Known for its shimmering white sands and tranquil waters, Treasure Island Beach offers a serene escape that is both luxurious and accessible. Its location in the middle of the Pinellas beaches draws a steady stream of visitors throughout the year.
Treasure Island, or T.I. as locals call it, sits between St. Pete Beach to the south and Madeira Beach to the north, about 17 miles down Gulf Boulevard from Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach. It is close enough for a day trip and different enough to feel like a change of scene: wider sand, old school motels with plenty of Old Florida charm, and a slower pace at either end of the island.
This guide walks you through the island’s beach neighborhoods, Sunset Beach and its newly reopened pavilion, the bay side, what to pack, how parking works and a few safety rules worth knowing. Every rate and rule below comes from the City of Treasure Island, and we have linked the pages so you can check them before you go.
Treasure Island Beach
The city describes three miles of sparkling sand along the Gulf, and the beach here is uncommonly wide in most parts, so even on a busy weekend there is room to spread out. It divides naturally into three beach neighborhoods.
The middle of the island is the widest stretch and the most commercial, with most of the Gulf front motels, hotels and condo hotels, plus restaurants and shops within a short walk. This is where you will find the 0.85 mile Treasure Island Beach Trail, which winds through sea oat dunes parallel to the shoreline between 104th and 119th Avenues. It is perfect for walking, skateboarding, dog walking and cycling.
At either end, the beaches are narrower but no less beautiful. Sunshine Beach lies at the north end by John’s Pass, and Sunset Beach at the south end by Blind Pass. Both are more residential, with beach cottages, Key West style homes and a few mid century motels from the 1950s and 1960s, and walkovers through the dunes to reach the sand.
Good to know: The beach is closed from 1 to 5 am. Gulf Front Park at 10400 Gulf Blvd is the busiest access point, with restrooms and outdoor showers. City of Treasure Island.
The Sunset Beach Pavilion
The Treasure Island Beach Pavilion is not just a structure but a hub for community activity and social gatherings. The Sunset Beach Pavilion at 8000 West Gulf Boulevard, at 80th Avenue, provides restrooms and outdoor showers for the south end of the island.
It is also a comeback story. The pavilion was badly damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. After the city worked with FEMA and its insurer, restoration began on January 20, 2026, and the pavilion officially reopened on June 4, 2026, restored to its original look with updated restrooms. Volunteers from Keep Pinellas Beautiful and the Treasure Island Adopt a Beach group planted native landscaping around it later that month. City project page.
Sunset Beach
Another notable highlight of Treasure Island is Sunset Beach. Known for its picturesque and tranquil environment, Sunset Beach offers an alluring appeal for those seeking relaxation.
At the southern tip of the island, a boardwalk of about half a mile wraps around the point where Blind Pass meets the Gulf. It is famous for fishing and for simply strolling, and as the name suggests, it is a lovely place to be at the end of the day. Bring a camera and arrive half an hour before sunset to watch the sky change color over the water.
Parking in Sunset Beach is mostly on side streets, and it costs a little more than the city lots, so read the parking section below before you set off.
Boca Ciega Bay
The picturesque Boca Ciega Bay further enhances the attractiveness of Treasure Island. Known for its calm waters and abundant marine life, Boca Ciega Bay is a hotspot for water based recreational activities.
The bay lies on the east side of the island, between Treasure Island and the mainland, and its sheltered water is a good choice for paddleboarding and kayaking on days when the Gulf is choppy. Keep an eye out for dolphins and wading birds, and give any manatees plenty of space.
For boat tours, fishing charters and waterfront dining, head across the pass at the north end of the island to John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk, a historic fishing village in Madeira Beach with shopping, restaurants and watersports. John’s Pass Village. Our guides to unique things to do in Treasure Island and the best Treasure Island restaurants have more ideas.
What to bring to the beach
When visiting Treasure Island Beach, preparation is key to maximum enjoyment. Essential items include sunscreen with a high SPF, a wide brimmed hat, and sunglasses, along with comfortable beachwear and beach towels.
Add plenty of water, a beach umbrella for shade, and a small bag for your trash. The city is piloting trash bag dispensers at some of its busiest beach spots to help visitors leave no trace. If you are coming for the day, bring your phone loaded with the ParkMobile app so you can top up your parking from the sand.
Do the stingray shuffle: stingrays live and breed in the warm shallows from April through October. Slide your feet through the sand as you walk in, and they will move out of your way. Sea turtles nest from May 1 to October 31; never disturb a marked nest, fill in holes and flatten sandcastles before you leave.
Parking and access
City owned lots are easy to spot: they are named after birds and marked with blue and white numbers. Parking is enforced around the clock, every day. In city lots and spaces, parking costs $5.00 an hour Monday to Friday and $5.50 an hour on weekends and holidays. Side street parking in Sunset Beach costs $6.00 an hour on weekdays and $6.50 on weekends and holidays. You can pay by text or with the ParkMobile app.
For visitors with limited mobility, the city has laid a 6 foot wide mobility mat that runs roughly 500 feet toward the Gulf at Gulf Front Park, 10400 Gulf Boulevard. Beach wheelchairs can be reserved and picked up at City Hall, 10451 Gulf Boulevard, Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm; they are not available on weekends or holidays and must be returned the same day.
Always cross Gulf Boulevard at a marked crosswalk and wait until every lane has stopped. Parking, access and safety from the City of Treasure Island.
Tropic Terrace Beachfront Resort
For a classic Treasure Island stay, Tropic Terrace Resort is a beachfront vacation resort at 11730 Gulf Boulevard, directly on the Gulf. Its condos have equipped kitchens, air conditioning and free WiFi, there is a heated pool set in tropical landscaping, and John’s Pass Village is just minutes away.
Units at Tropic Terrace come and go from our booking calendar, so check our Treasure Island page for what is open on your dates. If nothing suits, our homes a little further north on the same barrier islands are an easy drive down Gulf Boulevard.
Our homes near Treasure Island
If you want to split your time between Treasure Island and Clearwater Beach, staying in the middle of the coast keeps both within easy reach. Here are four of ours on the barrier islands between them.
Sunset Corner is a one bedroom home in Redington Beach that sleeps four, with a pool on site. Coastal Dream is a three bedroom, three bath home in Indian Shores that sleeps seven. Water Lover’s Paradise in Indian Rocks Beach has two bedrooms, a waterfront pool deck and its own dock, and Sandy Beach Villa in Belleair Beach is a one bedroom villa a short stroll across the lawn from the sand.
Sunset Corner
Coastal Dream
Water Lover's Paradise
Sandy Beach Villa
Questions we get asked
How far is Treasure Island from Clearwater Beach?
About 17 miles by road from Pier 60 to the middle of Treasure Island, usually around 35 minutes down Gulf Boulevard depending on traffic.
How much is parking at Treasure Island beach?
City lots cost $5.00 an hour on weekdays and $5.50 on weekends and holidays. Sunset Beach side streets cost $6.00 and $6.50. Parking is enforced 24 hours a day, every day.
Are there restrooms on Treasure Island beach?
Yes. The city lists restrooms and outdoor showers at the Sunset Beach Pavilion, 8000 West Gulf Boulevard, and at Gulf Front Park, 10400 Gulf Boulevard.
Is the Sunset Beach Pavilion open?
Yes. The city says the pavilion officially reopened on June 4, 2026, after repairs from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Let’s plan it
Plan Your Visit
Sunny Orange Stays offers carefully chosen vacation rentals along the Pinellas beaches, with real kitchens, room to spread out and easy drives to Treasure Island and Clearwater Beach.
See you on the sand.