A vacation to Clearwater doesn’t have to break the bank if you know how and where you can save money.
I’m sharing tips that can help make your Clearwater Beach vacation dreams a reality.
Thanks again to Visit St. Pete/ Clearwater Beach for hosting my visit. All opinions are my own. This article contains affiliate links.
Enjoy the Gorgeous Turquoise Water and White Sandy Beaches
There are many reasons travelers come back to Clearwater, Florida year after year.
One of the biggest is for the gorgeous turquoise water of the Gulf and the white sugar sand beaches.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy the beach and let’s be honest, it’s the biggest reason why you would visit Clearwater Beach and it’s FREE.
Save on lunch by packing a cooler (just don’t pack alcohol or glass) and save on parking by walking instead of driving from where you are staying.
Clearwater Beach has lifeguards on duty 365 days out of the year
The water is warm enough to swim in comfortably. The “sugar sand” is even the theme used to create the incredible Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival in April.
There are plenty of free activities that go on as part of the festival. There is a kids’ play area, fireworks, live music, sand sculpting class, demos, and more.
How to Save on Admission to The Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit
The 21,000 sq ft tent features work by sand sculptors from around the world.
Children 3 & Under are Free!
“Frontline Fridays” – Discounted tickets for military personnel, police officers, firefighters, teachers, and healthcare workers can be purchased for $10 each on March 29th, April 5th, and April 12th.
“Timeless Tuesdays” – $2.00 discount for seniors 60 years of age and older on Tuesday, April 2nd, and Tuesday, April 9th.
Discounted tickets are only available at the gate with proper identification. Tickets can be purchased in advance or you can purchase tickets onsite at the exhibit tent.
Chase the Sunrise and the Sunset Clearwater Beach
Each sunset and sunrise in Clearwater Beach is so unique. I try to do my best to adjust my schedule so that I have time to watch them whenever I’m near the ocean.
I’ll even sacrifice sleep if it means getting up early to walk on the beach.
Keep your phone handy to capture the moment. I highly recommend enjoying the magnificent beauty of the golden hour each day.
Explore Pier 60 at Clearwater Beach
Walk down the pier for another perspective of the waterfront. You can pay an additional dollar to walk to the very end of the pier.
This is a great spot to get a closer look at the fishermen’s catch of the day.
Kids will also enjoy playing at the nearby covered playground and open green space.
Nightly Sunset Festival at Pier 60
364 days a year, weather permitting the Sunset Festival takes place at Pier 60.
The Nightly Sunset Festival takes place two hours before and two hours after sunset.
The Pier 60 festival is free to the public. You might want to bring some cash in case you find a special item that you want to purchase from a local artisan.
It’s also nice to have cash if you want to tip one of the street performers.
Stop at the Clearwater Visitor Information Center at Pier 60
Whenever possible, I try to stop at the local Visitor Center when I’m visiting a destination for the first time. They are a great resource for local events, attractions, and local restaurants.
We asked for restaurant recommendations and the best way to make use of our time during the weekend. My husband and I booked a boat tour and dined at two restaurants based on his wonderful recommendations.
The Clearwater Visitor Center is conveniently located within close proximity to the pier. They are also a great resource for budget-friendly dining options and attraction discounts.
A Lesser Known Beach in Clearwater
Most people are familiar with Clearwater Beach but there is another option if you prefer to get away from the crowds.
Spanning 95 acres, Sand Key Park provides guests with two parks in one which is the best of both worlds …and it has plenty of parking for only $5 a day!
You have access to the beach and there is also a separate park area that has a playground, dog park, two picnic shelters with grills, and a restroom if you want some additional recreation options beyond the beach.
There are 2 bathhouses with separate changing stalls and restrooms and the beach vibe is more rustic in its surroundings absent of the high concentration of shops and restaurants that you find at Clearwater Beach.
You can visit the concession, watch wildlife on benches at the salt marsh, walk the nature trail, or rent a kayak or bike.
Budget-Friendly Ways to Go Fishing in Clearwater
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to go fishing in Clearwater. There are several options available for your vacation style and budget.
Go Fishing off of Pier 60 at Clearwater Beach
If you want to go fishing shoreside it’s really affordable to go fishing at Pier 60 at Clearwater Beach.
The daily rates are affordable and if you plan on going fishing several times during your visit, the weekly pass might be a better value.
If you don’t have gear, you can rent a rod.
Take an Off Shore Fishing Trip
An offshore deep-sea fishing trip on the Super Queen fleet is a great option for families and novelty fishermen for so many reasons.
You can choose the option of half-day or full-day with Queen Fleet Deep Sea Fishing.
- You can purchase food and drinks on the boat or you can bring your own. The party boats can hold a larger amount of passengers which helps keep the costs down compared to a private charter.
- Everything that you need to fish is supplied for you including the fishing license.
- The half-day 4-hour trips go up to 10 miles offshore and you get about 2 hours to dedicate to fishing.
- There is a restroom on board which isn’t always the case for smaller boats.
- The boat has seating with tables inside and benches to fish from on both sides of the boat.
- There is a sun deck with lounge chairs available for guests who want to soak up the sun.
What I love about this option is that it’s great for families and travelers who want to choose their own adventure.
Half-day Fishing
The half-day is a great option to get a taste of deep-sea fishing if you want a taste of fishing but don’t want to commit your whole day.
For guests that have a wide age range of kids, multi-gen travelers, a party that is split on wanting to fish, half-day fishing is a great way to make everyone happy.
If someone in your party doesn’t want to fish at all, they can just relax on the sun deck and enjoy the ride.
How long you choose to fish is also up to you. Staff members are very helpful during the process. They also tag your fish so that you can take them with you afterward.
Photo Tips With Your Fish
Try to avoid what I did in the picture above…I obviously don’t fish a lot.
You want to keep your fingers under the fish and away from the camera so that your hand/fingers don’t look larger than the fish.
To make the fish look larger, hold the fish away from your body closer to the camera.
Other Ways to Save On Sightseeing Boat Tours and Attractions in Clearwater
Start looking for additional savings on tours in Clearwater Beach on Viator, Trip advisor and Get Your Guide.
You can find great deals on boat tours, kayak, and paddleboat rentals, and more if you start doing your research ahead of time.
Make sure that you pay close attention to the terms of service of each offer to make sure that it will be valid during your visit.
We enjoyed a sunset cruise with The Tropics Boat Tours that even included a special dolphin sighting.
If you plan on drinking more than the champagne toast, you might want to consider a drink package for additional savings.
Sea Life Safari
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium was the home of Winter the Dolphin who was world-famous because of the movie Dolphin Tale.
For the best value, opt for a package that includes a tour add-on. I recommend the Sea Life Safari which is both educational and interesting.
Sports fans can catch a Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies Class A Affiliate) game.
The tickets start around $10 and they offer different promotions throughout the season like Dollar Hotdog Night and a summer concert series.
Most Affordable Sightseeing Tour by Boat
The most affordable way to have a boat experience is on the Clearwater Ferry.
Clearwater One-Way Ferry Prices:
With one-way fares are as low as $5 for adults and kids 3 and under FREE! You can’t beat the price and it also doubles as a great way to get around the city with multiple route options (see here)
Enjoy Free Art Exhibits Around Clearwater
Dolphin fans will LOVE discovering more than 120 dolphin sculptures located throughout Clearwater on the Clearwater Dolphin Trail.
The creativity and personality that local artists designed on each dolphin sculpture make every dolphin sighting a joy and fun photo op.
How to Save Money on Dining in Clearwater
One of the first ways that you can save money is by choosing a hotel that offers complimentary breakfast.
My teenage boys know how to EAT and this is always a cost saver.
How to Save Money on a Hotel or Airbnb in Clearwater, Florida
I like to save money on dining by eating breakfast at the hotel and then packing a light lunch/snacks and going out to eat for dinner.
The reality is that I still really don’t want to cook on vacation.
For example, the Edge Hotel, Pier House 60 Clearwater Beach Marina Hotel, and the Hampton Inn & Suites offer complimentary breakfast with their amenity fee.
Many hotels also stock their rooms with a mini-fridge and microwave and some of the hotels even offer kitchenettes (Hyatt Regency and Residence Inn Clearwater Downtown) so that you can save money by cooking your own meals.
If you like to be near the action and only want to park once try to find a hotel within close proximity to Clearwater Beach.
Compare prices for Hotels and Vacation Rentals in Clearwater, Florida.
Take Your Catch of the Day to a Local Restaurant
Save money on your meal by supplying your own catch of the day to be prepared by a local restaurant.
Here are a few local restaurants that you can bring your fish to
- Salt Cracker Fish Camp – 25 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater, FL
- SandShakers Restaurant – 700 Eldridge St, Clearwater, FL
Your fish will taste even better knowing that you were the one that caught it.
Take Advantage of Happy Hour & Daily Specials
If you don’t mind eating a little earlier or a little later, you can take advantage of happy hour specials that will save you money on food and drinks.
Rumba Island Grill and Salt Cracker Fish Camp offer happy hour specials on select drinks all day, every day.
Read about more of my favorite places to eat from previous visits here.
Transportation Options in Clearwater
Clearwater is a very walkable city and you really don’t need a rental car if you are planning on staying close to the beach.
If you don’t want to worry about finding parking during your visit you have several affordable options.
The Jolley Trolley makes multiple stops along Clearwater Beach for a low fee.
Way 2 Go Rides offers local rides for a flat rate for up to 6 people.
Clearwater Ferry is convenient for visiting the Aquarium.
Flight Options to Clearwater
You can save on flights to Clearwater by using discount airlines like Frontier and Allegiant to fly into Tampa.
Super Shuttle, Uber, and Lyft are great options if you are flying to/from TPA (Tampa) and PIE (St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport) if you don’t have a vehicle.
You can check on deals for flights to your airport of choice near Clearwater Beach on Expedia.
When is the Best Time to Visit Clearwater Beach?
You can save money on your vacation by visiting during the off-season from October to January.
More Information on Clearwater Beach
You can find more information on Clearwater Beach and St. Peter Florida here.
We used to go to Destin/Panama City for years when I was a teenager. I haven’t been back since then but I would love to go back. It’s a beautiful area.
We have went to Clearwater for several summer vacations! We love it there! But the hotels along the beach are getting pricey. The Hilton is our favorite but a king with Gulf view it like $500 a night now! I am considering going to Destin. Have you ever been there? Is it comparable to Clearwater? I like how Clearwater has everything right there along the beach! No need for a car!