Staying at Avalon, Clearwater: A Host’s Guide to the Neighborhood

The short version

Avalon is a gated residential complex in Clearwater, about 3.5 miles from Clearwater Beach, which is roughly a 10 to 15 minute drive. It is where our two short stay condos are. The trade is simple and worth understanding before you book: you give up walking to the sand, and in return you get a quiet, secure base with a heated pool, a fitness center, free parking, a full kitchen, and room for six, without paying the beachfront premium. This guide is the part most listings skip: what the complex and the surrounding area are actually like, with real distances.

The complex: what is on the grounds

Avalon is a gated community, which is a large part of why it stays quiet. On site you have:

• A heated saltwater pool, open year round.
• A fitness center and a clubhouse.
• A charcoal BBQ area and landscaped grounds.
• Free parking on the premises.

The apartments are two bedroom, two bathroom condos with a full kitchen, an in unit washer and dryer, a private balcony, fast WiFi at 213 Mbps, and a dedicated workspace, which makes longer and remote work stays easy. Check in is self service: we send your door code 24 to 48 hours before you arrive. One access note worth knowing: our Oasis Dream apartment is on the third floor with stairs and no elevator, so if stairs or gear are a concern, tell us first.

See more of the building and grounds on our Avalon at Clearwater page.

What is near Avalon, with real distances

Being a short drive inland is the point: it is quieter and better value, and the useful stuff is close. Times below are approximate and traffic dependent.

The neighborhood, and days out from it

The immediate area around Avalon has the essentials: a Publix for groceries, restaurants, shopping, and golf, all a short drive, plus Lake Bellevue for a quiet walk. Downtown Clearwater is about a 5 minute drive, for Coachman Park and a show at the Bilheimer Capitol Theatre.

For days out, the best beaches and towns sit a short drive north or south, and we cover them in detail in our things to do near Avalon guide:

• Sand Key Park, a calmer county beach with showers, changing rooms and a cafe, parking about $6 a day, open 7am to sunset (Pinellas County, check current).
• Honeymoon Island State Park, about 20 minutes north, $8 per vehicle, open 8am to sundown (Florida State Parks, check current), where the ferry to undeveloped Caladesi Island departs.
• Dunedin, a walkable downtown about 15 minutes north known for independent shops and craft breweries.

Getting around from Avalon

A car helps here, since the complex is inland. You will want it for groceries, day trips, and the beach run.

• To the beach: about a 10 to 15 minute drive, then park in the public beach lots (pay by plate kiosks and ParkMobile). Once you are at the coast, the Jolley Trolley runs the beach route about every 30 minutes for $2.25 one way, free for children eight and under (fares and schedule, check current). The full driving, parking and trolley detail is in our getting to the beach guide.
• Airports: St. Pete Clearwater (PIE) is the closer option, about 15 minutes; Tampa (TPA) is about 30 to 35 minutes.

Who Avalon suits

• Families and groups who want space, a kitchen, and a pool over a beachfront room. Each condo sleeps six.
• Longer stays where free parking and a quiet, secure complex matter more than walking to a bar.
• Anyone who would rather pay less and drive ten minutes than pay the beachfront premium.

If you want to be right on the sand for a short trip, beachfront is the better call. For most other stays, a gated complex a short drive away wins. Our guide to where to stay in Clearwater Beach walks through that tradeoff in full, and our month by month guide covers when to come.

Frequently asked questions

Our two Avalon condos are Oasis Dream Vacations and Blue Ocean.