Pinellas Beaches Quickly Fill To Capacity; Traffic Heavy

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Those thinking of heading to the beach this weekend might want to reconsider their plans.

On Saturday afternoon, Clearwater Police said traffic was backed up across the Memorial Causeway to Fort Harrison Avenue as beach goers attempted to reach Clearwater Beach. Additionally, parking lots at Clearwater Beach are at or nearing capacity.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office's Beach Capacity Dashboard, 13 Clearwater Beach parking lots are now closed and the Hyatt Parking Garage, 3rd Street to Baymont Street lot and North Beach Parking Garage are at 50 percent capacity or more.

Status of other facilities:

• The Morgan Park parking lot on Belleair Beach is closed and the Morgan Park beach access is at 75 percent capacity.
• Honeymoon Island State Park is closed.
• Dunedin Causeway Bridge is experiencing heavy traffic.
• Fort DeSoto Boat Ramp is at 90 percent capacity.
• Fort DeSoto Dog Beach, Dog Park and the parking lot are closed at 3500 Pinellas Bayway S.
• Fort DeSoto North Beach and North Beach parking is also closed.
• Gulfport Beach Recreation Area is at 50 percent capacity.
• The 2nd Avenue, 4th Avenue, 5th Avenue, 18th Avenue and 19th Avenue beach accesses to Indian Rocks Beach are closed but the 6th Avenue, 8th Avenue and 10th Avenues accesses are at 50 percent capacity and the 12th Avenue, 15th Avenue, 21st Avenue, 23rd Avenue, 25th Avenue and 27th Avenue accesses are at 75 percent capacity.
• Pass-A-Grill parking is closed as are the 1st Avenue, 4th Avenue, 7th Avenue, 9th Avenue and 11th Avenue beach accesses.
• Sunset Beach 78th Avenue parking on Treasure Island is full.
• Treasure Island 104th Avenue parking is full.
• The City of St. Pete Municipal Beach is at 75 percent capacity and the municipal beach parking is full.
• Redington Shores County Park beach access is closed and the parking lot is at 70 percent capacity.

Related story: Pinellas Sheriff's Beach Capacity Dashboard Resumes Saturday