recommended hotels in Sand Key
Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key
Ready for some of the best ocean views in Florida? Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key offers an enviable location. The all-suite hotel comes complete with private balconies, where you can look out on dolphins jumping in the bay or the ocean. The less-crowded beaches offer the perfect backdrop. After a day of fun, amazing restaurants are right down the road.
Sheraton Sand Key Resort
Vintage vibes fuel the Floridian shore. Sheraton Sand Key Resort offers a luxurious blast into the past, as one of the first hotels to be built here. With a private beach, you’re only moments away from your own secluded haven. Award-winning dining options are available to you here.
Get ready to enjoy yourself if you love animals, too. This hotel is on a sea turtle nesting ground, with workers checking for nests every day. The wildlife conservation here is easy to see and so important.
Nautical Watch
Do you like the privacy an aparthotel offers? Nautical Watch on Sand Keys is full of Belleair Beach apartments, each overlooking the crystalline ocean or pool. With a hot tub, manicured garden, and private beach, you’ll want for nothing here. Expect amazing sunsets, sugar sand, and ultimate privacy.
Indian Rocks Beach
✓ Top district to stay near Clearwater Beach for low-key Old Florida beach vibes
Dreaming of the vacation your grandparents would have loved? Indian Rocks Beach offers that intimate appeal only smaller beach towns pull off. On its three miles of beautiful beaches, you can grab your sunscreen and find a stretch of your own.
View dramatic sunsets from its pristine white-sand shores. Dunes line these beaches. They also rent out cabanas to lay in the sun and watch the day go by. Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores are part of a historic hamlet, best showcased in the Indian Rocks Historical Museum.
Go for a walk here and you’ll find the communities your older relatives would have ventured to in decades past. Everything is casual, with small, family-owned eateries. Fun is on the menu, too. Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf has an alligator exhibit, while Splash Harbour Water Park is home to a lazy river and water slides.
Accommodation options along Indian Rocks Beach are plentiful. Depending on how you like spending your vacations, rental lodgings might be ideal. There are also luxurious hotels and lush suites. With 25 minutes to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, this is one accessible getaway spot.
Recommended hotels in Indian Rocks Beach
New Hotel Collection Harbourside Resort
On a family vacation? New Hotel Collection Harbourside Resort is a short walk away from the white shores of Indian Rocks Beach. A great option for families with children, this hotel offers an on-site water park. When you’re keeping little ones entertained, the slides and lazy river are bound to go down a treat. You can get to the nearest beach in just a few minutes.
Legacy Vacation Resorts Indian Shores
Enjoy the sea breeze? Legacy Vacation Resorts Indian Shores offers the perfect spot to unwind, between the bay and the ocean. This tranquil resort overlooks the Intercoastal Waterway. During dinner, you’ll be able to watch dolphins and manatees in the water. The Indian Rocks Beach attractions are a short walk down the road. There’s also a pool, game room, and shuffleboard court at the hotel for your entertainment.
BeachTrail Lodging
In need of a little extra space? BeachTrail Lodging offers you your own unit, tucked away from the noise of the main road with two parking spaces. It can be found on a secluded spot of beach that you’re certain to enjoy. Nearby, hop on a sightseeing boat tour to explore the area. A street away, you’ll find the Indian Rocks History Museum.
