Sand Key, as the name is used here and on most home search sites, is the City of Clearwater's section of the Sand Key barrier island in Pinellas County. It runs south from Clearwater Pass to the Belleair Beach city line, with the Gulf of Mexico on one side and Clearwater Harbor and the Intracoastal Waterway on the other. Gulf Boulevard runs its length and crosses the fixed, high-level Sand Key Bridge to Clearwater Beach. Downtown Clearwater is about 4 miles away by road over the Clearwater Memorial Causeway.
Sand Key Park and the beach
The island's northern tip is Sand Key Park, a 95-acre Pinellas County park at 1060 Gulf Boulevard with two distinct areas of beach and park. The Gulf beach has seasonal lifeguards, and sea turtles nest there from April through October. Behind the sand are a boardwalk and nature trail with salt marsh views, a dog park, a playground, two picnic shelters with grills, a concession stand, two bathhouses and outdoor showers. Two beach wheelchairs are available. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset and charges a daily parking fee, with annual passes available. The shoreline is newly restored: Pinellas County's beach nourishment, completed in February 2026, rebuilt the beach from Clearwater south to Belleair Beach.
Living on Sand Key
Clearwater's part of Sand Key is mostly condominium buildings, with a hotel or two, set along Gulf Boulevard. Buildings on the west side face the Gulf and sit on the beach. Buildings on the east side look across Clearwater Harbor and the Intracoastal toward downtown Clearwater. Sand Key Club, for example, is a 13-story Gulf-front building at 1380 Gulf Boulevard with 208 units. The Harborage is a pair of harbor-side towers overlooking the Intracoastal and boat docks. For any condominium here, the association's documents, fees, and rules on pets, rentals and parking are part of evaluating the listing, along with the view and whether the building is on the Gulf or the harbor.
Getting around from Sand Key
North over the Sand Key Bridge, Clearwater Beach and the Pier 60 area are about 2 miles away. From there the Memorial Causeway leads to downtown Clearwater and Coachman Park. The Jolley Trolley runs south from Clearwater Beach to Sand Key, so you can reach the beach restaurants and Beach Walk without driving. To the south, Gulf Boulevard continues through Belleair Beach, where the Belleair Causeway crosses the Intracoastal to the mainland at Belleair Bluffs. The barrier island continues past Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores and the Redingtons to Madeira Beach.
