Clearwater Marine Aquarium: A Host Guide (Hours, Tickets, What to Know)
Hours, ticket prices, and what to know before you visit Clearwater Marine Aquarium on Island Estates, on the way to the beach from our Avalon condos.
The short version
Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a working marine rescue and rehabilitation centre on Island Estates, the residential island that sits between the mainland and Clearwater Beach. This is the place that rehabilitated Winter, the dolphin from the film Dolphin Tale, and it still cares for rescued animals today, including a dolphin named Hope, along with sea turtles, otters and stingrays (cmaquarium.org, check current). Because it is a rescue and rehab centre first, the animals you see are here because they were sick, injured or could not survive in the wild, and that gives the place a clear purpose. From our Avalon condos it is a drive over toward Clearwater Beach, and CMA sits on Island Estates on that same route.
Hours, tickets and address at a glance
Everything in this table is the kind of thing that changes, so treat it as a starting point and confirm on the official site before you go. Online prices and gate prices can differ, and Florida residents get a discount on most dates.
| Item (check current) | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater FL 33767 (Island Estates) |
| Hours | 10am to 5pm, daily |
| Last entry | 30 minutes before close |
| Adult admission (12 and up) | $41.95 |
| Child admission (3 to 11) | $32.95 |
| Senior admission (65 and up) | $39.95 |
| Age 2 and under | Free |
| Florida residents | Discounted admission most dates |
Source: cmaquarium.org tickets and admissions and know before you go. CMA notes that prices are subject to change and seasonal rates may apply, so check current pricing when you book.
What CMA actually is
The most useful thing a host can tell you is what to expect, because CMA is a rescue and rehabilitation centre rather than a big commercial aquarium. The animals it holds are here because they were sick, injured or could not survive in the wild, so the place is built around rescue and rehab work rather than around entertainment (cmaquarium.org, check current).
If your family is coming specifically because of Dolphin Tale, know that Winter has passed, but CMA still cares for rescued dolphins including Hope, plus sea turtles, otters and stingrays (cmaquarium.org, check current).
Getting there from Avalon
Our two Avalon condos sit in a gated complex about 3.5 miles inland, roughly a 10 to 15 minute drive from the coast. CMA is on Island Estates, the island community in Clearwater Harbor linked to both the mainland and the beach by causeways, so from Avalon it is on the same drive corridor as the beach. The beach itself is 10 to 15 minutes; we have not clocked the exact door to door time to the aquarium specifically, but it is barely a detour if you are already heading over to Clearwater Beach.
A car is the simplest way to do it from Avalon, and the full driving and parking picture is in our getting to the beach guide. If you would rather leave the car once you are on the coast, the Jolley Trolley runs the beach area seven days a week (check current routes and fares). Our long-stay unit, Dolphin Point, is actually on Island Estates itself, so a CMA visit from there is about as close as it gets.
When to go, and pairing it with the day
CMA opens at 10am, so a morning visit ahead of an afternoon at the beach is a sensible rhythm, especially in summer. June through September is Clearwater’s wet stretch, with August the highest month for rainfall and afternoon storms common through the season (Clearwater climate normals, seasonal pattern not a guarantee). Front-loading the day means you are done with the drive and the animals before the afternoon heat and storms build.
| Month | Avg high | Rainfall | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar | 76°F | Low | Busiest and priciest (spring break) |
| Jun | 89°F | High | Afternoon storms |
| Aug | 91°F | Highest | Warmest water, cheaper late |
| Oct | 85°F | Low | Quiet, cheapest month |
Opening at 10am means you can be first in, see the animals, and still have the afternoon for the beach or for Sunsets at Pier 60, the free nightly craft market and street performer festival on Clearwater Beach (check current times, they shift with the season). For more on timing a whole trip, see our month by month guide.
A practical family plan
CMA slots neatly into a family day, and it is one of the family attractions on our own area guide. Arrive near opening so you are ahead of the day, and remember that last entry is 30 minutes before the 5pm close, so do not roll up at 4:55. Kids 2 and under are free, which helps with a young family.
If you are building a wider itinerary of things kids will actually enjoy, we cover the aquarium alongside the beach, the parks and the trolley in our Clearwater Beach with kids guide, and in our broader things to do near Avalon roundup.
Frequently asked questions
What are Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s hours?
CMA is open 10am to 5pm daily, with last entry 30 minutes before close, so plan to arrive by 4:30 at the latest. Hours can change seasonally, so check current times on cmaquarium.org before you go.
How much are tickets to Clearwater Marine Aquarium?
As a starting point, admission runs about $41.95 for adults 12 and up, $32.95 for children 3 to 11, and $39.95 for seniors 65 and up, with children 2 and under free. Florida residents get a discount on most dates, and online and gate prices can differ, so confirm current pricing on the official site.
Where is Clearwater Marine Aquarium?
It is at 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater FL 33767, on Island Estates, the residential island between the mainland and Clearwater Beach. From our Avalon condos it is a drive over toward the beach.
When is the best time of day to visit?
CMA opens at 10am, so arriving near opening works well, especially in summer when afternoon storms are common. A morning visit leaves the rest of the day for the beach, and last entry is 30 minutes before the 5pm close.
Did Winter the dolphin from Dolphin Tale live here?
Yes, CMA rehabilitated Winter, the dolphin from the film Dolphin Tale. Winter has since passed, but the centre still cares for rescued dolphins including Hope, along with sea turtles, otters and stingrays. It remains a working rescue and rehabilitation centre.
How far is the aquarium from your Avalon condos?
Our Avalon condos are about 3.5 miles inland, roughly a 10 to 15 minute drive from the coast. CMA sits on Island Estates on the way to Clearwater Beach, so it is on that same drive; we have not timed the exact door to door to the aquarium. Our Dolphin Point unit is on Island Estates itself, closer still.
More planning help: where to stay in Clearwater Beach, things to do near Avalon, Clearwater Beach with kids, and our Clearwater guide.
More from Things to Do
Clearwater Beach Seafood and Stone Crab Season: A Host Guide
When Clearwater stone crab season opens, what Gulf seafood is around each month, where to eat it on the beach, and how…
Sand Key and the Quieter Beaches Near Clearwater
Sand Key Park, Honeymoon Island and the Caladesi ferry: calmer beaches a short drive from Clearwater, with real hours, parking and honest…
Dolphin Cruises and Things to Do on the Water in Clearwater
Dolphin cruises, a pirate ship, kayaks, jet skis, parasailing and sunset sails from the Clearwater marina, a short drive from our Avalon…
