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Sand Key Beach essentials
Parking
10+ public lots nearby, closest 0.1 mi away
Beach fee
Parking is $6 per vehicle per day at the pay stations (enter your tag number), or a county annual pass
Restrooms
Public restrooms on site
Lifeguards
Pinellas County seasonal lifeguards (April–September)
No dogs
Not on the beach (Fort De Soto has the county’s only dog beach); leashed dogs OK elsewhere in the park and at its dog park
Drinking water
1 water fountain nearby
Food & drink
14 restaurants, cafés & bars nearby
Rules and fees checked against pinellas.gov. Other amenities were mapped by volunteers on OpenStreetMap within about ¾ mile of the beach. Rules, fees and lifeguard hours change by season, so check posted signs. Updated October 2026. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Something missing? Add it on OpenStreetMap
Beach Report is an informational guide from public data, not a substitute for lifeguards or official National Weather Service warnings. Always check posted signs and swim near a lifeguard.
About Sand Key Beach
Sand Key Park is a Pinellas County beach park at the north tip of Sand Key, just across Clearwater Pass from busy Clearwater Beach. It has a wide, quieter stretch of white sand, a dog park, and seasonal county lifeguards. Water is warm most of the year and cool in winter. Rip currents are Florida’s deadliest beach hazard, so check the safety flag and rip-current risk above, follow posted flags, and swim near a lifeguard.
Sand Key Beach FAQ
How much is parking at Sand Key Park?
$6 per vehicle per day at the pay stations (enter your tag number), or a county annual beach parking pass.
Are dogs allowed on the beach at Sand Key?
No. Fort De Soto has the county’s only dog beach. Leashed dogs are fine elsewhere in Sand Key Park, including its dog park.
Is Sand Key quieter than Clearwater Beach?
Usually, yes. It’s a park beach without the hotels and nightlife of Clearwater Beach, which is just across the pass.
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