Best Sandbars Near St. Pete and John's Pass (and How to Get There)

The sandbars around St. Pete Beach and Madeira Beach are some of the best places on Florida's Gulf Coast to spend a day on the water. The water is shallow, clear and warm, so you can anchor, hop off the boat and stand around waist-deep with a drink in your hand while the dolphins cruise past. Here are the spots our captains head to most, what to know before you go, and the easiest way to get there.

1. The sandbars near John's Pass

John's Pass connects Boca Ciega Bay to the Gulf between Madeira Beach and Treasure Island. Sand moves constantly here, and the pass has been filling in for years, which builds shallow bars along the edges. The same thing makes the pass itself tricky: the current runs hard on a changing tide and boat traffic is heavy, especially on weekends.

Because the sand shifts, the best spot changes from month to month. That's why we let our captains pick it on the day. It's a short ride from our Madeira Beach dock at the Cambria Hotel marina, so you spend your time in the water, not getting there.

Best for: groups, birthdays, bachelorette parties and anyone who wants to try the Funship's water slide.

2. Pass-a-Grille

At the southern tip of St. Pete Beach, Pass-a-Grille has sandbars that run along both sides of its channel and well out into the Gulf. They're beautiful at low tide and a real hazard if you don't know where they are. The mouth of Pass-a-Grille is also one of the best places in Florida to watch the sun go down, which is where our sunset cruises end up.

Best for: sunset, couples, and a calmer afternoon.

3. Shell Key Preserve

Just south of Pass-a-Grille, Shell Key is an undeveloped barrier island you can only reach by boat. It has long, empty beaches, great shelling and clear water. There are no docks, so boats anchor offshore and you wade in.

A few things to know before you go:

• The middle of the island is a bird preservation area and is closed to visitors. Stay in the public areas.

• Leave live shells, sand dollars, starfish and crabs where you find them.

• There are no restrooms on the island.

Best for: shelling, families and a quiet beach day. Our Shell Key Island Tour goes here.

4. Egmont Key

Farther out at the mouth of Tampa Bay, Egmont Key is a state park reachable only by boat. You can walk the Fort Dade ruins and snorkel around the old sunken structures, where you'll often see fish, dolphins and sometimes manatees. The south end is a closed bird refuge, and there are no restrooms.

Best for: snorkeling and a bit of history. Our 4-hour Snorkeling Cruise heads to Egmont when the weather allows, with Shell Key as the backup.

Sandbar tips from our captains

• Watch the tide. Low tide uncovers the bars but can leave a boat sitting on the sand. Boaters get stuck out here every summer by not checking the tide tables.

• Never anchor in a channel. Leave room around other boats, since the wind and tide will swing you around.

• Bring sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, plenty of water and snacks. BYOB is welcome on our boats.

• Bringing the dog? Pets are welcome on most trips for a $50 fee.

• Leave no trace. Pack out everything you bring.

The easy way: let a captain drive

Finding the right bar, reading the tide and getting through John's Pass with the current running is the hard part. With a private captained trip, someone who does it every day handles all of that, and your whole group gets to enjoy the day.

• John's Pass Sandbar Boat: 4 hours, up to 10 guests, $595. Add the Sandbar Party Package (water mat plus a cooler with ice) for $70.

• Avalon Funship: our double-decker with a water slide off the top deck, water mat included. 4 hours from Madeira Beach, up to 10 guests, $800.

• Shell Key Island Tour: 4 hours of shelling and swimming at Shell Key, up to 10 guests, $595.

Weekday deal: take $50 off any captained trip Monday to Thursday with code WEEKDAY50 at checkout.

Questions about which sandbar is right for your group? Call or text us at 727-348-8020.

Want a captain to take you? See our John's Pass sandbar boat trips, leaving from Madeira Beach or Gulfport.