Discover St Pete Beach
11 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
5235 Gulf Boulevard
Wide Gulf-facing beach on St. Pete Beach with powdery white sand, low-rise beachfront buildings, palms and long westward views perfect for sunset composition. Best at golden hour for vibrant skies and silhouettes; weekday evenings and shoulder season (fall/winter) have fewer crowds. Public beach accesses with metered street parking and small paid lots; many nearby eateries and short walks to piers. Accessible ramps at main access points; no special entry fee beyond parking. Expect warm, humid, &
Sunset Park
Small Gulf-front park with wide sandy beach, palm silhouettes, low dunes and long, colorful sunsets — ideal for dramatic sunset and waterscape shots. Best at golden hour and blue hour; accessible public beach with parking along Sunset Way, restrooms and easy street access. Visit weekdays or shoulder season for fewer crowds; watch tides and storm clouds for dynamic skies.
View Point Pass-a-Grille North Channel
Small public bluff/boardwalk overlooking the North Channel where Boca Ciega Bay meets the Gulf — excellent for seascapes, sunrise color, backlit silhouettes of fishing boats, and shorebirds. Visit at sunrise for vivid colors and calm water; sunset offers warm rim light on passing boats. Easily accessible from Pass-a-Grille Way with street and small municipal lots nearby (metered/paid parking in season). No entry fee; flat, short walk from parking makes it good for quick shoots and tripods. Low-t
Swim with our Fish
Shallow Gulf waters off St. Pete Beach ideal for close-up marine life, colorful reef fish and reflective seascapes during swim tours. Best visited at calm, clear-morning hours for underwater clarity; golden hour at shore for silhouettes and warm tones. Tours require booking; arrive by car (street and beach lot parking nearby). Weekends are busiest. Respect wildlife—no touching or feeding.
Public Access
Public beach access at St. Pete Beach offers wide Gulf vistas, soft white sand, dunes and occasional piers—ideal for sunrise and dramatic sunset skies, long exposures of surf, and minimalist shore compositions. No entry fee; public parking and boardwalks nearby can fill on weekends. Visit at golden hour for warm light, watch tides and sea breeze, and expect easy wheelchair-accessible sections and family crowds in high season.
Secret Garden
Small coastal spot on St. Pete Beach with wide Gulf vistas, sandbars, mangrove edges and rich shorebird activity — excellent for sunrises and dramatic sunsets, long reflections and minimalist seascapes. Best at golden hour or low tide for exposed sand textures and tidal pools. Easily reached from Gulf Blvd with public parking nearby; bring wind protection and weather-aware gear. Weekday mornings are quieter; no special entry permits required.
Nicholson Bayou
Nicholson Bayou is a narrow tidal inlet and mangrove-lined waterway offering reflective water, exposed mudflats at low tide and abundant shorebirds — ideal for intimate nature and waterscape shots. Visit at golden hour for warm side light and glassy reflections; low tide reveals textures and bird feeding activity. Small neighborhood access, no entry fee; limited curbside parking—be respectful of private property and quiet residential streets. Mild climate—bring sun protection and insect repellen
Colonel Micheal J. Horan Park
Small waterfront park on Boca Ciega Bay offering open sky, Gulf-facing sunsets, shoreline foregrounds and pier access — ideal for wide coastal vistas, reflections and silhouette shots. Best at golden hour and after sunset for color; sunrise can work for calmer waters. Free public access and small parking lot; arrive early on weekends. Flat, easy walking and wheelchair-accessible paths; no entry fee.
17th Ave beach access
Small public beach access on St. Pete Beach with wide white sand, low dunes, a gentle Gulf shoreline and classic Florida palms — ideal for clean minimalist seascapes and dramatic Gulf sunsets. No entry fee; street parking and small public lots nearby (can fill on weekends). Accessible ramp/boardwalk for gear and wheelchairs. Best lighting: golden hour and blue hour at sunset; early weekdays are least crowded. Storm fronts can add moody skies and reflections.
Ercius Park
Small Gulf-front pocket park on St. Pete Beach with wide sandy shore, palms and calm water — ideal for sunrise/sunset seascapes, long exposures of surf, palm silhouettes and candid beach life. Best at golden hour; weekdays and early mornings offer fewer people. Easy, free public access from Gulf Boulevard; limited parking on-site and street parking nearby. No entry fee. Watch for changing tides and summer storms; beach-town culture is relaxed and family-friendly.
1st Avenue Beach Access
Wide sandy Gulf beach with low dunes, a wooden access ramp and long west-facing views—ideal for sunrise/sunset color, reflected wet-sand foregrounds and minimalist compositions with sea oats, lifeguard stands and surf. No entry fee; small public parking on Gulf Blvd (metered/paid during high season). Accessible boardwalk/ramp for beach launch. Best light: golden hour and blue hour; weekdays and early mornings are least crowded. Winter and spring offer clearer skies and dramatic sunsets; summer =