From the lively boardwalk at John's Pass to the quiet beaches of Anna Maria Island, the Gulf Beaches offer very different ways to live at the water.
Madeira Beach, known locally as Mad Beach, sits on the Gulf of Mexico in Pinellas County, across Boca Ciega Bay from St. Petersburg. At its heart is John's Pass Village & Boardwalk, a nautically themed village of shops, restaurants, boat tours and watersports rentals built along a boardwalk on John's Pass. The John's Pass Seafood Festival is held there every January. It is an easy walk from the village to the Gulf beach just to the west, and many Madeira Beach and Treasure Island condos are close enough to walk to both the sand and the boardwalk. Many of the older beachfront motels here have been replaced by condominiums over the years. Easy beach access and walkability are what we love most about this stretch of coast.
Treasure Island sits just south of John's Pass and is known for sea turtle nesting and its sand sculpture competitions. The rest of the Pinellas Gulf Beaches include Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Redington Shores, North Redington Beach, Redington Beach and St. Pete Beach. Belleair Beach is described as an upscale residential community of families, empty nesters, retirees and seasonal residents, and Belleair Shore is the smallest town in Florida, with no businesses or stores. Indian Rocks Beach has about 2.7 miles of beachfront and more than 20 beach access points.
Anna Maria Island, on the Manatee County side of Tampa Bay, has a slower, quieter feel than the busier Pinellas beaches. Its communities include the City of Anna Maria at the northern tip, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, and its beaches are a big part of the appeal. Bean Point, at the northern tip, is described as quiet, intimate and relaxed, with soft white sand and views of Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Coquina Beach is known for shell collecting, and Holmes Beach is known for its shallow, calm water. Buses and free trolleys run on the island, and Bradenton is just across the Intracoastal Waterway.
Beach homes come with extra questions. After Hurricane Helene in late September 2024, access to the Pinellas barrier islands was restricted for a time. Before you buy or sell at the beach, we help you look at the flood zone, the home's elevation and any elevation certificate, flood and wind insurance quotes, and for condos, the association's reserves, insurance and rules. These costs can change what a home really costs to own.
People who want the beach as part of daily life, whether as a primary home or a second one. Some want the energy and walkability of Madeira Beach and John's Pass, and others want the quiet of Anna Maria Island. If you are weighing the beaches against St. Petersburg, Bradenton or the Manatee County mainland, we can help you compare them.
Condos, townhomes and single-family homes at the beach are priced and marketed differently from inland homes, and buyers will look closely at flood zone, insurance and condition. We prepare each valuation from recent comparable sales. Request a free home value.
Yes. It is an easy walk from John's Pass Village to the Gulf beach just to the west, and many nearby Madeira Beach and Treasure Island condos are close enough to walk to both. Walking distance depends on the building, so check the specific address.
In Pinellas County they include Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Redington Shores, North Redington Beach, Redington Beach, Madeira Beach, Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach. Across the bay in Manatee County, Anna Maria Island has its own beach communities.
Quieter and more relaxed than the busier Pinellas beaches. Its communities include Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, and its beaches include Bean Point and Coquina Beach.
It depends on the flood zone and whether there is a mortgage, but many coastal homes do. Premiums vary a lot by property, so get quotes before you make an offer.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. School boundaries, taxes, flood zones, insurance and services vary by address, so confirm the details for any home you consider. Sources: John's Pass Village & Boardwalk, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, Madeira Beach, Florida, Florida Backroads Travel, The Beaches of Pinellas County, Pinellas County Economic Development, Beaches, Bradenton Gulf Islands, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office: barrier island access after Hurricane Helene.
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