Campervan Rental Clearwater, Florida — Clearwater Beach, Caladesi Island, Tarpon Springs, Fort De Soto and Tips for 2027

Clearwater lies on Florida's Gulf coast, north of St. Petersburg, and its long barrier-island beach is regularly named one of the best in the United States, with soft white sand, calm water and a sunset celebration every evening at Pier 60. For a campervan trip it is an easy base: the islands of Caladesi and Honeymoon, the Greek sponge docks of Tarpon Springs and the art museums of St. Petersburg are all less than an hour away, Tampa is just across the bay, and further north the springs of Crystal River are home to manatees in winter. This guide explains where to go, where you can stay overnight, what to know about driving and when it is best to travel.

Clearwater itself

Clearwater Beach stretches for several kilometres along a barrier island linked to the mainland by the Memorial Causeway. Pier 60 hosts a daily sunset celebration with street artists and stalls, and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium rescues and cares for dolphins and sea turtles. Further south, Sand Key Park has a quieter beach, and the Pinellas Trail, a long cycle path, runs through the peninsula on an old railway line.

North: islands, Dunedin and Tarpon Springs

• Dunedin (about 10 km): a small town with Scottish roots, a lively main street and the causeway to Honeymoon Island State Park.
• Honeymoon and Caladesi islands (about 15 km): the beaches and nature trails of Honeymoon Island, and from there the ferry to Caladesi Island, one of the most unspoilt beaches in Florida.
• Tarpon Springs (about 25 km): the Greek sponge docks, where sponge boats still come in, with Greek bakeries and restaurants.
• Crystal River and Homosassa (about 120 km): springs where manatees gather from November to March, and Weeki Wachee on the way, famous for its "mermaid" shows.

South: St. Petersburg, Fort De Soto and Tampa

St. Petersburg (about 35 km) has the Dalí Museum and a long waterfront, and at the tip of the peninsula Fort De Soto Park offers beaches, a historic fort and one of Florida's most popular campgrounds. Tampa (about 35 km) is reached by causeways across the bay, with Ybor City and its riverwalk. To the south, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge leads towards Sarasota and the beaches of Siesta Key.

For more of Florida, read our guides to campervan rental in St. Petersburg, in Tampa and in Orlando, as well as our guide to campervan rental in the USA for European travellers.

Where to stay

• RV resorts: in Clearwater, Dunedin, Largo and Tarpon Springs, with full hook-ups, pools and laundry; book ahead from January to April.
• Fort De Soto County Park: a campground on the water south of St. Petersburg, with sites that book up months ahead in winter.
• State parks: Hillsborough River near Tampa and parks further north, such as those around Crystal River, have campgrounds for RVs.
• Overnight parking: sleeping in a vehicle on streets, in beach car parks or in parks is generally not allowed.

Driving tips

• Beach traffic. The causeways to Clearwater Beach are busy at weekends and in spring; arrive early and check the height and length limits in car parks.
• Tolls. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge and some Tampa expressways have cashless tolls; ask your rental company how they are charged.
• Cyclists and pedestrians. Watch for cyclists on the Pinellas Trail crossings and for pedestrians near the beaches.
• Storms. Afternoon thunderstorms in summer bring heavy rain and poor visibility; slow down and do not drive through flooded streets.
• Hurricanes. From June to November, keep an eye on the forecast and always follow evacuation orders for the barrier islands.

When to go

• October to May: dry and mild, with daytime temperatures of around 20–28 °C, the best time for beaches, islands and camping. February and March are especially busy with baseball spring training in Clearwater and Dunedin.
• June to September: hot (often above 32 °C) and humid, with almost daily afternoon thunderstorms; the sea is very warm, but red tide algae can occasionally affect the beaches.
• Hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking from August to October.

A campervan in Clearwater with Crystalium Booker

We are still building up our campervan offer in Clearwater. Send us your dates and number of travellers through the contact page and we will look for a vehicle for you, and keep an eye on the campervans in Clearwater page for new listings. Do you rent out a campervan in or around Clearwater? List it with us.