Clearwater Beach with Kids: A Family Base a Short Drive from the Sand

The short version

With kids, the room you sleep in matters as much as the beach you visit. A hotel room puts everyone in one space; a two bedroom condo gives you a full kitchen, separate bedrooms, a washer and dryer, and a pool on the grounds, for one price. Our two Avalon condos each sleep six and sit in a quiet gated complex about a 10 to 15 minute drive from Clearwater Beach, so you get the space and the free parking, and you drive over for beach days.

A base with room to breathe

The hardest part of a family beach trip is everyone being on top of each other. A whole apartment fixes that:

• Separate bedrooms, so the kids can go down while the adults stay up.
• A full kitchen, so breakfast happens in and you are not marching hungry children to a restaurant every morning.
• An in unit washer and dryer, so sandy, messy clothes get washed on the spot.
• A heated saltwater pool, a fitness center, and free parking on the grounds, so a pool afternoon needs no planning or driving.

Our Oasis Dream apartment is a two bedroom, two bathroom that sleeps six, and our second Avalon condo, Blue Ocean, is the same size. One thing to know before you book: Oasis Dream is on the third floor with stairs and no elevator, so if you are travelling with a stroller or a lot of gear, ask us for advice on access before you book.

Getting the kids to the beach

From the gated Avalon complex the beach is a short drive, about 10 to 15 minutes, not a walk. You drive over and park in the public beach lots, which run on pay by plate kiosks and the ParkMobile app. Once you are at the coast, the Jolley Trolley runs the beach route about every 30 minutes and is free for children eight and under (fares and schedule can change, so confirm before you go), which makes an easy, cheap way to move along the beach without hunting for another parking space. For the full driving, parking, and trolley details, see how to get to Clearwater Beach from Avalon.

Family things to do

There is plenty for kids beyond the sand, most of it a short drive from Avalon:

• Sunsets at Pier 60, a free nightly festival with street performers and more than thirty artisan stalls, running from about two hours before sunset to two hours after. It is free and outdoors, an easy way to end a beach day.
• The Clearwater Marine Aquarium at 249 Windward Passage on Island Estates, open daily from 10am to 5pm and a solid morning or rainy day plan (check current hours and admission before you go).
• Sand Key Park, another nearby beach we cover, with facilities and hours, in our things to do guide.
• A dolphin or pirate cruise from the marina.

For the fuller list with prices and hours, see our guide to things to do near Avalon.

A few practical notes for families

• No pets at our apartments, and there are quiet hours overnight, so it is a calm building for early bedtimes.
• Self check-in with a door code, sent before you arrive, so you are not coordinating a key handover with tired kids in the car.
• The kitchen and laundry mean you can pack lighter. If you need to know whether a specific item is provided, just ask us before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Still weighing where to base yourself? See our guide to where to stay in Clearwater Beach, and our other Avalon condo, Blue Ocean.