Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you have a visitor tour guide?
2. I want to get married on the beach; what is the process?
3. When is hurricane season?
4. When is peak tourist season?
5. Where should I stay on St. Pete Beach?
6. What airports are near St. Pete Beach?
7. How can I get around on the island?
8. I heard about Red Tide; when might it be a problem?
9. When is stingray season?

Do you have a visitor tour guide?
The city itself does not publish a visitor tour guide. We recommend visitors to contact both the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce and the local Convention & Visitor's Bureau. The Convention and Visitors Bureau publishes their area tour guide online, which you can access here. The Tampa Bay Beach Chamber of Commerce mails out guides which you can request here.

What do I need to do to have a wedding on St. Pete Beach?
Weddings are frequently held on the public beach of St. Pete Beach. Depending on the size, you may need a special event permit. For more information on permits, contact Lisa Giddens at 727-363-9237. Lisa will walk you through any permits you may need for your special day. The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court issues marriage licenses. More information on how to obtain marriage licenses can be found here. St. Pete Beach also has many hotels which offer beach front wedding packages.

When is the peak season for hurricanes?
Hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th. The peak season for hurricanes is August through October. However, strong hurricanes can occur at any time during the season. It is still safe to plan a trip to St. Pete Beach during these months. For more information on hurricanes and proper hurricane preparation, click here.

When is the peak tourist season?
St. Pete Beach is a popular destination year-round. During the winter months many of our part-time residents return to escape the cold winter. We experience a spike in visitors during the Spring Break months of March, April and May.

Where should I stay on St. Pete Beach?
St. Pete Beach has many great hotels on our 6 mile long island, matching all various budget needs. We have a list of beach businesses on our website, which you can access here.

Which airports service St. Pete Beach?
We are conveniently located within reasonable driving distance to 4 international airports. The closest airport is Clearwater/St. Pete International Airport, which is about 25 minutes away. Tampa International Airport is a quick trip across the bay and is about 40 minutes away. A 50 minute drive to the south is the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport. Just 90 minutes away in Orlando is the Orlando International Airport.

How can I get around St. Pete Beach?
Many taxi companies service the island. Bats Taxi (727-367-3702), headquarted in St. Pete Beach is often used by locals and visitors. The city highly recommends usage of the Trolly if you wish to move along the barrier islands. The Suncoast Beach Trolley serves and connects all of the cities along the Tampa Bay Beaches with connecting service available inland to St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Look for special trolley bus stop signs along Gulf Blvd.. In addition to the services along Gulf Blvd, connector routes run between the coast and downtown St. Petersburg.
Fares
Exact change is required for each passenger. Driver Cannot Make Change. Fare is $1.25 per ride or you can purchase a GO Card which gives you unlimited trips on any PSTA vehicle.
Daily GO Card - $3.00 / Weekly GO Card - $12.00
Reduced Fare passes are also available for Seniors 65 or older and Disabled Passengers.
Hours of Operation
The Beach Trolley runs every 20 to 30 minutes from 5:05 a.m. to 10:10 p.m., Monday through Sunday, including holidays, with service until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

What about Red Tide?
Red Tide is only harmful to fish and birds but the smell can cause discomfort to some people. The area did experience a bad red tide outbreak a few years ago but we have not had many issues since then. Red Tide blooms have typically occured during the months of August through February.

Stingray danger?
We recommend all visitors to the beach to do a local tradition called the "stingray shuffle" when they enter the waters. Stingrays often lay on the sand close to the shoreline. As you enter the water, simple shuffle your feet; this will cause the stingrays to harmlessly scurry away. If you stomp up and down while entering the water it is more likely that you could step on a stingray and as a result they can react by stinging you with their barb. Stingrays do not attack unless provoked.

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