- Parking
- Metered
- Typical crowd
- Steady
- Best for
- Sunset, A walkable village, Shelling, Quiet mornings
- Facilities
- Restrooms, Showers, Restaurants on Eighth Avenue, Historical museum
Pass-a-Grille is the southern tip of the barrier island chain, a historic district of small streets, old cottages and low buildings that predates almost everything around it. It is part of St. Pete Beach but feels like a different town entirely.
The beach runs the length of the village, with the Gulf on one side and the pass on the other. Because it faces west with nothing in the way, and because the village behind it is quiet, this is where a lot of residents go for sunset rather than Pier 60.
Eighth Avenue is the short main street, with a handful of restaurants and shops and none of the resort scale found further north.
What makes it worth the trip
Sunset
The reason people drive here. Unobstructed west-facing horizon with a village behind you rather than a resort strip.
The historic district
Cottages and small hotels from the early twentieth century, on a street grid that was laid out before the causeways existed.
The pass at the south end
Looking across to Shell Key and Egmont, with boat traffic running through and shorebirds working the flats.
Parking
Metered street parking along the beach, paid by app. Limited and it fills for sunset, but the turnover through the day is reasonable.
Rates and hours change. Confirm the current cost with the city, the county or the state park before you go rather than trusting any published figure, including ours.
Crowds
Calm during the day, then a distinct sunset crowd that arrives about an hour before and leaves shortly after.
Rules
- Dogs are not permitted on the beach.
- The meters run into the evening. Check the sign rather than assuming sunset is free.
- Respect the residential streets behind the beach. People live there.
- Glass is banned on every beach in the county. Cans and plastic only.
- Sea turtle nesting runs 1 May to 31 October. Fill in holes, knock down sandcastles, take gear home at night and keep lights off the sand after dark.
- Shorebird nesting areas are roped off in spring and summer. The nests sit on open sand and are nearly invisible, so stay outside the posted zones.
- Beach warning flags are not advisory decoration. Double red means the water is closed. Purple means dangerous marine life, usually jellyfish or red tide.
- Most beach towns clear unattended chairs, tents and umbrellas overnight. Take it with you.
Getting there
South along Gulf Way to the end of the island, past the Don CeSar.
Good for
Photo: Jared / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0). Source