Tampa Bay City Ranks In ‘Most Popular Boating Cities In America’ For 2024

Summer is right around the corner and you know what that means. It's about to turn into Jurassic Park around here across Tampa Bay. Luckily, we have world class beaches and no shortage of water activities just a short drive away. One Tampa Bay city was named one of the ‘most popular boating cities in America’ for 2024 and we have the details.

GetMyBoat.com recently released their report on the most popular boating cities in America for 2024 There were a few Florida cities that made the cut, but one Tampa Bay spot made it in the top 25.

Clearwater, Florida claims the #23 spot making it one of the 'most popular boating cities in America for 2024. The other Florida cities joining Clearwater on this list are Miami (1), Fort Lauderdale (10), Destin (15), and Fort Walton Beach (18)

Well for starters, Clearwater is one of the most popular beaches in the world. Val Streif, author of the report and Getmyboat’s spokesperson said, “Clearwater’s combination of favorable weather, strategic location, beautiful waterways, excellent infrastructure, and vibrant boating culture make it a top boating city and the 23rd best overall in the entire country for 2023."

Clearwater was named the #6 top boating destinations in Florida earlier this year with the most popular boat rental being a pontoon boat. With white sandy beaches lining the coast of Pinellas County and enough beach bars and restaurants to feed an army, it’s no question Clearwater belongs on this list.

Val Streif said, “The city's [Clearwater] clear waters and beautiful weather make it an ideal location for various water activities such as island hopping, dolphin watching, and sunset cruises, enhancing its appeal to boating enthusiasts."

To determine these rankings, Getmyboat analyzed hundreds of thousands of boat rental data from their platform, Getmyboat.com. They included boat rentals and charters in the United States, including territories. Hourly rates and locations with insignificant sample sizes were not included in this report. 

Below is the top 25 ‘Most Popular Boating Cities In America’ graphic. Florida, Texas, and California lead the pack with 5 cities each within the top 25.

For more information on the most popular boating cities in America, visit their website for the full breakdown of the report.

[Source: Getmyboat.com]

Taking your family to a beautiful Florida beach can be so much fun and very relaxing. But what kills the fun almost immediately is when you can't find parking anywhere. Driving around in circles only to see that every lot is full can really get you down. But then there's a glimmer of hope when several parking lots where you can pay to park. Paying $5 or even $10 doesn't seem too bad when you have a car full of kids screaming "Are we there yet?" However, the cost of parking at Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach has skyrocketed over the years. If you want to know where the best free or cheap beach parking is look no further.

Our biggest tip for finding free parking at one of the most famous beaches in Tampa Bay is to go early. That might not be ideal if you're traveling from far away but trust us, it's worth it. You're not going to deal with the hassle of fighting for parking with every other family. And if you are fighting for parking the worst part is you'll just be following the same cars from street to street hoping for a spot to open up. Which is unlikely because once you get to the beach you're not leaving for a while. The perfect time to get a free parking spot at the beach arriving between 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. which might seem too early, but you'll thank us later. For all available free beach access in St. Pete click HERE. And if you need to find free beach access in Clearwater click HERE.

Parking prices have gotten outrageously expensive. We've seen reports that some parking prices on holiday weekends like Mother's Day charge as much as $70! One mom was extremely upset about the hike in prices saying, "Don’t go to Madeira beach, they just raised their prices again for parking. I paid $70 to park there on Mother’s Day and it was ridiculous." Again, you can find free parking but that's first come first serve so if you don't want to pay that expensive fee make sure you get there extra early. See our options below for affordable parking in Tampa Bay by scrolling down.

Fort Desoto Beach is absolutely beautiful peaceful beach that's a great option. Last time we went it was anywhere between $5-$8 per car for parking. Either way that's a steal compared to other areas that are charging an arm and a leg.

Entrance to the park is free and parking only costs $5 per day. However, they are closed on certain holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. They open daily at 7 a.m. and close at sunset. Great option for families.

Another option you might like is Honeymoon Island. Last time we went it was only $8 for per car and very relaxing. That is way more affordable than $70 at other beaches. Definitely worth the drive to check it out.

Life hack for you! Park behind the shops, where residents live, there’s always parking, and no one tows. Yes, it’s slightly further of a walk, but it’s really not that far, maybe extra 5 minutes of walking, but it’s free parking.

There's several areas there that are hourly and it only costs $2 an hour. You can find the location on the Parkmobile app. Check before you go are on your way there. Again, get there early.