Clearwater Beach is the barrier-island part of the City of Clearwater, across the Memorial Causeway from downtown and centered on Pier 60 and Mandalay Avenue. Its real estate is mostly Gulf-front and harbor-front condominiums, with single-family homes at the north end and canal homes on nearby Island Estates.
Clearwater Beach is the Gulf-side half of the City of Clearwater, reached from downtown by the Memorial Causeway. Pier 60, Beach Walk, and a dense run of hotels and condominium towers fill its center, and the streets at its north end are more residential.
Shane Vanderson works with buyers and sellers of Gulf-front condominiums and waterfront homes on Clearwater Beach, Island Estates, and Sand Key from Engel & Völkers South Tampa.
Living on Clearwater Beach
Daily life centers on the public beach at Pier 60, the Beach Walk promenade, and the shops and restaurants along Mandalay Avenue. Clearwater Marina sits on the harbor side, and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is at the entrance to Island Estates. Sand Key Park is across Clearwater Pass to the south. The Memorial Causeway connects the island to downtown Clearwater, Coachman Park, and Cleveland Street, and Tampa International Airport is typically 30 to 40 minutes east across the Courtney Campbell Causeway. The central blocks are busy in peak season, which affects parking and traffic for residents.
The Clearwater Beach market
Most sales at the upper end are condominiums. They price on Gulf or harbor exposure, floor, building age, and the association’s reserves and inspection reports. The streets around Carlouel, at the north end, hold the island’s larger single-family homes, and Island Estates offers canal and Intracoastal homes with docks. After the 2024 storms, elevation, flood zone, and permit history are part of the first conversation about any property here. Clearwater Beach vs. St. Pete Beach for condo buyers compares the two markets, and the key-facts table above shows current figures from Stellar MLS.
Boundaries
The Gulf of Mexico to the west and Clearwater Harbor to the east. Clearwater Pass separates the beach from Sand Key to the south, and the Memorial Causeway connects it to downtown Clearwater by way of Island Estates. The residential north end runs past Carlouel.
Homes in Clearwater Beach
Gulf-front and harbor-front condominiums from the 1970s through recent towers make up most of the island’s housing, with resort hotels concentrated around Pier 60. The north end, around Carlouel, holds larger single-family homes on the Gulf and the harbor. Island Estates, between the beach and the mainland, is single-family homes on canals and the Intracoastal with docks, mixing 1960s and 1970s originals with new elevated construction.
Nearby amenities
Pier 60 and Beach Walk; Mandalay Avenue shops and restaurants; Clearwater Marina; Clearwater Marine Aquarium; Sand Key Park; downtown Clearwater, Coachman Park, and The Sound amphitheater across the Memorial Causeway; Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin; St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport; Tampa International Airport, typically 30 to 40 minutes.
Newest listings in Clearwater Beach
Frequently asked questions
Is Clearwater Beach its own city?
No. Clearwater Beach, Island Estates, and the Clearwater portion of Sand Key are all part of the City of Clearwater. Belleair Beach and Belleair Shore, farther south on the barrier island, are separate towns.
What should condo buyers check on Clearwater Beach?
Building age, reserve funding, the milestone inspection and structural integrity reserve study status that Florida now requires for older buildings of three or more stories, any special assessments, the building’s insurance, and the rental rules in the condominium documents.
How does Clearwater Beach compare with St. Pete Beach?
Clearwater Beach is closer to Tampa International Airport and has a more concentrated run of high-rise condominiums. St. Pete Beach is closer to downtown St. Petersburg and has a broader mix, from resort towers to the historic cottages of Pass-a-Grille.
Where do the Clearwater Beach market figures on this page come from?
The key-facts table is pulled from Stellar MLS and shows the month it was updated. Gulf-front, canal-front, and interior properties behave differently, so rely on a direct valuation for a specific home or condominium.
