Runners love Clearwater Beach — it's flat, compact, and connected to one of the best rail-to-trail systems in the country. You can get a quick shakeout before breakfast or build a 20-miler that crosses three towns. Here are the best mapped routes.
Route Overview Map
1. Beach Walk Promenade (Easy · 2 miles out & back)
- Distance: ~1 mile each way, 2 miles round trip
- Surface: paved promenade, palm-lined
- Start: Pier 60 at the base of Memorial Causeway
- Best time: sunrise (6–8 AM), empty and cool
- Difficulty: flat, easy
The most scenic short run on the island. Gulf on your right heading south, palm trees and restaurants on your left. Finish with coffee at Clear Sky Beachside Café.
2. Beach Sand Run (Moderate · up to 6 miles)
- Distance: up to 3 miles each way on the hard-packed sand
- Surface: sand (softer near the dunes, firm near the water)
- Start: Pier 60, run south
- Best time: low tide (firm sand); dawn for cool temps
- Difficulty: moderate — sand is harder than it looks
Run on the wet firm sand at the water's edge — much easier than loose sand. A 30-minute run covers ~3 miles if you're steady.
3. Memorial Causeway Out & Back (Moderate · 3 miles)
- Distance: 1.5 miles each way, 3 total
- Surface: dedicated bike/pedestrian lane on the causeway
- Start: Clearwater Beach end
- Elevation: gentle slope up and down the bridge
- Best time: sunrise — the view east over the harbor is spectacular
4. Sand Key Loop (Moderate · 4–5 miles)
- Distance: 4–5 miles depending on loop
- Surface: mixed — sidewalks + Sand Key Park paths
- Start: Clearwater Pass bridge onto Sand Key
- Difficulty: flat, quiet roads, very safe
Cross the Clearwater Pass bridge, run down Gulf Blvd, loop back through Sand Key Park. Quieter than the main beach, good for longer runs.
5. Pinellas Trail (10K to Marathon · any distance)
- Distance: up to 50 miles
- Surface: paved rail-trail
- Access: cross Memorial Causeway, pick up the trail near downtown Clearwater
- Difficulty: flat, well-maintained, mile markers throughout
Florida's premier rail-to-trail system. Perfect for serious distance training. Run 6 miles to Dunedin for coffee, 12 miles to Palm Harbor, 20+ miles to Tarpon Springs. Shade varies — some sunny stretches, some tree-lined.
6. Honeymoon Island 7-Miler (Serious Runners · 7 miles)
- Distance: 7 miles round trip from Sand Key
- Surface: sidewalks + park roads
- Note: run across Dunedin Causeway to Honeymoon Island — park entry fee on foot is $2
- Difficulty: moderate, some road crossings
Heat Safety
- Before 8 AM in summer — anytime else is brutal
- Carry water on any run over 3 miles
- Wear light-colored, loose clothing and a hat
- Know the warning signs of heat exhaustion
- Bug spray for dawn/dusk runs along the Pinellas Trail
Where to Hydrate
- Pier 60 Park: public water fountains + restrooms
- Beach Walk halfway point: restrooms + fountain
- Sand Key Park: water fountain + cold water from the café
- Honeymoon Island marina: fountains at the ferry dock
Running Events
- Clearwater Beach Running Festival — multi-distance event each October (5K, 10K, half marathon)
- St. Pete Beach Classic — February, 5K/10K/half marathon
- Gasparilla Distance Classic — Tampa, February, a Florida legend
The single best running experience at Clearwater Beach: sunrise on Memorial Causeway. Start at the beach end, run up the bridge, turn around at the crest as the sun comes up over downtown Clearwater. 3 miles, 30 minutes, unforgettable.Back to Recreation