Clearwater and St. Petersburg sit about 19–21 miles apart, usually a 25–35 minute drive across Pinellas County.
If you are planning a beach hop between Clearwater and St. Petersburg, the first thing you probably want to know is how long the trip actually takes. The two cities look close on the map, yet bridges, lights, and beach traffic can stretch or shrink that gap. A clear picture of distance and timing helps you plan a smooth day instead of watching the clock in your car.
When travelers type “how far is clearwater from st. petersburg florida?” into a search bar, they rarely want just a single number. They want to know which roads to take, how busy rush hour gets, whether a bus or rideshare makes sense, and how that short hop fits into a beach day or museum visit.
How Far Is Clearwater From St. Petersburg Florida? Drive Basics
On paper, Clearwater and St. Petersburg sit roughly 19 to 21 miles apart, depending on your exact starting point. Driving from downtown Clearwater to downtown St. Petersburg usually takes around half an hour in light traffic. Tools such as the Travelmath driving distance calculator list a road distance of about 19 miles, with a similar drive time.
The most common route uses Gulf to Bay Boulevard (State Road 60) toward east Clearwater, then heads south on U.S. 19 or 49th Street before turning toward Central Avenue or First Avenue in St. Petersburg. Many visitors also start from Clearwater Beach, which adds a few miles across the causeway and can push the distance to about 20 to 22 miles with a similar travel time outside heavy traffic.
To give you a quick comparison across different ways of getting between the two cities, use the table below as a starting reference.
| Route Or Mode | Approx. Distance | Typical Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Clearwater → Downtown St. Pete, car | 19 miles / 31 km | 25–35 min, off-peak |
| Clearwater Beach → Downtown St. Pete, car | 20–22 miles / 32–35 km | 30–40 min, off-peak |
| PSTA bus, one transfer | Similar ground distance | 60–90 min, schedule based |
| Rideshare or taxi | Same as driving route | Drive time plus pickup |
| Private boat, Intracoastal route | About 18 nautical miles | 2–4 hr, leisure pace |
| Bike, Pinellas Trail + streets | 22–25 miles, route based | 2–3 hr, casual pace |
| Via Tampa, Howard Frankland Bridge | 35+ miles | 55–75 min, mainly for airport trips |
The table shows that the raw distance stays modest, yet the way you move between Clearwater and St. Petersburg changes how that distance feels. A car gives the most control, while transit and bikes trade speed for savings and scenery.
Clearwater To St. Petersburg Distance And Drive Time Tips
Typical Driving Routes Between The Two Cities
For most drivers, the simplest way to handle the clearwater to st. petersburg distance is to stay entirely within Pinellas County. From downtown Clearwater, follow Gulf to Bay Boulevard east, then head south on 49th Street or U.S. 19, and turn onto Central Avenue or First Avenue into the city center. This route skips the big bay bridges and keeps you on local roads that tend to move steadily except during peak times.
If you start on Clearwater Beach, you will first cross the Clearwater Memorial Causeway back toward the mainland. Once you reach downtown Clearwater, you can join the same pattern toward Gulf to Bay Boulevard. The causeway can slow down during peak beach hours and on sunny weekends, so build a small buffer into your plan if you need to reach a dinner reservation or a show in St. Petersburg.
Traffic Patterns And Rush Hour Windows
Distance does not change, yet traffic can stretch that short hop into a longer haul. Morning rush usually runs from about 7:00 to 9:00 a.m., while the evening peak often hits from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. During those windows, traffic lights along U.S. 19 and 49th Street build queues, and merging near commercial zones takes extra patience.
Beach season adds another layer. Clear skies and warm water draw visitors to Clearwater Beach, which means long lines on the causeway from late morning through sunset, especially on spring and summer weekends. When that happens, even the short 20 mile clearwater to st. petersburg distance can feel slow, since your first few miles out of the beach area may crawl.
Whenever your schedule allows, aim for late morning, early afternoon, or later evening drives. You will still see traffic lights and normal city flow, yet you avoid the sharpest peaks and stay closer to the 25–30 minute side of the range.
Parking Expectations At Both Ends
Parking in downtown Clearwater is generally easier than near the beach, with a mix of garages, surface lots, and metered street spots. Downtown St. Petersburg also offers many garages within walking distance of the waterfront, the Pier, and Central Avenue. Rates change with events and season, so checking a city parking map or garage website before you leave saves time when you arrive.
Ways To Travel Between Clearwater And St. Petersburg
Driving Or Rideshare
For most visitors, driving remains the fastest way to travel between the two cities. A rental car, personal car, or rideshare lets you leave when you like, carry beach gear, and stop at parks or waterfront spots on the way. The drive is straightforward, mostly on multi-lane roads with clear signage, so out-of-town drivers usually adjust quickly.
Public Transit With PSTA Buses
Travelers who prefer to skip driving can use Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority buses to move between Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Routes such as the 52 line connect downtown Clearwater with central parts of the county, where you can change to another bus that continues into downtown St. Petersburg. The PSTA schedules and maps page gives current route diagrams and timetables, including the lines that link Clearwater, Largo, and St. Petersburg.
Transit takes longer than driving, yet it cuts fuel and parking costs and gives you time to relax between stops. Expect at least an hour each way, with extra time around transfers and waits at transit centers.
Biking The Pinellas Trail And City Streets
Cyclists who are comfortable with longer rides can link parts of the Pinellas Trail with local streets to travel between Clearwater and St. Petersburg. The trail is a paved, multi-use path that runs down the spine of Pinellas County, so many riders start near downtown Clearwater, follow the trail south past Largo, then turn toward downtown St. Petersburg on signed bike routes.
Travel By Boat Along The Gulf Coast
On the water, the clearwater to st. petersburg distance works out to roughly 18 nautical miles through the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway. Recreational boaters can treat this stretch as a relaxed day trip, stopping at waterfront restaurants or sandbars along the way. Travel time depends on your hull speed and how often you pause for photos or food.
Planning Your Clearwater–St. Petersburg Day Trip
How Long To Allow For The Trip
For a simple out-and-back visit between the two cities, plan for an hour of drive time, plus extra time for parking and any small detours. That means a lunch in downtown St. Petersburg from a Clearwater base, or a sunset at Clearwater Beach from a St. Petersburg hotel, fits easily into a relaxed schedule.
Families with younger kids or older travelers may want a wider buffer. Leaving a bit earlier keeps everyone more relaxed if traffic slows, someone needs a restroom stop, or you choose to pull off for a short break at a park along the route.
Best Time Of Day To Travel
The clearwater to st. petersburg distance stays short, yet timing still shapes the feel of the ride. The guide below gives a rough idea of how different times of day affect the same basic route.
| Time Of Day | Traffic Expectation | Travel Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Early Morning (before 7 a.m.) | Light city traffic | Fast drive, cooler air |
| Morning Rush (7–9 a.m.) | Heavy flow on main roads | Add 10–15 min to the trip |
| Late Morning To Early Afternoon | Moderate flow | Balanced choice for most visitors |
| Beach Peak (weekend midday) | Slow near Clearwater Beach and causeways | Leave early or accept delays |
| Evening Rush (4–6:30 p.m.) | Busy commuter patterns | Allow extra minutes at signals |
| Evening (after 7 p.m.) | Lighter traffic aside from events | Smooth ride, lively streets near Central Avenue |
| Late Night | Low traffic, limited transit | Easy drive, watch fatigue and visibility |
Sample Ways To Use The Short Distance
The modest separation between Clearwater and St. Petersburg makes it easy to treat the two cities as one wider vacation zone. You can stay near Clearwater Beach yet spend one afternoon at museums and the Pier in St. Petersburg, or base yourself downtown in St. Petersburg and slip out to Clearwater for a calm morning on the sand.
Final Distance Takeaways For Clearwater And St. Petersburg
So, how far is clearwater from st. petersburg florida? In simple terms, expect roughly 19 to 21 miles between the two downtowns and a normal drive of about half an hour. That short hop lets you enjoy both cities in a single trip, whether you prefer beaches, museums, waterfront bars, or quiet neighborhoods.
By understanding the distance, main routes, traffic patterns, and transit options, you can turn that small gap on the map into an easy link between two of the most visited spots in the Tampa Bay area. Plan your timing, choose the mode that fits your day, and enjoy the fact that these two Gulf Coast favorites sit close enough for frequent back-and-forth visits.