Still Shining: St. Pete-Clearwater Updates

Will I be able to come on the vacation I've planned to St. Pete-Clearwater?

St. Pete downtown businesses and attractions are open. Many businesses on Central Avenue, Fourth Street and other business corridors are open and ready to welcome you. The St. Pete Pier and our wonderful museums are open. 

If you're traveling in the near future, and have planned to stay in one of our beach communities, you should contact your hotel to check their most up-to-date information on availability. Also be aware that while some local restaurants and other businesses will be open, others will be working through their recovery and re-opening process. In addition, cleanup or other recovery efforts may still be taking place on our beaches.

Are airports, bridges and roadways in St. Pete-Clearwater open?

Both St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and Tampa Bay International Airport are fully operational and ready to welcome visitors. All bridges and roadways across the bay and to our barrier islands are open and accessible.

Are the beaches open after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton?

There are no county-wide restrictions on beach access. However some individual municipalities may have limited access as they prepare the beaches for a return of guests. Several area beaches, including Clearwater Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, and several locations on St. Pete Beach are open. 

Fort De Soto Park, Sand Key Park, Honeymoon Island State Park, and Caladesi Island State Park, remain closed. Along the 35 miles of beaches, some areas experienced damage to boardwalks and access points, which are being repaired as the re-beautification process continues.

Please see our Current Beach Updates & Conditions page for the latest.

Throughout St. Pete-Clearwater, many hotels, resorts and vacation rental properties are welcoming guests. Some communities, such as St. Pete, were not as affected by two storms this fall, while others like Clearwater Beach, have recovered quickly. Several of our coastal communities still need more time to recover, with some hotel properties open and others still undergoing renovations. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater recommends contacting lodging businesses ahead of booking for up-to-date recovery information and to understand temporary limitations of the property.

It's now possible to book your stay right on our website! All of the hotels listed on the page are welcoming guests.

Explore more Clearwater businesses open to the public, courtesy of Amplify Clearwater.

The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce is also maintaining a list of open businesses. 

More Information on Our Communities

Open For Business - Shining Together

In addition to this resource, check out beach businesses that are open, courtesy of Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber and Clearwater businesses open to the public, courtesy of Amplify Clearwater. These resources have available places to play, eat and shop and further plan a trip to St. Pete-Clearwater. 

St. Petersburg:

Hotels, shops and restaurants in St. Petersburg are open, as well as our incredible museums and cultural attractions. Hotels along Central Avenue are open. Sunken Gardens is open. While some residential communities in St. Pete experienced flooding, most local businesses have recovered and reopened. 

Clearwater and Clearwater Beach:

Hotels and other businesses in Clearwater Beach experienced impact from storm surge and high winds, although to a lesser degree than our more southern beaches in Pinellas County. 

Visitors who have vacations planned will want to check with their hotel or accommodations to receive up-to-date information on the property. Many local restaurants and shops have returned to business, though some of the waterfront properties will need a little more time to recover and reopen. As each day passes, we expect to be able to share that more of our businesses are ready to welcome visitors.

Just across from Clearwater Beach, Clearwater Marine Aquarium has reopened, featuring a special exhibit: Aqua Lanterns: A Chinese Festival of Light. 

St. Pete Beach & Pass-a-Grille Beach:

This was an area that endured a high level of storm surge from Hurricane Helene, meaning that many hotels and restaurants in this area – though not all – are still in the recovery process. Visitors who have vacations planned will want to check with their hotel or accommodations to confirm their status.

Treasure Island & Madeira Beach:

This was another area that saw significant storm surge from Hurricane Helene. John's Pass Village & Boardwalk is open with access to popular businesses such as Hubbard’s Marina, which has reopened to visitors. Restaurants that have reopened at John's Pass include Friendly Fisherman Seafood Restaurant, Bamboo Beach Bar & Grill, Bubba Gumps, the Boardwalk Grill, and Kilwins. Some of the shops are also open, including Grays Jewelers, Three Coconuts and Paw Paws. Other businesses along the boardwalk are currently working to recover and will need a little more time before they welcome visitors.

Visitors who have vacations planned will want to check with their hotel or accommodations to confirm their status. 

Gulfport:

There was flooding in Gulfport's downtown and in some residential areas. Many of the shops and restaurants that our locals and visitors love have re-opened, while others remain focused on their recovery process. Gulfport Tuesday fresh market is open again. A number of popular restaurants such as Pia's Trattoria, The Pearl, the Funky Flamingo, Gulfport Brewery and more are now open.

We recommend reaching out directly to your accommodations or local restaurants to confirm their current status before traveling. 

Tarpon Springs:

The famous Sponge Docks suffered from Hurricane Helene’s storm surge, with damage to the docks. However, many of the local restaurants and shops are open and welcoming guests. The Sponge Exchange is open. 

Dunedin:

Merchants and restaurants in downtown Dunedin are open for business. 

Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island state parks are closed as well as The Dunedin Marina and boat ramp.

Safety Harbor: 

The iconic Safety Harbor Resort & Spa is open and welcoming guests. Local shops and restaurants are open. 

Now more than ever, local businesses need your support. Please shop local, and be patient when visiting our communities as they continue to fully recover.

If you wish to volunteer, you can connect with organizations such as Volunteer Florida and donate money or volunteer time to World Central Kitchens which is deploying food trucks throughout our communities. Keep Pinellas Beautiful is also organizing many beach cleanups.  Find more options for donating or volunteering.

You can also attend local fundraisers and help at beach cleanups. See a list on our Events & Festivals page.

Please check back for more updates during the recovery process. Our community is Still Shining and working hard to ensure that every corner of St. Pete-Clearwater is once again ready to welcome you. Follow Visit St. Pete-Clearwater on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.