Treasure Island vs. St. Pete Beach: Which Florida Gulf Coast Destination is Right for You?

Sunset Beach, Treasure Island — wide, uncrowded, and one of Florida's best-kept secrets. (Taken right across the street from Funshine Sunset Beach.)

Planning a Gulf Coast Florida vacation and can't decide between Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach? You're not alone — it's one of the most common questions we hear from guests. Both are gorgeous, sun-soaked barrier islands on Tampa Bay's doorstep, but they have distinct personalities. Here's your honest, locals-perspective guide to help you choose.

Pack Your Trail Shoes AND Your Beach Towel: The Best State Parks Near Treasure Island, FL

 

Sunset on Fort De Soto

 

This post started with a question from a guest staying at Funshine Pointe Capri who wanted to know where to go to experience Florida's natural side beyond the beach. I had so much to share that a quick text wasn't going to cut it — so I wrote it all up, printed it out, and added it to the in-condo guidebook. Now it's here on the blog too, because if one guest was wondering, plenty more probably are! Treasure Island is famous for its gorgeous Gulf beaches — and you could spend your entire vacation with your toes in the sand and leave perfectly happy. But if you're the kind of traveler who loves to explore beyond the shoreline, you are in serious luck. Some of Florida's most beautiful state parks and nature preserves are right in our backyard, and as a local who has spent years exploring them, I can tell you firsthand — they are absolutely worth a detour. Pack your trail shoes AND your beach towel, because some of these parks give you both.