The BayCare Sound is at 255 Drew St in downtown Clearwater's Coachman Park, about 2.5 miles by road from Pier 60. Take PSTA's Suncoast Beach Trolley ($2.25) over, and plan a rideshare home unless you'll make the last trolley back: 10:00 p.m., or 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Drivers should try the Garden Avenue Garage (28 N. Garden Ave), free after 6 p.m. and on weekends at posted rates. Bags must be clear.
Key takeaways
- The venue holds 9,000 (4,000 covered seats, 5,000 on the lawn). Lot 11 and the Garden Avenue Garage, the two lots on the city's Coachman Park event parking page, have 392 spaces between them.
- Rideshare drop-off and pickup is the Cleveland Street Turnaround, 300 Cleveland St.
- The Clearwater Ferry runs Thursday to Sunday, but its last scheduled boat from downtown is 8:00 p.m. It can get you to a show, not home.
- Cashless venue, rain or shine, no re-entry, no chairs on the lawn (blankets up to 30" x 60" are fine).
What's the best way to get to The BayCare Sound from Clearwater Beach?
Pick by the day of the week and when the show lets out. The ride over is short. The trip back is the problem, because thousands of people spill onto a few downtown streets at once.
| Option | Getting there | Getting back | Cost (as of October 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suncoast Beach Trolley (PSTA Route 701) | Every 30 minutes from the Clearwater Beach Transit Center South stop near Pier 60. It's about 8 minutes to Garden Ave and Park St | Last trip from downtown: 10:00 p.m. Sun to Thu, 11:00 p.m. Fri and Sat | $2.25 one way; $5 day cap | Budget travelers, early shows, weekend nights |
| Rideshare (Uber or Lyft) | Drop-off at the Cleveland Street Turnaround, 300 Cleveland St | Same zone, though the city says it can move during events | Varies by app and demand | Late finishes and groups splitting the fare |
| Clearwater Ferry (Red Line) | Thu to Sun, on the half hour from Clearwater Beach Marina; last boat 7:30 p.m. | Last scheduled boat from downtown is 8:00 p.m. | $6 adult one way; ages 8 and under ride free | A scenic ride there before an early show |
| Your own car | About 10 to 15 minutes in light traffic (map estimate). The city warns of road closures during events | Your timing depends on how fast the garage empties | Free to $2.25 an hour at the city's posted rates | Families and groups, and anyone heading inland after the show |
| Walk or bike | About 2.5 miles over the Memorial Causeway Trail, roughly a 45- to 50-minute walk (map estimate) | Same route, after dark | Free; bike racks in the park | Fit visitors with a bike and lights |
Verdict by traveler type. Couples and solo travelers: trolley there, rideshare back, unless a Friday or Saturday show ends by about 10:40 p.m. and you can walk to the 11:00 p.m. trolley. Families and groups of four: drive and use the Garden Avenue Garage, since one car beats two rideshares each way. Lawn tickets for a Thursday-to-Sunday show: the late-afternoon ferry is the scenic way over, but don't count on it for the ride home. For getting around the rest of the island, see Clearwater Beach without a car.
Where do you park for The BayCare Sound?
The venue has no lot of its own. You park in public downtown garages and lots. Ruth Eckerd Hall, which runs the venue, recommends Lot 11, the Garden Avenue Garage and the Station Square Parking Garage, and the city lists a few more. Rates below are the city's posted ones; on show nights, the sign at the entrance wins.
| Lot or garage | Address | Spaces | Posted rate (as of October 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coachman Park & Harbor Marina, Lot 11 | 224 Pierce St | 156 (6 accessible) | $2.25 an hour, enforced 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, including weekends and holidays | The city calls it the closest lot to the park. EV chargers; no overnight parking without a marina permit |
| Garden Avenue Garage | 28 N. Garden Ave | 236 (7 accessible) | $0.75 an hour, Mon to Fri, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; free after 6 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends | Covered, a few blocks from the park and about a block from the Park Street Terminal trolley stop |
| Station Square Parking Garage | 615 Laura St | Not posted | Check at the entrance | Ruth Eckerd Hall lists it for concerts |
| Municipal Services Building Garage | 640 Pierce St | 381 (10 accessible) | Employees only, Mon to Fri, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. At other times the first two floors are free | Worth trying for evening and weekend shows |
| Court Street & Osceola Ave Lot | 311 S. Osceola Ave | 47 (8 accessible) | $0.75 an hour with a 3-hour limit, Mon to Fri, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Small, so don't count on a space |
| Oak Avenue Lot | 450 Oak Ave | 122 (1 accessible) | $0.75 an hour, Mon to Fri, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. | A longer walk, but a backup when the closer lots are full |
Elsewhere downtown, paid parking runs 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and is free at other times unless signs say otherwise. Lot 11 is the exception, enforced every day. Pay with ParkMobile or by texting CLEARWATER to 727563. The city's parking line is 727-562-4094.
Ruth Eckerd Hall says the City Hall lot and the grass lot at Osceola Ave and Pierce St are unavailable because of construction. The city's downtown construction list also includes a planned 397-space public garage at Pierce and Osceola and an Osceola Avenue rebuild from Court St to Drew St, so watch for detours.
The city's driving route from the beach: east on the Memorial Causeway, continue onto Chestnut St, left on S. Fort Harrison Ave, left on Pierce St, then right on Osceola Ave. The city warns that event nights can bring road closures and changed traffic patterns. Parking back on the island is covered in the Clearwater Beach parking guide.
Where is the rideshare drop-off and pickup?
The city's rideshare zone is the Cleveland Street Turnaround, 300 Cleveland St, next to the park. The city also says the spot may change during special events, so read the signs on the night.
The venue lists two accessible drop-off spots. The Cleveland Street Extension, at the bottom of Cleveland St and Osceola Ave, is closest to South Gate 2. The Clearwater Main Library lot on Osceola Ave, when the event allows, is closest to South Gate 1, the ticket trailer and the lawn. Every gate has a ramp, and there's accessible lawn seating plus wheelchair and companion seats. For access on the island itself, see our wheelchair-accessible Clearwater Beach guide.
Thousands of people request a ride at the same moment. If you can manage a few blocks, walk east up Cleveland St toward Garden Ave before you open the app. You're away from the turnaround crowd and close to Park Street Terminal if a trolley is still running.
Can you take the trolley or ferry to Coachman Park?
The trolley is your best bet. PSTA's Suncoast Beach Trolley (Route 701) runs seven days a week between the beaches and Park Street Terminal, at Garden Ave and Park St downtown. The timetable effective February 1, 2026 shows a trip every 30 minutes each way through the evening. The city also points riders to the Jolley Trolley's northbound Coastal Route, which stops at Osceola Ave and Cleveland St; check the Jolley Trolley's own schedule for evening times.
| Suncoast Beach Trolley (Route 701) | Evening departures | Last trip |
|---|---|---|
| Beach to downtown: Clearwater Beach Transit Center South to Garden Ave & Park St | :16 and :46 past each hour (for example, 5:46 p.m. arrives 5:54 p.m., 6:16 p.m. arrives 6:24 p.m.) | 10:46 p.m. daily; later trips on Fri and Sat |
| Downtown to beach: Garden Ave & Park St to Clearwater Beach Transit Center South | On the hour and half hour, about 10 minutes to the beach | 10:00 p.m. Sun to Thu; 11:00 p.m. Fri and Sat (extra trips at 10:30 and 11:00) |
The fare is PSTA's standard $2.25, capped at $5 a day. Pay with the Flamingo Fares app or card, a tapped credit or debit card (not American Express), Apple Pay, Google Pay, or exact cash. The park is a few blocks west of the stop, roughly a 7- to 10-minute walk by map. PSTA notes that times can slip with traffic and weather, so on show nights catch the trip before the one you think you need.
The ferry only works one way. PSTA's Clearwater Ferry Red Line links Clearwater Beach Marina and downtown at Coachman Park, Thursday through Sunday. On the posted schedule, boats leave the beach marina on the half hour until 7:30 p.m. and leave downtown on the hour until 8:00 p.m. A $1 fare increase took effect September 17, 2026, and PSTA now lists the adult fare at $6 one way, reduced fare at $3, and kids 8 and under free.
PSTA's ferry page describes a February-through-Labor-Day season, but the ferry's own site said in early October 2026 that it is "currently operating" Thursday to Sunday. The city says departures have been changed to fit scheduled events and concerts. Text 727-643-1832 (9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily) before you count on it.
What's the bag policy, and what can you bring?
These rules come from Ruth Eckerd Hall's permitted and prohibited items list and its A-Z guide, checked in October 2026. The only bags allowed are clear bags no bigger than 12" x 6" x 12" or small clutches up to 4.5" x 6.5". A diaper bag with a small child or a bag of medical equipment is allowed after screening.
| Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Clear bag up to 12" x 6" x 12", or a clutch up to 4.5" x 6.5" | Any other bag, plus coolers, outside bottles, cans and thermoses |
| Blanket or beach towel up to 30" x 60" (lawn) | Lawn chairs, air sofas, inflatable loungers, tents, umbrellas, strollers |
| Empty, clear hydration pack within the bag size | Outside food and drinks |
| Diaper bag with a small child, or a medical-equipment bag (screened) | GoPros, audio/video recording devices, tripods, monopods, selfie sticks, drones |
| Service animals | Smoking and vaping, aerosols (including spray sunscreen), lasers, glow sticks, balloons, confetti |
Shows go on rain or shine and umbrellas are banned, so pack a poncho for lawn seats. There's no re-entry, and every person needs a ticket, whatever their age. The South Gates are inside Coachman Park and the North Gates are on Drew St. The ticket office, at South Gate 1, opens two hours before showtime on event days only.
The Clearwater Jazz Holiday sells its own tickets, and its ticket page describes a lawn section with room for blankets and lawn chairs. For those four days, check the festival's own rules rather than the standard concert list.
Where can you eat before the show?
Inside the venue you'll find beer, wine and full-liquor bars, popcorn, pretzels, canned sodas, and local food trucks in the plaza that change from event to event. Everything is cashless; reverse ATMs nearby turn cash into a card you can spend.
For a sit-down meal downtown, Clear Sky On Cleveland (418 Cleveland St) is a short walk up Cleveland St from the park. It's open until 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday (as of October 2026). If you're taking the trolley, eating on the beach first is simpler; start with our best restaurants on Clearwater Beach.
What's playing at The BayCare Sound this fall?
These are the next dates on Ruth Eckerd Hall's calendar as of October 4, 2026. Shows get added and moved, so check the official Ruth Eckerd Hall events page for later shows, set times and tickets. If your ticket says Ruth Eckerd Hall, that is a different building on McMullen Booth Road, about 10 road miles from Pier 60, so check the venue before you leave the beach.
| Date (2026) | Show | Listed start | Getting back to the beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 9 | Ty Myers: The Legal Tour, with Lanie Gardner and Benny G | 7:30 p.m. | Trolley until 11:00 p.m. |
| Sat, Oct 10 | The Avett Brothers, with The Secret Sisters | 7:00 p.m. | Trolley until 11:00 p.m. |
| Sun, Oct 11 | Freedom Rocks: 38 Special, The Marshall Tucker Band and Don Felder | 6:00 p.m. | Trolley until 10:00 p.m. |
| Tue, Oct 13 | Tedeschi Trucks Band, Future Soul 2026 Tour | 6:30 p.m. | Trolley until 10:00 p.m.; no ferry on Tuesdays |
| Thu to Sun, Oct 15 to 18 | 47th Clearwater Jazz Holiday at Coachman Park | Gates 4 p.m. Thu and Fri, 3:30 p.m. Sat and Sun | Trolley until 10:00 p.m. Thu and Sun, 11:00 p.m. Fri and Sat |
Festival lineup and ticket prices are in our Clearwater Jazz Holiday 2026 guide. For nights without a show, see things to do on Clearwater Beach at night. If you're still choosing where to stay, the Clearwater vs Clearwater Beach comparison covers the beach-or-downtown question.
Compiled from the City of Clearwater's Coachman Park and downtown parking pages, Ruth Eckerd Hall's BayCare Sound policy and accessibility pages, PSTA's Route 701 timetable and fare page, and the Clearwater Ferry's posted schedule. Prices, schedules and the show list were checked in October 2026. Distances and walk times are map estimates, not measured. We are an independent guide and are not paid by any business named here.
Frequently asked questions
How much is parking at The BayCare Sound?
The venue has no lot of its own. At the city's posted rates (as of October 2026), the Garden Avenue Garage is free after 6 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends, and Lot 11 charges $2.25 an hour from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Event-night signs at the entrance override these.
How far is The BayCare Sound from Clearwater Beach?
About 2.5 miles by road from Pier 60, across the Memorial Causeway. By map estimate that's 10 to 15 minutes by car in light traffic or 45 to 50 minutes on foot. The trolley is scheduled at about 8 minutes from Clearwater Beach Transit Center South to Garden Ave and Park St, plus the walk to the park.
Is there a trolley back to Clearwater Beach after a concert?
Only if the show ends in time. The last Suncoast Beach Trolley from Garden Ave and Park St leaves at 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday (as of October 2026). After that, it's a rideshare.
Can I bring a chair or a bag?
No chairs at regular concerts, even on the lawn, though a blanket or towel up to 30" x 60" is fine (the Jazz Holiday sets its own lawn rules). Bags must be clear and no larger than 12" x 6" x 12", or a clutch up to 4.5" x 6.5".
Sources
- Ruth Eckerd Hall, The BayCare Sound (capacity, operator). rutheckerdhall.com
- Ruth Eckerd Hall, The BayCare Sound directions and parking (255 Drew St, recommended lots, construction closures). rutheckerdhall.com
- Ruth Eckerd Hall, Permitted and prohibited items. rutheckerdhall.com
- Ruth Eckerd Hall, A-Z guide (gates, rain or shine, re-entry, cashless, lawn rules). rutheckerdhall.com
- Ruth Eckerd Hall, Accessibility at The BayCare Sound. rutheckerdhall.com
- Ruth Eckerd Hall, The BayCare Sound concessions and food trucks. rutheckerdhall.com
- Ruth Eckerd Hall, Events calendar (checked October 4, 2026). rutheckerdhall.com
- City of Clearwater, Coachman Park: Getting Here (lots, spaces, rates). myclearwater.com
- City of Clearwater, Coachman Park Event Parking. myclearwater.com
- City of Clearwater, Coachman Park Alternative Transportation (ferry, trolley, bike, rideshare zone). myclearwater.com
- City of Clearwater, Coachman Park Directions. myclearwater.com
- City of Clearwater, Pay by Text (text CLEARWATER to 727563). myclearwater.com
- City of Clearwater, Parking and Transportation (general parking line). myclearwater.com
- City of Clearwater, Downtown Parking (enforcement hours, payment). myclearwater.com
- City of Clearwater, Downtown Clearwater Construction (Osceola garage, Osceola Corridor). myclearwater.com
- PSTA, Suncoast Beach Trolley Route 701 timetable, effective February 1, 2026. psta.net (PDF)
- PSTA, Fares. psta.net
- PSTA, Clearwater Ferry. psta.net
- Clearwater Ferry, schedules and text line. clearwaterferry.com
- Clearwater Ferry, home page (operating days, September 17, 2026 fare increase). clearwaterferry.com
- Clearwater Jazz Holiday, tickets and lawn areas. clearwaterjazz.com
- Clearwater Jazz Holiday, 2026 dates and gate times. clearwaterjazz.com
- Clear Sky On Cleveland, address and hours. clearskyrestaurants.com
Making a night of it?
Plan the rest of the evening, from dinner on the sand to getting around the island without a car.
See the events calendar