Pier 60 is the center of gravity at Clearwater Beach. The 1,080-foot concrete fishing pier sticks out into the Gulf of Mexico at the exact point where Memorial Causeway meets the beach, and it anchors just about everything — the nightly Sunset Festival, the best shore fishing in Pinellas County, the jumping-off point for beach photos, and the reference point locals give for everything else ("two blocks north of Pier 60").
The Basics
- Address: 1 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
- Length: 1,080 feet
- Pier walkway hours: 24/7, free to walk
- Bait shop / fishing hours: 6 AM – 11 PM daily
- Parking: North Beach Parking Plaza, 490 Poinsettia Ave (adjacent)
Fishing at Pier 60
Pier 60 is a legit fishing pier, not a tourist gimmick. It has a full bait-and-tackle shop, covered cleaning stations, pole rentals, and knowledgeable staff. Most importantly: you do not need a saltwater fishing license to fish from the pier — the pier's blanket license covers you.
- Pier fee: $8.50 adult, $5 child, $5.50 senior
- Pole rental: ~$10/day
- Bait: shrimp, squid, silver trout all available for $5–$15
- What you'll catch: mackerel, snook, pompano, flounder, sheepshead, redfish, shark (catch-and-release only)
Want a deeper breakdown? See our fishing at Clearwater Beach guide.
The Sunset Festival
The nightly Pier 60 Sunset Festival runs two hours before and two hours after sunset, every day of the year. Street performers, local artists, and musicians take over the pier and the adjacent park. It's free, and it's one of the most charming small-festival traditions on the Gulf Coast.
Pier 60 Park & Splash Pad
At the base of the pier is a family-oriented park with:
- A large shaded playground
- A zero-entry splash pad (free, open during daylight)
- Public restrooms + outdoor showers
- Beach volleyball courts (first-come)
- Covered picnic pavilions
This is the move for families who need a break from the sand in the middle of the day.
Parking at Pier 60
The North Beach Parking Plaza is directly adjacent to the pier entrance. It's a 400+ space paid garage and the closest lot by a long shot. For a full parking breakdown, see Parking at Clearwater Beach. On festival nights it fills up two hours before sunset.
Photography Tips
- Shoot sunrise from the pier end looking east for dramatic silhouettes
- Shoot sunset from the beach south of the pier looking back at the pier as a foreground
- Golden hour runs about 45 min before sunset — light is best then, not at peak sunset
- Tripod is optional on the pier, but the walkway vibrates when people run
What's Near Pier 60
- Frenchy's Rockaway Grill — a block south, beach-view dinner
- Palm Pavilion — classic beach-bar restaurant on the sand
- Camille's Ice Cream — obvious stop
- Surf Style Beach Store — for anything you forgot to pack
Local tip: fish from Pier 60 before 8 AM. Dawn bites are dramatically better than midday, the pier is almost empty, and you get the sunrise over Memorial Causeway as a bonus.Back to Beach Articles