Parts Of Pass-A-Grille Beach Closing For Summer

With Memorial Day being the official unofficial start this summer, many people will be heading to the beach. Now, while Pass-a-Grille Beach will be open for Memorial Day weekend. It will be closed for most of the summer. So, Pass-a-Grille Beach suffered major erosion over the past few years. The dunes were restored, but now they want to extend the beach.

Pinellas County is having the work done in two phases. The first phase will be bringing in sand to fill in an area that’s just south of the Hurricane Grill. That is the beach from First Avenue to Ninth Avenue. Additionally, the second phase will use sand to replenish the beach on the north end. They will then close the beach from Ninth Avenue to 22nd Avenue. The whole thing will cost about $6 million and the project will begin June 3 and will end at the earliest in August and the latest in October.

Dr. John Bishop, Pinellas County’s Coastal Management Coordinator, said, "I know it's a major inconvenience. It's going to be because it's construction on the beach, but Pass-a-Grille itself, the businesses here, the community really depend on this beach as a source of tourism, as a source of enjoyment, and a source of nesting ground for the turtles and shorebirds. So, I think it's vital that we put it [sand] back."

I love going to Pass-a-Grille Beach because the walk from your car to get to the sand is short plus the water is not too far away. Also, there is a restaurant called Paradise Grill so if you can get near there, you will have bathrooms to go to, and won’t be too far away from your stuff.

Spanish explorers spotted Pass-a-Grille beach in 1528. There is a local legend that the name comes from the French phrase Passe Aux Grilleurs, which means the passageway of the grillers. It is in honor of the fisherman who camped and first settled on there. It was used as a campground for the fisherman to grill their catch. Pass-a-Grille is part of St. Pete Beach and is recognized as a National Register Historic District.

Taking your family to a beautiful Florida beach can be so much fun and very relaxing. But what kills the fun almost immediately is when you can't find parking anywhere. Driving around in circles only to see that every lot is full can really get you down. But then there's a glimmer of hope when several parking lots where you can pay to park. Paying $5 or even $10 doesn't seem too bad when you have a car full of kids screaming "Are we there yet?" However, the cost of parking at Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach has skyrocketed over the years. If you want to know where the best free or cheap beach parking is look no further.

Our biggest tip for finding free parking at one of the most famous beaches in Tampa Bay is to go early. That might not be ideal if you're traveling from far away but trust us, it's worth it. You're not going to deal with the hassle of fighting for parking with every other family. And if you are fighting for parking the worst part is you'll just be following the same cars from street to street hoping for a spot to open up. Which is unlikely because once you get to the beach you're not leaving for a while. The perfect time to get a free parking spot at the beach arriving between 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. which might seem too early, but you'll thank us later. For all available free beach access in St. Pete click HERE. And if you need to find free beach access in Clearwater click HERE.

Parking prices have gotten outrageously expensive. We've seen reports that some parking prices on holiday weekends like Mother's Day charge as much as $70! One mom was extremely upset about the hike in prices saying, "Don’t go to Madeira beach, they just raised their prices again for parking. I paid $70 to park there on Mother’s Day and it was ridiculous." Again, you can find free parking but that's first come first serve so if you don't want to pay that expensive fee make sure you get there extra early. See our options below for affordable parking in Tampa Bay by scrolling down.

Fort Desoto Beach is absolutely beautiful peaceful beach that's a great option. Last time we went it was anywhere between $5-$8 per car for parking. Either way that's a steal compared to other areas that are charging an arm and a leg.

Entrance to the park is free and parking only costs $5 per day. However, they are closed on certain holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. They open daily at 7 a.m. and close at sunset. Great option for families.

Another option you might like is Honeymoon Island. Last time we went it was only $8 for per car and very relaxing. That is way more affordable than $70 at other beaches. Definitely worth the drive to check it out.

Life hack for you! Park behind the shops, where residents live, there’s always parking, and no one tows. Yes, it’s slightly further of a walk, but it’s really not that far, maybe extra 5 minutes of walking, but it’s free parking.

There's several areas there that are hourly and it only costs $2 an hour. You can find the location on the Parkmobile app. Check before you go are on your way there. Again, get there early.