A Weekend in St. Pete Beach, Florida: How to Spend 2 Days on Florida’s Gulf Coast

This post is sponsored by Roomkey, but all opinions and advice are my own.

Relaxing poolside at Postcard Inn in St. Pete Beach, Florida

St. Pete Beach, Florida, feels like a scene from a postcard. 

Think calm, turquoise waters, white, powdery sand beaches, and quirky beachfront establishments serving up fresh grouper sandwiches and cold mojitos. 

And the best part about St. Pete Beach? This little slice of paradise is only a 40-minute drive from our home in Tampa.

A sunny day in paradise

So after traveling non-stop for almost a year, there’s nothing quite like being back home in Florida for the summer. 

But that’s the funny thing about travel. By seeing more of the world, in my experience, it’s allowed me to view my hometown with a fresh set of eyes. 

It was time to hit the brakes, recharge and reset our inspiration. A “staycation” was just what the doctor ordered, and St. Pete Beach was the first place that came to mind.

Having lived in Tampa for almost ten years, I’ve spent more than my fair share of weekends here. It’s one of my favorite places not only in Florida but maybe even the whole world. 

For our staycation I partnered with Roomkey, a hotel search site, to book our hotel. Roomkey’s user-friendly platform, map search tool, plus its direct hotel booking feature made finding a place to stay a breeze.

In this guide, I’m sharing my favorite spots and things to do in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Be it a weekend vacation or a staycation, a weekend is just enough time to soak in St. Pete Beach’s charm. 

You’ve been warned – after reading this, you may want to book a trip!

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The lawn at Postcard Inn, A promising summer weather forecast 

Getting to St. Pete Beach

St. Pete Beach is located on the West Coast of Florida in the greater Tampa Bay area. This gem of a beach town sits on Long Key, part of the chain of barrier islands that runs along the Central Gulf Coast.

Map of the TPA and PIE airports in Tampa Bay, Florida

If you’re traveling from most anywhere, your best bet is to fly into Tampa International Airport on one of the many direct flights that run daily from across the U.S. Tampa has recently become even more accessible internationally thanks to new direct routes from European hub cities like London and Amsterdam. 

Alternatively, fly directly into the smaller, but closer St. Petersburg – Clearwater Airport. Thanks to the influx of snowbirds and vacationers that travel regularly to the area, budget airlines like Allegiant run frequently from many Midwestern hubs at a very wallet-friendly price.

From the airport, rent a car or take an Uber to St. Pete Beach. 

Things to Do in St. Pete Beach

St. Pete Beach consistently ranks among the top beaches in the United States, and with good reason. There is so much to see and do in St. Pete Beach, most of which revolve around… You guessed it, the beach! 

Here’s what you can get up to on a weekend trip…

Soak Up Some Rays on the Beach

Rent a chair and an umbrella from your hotel and enjoy a front-row seat to the Gulf of Mexico. Take a stroll down the beach, or grab a float at one of the local surf shops and float away the afternoon. 

Just don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen – the UV index here is no joke!

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Chairs, umbrellas and cabanas line the beach for a prime view of the Gulf of Mexico

Bike to Pass-a-Grille

Hop on a beach cruiser and bike along Gulf Boulevard to Pass-a-Grille, the southernmost stretch of St. Pete Beach. Wander the historic 8^th Avenue then grab a snack and a cocktail on the rooftop deck at the Hurricane.

Be sure to check the town of Pass-a-Grille’s calendar for quirky local events when you’re visiting, like the vintage Volkswagen Beach Bash in October and the Beach goes Pops in April.

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Beach biking along Gulf Boulevard, Playing putt-putt at Smuggler’s Cove 

Try Your Hand at Putt-Putt

Does truly it count as a Florida vacation if you didn’t play a round of mini golf? 

For an upscale, pirate-themed experience (yes, you heard me correctly) head to Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf just north in Madeira Beach.

The best part? For a few extra bucks, you can feed baby alligators at the first tee, fulfilling every “only in Florida” stereotype.

Go Boating on the Gulf and Intracoastal 

While the views on shore are great, you can’t fully experience the area without seeing it from the water. 

Skip the touristy dolphin sightseeing excursions and play captain yourself by renting a deck boat from a local vendor like Blind Pass Boat & Jet Ski Rentals. 

An afternoon boating the intracoastal in Clearwater Beach

Spend the day cruising to Shell Key, Egmont Key or if you’ve found your sea legs head up to Honeymoon Island. All three state parks are completely protected and undeveloped, so you’ll find some of the most pristine beaches and clear water around.

Alternatively, stick to the intracoastal and boat from the south end of Long Key up to Clearwater. Hungry? Stop at Frenchy’s Saltwater Cafe for a grouper sandwich.

Hit Happy Hour at the Beach Bars

Coined “the Miracle Mile” by the locals, the beachfront bars of St. Pete Beach offer a little something for everybody. When the afternoon heat sets in, grab a seat in the shade and soak in the live music and people-watching.

Day or night, hotspots like the Undertow and Postcard Inn serve up a little something for everyone. 

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Happy hour at Postcard Inn on the Beach

Watch an Epic Sunset

No matter where you are when the golden hour hits, stop what you’re doing and head to watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. 

Grab a cocktail and join the entire community as they gather at the beach to watch the sun drop below the horizon.

Catching sunset over the Gulf of Mexico

Where to Stay in St. Pete Beach

There are few things I love more in life than a good old-fashioned beach resort, and St. Pete Beach has options for every type of traveler and budget. 

When planning our staycation, Postcard Inn on the Beach immediately came to mind as the perfect two-day getaway. 

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Taking relaxation very seriously at Postcard Inn

PCI is a St. Pete Beach institution. Located in the heart of St. Pete Beach, Postcard Inn draws in an eclectic crowd of both locals and vacationers alike. My husband and I have been coming here for years, and it never disappoints.

It’s lively, it’s quirky and it’s old Florida at its finest.

Immediately upon arrival to Postcard Inn you’re greeted by a laid back, vintage vibe. Imagine a Beach Boys song encompassed in a hotel. 

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Postcard Inn’s vintage-inspired lobby and grounds 

During the day, choose between lounging at the pool or by the Gulf, and in the evening the hotel’s manicured lawn turns into a gathering place as guests play corn hole and jumbo Jenga below café lights and lanterns.

I snagged our hotel room for our staycation through my new favorite hotel search site, Roomkey. I’ll be honest – after traveling full-time this past year, I’ve tried just about every hotel search option out there… Needless to say, I do not impress easily. 

But what I liked about Roomkey is the platform is built on transparency. It’s an actual search engine, not a middle-man. 

Unlike many hotel booking sites, the total room price is clearly listed at first glance. This price even includes those sneaky resort fees, state taxes and such that can cause major sticker shock when you go to check-out. Roomkey also streams the latest TripAdvisor reviews for each hotel, thus doing the research and cross-referencing for you.

Our cozy room at Postcard Inn booked through Roomkey

Roomkey is owned by six of the largest hotel chains in the world – Hilton, Marriott, Choice Hotels, Wyndham, Hyatt and Intercontinental. So unlike other online booking sites, you are booking directly through the hotel. For the consumer, this means lower rates, priority customer service and more flexible cancellation terms… Handy for someone like me, who is constantly changing my plans. 

By going straight to the source, Roomkey cuts through the B.S. and sketchy sales tactics of other online booking sites. 

Have you ever arrived to your hotel to find your reservation has been lost, then spent the next half hour on hold waiting for a customer service rep in Bangladesh to tell you there’s nothing they can do? 

After living through this exact scenario on more than one occasion, it’s refreshing to find there’s a hotel search site out there that gives you an array of options, without compromising the experience. 

Bonus – since you’re booking directly through the hotel, you can apply both your loyalty points and hotel status to your reservation (y’all know I’m all about getting that special treatment).

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Palms drape the grounds of Postcard Inn 

Where to Eat in St. Pete Beach

The Wharf

For oysters and fresh off the boat seafood with a view, look no further than The Wharf in Pass-A-Grille. A bit off the tourist trail, no weekend in St. Pete Beach is complete without a trip here. 

Stick around for live music on the weekends and the jukebox blasting old-school favorites at the bar into the evening.

The Sea Turtle

For breakfast, head to the Sea Turtle Restaurant for a beachy twist on English pub fare. The staff’s friendly but no-nonsense attitude paired with the kitschy, casual atmosphere makes the Sea Turtle a breath of fresh air amongst the other restaurants on the strip.

Chow down on the best blueberry pancakes you’ll ever have and corned beef hash eggs Benedict (yep, that’s a thing). Embrace it – you are on vacation, after all.

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Waterfront views at the Wharf, Breakfast of champions at the Sea Turtle

1200 Chophouse

For mouth-watering steaks with a casual ambiance, head to 1200 Chophouse. 

Sample the bacon-wrapped scallops, skewered filet mignon or if you’re feeling frisky order the Fred Flintstone-sized tomahawk ribeye… Just be sure to share – this steak is massive. 

Maritana Grille

If you’re down to splurge on some of the area’s best seafood, head to the signature restaurant at the historic Don Cesar Hotel, the Maritana Grille. 

After dinner, enjoy a nightcap and live music at the lobby bar before turning in for the evening.

Soaking up the sun at Postcard Inn

I hope that this guide has inspired you to consider St. Pete Beach, Florida for your next holiday! Be it a vacation or staycation, this beach town is an amazing escape from the grind and will leave you feeling relaxed, inspired, and itching to see more of this beautiful state. 

Have you been to St. Pete Beach? If so, how did you like it? Let me know in the comments below!

Cheers,

Meredith

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