Camping at the Beach

Sleep under starry skies on pristine, powdery white sand just steps away from the gentle waves of our warm Gulf waters.

a young man relaxes inside his tent on the beach at Shell key with a dramatic pink and blue sky behind him

Experience the simple pleasures when camping at Shell Key Preserve.

Ever dream of sleeping under a starry sky on pristine, powdery white sand? Just steps away from the gentle waves of our warm gulf waters? And come first light, epic outdoor adventures await you such as kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, bird watching and more? Then read on to learn about the area’s best beach camping spots!

No matter where you camp, you’ll want to remember these essentials:

  • Lots of water, ice and coolers for food and drinks
  • Bug spray
  • Sunscreen
  • Know the daily timing of sunrise, sunset and the high and low tides
  • Don’t forget a bag to bring home seashells! (Leave live shells alone, but the rest are fair game.)

See a list of campgrounds in the St. Pete-Clearwater area to get your camping vacation planning started.