Madeira Beach Reviews

We stay in a beach front condo with great views. There are a number of good eating places nearby. There are miles of beach to walk on. There are a couple of "flea Markets" nearby if you are interested

Second time to Madeira Beach, both areas of Madeira were nice beach. We first went 2023 near the north end, and again 2025 at John's Pass. Soft sand, long beach with some shelling. Saw dolphin this year off the waters near John's Pass. You can access Madeira from beach parking lots or resorts. We walked over from John's Pass Parking this time. It was a little tricky due to the sand still being on the side-walk from the Hurricanes. Lots of stores open already, restaurants up and running and fun activities at John's Pass like the Pirate ship and jet skis. There is a public washroom nestled in the stores along street parking area ... didn't know this last time!

I have a friend who lives near here so we went to the beach for the day and really had a great time. We saw dolphins, stingrays, fish, pretty birds and collected some sea shells. The sand was soft and the beach was clean and the water clear and clean. We got there early before it got too busy so we had a parking spots.

Paid parking is available.
Use the PARKMOBILE app or
Parkmobile.io page Duration, License plate and payment method enter

Very quiet, very relaxing. If you want to vacation where there’s no loud music, people partying, this is a great place.

The beach is beautiful here. We had an amazing weekend here. Not one complaint. We will be staying here again for sure.

This place is awesome. Very Relaxing. Looking to retire here. Cannot say enough about the people and everything about the place.

Madeira beach has it all, sun, sand, seashells and shopping.. The beach is wide and the sand does contain shells and small stones becoming more sandy as you go deeper offshore. It’s a white beach but not as white as Clearwater.. what it also has is shops and small boutiques, perfect for a stroll when you want to get out of the heat.

White sandy beach with beautiful sunsets. John's Pass is only 10 minutes away. For a small cost, chairs and umbrellas are provided.

Great beach. It does get crowded. Visited during Memorial Day weekend, and the public parking area was packed. Still room for everyone on the beach :-)

You do not have to walk too far from parking lot (metered) to get to the beach. You can walk for about 30 minutes toward John's Pass or 30+ minutes towards Redington Beach.
There are lots of small shells on the beach as well for those who love shells.

All the beaches are on the Gulf but here you will find it less crowded and flat for walking. Nicely maintained it is my fav for the area.

What a gorgeous white sand beach! This is a gentle slope into the sandy water.
We saw all kinds of birds and manatees! It has plenty of parking and restaurants I the surrounding area

The beach has gorgeous white sand with calm water. Umbrella rental setups are available from private vendors, and there are areas of the beach that are less crowded than in some hot spots.

This is the first time my husband and I have been to the Gulf side of Florida. It was absolutely stunning! The waters were remarkably calm and clear. The beach was soft, white sand. We rented a condo overlooking the beach and watched pelicans and osprey dive the waters for fish. Dolphins would also routinely swim down the coastline, sometimes very close to shore - especially in the morning. Gorgeous beach for families, couples or even just to visit yourself. There's also a trolly and bus system that will take you from Clearwater to Pass a Grille for $5 a day, unlimited stops.

We had a wonderful day and made it out to the sandbar. We saw dolphins and a huge manna ray in the water. Plenty of room so you aren’t on top of strangers ! Love this area of the beach....good fun!

My family and I usually visit Madeira Beach 1 time per year, and we always regret not extending our trip. The beach is a place where you can get 5 star service, or can just go for a quick beach day and enjoy other activities, like dining, boating/tubing, and shopping, etc. Great beach town overall!

Great sand and short walk to the water nd the parking lot if you can get in is right on the beach. But bring your lounger and umbrella or they hit you up for $30 a day to rent. Save your thirst for Hooters which is right across the street

Gorgeous beach! There are a couple of great spots to stop to watch the sunset with public parking and a spot with chairs and umbrellas for rent. Had to get out of the snow for a few days & found great airfare to fly into Tampa on a new airline called Breeze. Wasn't too bad getting from the airport to the beach. John's Pass was a fun place to walk around for a little bit to see the boats, eat & shop. It was a slower pace than Clearwater Beach, which we enjoyed. On the beach you can drive all the way North to Clearwater Beach and South to Pass-A-Grill Beach. As long as the snow keeps blowing we will be hopping flights down here and we will be back to Mad Beach.

Beach is nice but dont go to St Johns Pass! The parking lots make alot of profit there, charging $15-$30 an hour! You wont be able to enjoy any shopping due to the time and financial restraint of the parking. Alot of people got back in their cars and left due to the parking fees.

What a fantastic Beach - I have been to many beaches in many different countries - But this remains one of my favourites - Always something going on and lots of things to do! But if you wanted just to have a relaxing day at the beach - This is also the place to be... Large enough to do your own thing - or join in on many of the activities that are going on!

We stayed 2 weeks. The beach was wonderful, the town was a little boring with a lot of traffic. The boardwalk area was really nothing special. If you are looking for a very quiet beach vacation and are an older person this area might suit you.

This is a great beach located at John's Pass. You can watch all the boats come in and out. There is also fishing right from the beach.

This is an excellent little stop off on a road trip... we stopped here for an evening walk along beautiful white sands with clear water and fish! We could actually see the fish! Beautiful beach to stop and watch the sun set...

There are a lot of private residences and condos that are oceanfront, so it is not easy to get onto the beach. We had to park across the street, cross the busy road, and then find the beach access point. Indian Rocks which is farther up the road is less crowded and has free parking.

Lovely clean beach watch the pelicans swooping into the sea.
Fabulous experience take a picnic and enjoy the experience

We started our day with yoga and stretching, then walked a comfortable two miles up the beach. We came back a little later with time to watch the sunset. It was a great way to spend a weekend!

The beach is beautiful and the ocean was a great temperature in June. Parking is hard to find though.

Absolutely stunning place. Introduced the family. Highly recommend the sunset and sunrise walks, as you feel the calmness of the sea, warmth of the sun, as you walk on the soft sands, whilst watching the dolphins play.

The sand....what a beach SHOULD be!
Some of the most beautiful and enjoyable beaches anywhere.
The water is clear and the beaches clean.
Access and parking can be a challenge but the effort is worth it.
Plenty of nearby dining/drink establishments all along Gulf Blvd.

Great beach, smaller crowds and close to many restaurants and shopping. Very white sand and well kept.

Parking in a private lot will cost you 30 dollars plus.

You need to find Madeira beach city parking to get a reasonable rate.

The private lots thst will charge you 32.00dollars while you eat at a restaurant for 1.5 hours are going to kill Madeira beach vendors when they need the business most.
I refuse to do it
There is a line crossed from annoyance to offensive.

I wish their was a way to put the private lots out of business.

You are better off at Pass a grille beach or Dunedin beach. Maybe Anna Maria Island if your south. Cocoa beach is good to the east.

I used to spend a lot of time in Madeira.

All the Gulf beaches are great, but Madeira can be a bit crowded. I prefer the barrier islands south of here.

We really enjoyed this beach. It is very clean and has easy access. It is also not as busy as some of the more well known beaches.
A tip is to book your cabana a day ahead as they will be full by 9:30 or at least go down early and claim one by putting your towels etc. on them. They will be by the area over hour or so and will collect payment.

It's a great beach, but the lounge chairs at Snack Shack take up all the good spots making you feel like you MUST rent one. No bueno.

Madeira Beach sand is white and pretty. If you would like a slower pace beach and nice condo’s to lease and great hotels on the beach, it’s a nice place to go. We rented a car and drove to all the quaint towns along the peninsula.

Pro’s and con’s so you know. Spent one week in July. Not a regular to the area. Review based on week we were there.
Beach: Great white sand that is clean. Tractor came by each day and pulled a machine that filtered the sand. He did not go by and pick up the line of seaweed along the shore.
Shopping: Nice shopping and restaurants nearby (St. John’s Pass).
Safety: Never felt unsafe.
Patrons: mixture of nice families, but also a heaping dose of those with no consideration of others.
-Is not a relaxing beach. There was always (yes, always) someone on the beach, at the pool, or on a balcony that was blaring their music. This was annoying. It didn’t matter if it was country, rock, or rap (with inappropriate lyrics around children), it was blaring. Along with sharing their music, they shared their aroma of pot smoking.
-Beach lined with canopy tents that took up a large space and visually unappealing. Some even connected 2 or 3 together.
-Adults and teens that yell to each other, f…this and f…that, with no regard to small children playing around them on the beach. My kids are now teenagers, so didn’t bother me. Just know, if you have small children you’ll be putting up with it.
Jet skis that go along the beach. You can hear them, but far enough out that it is really not that bad. Buoys are in the water for boats and jet skis to keep away from shore.
Overall, If your looking for nice relaxing beach, you’ll need to spend extra to go to a more luxury area. For the cheaper cost, is not that bad and worth going to.
For those that would prefer less congestion and relaxing, we drove up to Indian shores to eat at Crabby Bill’s (was great seafood), may suit you better. Much nicer and upscale homes and condos. If you have teenagers, they will probably like Madeira beach where they can cross the road and go over to the shops at St. John’s pass.
Hope this provides information to help with making your vacation plans.

Paid for parking through the app, my mistake I paid it under one of my other vehicles listed. was unaware until we received a $70 dollar ticket in the mail two weeks later . stared as $40 turned into $70 . 75% increase which is RIDICULAS!

Come on Madeira BE BETTER ripping of family's is NOT cool. GREED at its finest

I've always loved this beach. Here on vacation with kids. We are enjoying ourselves immensely. Come visit and enjoy the sunshine and friendly atmosphere.

Visited on new year's day and had a lovely day water is a little cold this time of year but the weather was lovely beautiful white sandy beach with plenty of space

Very pretty beach! Very wide, is nice and clean with beautiful white sand. Was here for Spring Break time and was a bit worried about that but very pleasant and quiet which was very nice.

One of best beaches in Florida, I must say Madeira beach is one of clean beaches and safe to enjoy our holiday vacation.

Many more years to come, it will be more popular beaches in Florida because of locally John pass boardwalk and some nice cafes you can make a visit to.

Please if you are planning to come to this beach, it will be worth it for yourself and family, friends to have their holidays vacation!

Friendly locally people are always welcome and happy in Madeira Beach.

Luckily whole of community did absolutely fantastic job to quick clean up operation after hurricane last year, they are slowly improving even better, make it even more improvement!

I’m from United Kingdom, Epsom Surrey. 🇬🇧

This is second time I’ve enjoyed my vacation in Madeira!

This beach is perfect for families. It wasn’t very crowded, and we saw dolphins several days the week we visited. We also found huge seashells, sand dollars, and even some shark teeth. Most of the time the water was pretty calm which was nice. This was the second time we’ve stayed in this area and will definitely be back to visit.

Great beach to spread out and relax. Nice white sand and some shells to collect. Good to swim and waterways clear. Nothing spectacular but not overly crowded and more low key. Very clean restrooms and the typical parking meters.

I stayed at a hotel on the beach over Memorial Day Weekend, gorgeous clean beach. I will be back!! Beautiful sunsets and the water was warm. Rented jet skis and rode the coastline.

Beautiful beach is a beautiful area the water is great and the waves are not too large to enjoy The beach is well-maintained not overly populated with lots of shells. We walked a mile or so down the beach each morning just to enjoy the sunrise. Parking available but be prepared to pay an hourly rate. Several cafe or restaurant options are within walking distance

Came out here for the afternoon on a Saturday and it was so calm and beautiful. Maybe because it was January but it was midday on a Saturday and not crowded AT ALL. We just took a stroll down and back in the surf but there was plenty of room to lay out or do whatever in the sand if we had wanted. There were a couple people laying out tanning, a kid or two playing in the water, and tons of birds hanging out. Definitely a different type of beach visit than what I'm used to in the Pacific Northwest.

Girl’s get away! Madeira Beach is beautiful. The surf was rough upon arrival but settled out during our stay. The water is amazing.

We ware on the holiday trip around the Florida. This beach was one of the best. There ware more place to paid parking the car. The beach was cleaned every day. We visited the beach for five times. We enjoyd this place very much.

Beautiful white sand beach. It is not crowded. Great shopping and eating. John's Pass is great for water excursions.

Don't miss the food and shops at John's Pass Village. Between the beach, bars, and dining choices, this is a great destination.

My family and I spent a week on Madiera Beach in late March 2021. Even though it is spring break, it was a nice, family atmosphere on the beach. There were no large, loud, or annoying crowds. The water is a bit cold for any, but the bravest few that went in. However, the beach is still nice this time of year and we took lots of walks on the never-ending beach.

One of the best views in Florida. Beautiful beach and a lot to do, having a boat or jets key, eating your meal or having a drink on the beautiful gulf coast. Lot of gift shops too. We loved it and will go there again. It’s for all ages. Recommended to try.

We rented a condo right on the beach. The sand is perfect. The water was great. Not really any waves at this beach to play in but great swimming and playing. Not many people around, like having a private beach.

If you want a small beach with easy access to parking and restaurant's, Madeira Beach is one of the many options along the west cost of FL to visit. As a Polk county resident we come here quite often for a quick trip!

Madeira Beach is a gem. Clearwater Beach is so over rated. No crowds, flat beach, white sands, walking distance to John's Pass and Hotels.

Had never been to Madeira Beach prior but will return. My in laws who live in Florida had also never been before but it is now their favorite beach. Soft sand, very clean, clear and calm water...easily walkable for long distances and many cabanas and chairs available for rent. Beautiful sunsets!

I will be returning to this beautiful place. People are friendly and I found the beaches beautiful and well kept. Families were out having a good time and the beaches were very clean.

Madeira beach was very nice in July 2024. We visited for a week and found it to be well cared for and easily accessible, maintained. We loved the stops we made to eat and watch the waves roll in. Thanks Madeira beach!!

This is one of my favorite beach to visit when I’m in Florida. Very relaxing. A lot of great local hang outs.

Relaxing beach with plenty of amenities. Snack shack has food and drinks at your disposal and the boys from saltwater destinations have your chair and umbrella rentals soon as you get on the beach at an affordable rate.

The City of Madeira Beach seems to be making some extra revenue off of it's visitors from ticketing them for parking violations. Be very careful and look for signs saying you have to pay to park. They're not always easy to spot. I live in Florida and I'm totally disgusted with what they are doing not only to the locals but to our visitors from other states. They claim that parking signs are posted yet in many cases, unless someone points them out to you, you don't know they are there. Then you wind up paying parking fees that can amount up to as much as $40! Just for a few hours of parking. There are plenty of other beautiful cities on the West Coast other than this one and they have nice beachfront restaurants, cute shops AND free parking!

Our honeymoon hotel was directly on the beach, so we had the benefit of not struggling to find a public access. It was the end of tourist season from what we were told, but the beach was practically ours for 5 days. (Sometimes handful of other couples or a family with a few small children)
The beach itself was clean, and the water was still warm in late October. We recommend this beach over st. Pete if you're looking for quiet.

The beach is good for walking and across the road from John's Pass Village & Boardwalk. It is a great beach to see dolfins. We saw them playing close gotbthe shore.

The beach is cleaned and groomed. You can rent chaise loungers and umbrellas/ cabanas for the day! Which is a must!!!!

Our first time to this area and we loved it. So much to do and easy to get around. Beach is clean. Can't wait to go back

Worst bartenders ever!!! First time I went the guy bartenders were fixated on a girl who was dancing on the bar a 2pm (saw her pants in the bathroom unclaimed)

Went back later in the day, and the bartenders who were completely horrible, served us and then 15 minutes later, took our drinks

;’totally horrible serice, unfortunately greate location

Please stay away from Madeira Beach one of the nicest most beautiful beaches on the Gulf and has so much to do around it you need to stay a few days. From Great restaurants to Sports Bars and Johns Pass nearby you need to stay a few days to really enjoy. If I don't say stay away you will all come down and there won't be space for me on the beach.

Such a wonderful place, enjoy beachcomber finding shells. Feed the seagulls, and catch some sunshine.

Wow, Madeira you are beautiful! Whenever you have the chance to visit this beautiful beach be sure to stay for the sunset. Water is clean and clear. We stayed in Madeira Beach at the end of March 2019. We really enjoyed the beach, shops, deep-sea fishing and restaurants. Till we meet again...

Used the access and parking next to Caddys, a blue building near the center of Madiera beach.....The parking is limited to about a dozen cars and the fee is either pay at the kiosk or the Parkmobile app...It about $3.75 per hour...The water is close to the beach and the sand is soft white and very little walking is needed between the parking lot and the water....It has a vey clean bathroom setup with man, women, and handicap facilities that were spotless for the 10days we were there....There is also a high and low shower to get the sand off....We found it to be spacious except for Saturday and Sunday, when it was crowded, but hardly anyone in the water most of the time

Beautiful beaches and a great selection of restaurants, coffee spots and local shops. This is a nice slower paced beach town where you can relax.

This is the best spot for some amazing sunsets. Rjght across from Johns Pass is a great viewing spot. This beach has beautiful white sand thst is cool to the touch. They also have all the amenities you need for a great day at the beach. Fishing is also available.

Walked along the sand really nice beach with lovely sunrise, quite a few people on the beach. Beach clean and tidy.

Beach was well maintained. Felt very safe here. Nice breeze. Water was about knee high about 30 feet out into the ocean. Not crowded.

My personal first visit to Florida and to the sea. This place is my new heaven on earth!

While I was in the sea enjoying the water, a baby dolphin swam nearby and as we walked along the shoreline just before dawn on our last day, we witnessed the green glow of a jelly fish near the surface and quite close to the shoreline as well. This was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen!

Loved the white sand. Was fluffy and soft (not like the beach 5-10 minutes away where the sand was hard). Lots of people at the middle of the beach but the beach is long enough where you can walk a little further to have a quieter spot. Water was very cold (we went in mid-Feb) so no one was swimming but the weather was nice and lots of people tanning. Water was also a little dirty, it seems a combo of waves picking up the sand and also a little garbage or shells. I am not sure if this would be the case in warmer weather. Parking is $2.50/hr and it fills up quick, but you can also park across the street next to the CVS. There is a shack restaurant/pub also on the beach, and also a volleyball court.

I’ve been going to madeira Beach since I was a little girl and I still go. Beautiful beaches! Great place to go and kick back and enjoy the sun,sand and water

Nice area for couples or families. Easy beachfront access whether staying on ocean side or across the street. Great variety of restaurants to select from and a few night life spots too.

This is a very nice beach area with clean raked white sand. There is some areas where the sand has some ground up shells. The water was clean and little seaweed while we were there. In early November it was not crowded. The drive into the area is nice and well maintained. We would recommend this to couples of any age or families with kids.

After reading a few reviews we decided to take a chance and go to Madeira Beach in Florida. It was lovely! Very clean and quiet compared to other beaches packed with tourists. The sand was soft and white, the water was warm and calm. My daughter was playing with the fish and I wasn’t worried about the kids being too far in the water or any undercurrents. It was super easy to get to and parking was pretty inexpensive. It was $2.50 per hour. If we come back to Florida that is definitely a beach we would pick again.

Stunning at night! The water is clean, the sand is soft and the atmosphere fills your spirit. It’s right by a beautiful boardwalk in Johns Pass and a great place to visit. Much love for this place.

Love Madeira Beach! It’s so relaxing and beautiful. So many great shops and places to it. It really is a great place to unwind.

We sat underneath the restaurant at the lower level bar. It's out of the sun, the breeze is warm and pleasant and there's a beach view. We ordered nachos which were "different" with cheese whiz type sauce and BBQ sauce, didn't love them. The drinks were pricey but good.

Madeira Beach, Clearwater Beach and points in between is the laid back relaxed beach lifestyle that makes for a relaxing recharging holiday. Flip flops, shorts, beach hat, sand and sun are the simple things that you can enjoy. No hustle or bustle. Wonderful warm sunsets. I recommended this for anyone who wants to chill.

Soft sand, clear water, plentiful lodging options, great fun. Can't wait to go back and make more memories!

hotels too expensive can't afford to stay and shop. Restraunrs also just to expensive. Just went to the beach and left.

Stopped by here for an afternoon with the family young nieces and nephews. Lots of shopping and good restaurants to choose from. Can go deep sea fishing or just relax by the beach. We had a really good time here well worth the visit.

Stopped to enjoy the sand and relax. Nice, quiet beach with outdoor bathrooms and chairs and tent/igloo thingies to rent. Beautiful spot.

My wife and I have been coming here for 9 years straight as of the writing of this review. We love the area. Safe, clean and not a big party spot. It gets a bit busy during certain times of the year but even when its the 'busy' season it's not overcrowded.
The local food and shopping are great. Plenty of pharmacies, gas stations, grocery store and retail outlets around and not far to drive to. Plenty to see and do. Orlando and Tampa are a 40 or so minute drive away. The beaches are beautiful and clean.

Excellent beach vacation destination. Close to everything, yet away from the busy city. Easy drive up and down the coast. Will visit again!!!

Quiet with lots of locals! White warm sand, clear water, dolphins, sea turtles and an occasional shark. I am thrilled to call Madiera Beach home!

No signs saying you have to pay 1st
Which does not make sense...how dp you know how long you will be there

Myself / wifeI parked and walked around 1.5 hrs
When we came back somebody said you had to pay to park
so they pointed out the machine and i paid my 6 .00 for 2 hrs
as i was driving away i had a ticket in my wiper blade i found

I sent the police department a very nice Email stating that i paid it after we came back and said please call me...which they did
but they would not remove the ticket
They gave me a 60.00 ticket for spending my money in there town
plus is was my 63rd Birthday that day
The man i was talking to about it said funny with administration fee it will be 63.00 Total

Maderia Beach..............Ticketing to make money

We will never Return !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael Powers

The location is perfect but Unit 404 needs several improvements. Sloppy, cheap work has been done in this condo unit. Loose electric outlets, ceiling fan not working, open electric outlet on balcony, bathroom light makes musical tone when turned on, shower does not tight so water gets on floor. Could go on.

This is a lovely clean, wide beach with good facilities like rest rooms, shop, ice cream and a good beach bar. You can hire chairs, beds and umbrellas on the beach too.
Another great place to watch the Florida sunset.

Wonderful beach that stretches very far. Me and the wife were there a holiday on our honeymoon and we are very pleased. Was a great atmosphere with people fishing and some had pitched beach tents where they were with their families and drank beer. Can warmly recommend this beach! Don't forget the sunscreen.

My husband and I were visiting relatives and re-visited one of my favorite spots. This picture is a great representation of the experience. Parking anywhere near the beaches in Florida can be a challenge but always worth the time.

Nice wide beach area for walking, sunning, playing. Many good restaurants available. Shopping could be better - many touristy junky stores. Great sunsets.

Madeira Beach and John's Pass area can't be beat when it comes to affordable and convenient fun on the Gulf Coast! Great amenities and easy access to all the attractions in the Tampa Bay area.

Spent our first vacation there this year! Love the beach and so much less crowded than beaches on the panhandle!

Such a perfect day. A beautiful beach with white sugar sand. Not crowded and able to walk easily and search for shells. The boardwalk was a bit crowded and lively. Great choice of restaurants and food.

I think Madeira Beach is a lovely place even when it’s a cold winter day! We walked in the sand and allowed the water to splash across our feet. We enjoyed the quietness and the birds. We were able to clean our feet in a nearby restroom before heading to a nearby restaurant. Madeira Beach is very nice!

Stayed in this area with my adult family as I was advised there were lots of restaurants and bars within walking distance, what we didn't appreciate was that a lot of these places would be closed on an evening so we were limited with our choices and drove out if the area for the majority of the trip.The area does appear to be a little run down however I do appreciate we visited out of season when the atmosphere is probably very different. The beach is absolutely beautiful with lots of day time activities such as boat trips for drinking, eating, fishing or dolphin watching. We visited a few of the bars and cafes for a drink and lunch and they were pleasant enough but each place just seemed to repeat the same menu. All in all a fantastic place to visit in the daytime but perhaps stick to weekend evenings only while out of season.

My husband and I took a last minute trip to Florida to join my parents on Madeira Beach. Our experience was incredible. We stayed in a two bedroom, two bath condo right on the beach. Within walking distance both directions we found activities (adults, kids and teens), shopping, restaurants and bars. The beach was absolutely beautiful so we did most of our walking in the surf. This area is highly recommended for couples, groups and families with kids of all ages!

This is a nice public beach that is part of a long sandy stretch from St Petes Beach all the way to Clearwater.
The sncak shop is very good value ($1 for a soda/soft drink).
However, car parking is ridicously expensive as indeed it is for the whole area.

Our BnB is a 5 minute walk from the public access, so we have gone 2-3x a day all week. Clean quiet beautiful beach

People are all nice sand is clean. Great place to spend time. Perfect sunset ( just pull up a chair)

Get there a little early and grab your beach access spot off golf Boulevard. Reasonable to park on the 250 an hour. Beautiful white sand beach perfect for families and relaxing in the sun. This is what you came to Florida for, a beautiful beach just like this!

Parking is a nightmare! First, to find a place; then to find the rules, payment machines and parking attendants that hover like they are paid on commission. Recommend you do not drive here, or try to park here. They can give you a parking ticket while you are trying to figure out the payment kiosk. I will not go back. There are better beaches, friendlier people and systems in Clearwater.

We just came back from a week at Madeira Beach. The beach itself is very clean. It is groomed each morning. The sand near the water is pretty firm - perfect for taking long walks. There's a great view of sunset from the beach. What more can I say - clean sand, sun, and a light surf. Enjoy.

Love this beach nestled along the St.Petersburg Beach area. The best part was the $5 lounge chairs to rent from a small business run two brothers and a friend. Great guys and so friendly. I told them they should charge more! Great May visit. Weather was wonderful too!

Pretty soft white sand well taken care of..no rubbishy, lots of beautiful birds! The water is clear greenish with a very slow descent from sand to water not an abrupt drop off. Able to walk on the beach for long time. Lots of places to stop on the beach and lots of chairs for rent.

Maderia Beach is a very nice beach - lots of sand by the water for long walks. There are usually a fair amount of people, but it never seems crowded nor is there loud music. You can enjoy a very nice walk on the beach for miles.

Soft white sand beneath my feet and turquoise waters in my sight made for the perfect Beach day. We stayed at a hotel near by which had shuttle service to the beach so we didn't have to pay the $2.50 per hour parking fee. Lots are small and fill up by mid-day. Our shuttle dropped us off at the Snack Shack which is an excellent location. They have a variety of food options and a nice patio to sit, eat and enjoy the view. Food options a bit pricey but my quesadillas were delicious! Right by the Snack Shack you can rent chairs and Umbrellas from either Tyler or Thomas. They are brothers and they are super friendly and nice and knowledgeable about the area. We felt $20 was reasonable for 2 lounge chairs and an umbrella. They even set them up for you wherever you want. Throughout the day they would check in and see that everything was still ok. The gulf water is "bathwater" warm but a little on the murky side. I like clear water where I can see what's swimming by my feet! When the tide is lower you can swim out to a sandbar which is full of sand dollars. We would pick them up and let them sink back down into the sand. The big reason I gave this beach 5 stars is there are public restrooms by the Snack Shack that were clean and had flushable toilets and sinks with running water. So nice when you spend hours enjoying the beach. Not very crowded when we were there mid-week. Enjoyed listening to the locals that come everyday. Bring a lot of water and sunscreen and enjoy! We did so much we abandoned our plans for the following day and went back.

Is a very good place to walk, the pier is awesome. We can see all activities The food is very ugly and expensive.

An unexpected treat, with a walk along the beach and dunes, lots of sea birds and people fishing. Less crowded than many places.

We love walking the beach and found this beach to be one of the best we've visited for walking. The sand is firm and flat so no awkward angles or difficulty going for long distances. Also, thr city provides chairs and umbrellas for a cost, which is a very very nice option, especially for people who fly into the area. We look forward to returning to this area. Lots of options for dining and felt very safe walking along the sidewalk at night to John's Pass.

Parking fees takes all the fun out of any beach access along Madeira and St. Petersburg beaches. You cannot even go and enjoy a sunset without having to pay a fee just to walk on the beach.

The beach is nice but the parking fees are not. This whole area was a one and done for us.

Made multiple visits during our stay. Watched the sun go down, beach wasn't busy and had most if it to ourselves.

As we only stopped here for sunset on the beach pictures but it was a nice finish to our day of Gulf Coast Beach tours. We plan on picking up from this point on with our next trip to the Gulf Coast.

We went to the beach with the intentions of going to the shops at John's Pass later. That later was the next day. Everyone loved the beach and the water. We used plenty of sunblock. Thanks for your concern.

Lots to see and do. You can look around and just go where the wind takes you - or plan a few outings. There is so much that you can do, Very friendly people, laid pack vibe!

Madeira Beach is absolutely beautiful and a fun place to visit. There is so much to do in that area for families. We spent hours at the beach, and then went to John's Pass, where there are shops and restaurants everywhere.

Beautiful, peaceful beach without the busy-ness of Daytona or Clearwater! Sunsets and sunrises are amazing!

Beautiful wide beach with fine white sand. Both the sunrise and sunset are amazing on the beach. You can book a sunset tour at Johns Pass or walk along the water for miles.

Came with 2 buses for a day at the beach. Because of red tide and dead fish left after only a couple of hours. Before we left our homes, we checked with the city about the condition and they said red tide was low and never told us about the tons of dead fish on the beach. Even people with out lung problems were having problems. Bad experience.
No one could go into the water because of the dead fish.

Lovely beach with clear water! Rental chairs with/without umbrellas are available.
Many shells to choose from in the morning! Quite an adventure collecting all the sea treasures! There are snacks shops/restaurants along Gulf Boulevard if hungry...

DEAD fish , birds, dolphin, manatee. Water is brown with seaweed filled with rotten smelly dead things. Coughing, stinging eyes. Who wants to swim in that? Millions of toxic gallons of sludge dumped into Tampa Bay from Piney Point like it would do nothing to our waters!

I came to the beach just for the day from Orlando. It look 1 hr 45 min. I parked in public parking which cost $2 per hour. There were beach chairs and umbrellas for rental which cost $8 for one chair or $15 for two. I did rent a chair along the water.
The beach sand is typical sand but not the white fine sand you find at Ft Myers. There was a lot of sea weed floating in. The beach is ok for walking and you can go a long way along the shore. But, for walking it still does not beat Ft Myers beach for walking either.
All in all it was a good day. But, for beaches, you can’t beat my favorite Ft Myers.

This beach is nice because it’s closer to the water than, so if your carrying lots of equipment it’s not to hard of journey. We stayed at hotel near so it was an easy walk already. We discovered it is easier to take less stuff to carry and hit local restaurants by walking up the beach, or even Redington beach next to it. The sand is as great as the breeze and so far the restaurants all are good.

Resorts are open, Beach is great! Not too crowded and people are distancing. Water is great. Some Restaurants are open for the most part but service is limited. Tip well, staff has been out of work.

Parking in John's Pass is a rip off. The meters are confusing and force you to pay in advance as opposed to entering a credit card number and then paying at the end like most metropolitan areas. I was not the only "victim" as there were several other people who made the same mistake with these meters. The parking tickets are NOT $25. They are $28.50 unless you mail a check to them due to the $3.50 "convenience fee". This ridiculous system left a bad taste in my mouth and I will not be back. The amount of revenue this community reaps from tourists should be enough without gouging folks with a confusing parking system. Shame on you!

Love the white sand and warm gulf water. Our favorite vacation spot. A week just isn't long enough and I am ready for our next trip!

Obsessed with all things Madeira after our last visit. From food to sand, it’s all great.
The Sweet Brewnette was our favorite place to eat while visiting in this area. My daughter was obsessed with the pancakes , I loved the ham sub and the delicious Cinnamon Toast Crunch coffee.
Beaches were super clean , not crowded , tons of shops and places to eat.

Great beach. Not very crowded and very clean. The water was clear. The patrol took good care of the beach. Very relaxing.

Madeira beach is one of our favorites! When we can, we prefer getting to the beach early for sunrise and longer times to beat the heat. It was clean, relaxing, and offered something for the entire family!! There a few shells for the kids that like to take their nets and quickly swoop up a nice find. The up and coming young anglers have the option of fishing from the bank or the pier. With the youngest in puddle jumpers, being coached by the adults, the inner child of the parents could still be found relaxing in the water, gently moved by the refreshing, salty waves. It was fun, cozy, and just right for our crew. What a day!

I’ve been coming to this beach for over 20 years. It’s a dream. Beach is clean, lots of parking, tons of places to eat and shop.

Decided to change it up a little and went to Madeira Beach. This is a much smaller beach, but still beautiful. The only thing I didn't like was the umbrella/lounger rental guy had so much of the beach taken up with his stuff. we found a small spot in between, but there wasn't much. felt like you had to use his things, but I suppose you can ask for it to be taken away?

Very nice beach to walk on, no matter what time of day- very clean beach-picked handful of shells(always looking for something different) saw dolphins every day!!

Beach is always on the quiet side with plenty of room to set down a blanket and watch the kids play.

Nice beach, with bathrooms and umbrellas/ chairs for rent. We were able to collect some pretty shells and our 5 yr. old had great time on this beach. Parking is paid :(
No food, snacks or drinks so come prepared!

got a parking ticket after I have already paid IN advance at pay station . Taken most of day to get this resolved .Feel like they are taking advantage of tourist

This beach was clean and parking was cheap which we like. We enjoyed the water and the sun. We will definitely be back!

Beautiful wide beach with almost white sand, with a relax friendly vibe.
M
Not too many people on the beach in May.
Walked to many restaurants and attractions at John's Pass

The public beaches are very well kept but the private beaches could use some help with clean up. All in all it's a great beach that isn't over crowded.

Beautiful beach. johns pass was a fun way to spend the day. Great spot to watch the sunset and lots of dolphins in the pass.

Lovely beach with the softest white sand I've experienced in America. No parking available nearby but it was just a brief walk from the Airbnb we were staying in. This is a casual and comfortable beach with walkers and families. We had a big group with ages 5 to 70 and everyone enjoyed the peace and beauty of this beach. No fee to enter.

Husband, daughter, son-in-Law and I celebrated husband’s 80th birthday. We all love Madeira Beach and Treasure Island and off we went. Weather was perfect, water was cold, and food outstanding. Stayed at Beach Place Condo. Finding the registration desk and parking was tricky. Found a guest walking around and got the scoop. Staff and guests were friendly and helpful. E joyed the week and will book again. We took the sunset tiki boat ride and enjoyed the evening and our captain.

My wife and I have stayed at this resort for the past 15years You are near enough to Tampa to visit Bush Gardens andTampa itself, plenty of restaurants bars and superkets in Madiera Beach, there is three shopping
malls a short drive away .The beach is cleand every morning once, you have been there i thing you will want to return.

The sheriffs' drive by a couple of times a week and they rake the beach during the week to keep trash down. Plenty of chair set-ups to rent. Easy beach access and parking.

Average beach with soft sand, few shells, public parking, a snack shack, restrooms, & wash stations. We had to circle the lot before finding a spot. It was $3/hour to park. There were lots of people, but it was not uncomfortably crowded. Nice spot to walk along the surf and take in the sunset.

Spent the day on Madeira Beach basking in the sun and enjoying the water. Our little one had fun building sand castles and playing in the water.

We love Madeira Beach! You can watch beautiful sunsets! It’s a safe, clean beach that is great for all ages. There are public washrooms available near the Snack Shack and parking lot.

Madeira beach is so darn beautiful. The ocean breese feels amazing, the beach is very clean & the water is so warm. This is a great place to relax.

How about getting a parking ticket for $90 to find out not your car not your tag and they still want you to pay it. Even if you stay away I have no idea how they get your name and address even if you were not there. I guess the third party company involved for collecting is just pulling info from local databases and ramdomly sending tickets in the mail to seem efficient.

We are simi local, we live about an hour away. But we like to get out of the house sometimes and look around. We came across this beach and we love it, there is a nice parking lot with bathrooms. There is also a resturant that is pretty good with all types of food and drinks.

We visited just when things were opening back up. Locals were friendly and the beaches are great. Nice laid back town.

Wow, Madeira you are beautiful! Whenever you have the chance to visit this beautiful beach be sure to stay for the sunset. Facing due west, the beautiful Gulf of Mexico calmly laps the shore along Madeira and the sky explodes in color.

From lights purples to dark burning reds and oranges it truly is a sight to behold. By day the beach is equally as enticing. White sand, gentle waves (usually), and warm waters grey every visitor.

It really is a great option for families with small children. The waves are relatively calm and learning to safely enjoy the warm water should be easy. We highly encourage you to check out Madeira Beach if you’re near Tampa. Enjoy!

Another great beach on the gulf. Direct access from John's Pass, the beach is well maintained and not too busy during the week. Large parking lot with showers and restrooms is available.

As always, the beach was awesome! Clean and just plain beautiful! The people on the beach were nice and friendly.

Enjoyed our time in this area. Especially liked walking around Johns Pass village and having lunch in the restaurants . The beach was lovely and clean, and the parking was for a fee but not too expensive for a quick visit.

The beach is fantastic. Soft white sand and nice but not huge waves. Not a ton of people either which is a huge bonus. Looking forward to our next time back

The beach itself is nice for spending few hours, a nice sand, not too many people, some amenities around. ~$2.5 an hour for parking sucks though, but you can park in the R.O.C. area and walk for 5 minutes to the beach.

I would have given it 5 stars but I don't want any more tourists down here! The sand is soft & white with some good restaurants, bars & shopping. Take a tour of John's Pass on the floating Tiki Bar or go parasailing & see what creatures are in the water you were just splashing in. There is beach yoga or just enjoy the sound of the ocean & the gulls. PLEASE PICK UP AFTER YOURSELF as there are trash & recycle bins everywhere. Please note...this is not a dog friendly beach so leave Fido at home where he belongs! Parking is a little pricey but there are lots everywhere.

By far the best place I have ever been.lovely beach,nice places to eat and just chill.we did a trip out on the sunset cruise which was lots of fun,watched the dolphins playing and drinking free beer-what more could you ask for?

Beautiful Beach...... Great time with easy access to bars, restaurants, coffee and gift shops. We loved it there and can't wait to go back next year!

This is NOT a shelling beach! Nice beach, yes, soft sand beach yes. Don't come here for an abundance of shells.

A good beach for families with kids because of the long shallow shoreline. Saw dolphins, sting rays and even a huge manatee all in one day!

We usually stay in st Pete/clearwater area. This time we went down to madiera beach which was quieter. No crowds on the beach which is what we were looking for. we will be back again. Condo on the Gulf was very reasonable too.

We love this beach. It wasn’t too crowded and the white sand is wonderful. I had never visited the gulf coast until a few years ago. The sunsets along the gulf coast are amazing!

Why haven’t I been here before now? My family had a great visit. The beach was clean and not crowded. We literally swam with the dolphins one visit. This is our new “go to” beach for future beach vacations!

One of the best parts is waking up every morning and having a cup of coffee out on the Balcony overlooking the beach & ocean!

We stayed in Madeira Beach in mid-February 2019. Thoroughly enjoyed the beach, shops, and restaurants. This is one of those places where you can do as much or as little as you want. There are some really good restaurants and attractions in the area. Of course John’s Pass Village Boardwalk is a must see.

One of our favorite beaches on the west coast of Florida. So relaxing and things to do in the are if you are so inclined.

While visiting Tampa we decided to spend the day in the beach. Clearwater was the perfect choice. We drove for about an hour enjoying the beautiful scenery and then we found Madeira Beach. There we found a village called John's Pass. They had seafood restaurants, gifts shops. We spent the afternoon having lunch sitting by the bay at a place called Sculleys.. Food was delicious. Later we went on a bay cruise, dolphin watching...perfect day.. Place is a great place to spend the day with family, friends.

A really wonderful, and clean beach to visit. Not too crowded during the week. Beautiful water and sunswth views.

Have stayed here twice in February. Very nice white sandy beach. Great restaurants along Gulf Blvd and on Johns Pass Boardwalk. Lots of shops. Very walkable location. Pedestrian crosswalks all over.

Beautiful fine white sand and not very busy. Deckchairs for rent. Parking was $2.50 per hour. Refreshments available.

Madeira Beach is a beautiful beach for walking and enjoying the ocean. Beach is kept clean. Chair, umbrellas, and cabanas are available for rent.

Hung out here after walking John's pass. Talcum powder sand and ample parking. Very nice beach with fishing piers at the end. Worth a stop. Interesting to watch the bridge go up a down letting boats pass.

We've visited Mad Beach for 4 yrs. - will be back for 5th. Really enjoy walking the beach every morning - always the possibility of seeing dolphins swimming along the shoreline. Very convenient oceanfront location that is close to malls, shops, restaurants & grocery stores. Also, part of the Suncoast trolley/bus loop(s). We stay in January and appreciate the break from Ohio weather.

We did not have to drive anywhere to have fun. Everything was walking distance. We did parasailing, jet skiing, deep sea fishing, hung out at the beach and enjoyed different restaurants for lunch and dinner. My whole family had a great time!!!

Went with son, grandson, and wife. Easy pay parking, near restaurant and chair rental area. Well kept area , loved the beach. Have fun

We loved this sleepy, slow little beach. We enjoyed watching the intercoastal bridge and loved the Johns Pass Village and boardwalk. Shell sand is not my favorite but it’s a beautiful place!

Perfect for people of all ages not too commercial. Treasure island if very touristy and busy. Weather always good

If you're looking to take a nice relaxing trip with your family Madeira Beach has a little bit of something for everybody. It is a very laid-back area with a lot of different activities, and the beaches are amazing. If you have time had to Fort DeSoto Beach it's somewhere around 5 to 7 Miles of undeveloped Beach.

Sand is impossible to walk on if you have walking or balance issues. Too soft and exhausting. Try a different beach w firmer sand.

Beautiful beach, jet ski rentals & relaxation. Doesn’t get better than this!! Had a great time with the kiddos visiting local shops & riding jet skis

Madeira beach is beautiful, quiet, clean and close to great restaurants and shopping. Sunsets are absolutely breathtaking.

Had a lovely couple of hours on the beach with my daughter. Sand is lovely and the shallow waters perfect for a dip. Not going to lie, I was in high alert for sharks 🦈 so found it hard to totally relax. Sun loungers are very expensive in my opinion, £30 a set. Also take drinks with you as there are no restaurant/bar facilities on the beach.

John.s pass is not the place to go shopping as they have a guy watching the car to see if your time is up. Making a fortune paying a young fellow 8 bucks an hour to give out tickets I paid 3.75 and still paid a ticket. Thought i had 2 hours not an hour and a half, Also spent a pile of money as well. Last time there for me.Feed the kios if you do not want a ticket 2.50 an hour.

A little more developed than St. Beach, but our night visit following a visit in August to Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf had an eerie, out-of-this-world experience due to the visibility of active lightning miles away to the south. We couldn’t hear the thunder, but the sky lit up like fireworks for the duration of our visit. Water temperature was temperate, and Cherry Wonderdog was able to stroll barefoot without any trouble.

Cannot say anymore about this beach
Its lovely
Resurants bars etc across the street.
Cant comment on cost of beach chairs etc etc
Worth a visit

Enjoyed our week of vacation here in Madeira Beach. We stayed right next to Johns Pass. We went swimming, jet ski’s, and did a snorkel and dolphin excursion. We all had a blast and sampled many of the local restaurants. The only thing I wish was that Redington Pier was not closed and falling apart. Wish they would restore it. We also took a day and went to Bush Gardens and are at my favorite Chicago restaurant Portillos! Overall would recommend this area!

My friends and I stayed in the area for 4 days. We are from the East coast of Florida. The beach is more quaint, calm, and quiet. Due to the location of the Gulf, the water is calmer as well. No lifeguard on duty was still shocking. Anyhow, depending on which section of the beach you decide to settle in, finding amenities such as restaurants and restrooms can be a challenge. Always bring a cooler full of food and drinks just in case.

Madeira Beach was awesome! It wasn't overloaded with people or over-commercialized. A wonderful place to go to the beach!

Went to Madeira Beach for the fourth of July. Had a wonderful time and enjoyed the day/night. Very smart of Madeira beach and a big thank you for putting out coozies with garbage bags in them on all the chairs. This is such an amazing idea to keep the beach clean. Just be sure to pay for parking. I purchased an all day parking and still got a ticket. I'm disputing the ticket since I paid. Other than that, I couldn't of asked for a better day!!

This beach just takes my breath away, you can walk for miles on just walk. There are some restaurants along the way so if you need to stop for a drink, that is not a problem. This absolutely my favorite place in Florida, the sunsets, are just beautiful!

What a wonderful beach. Plenty of room for walkers, sunbathers, swimmers and sandcastle builders. The sand is powdery soft and early in the day there are shells to pick from! The sunsets were beautiful. We didn’t bother going to any other beaches since it was so perfect.

Excellent Sushi at Osaka's!! Ask for Sue to make your rolls- she is the best! Fresh Tuna and large rolls. If you are looking for the best Sushi in Pinellas County- Osaka's for the win!

Very quiet when we visited, lovely clean beach and sea was great to swim in for all the family there are parking lots that also have toliet and shower facilities. Seems like you can hire beach chairs etc further up the beach fron where we went

Made it to beach on New Years Day and was fortunate to see a magnificent sunset!!! only downside was cigarette smokers on beach sure hope FL is successful in banning smoking on public beaches

We have been visiting this area almost annually for over 15 years. There has been tremendous growth in traffic on Gulf Boulevard over the years, and sometimes it takes a while to get out of your condo. Be patient!

The beaches are still excellent, although I'm not sure about all the bright yellow cabanas that are now decorate the beach.

Although alcohol is now banned on the beach, you can do your own thing with ball games and music. Be prepared to move if necessary. Their taste in music may not be the same as yours!

There were reports of rays, and we saw a shoal about 100 yards north of the bridge at John's Pass. They only covered a small area of about 50 yards.

Parking at John's Pass is still as expensive as ever, and currently works out at $2.50 per hour.

Building is still taking place in Madeira Beach, but it should be easy to find a spot on the beach that you like - for now.

Nov 2021
We went to John's Pass yesterday, all the parking along the street was full as was the small parking lot on the main strip, we drove through a second time, still full We turned left , just past the ice cream place and there was a fairly large parking lot with the same type of payment machine they have by the store fronts, we parked, wrote down our license number, typed it in the machine and it popped up with a $30.00 flat rate, there was no other choice to pick from, so we canceled it and drove home. That is a ridiculous amount to charge tourists to park so that they can shop and spend money in your area.

we keep coming back because we love the beach, atmosphere and closeness to everything. our kids tease us we always return to same place. we would live here if we could.

Clean, low-key, white sandy beach with clear gentle waves. Very relaxing vibe. Would definitely return. Convenient parking lot located in front of beach in addition to a concession stand, local restaurants, and a CVS across the street.

Really soft sand - easy access with many crosswalks with a nice beach community who encourage and welcomes visitors.

I love going to the beach. It doesn't matter which beach just a beach. But this beach is very nice, quite, and a nice location.

It's a smaller beach area always close to water. Smaller parking lot but outside of March(go early in March) you can always get parking.Washrooms onsite plus fresh water showers. There are chair, umbrella and paddle board rentals right on beach. We have been going there for some years now and have met many friends. Go to Beach for us. If you need food or drinks store right accross the street.

This is a quieter beach away from the partiers at St. Pete Beach. Traffic on Gulf blvd is still heavy though. Park your car and ride the transit; $5 day pass gives you unlimited rides up and down the coast

This is our third time visiting Madeira Beach. It is so awesome!! It is a must if you are in the area. The beach is well kept and so clean. Always a great relaxing quiet time. Can't wait for this spring!!!

What a fabulous place to go for a walk. The beaches are very wide and have many accesses from the main road to get onto the beach. The boardwalk is beautifully laid out and wide for walking.

This beach stretches for miles and miles so it's a great place for a walk. The beach is beautiful and is well groomed and maintained on a daily basis. We were there in Feb. and it was never overcrowded. There is a Snack Shack where you can get something to eat and drink right on the beach and they have live music sometimes. Sunsets are gorgeous!

We were a family of 8 in a rented condo on Madeira Beach. The beach is really nice. The family enjoyed the beach everyday for a week. Our daughter-in-law already wants to go back.

Though shorter than the nearby St Pete's beach, Madeira Beach is still a wonderful expanse of sand and sea, and arguably has more to do. Parking is relatively cheap at $2.50/hour and deck chair + umbrella rental is around $15 for the day. I went there primarily for the glorious sunset that only the gulf coast of Florida can offer and was not disappointed; beautiful lapping waves, clean white sand, and a perfect sunset. I even saw a dolphin swimming lazily out of the channel shortly after the sun had set. The beach is just round the corner from St John's pass which has plenty of souvenier type shops and eateries so you really can enjoy a full day out here.

We have been coming to this same beach since we moved here over 25 years now. Lots of beautiful white clean sand, and the sand is perfect for building too. You will find a bathroom here at this beach too!

One of my favorite beaches in Florida. Very clean and flat. Rented seats and an umbrella for $30/per day. Well worth the money.

We actually preferred coming here then the private beach of our hotel. Lots of activity, great vibe, nice music! The only issue is parking but otherwise a wonderful place to be.

Normally go to Clearwater beach but as we were staying locally for the latter end of our stay in Florida we spent a couple of days here. Very clean beach ( no life guards though so be careful ) beautiful sunset, well worth a visit.

Want to say Thanks to the crew that drives the tractor in the morning to keep beaches clean and sand so soft. This are is very well maintained. We will be back again for another family vacation🏖⛱☀️

My husband and I spent a day with my parents (in their 70's) here, their favorite beach to comb. Then we revisited it the day we needed to go home, just to get another taste of it's beauty and tranquility. With it's location being so close to the airport (20 minutes), it allowed us to stay until the last possible sunshiny moment , before we had to go back to the blustery Michigan weather. They have snow birded here many years with groups of family and friends, always coming back home very tan and refreshed. There are many neat little places to eat and shop along the shore. Also, there is a variety of casual entertainment, such as local singers/bands to find along the beach as well. The Tiki style restaurant right at the public parking lot has a great breakfast. My husband and I went parasailing in John's Pass, right around the corner and waved to my family on the beach. The shopping and food there is plentiful and awesome! Will return for sure.

Beautiful, cozy and clean beach. We even saw a few dolphins 🐬 swimming nearby! What a beautiful sight!

Kids had fun playing in the water as the waves were coming in pretty high. There were some shells on the beach but not many. Weather was perfect for us Michiganders :)

Sit on the beach, swim, enjoy sun sets & Sun rises!!
Very nice beach are!!! The amount if restaurants in the area are great!!!

We were in a cottage only blocks from the beach and wanted to enjoy just a little sand time. We came down in the evening to enjoy the sand, surf and sunset. There are only small parking areas dotted along the beach with parking meters. The beach was very nice and quite enjoyable, but we visited pass the peak tanning hours. Enjoyed the sunset and beautiful mosaics in the sky. Enjoyable beach if you are in the area.

Great beach....very clean, calm waves, plenty of easy access parking and the nearby facilities and restaurants are a huge plus.

My son and I are visiting my dad in Leesburg, Florida. My son had never been to the gulf side so we packed up for the day and headed over to the beach for the day. I had never been to Madeira Beach. Very clean and family friendly. We did visit on March 30,2021 during spring break. I will admit it was a bit crowded but we arrived around 10:30 am and was able to rent 2 chairs and an umbrella for $25 for the day.

Enjoy the beach bring your cooler, and beach neccessities and enjoy. Early morning is best while there are less people before the 11 am crowd show up

Great beach! You can rent chairs, and umbrellas there or bring your own. Snack shack is right there for lunch/dinner. There is also a bar for cocktails. Perfect!

Wonderful white sugary sand on this beach, beautiful sunsets to be seen, not far to walk from the parking, and those with handicap placards park for free!

Madeira Beach is not one of the most advertised beaches in Florida, but it is definitely a local favorite! One of my favorite things about the beach is easy public access—two spots with paid parking. Food is available at one of the access areas. The other access area is close to a Speedway, Screwie Louis and other beach type restaurants.

Once on the sand, it’s a few short steps until you can soak your toes in the water. Although many bring their own chairs and umbrellas, chair and umbrella rental is quite reasonable. Each of the access spots has rest rooms that are usually well maintained.

The beach is not one that is known for seashell hunting. But it is a beach with soft sand that feels amazing on your feet. You can walk several feet into the water and still have your head above water, which makes it a great beach for couples after the sun starts to set.

The sunsets on Madeira Beach are spectacular. You won’t want to miss it!

beautiful beach i will come back but i have to stay on the beach. i stay marriott it is dirty and so far but the picture look like it is on the beach so i stay. the restaurants very good on this beach. only bad thing the bathroom is far

We visit Florida nearly every year and we always spend a few days at Madeira Beach. We love the warm sea, restaurants and chilled atmosphere

We had gone to Madeira Beach for years when Howard & Jane ran the beach. Since then just intermittently while traveling through and missed the service, friendliness, and care Howard & Jane provided.

The new company running the beach, Saltwater Destinations (Tyler & Tyler), have done an outstanding job bringing service, cleanliness, security, and friendliness back to the beach. Well maintained equipment, friendly & open, willing to help get beach stuff from your car, keeping the beach clean. Certainly different from the days of Howard & Jane, but setting their own standard, which we gratefully enjoyed. Prices are reasonable and we never have to worry what we leave on the beach if we have to step away.

See them on Facebook: Saltwater Destinations

Ask about Howard & Jane and look for Howard’s memorial marker near the beach. Be very glad Tyler & Tyler have brought back a great beach experience.

The only signs there is public parking so haveing a disabled placer
I did not pay came back had a 40.00 ticket. Now all the signs say ZPublic
And managed by flp.
It's public and I should not be charged.

At a motel near public parking I have found it educating to decide what type of umbrella or cover to purchase for a windy sand beach!

Nice little beach with fine sands and clear waters. A good place to take your picnic and coolers, but not a lot of facilities nearby. We had trouble finding parking although there are car parks nearby, they were full when we were there. Most people brought their own gazebos or tents.

Very nice, flat beaches. We even saw a beach Zamboni being used to keep things clean! During the summer expect to see a storm mid afternoon. There are lots of living sand dollars - please don't kill them to take home with you.

Been staying here for over 30 years for summer vacations. The place is tucked away but close walking distance to the beach and shopping. Great fishing docks on site, swimming pools, and a small games room. Right across the road is a park and close to mini putt. A great place to rent for families!

One of my favorite beaches. Lived there for many years and came back to visit. The beach remains it's beautiful, pristine self. I was certainly amazed at all the progress and changes. I hope next time it won't be 15 years before I visit again

Great white sand beach with easy access to great fishing at the Johns Pass bridge .easy pay parking lot close to beach,family friendly

Madeira was perfect for our family vaca during Covid... there were people & activities, but not crowds. Warm gulf water, beautiful sunsets and plenty to do nearby !

Beautiful and quiet beach! We loved that the beach was in walking distance from our cottage. Everyone we met was so nice and friendly!

This was our 2nd trip to this area of Florida. It's not crowded and the beach is clean. I've seen many beaches around the world and the sand here is the BEST. It's like baby powder.

It was really nice to be able to sit on the beach and watch the bridge go up as boats were coming through at John's Pass. The water was very pretty, and the beach wasn't very crowded, especially on a weekday. John's Pass was great. The boardwalk around the bay is beautiful. We were able to go one morning and have breakfast and see the dolphins. They have many restaurants, shops, and other activities. It was a fun place to go. We had a delicious banana split at John's Pass in the middle of the shops (Not on the boardwalk). There was a magician outside the ice cream shop. He was really entertaining at night, and the shop owners are very friendly. As far as cons about this beach-waayyyy too much smoking, too many thongs on women who shouldn't be wearing a thong, and unflattering low cut bathing suits. The thongs and low cut bathing suits were on much older women. If I could give the area only one suggestion, it would be to do something about the smoking. There was even smoking at outdoor restaurants with seating outside. Yes, everyone is outside, but it's still a restaurant! We avoided one of those restaurants because of this. I think the area would be greatly improved if they made a few changes to clean up their act. I haven't seen so many smokers in years, and it makes the area so unappealing. The area has the potential to be a higher end place, especially with John's Pass, but it's just not that way. Nice? Yes. But, more than likely we will not return to Madeira.

Great waves for kids that won’t pull them in. Great beach quiet, clean and not crowded, waves are about 1-3’. Soft sand beach. Snack shack by parking lot. Must pay for parking. Next step up from Indian shores for a bit stringer kids playtime in the surf.

My first visit to the west coast and could not have been more beautiful. We stayed in a condo right on the beach and right across from Johns Pass. Even got to watch a wedding on the beach!
Will def be returning!!!!

The beach itself was just what we were looking for, clean and with very few people. Very peaceful. But we were expecting the beautiful, clear blue water we were used to when we visit the Gulf side of Florida and that wasn't the case. At least not while we were there, maybe it is most of the time and for some reason wasn't while we were there? I don't know.

Also, while the beach-facing side of our condo was peaceful, the other side, the side we went out to get anywhere, was a noisy, busy 4 lane road. That's just not my ideal beach vacation spot, but maybe it won't bother others. There are plenty of things around to do, so that's a plus and does require roads, so it's really a personal choice of what you're looking for.

Overall, our family has decided that while our vacation wasn't bad per say, Madeira Beach isn't a place we'll choose to visit again. We don't get to go on vacation often so when we do, we want to spend our money somewhere that's a bit more peaceful with the beautiful clear blue water we love so much.

We visited a ton of beaches in this area; and really enjoyed this one near John’s Pass.

My son loves to fish, so that fact that he could fish off the jetty/rocks while my wife and daughter hung out a few steps away on the beach was a real bonus!

The water was refreshing, and beach wasn’t too crowded.

Only downfall was that there are a number of sharp rocks in the water....I found myself occasionally stepping on these when swimming with my daughter.

Another positive is that we saw dolphins twice throughout the day - and one was no more than 20 feet from shore - very cool!

Also, my son caught about 20 pin fish and 10 dogfish, so we thought the fishing was successful.

Gorgeous sunset too!

This is the first time I went to Madeira beach. Based on the excellent reviews decided to check it out. Sand was white and soft. Water was clear, clean with turquoise color a bit cold but once you got it, felt refreshing. I went during the second week in February. Loved that the parking was so close. The parking meter is $2.50 an hour. The best part is that they accommodate handicap sticker on cars, FREE parking. Nice when you have family & loved ones that are limited. The beach was very quiet and peaceful. Nothing like the noise level on Clearwater beach. Beautiful hidden gem.

The beach was not crowded at all. Plenty of seashells, if you're a collector. The sand was clean and soft and the water was gorgeous! There are beach chairs available and volleyball courts. My friends and I had a blast!

My first stay at a Florida beach and Madeira didn't disappoint. White sand, warm clear water. Just the right balance of touristy/small town appeal. Can't fail to mention the incredible sunsets. Everyday is unique and beautiful. When you have hundreds of people standing around the beach taking pictures of the sunset, you know it's something special.

My family and I were recommended this as the place to go in the area by someone who lived there. He recommended this place over Clearwater. It did not disappoint! Lots of shops and restaurants and the beach was the highlight. If we come back, we will definitely visit again.

We stayed at a beachside condo. The view was amazing with the sunsets and the dolphins swimming by on many days. The beach itself is a real mix of people, couples, families, hippies.. but the nice thing is that the beach is so wide you can spread out and not let anyone bother you. The only downside is the Red Tide has moved north to this location.

I was right here 20 years ago. But today it is a total beauty, neat, sleepy beaches and incredible gastronomy. Those who travel to Florida, can not miss this coast, it is amazing.

Pleasant beach for walkers, especially on a cooler day when there weren’t many people. Not very good for people looking for shells, however; not many at all.

We have been visiting this beach for the last 15 years. We have been staying at a condo for 2 weeks that is right on the beach. Down the elevator through the gate and on the sand. You can't beat it. We were here this past July and we were amazed how the area turned out after suffering through the Red Tide last summer. Dead fish,itchy sea weed and smelly water and few birds were the norm then. Now there were flocks of pelicans,sea gulls,egrets,herons with dolphin and manatee pods in the Gulf. The sand is mostly soft and white with some small shells mixed in some areas, a bit difficult on the bottoms of feet. The beach is just north of John's Pass and south of Clearwater. Many folks enjoy their day under beach umbrellas and cabanas and on various lawn chairs. The water in the Gulf was around 86* most times and clear. If you walk in the morning, be prepared to see dolphins frolicking and raising their dorsal fins out of the water. The beach was generally clean of straws and other trash. We usually take a bag with us and pick up items that would be harmful to the wildlife. We noticed other visitors doing the same thing. One thought is "If you bring it out, make sure you bring it back with you". Want to see beautiful sunsets? You are in the right place. Hope you enjoy your time at the beach as much as we do.

Relaxing beach to take a walk and watch the sunset. Parking is inexpensive. Never know what birds, fish or class you may find

Have been coming to Madeira Beach for the last 3 years with family and friends for a week at a time.

It never seems to disappoint with the environment, people, sand and beautiful water.

You are always just feet from the water when you are on the beach and everyone was able to have their own space. It is not your typical jam packed beach.

The end of the beach we were on closest to the draw bridge had a beach volleyball net that was used almost every minute of the day by families, kids and adults.

There was rooms to throw a ball around without being worried about hitting other people.

The beach was patrolled daily. We would see the Sheriff drive by at least once a day up and down the beach.

We arrived on the 17th leaving on the 24th. Our first two days on the beach there wasn't a piece of seaweed to be found. It was cleaned up each morning from what it seemed. However the Friday we were there we got a wind and rain storm and it brought a lot of seaweed to the shoreline and it was not cleaned up for the duration of our trip.

Aesthetically it was just not pleasing for a white sand beach and made it seem a little dirty.

****As for the Sea-doo Issue. There was no swim line this year which was different from other years which allowed people renting sea-doos to come in dangerously close to the shoreline. Where people were swimming. Daily we watched renters ground sea-doos throwing up sand and people having to push them back out into the water. This NEEDS to be addressed or someone is bound to be seriously injured or killed. On-lookers from the beach would be shouting at people on the sea-doos to go out further as they had friends and family in the water feet from these people racing sea-doos on the water with little to no experience. Parents would be pulling their kids out of the water and people enjoying the water would literally get out of the water as soon as the Sea-doos came by because it was so dangerous. This was a daily topic of conversation through passing with other vacationers.

There was so much room out further into the water to run the sea-doos safely. There needs to be a swim line or this needs to be better patrolled.

This is why I have rated 3 stars.

Overall this beach is beautiful it just needs a couple touch ups. We will be back next year enjoying it all again, hopefully with a swim line.

Casual beach. Beautiful sand.
Not too crowded in the off season.
Beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
Traffic is an issue but not too terrible.
Grab you beach chair and a towel and dont forget the sunscreen.
Enjoy!

White sand and glistening waters with a cloudless blue sky backdrop is a picture in itself.
Madeira Beach has a public parking lot, large sand area for all to spread out and enjoy, and rentals for water toys in the near vicinity.
Lot of retirees, snowbirds, families, and couples make for a very safe environment. Great place to sun, walk, and shell.

Not the best beach. Sand is ok. But not horribly crowded either. Water is clean. Not a lot of things in the area to do.

we just stayed in a hotel in Madeira beach. This beach is kept clean every morning by a machine cleaner. It is just the wright width so you dont have to walk a mile to reach the water. the water slope is easy for entrance and exit About 50 feet over deeper water there is a sand bar that you can walk for about a quarter mile.Tents can be rented along some of the beach for$25 a day.

Madeira Beach is becoming just another South Beach without the culture. Just the douchebags. And parking? Got a ticket for being 7 minutes late it takes more than 7 minutes to trudge through the sand

Traffic is pretty restrickted and parking is quite expensive . If you take a cruise you can get a portion of the parking money back as its only like 2 dollars ...

Spent a couple hours on the beach....disappointed there was no tiki stand or and restaurant beachside. Water is always great

Drove down to Ft DeSoto for a less crowded beach. We had to pay $5 to get in. Good for fishing near the piers also.

The beach was easily accessible and marked appropriately. Very cleaned and groomed each morning. No trash or liter any of the 5 days we were visiting. Dolphins we're seen daily. Police presence & beach staff were periodically checking grounds. Always felt safe and the locals were very kind.

One of the most beautiful experience of sunset. Nice long walks and swim friendly. One could even enjoy a run or cycling while the sun beautifully sets into the ocean.
Photographer's delight.

Nice sand beach, lots of restaurants and shopping and close to many central Florida attractions. Gulf sunsets are great!

Well worth staying here if you're looking at the Gulf, amazing beach and great Sunsets in the evening.

We come every year. Beautiful beach that is well groomed by the local government. Bathrooms by the John's pass bridge, tons to do at John's pass!

We stayed at the Cambria hotel in the mid range of Madeira Beach blvd. Chose not to rent a car, but instead rent bikes. Rented bikes at BK bike rentals near John's pass. Very reasonable and great service. Highly recommend renting bikes from there and seeing the local sights. We biked all up and down to Treasure Island. Fantastic area.

Pretty setting, clean beach, never too crowded. Lot parking a bit limited. Close to John's Pass boardwalk area.

Though not our favorite of the beaches we visited, this is a perfectly nice Beach not too far from John's Pass Boardwalk. It's family friendly and slightly less crowded than other area beaches. One thing I liked about this beach is that it's narrow, so the walk from the parking lot to the beach isn't too long...which is great for those of us who don't like sand! We saw a lovely sunset here.

This is superb for beaching. It doesn’t get too crowded and it’s absolutely beautiful. So much to do and it’s close to other beautiful beaches. Definitely a must see.

Such a fantastic place to unwind! You can relax, sit in the sun, shop a little bit, listen to some great music and enjoy some good food at John's Pass, and see the local sights. You will not be bored here. We love it so much.

Beautiful beach and great sand to walk on. Had good luck finding sea shells in the morning, but you need to get out early. Not to crowded.

Very good walking , swimming, bird/fish watching esp. pelicans and sometimes dolphins. Sunsets are excellent too. Is close to johns pass and therefore plenty of restaurants of all price range as well as many shops. Many other activities available too. Or, just go brain dead on this beautiful beach.

but i was there when the 'red tide' was in. smelled a little, dead fish, but i did enjoy walking the beach in the evenings.... soft sand.

The beach was absolutely disgusting. There's a seafood market and multiple fishing tour boats on johns pass boardwalk and they throw all the dead fish carcasses back into the water. You swim around dead fish at the beach. We were so disgusted we immediately got out of the water after noticing how many there were. There were over 10 fish carcasses floating in the water and SEVERAL washed up on the beach at the shoreline. Absolutely foul.

beautiful and quiet Johns Pass is a must see! Shop local and receive great deals. Check out Beach Place Condos

Great Beach Very clean People very nice Great place to visit I go here at least 4 times each year. Great eating Great sunshine

White sandy beach. Great for a stroll or just chilling in the sun. Bring a chair, cooler and a book and relax.

After shopping all day and having a good time with my family we decided to watch the sunset. We parked and paid enough for 3 hours and left before time was up. Sadly, we found a parking violation ticket for $40 and at that moment I thought it was probably a mistake. When back at home, I called Madeira Beach city Hall to dispute the ticket since I have proof of payment. They figured out I paid, but I made a mistake by misspelling my plate number. From the customer service to the city supervisor, they flatly stated they won't void the ticket, due to an incorrect license plate entered! It doesn't matter if I paid the space, submitted the appeal, or have ADHD or any other disability. They didn't care to listen and didn't care at all! Entering the wrong plate number by mistake is penalized. In fact, they indicated, that if no payment is received, the fine will be increased to $70 ! and so on. Oh additionally, not a chance to take it to court either. it will be a waste of time and money because they will not be voided or reduced. Instead, I will have to pay court costs. Period!
This is the most disgusting and horrible experience I ever had. I have been to Madeira beach before and I've never experienced such hostility. We, tourists, are a vital part of the city's economy and this city has a lot of work to do to improve its way to manage its growth and obviously financial issues. Ripping your tourists might increase your instant revenue, but in a long run will damage tremendously the city's economy. I hope Madeira beach will get back to being the welcoming city it used to be. I hope the city Mgr Robin Ignacio Gomez will pay more attention and understand where the city's priorities lie. In the meantime, sadly I will try to avoid this beach.

Madeira Beach was great! Soft sand and cabanas for rent by Beach Service West. Their service was outstanding and Nick was wonderful to work with. I hesitate giving this information as I feel it’s a hidden gem since most people go to Clearwater. We are already planning our trip for next year!

We recently stayed in Las Brisas unit 405. I was more than concerned in light of current pandemic. I must say, we always felt safe and thoroughly enjoyed. The unit was very well equipped and clean. The beds were a bit uncomfortable but we got used to them quickly. My only instead living room furniture was dated and did not comfortabley seat all but kept in line with unit theme. We love working with iTrip. Liz was great, honest and reassuring. The beach was a bit less crowded and all were respectful of social distancing. Always love the Screwie Shrimp from across the street as well as Dockside Dave’s. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Guppy’s and the huge portions at Shrimpy Blues.
So glad we went through with or trip.
Always or go to place in the sun❤️

Beautifully maintained beach. Soft sugar sand as far as you can see. We rented a cabana, and enjoyed an entire day relaxing on the Gulf.

Spent a couple hours here on Sunday morning. Dolphin everywhere and the water was so calm. The girls had fun playing in the sand! I loved this beach!!

Beware of their parking ticket scam! My wife and I parked at John’s Pass. There were no parking meters, I didn’t see any pay stations and basically had no idea it was paid parking. When we returned in less than an hour we had a $60.00 ticket on our car which I didn’t even notice until we were well down the road. I would have gladly paid the fee had I known it was due. In myopinion this is a scam when you don’t have enough signage or meters to make it known.

What a great time. My wife and I went away for the weekend to celebrate our anniversary. It's rainy season in Florida so the water was a little choppy but what a clean and peaceful location. Close to all the shops and plenty of restaurants near by. We stayed at the Barefoot Beach Club hotel which was right on the beach and enjoyed a nice long weekend.

We were here for a week and I loved walking the beach and shelling. If I could have changed one thing it would be to have some outdoor seating restaurants/bars on the ocean side of the road so that we could enjoy the view!!

We’ve had a condo on Madeira Beach since 2019, and it’s one of our favorite places to relax and unwind. The beach itself is fantastic—the sand is soft, clean, and inviting, and it never feels overly crowded, even during peak times.

The water is stunning, with gentle waves that make it perfect for swimming or just floating and enjoying the serene surroundings.

Madeira Beach also offers a great selection of bars and restaurants to explore, adding to the charm of the area. Whether it’s a casual drink at a beachside bar or a delicious meal at a local spot, there’s always something to enjoy nearby.

For anyone looking for a beautiful, laid-back beach destination, Madeira Beach is hard to beat.

Really loved this area, limited restaurants means you have to drive for dinner at times but very relaxed atmosphere and not busy busy like some places. Beach and sunsets amazings. Very safe.

Parking Disappointment! I want to echo other visitor's reviews of Johns Pass in Madeira Beach, Florida for the City of Madeira Beach's handling of visitor parking violations.

I haven't been to Florida in nine years and haven't traveled much lately outside the state of Michigan due to Covid and other things. My wife and I took a much-needed vacation to St. Pete Beach recently and visited Johns Pass March 15. Not being familiar with paying for parking (we don't do it at all where I live), we parked and went on our merry way to visit many of the nice shops. After realizing I needed to pay for parking (when I saw someone at one of the kiosks), I immediately paid $6 for a parking pass. Upon finishing our shopping we returned to the car to find a $60 parking ticket.

I submitted a dispute/appeal per instructions on the ticket, explaining that I wasn't trying to cheat Madeira Beach out of paying for parking, I just didn't know and didn't CLEARLY see that I needed to pay, but did so immediately upon realizing this. Jamal Yehia responded to my e-mail in writing stating "The City of Madeira Beach does not excuse/waive/forgive/take back valid parking tickets. All paid parking spaces occupied by a vehicle must be purchased and verified". I then responded back to him asking "then what is the purpose of the dispute process"? He did not respond. I then sent another e-mail asking for additional information to pursue this matter further. He called me and explained that the only tickets that are changed are when it's found that the Parking Staff writing the tickets makes a mistake.

I asked for Jamal's manager's contact information to escalate my request to see if something could be done to lessen the bite of the $60 ticket AND paying $6 for parking. Jamal was right. The City Manager, Robin Gomez, gave me the same answer. I don't feel the City is genuine in offering a dispute process. I can't imagine their Parking Staff make that many mistakes that require a ticket to be disputed, for their mistake! If so, then they need to improve their process of handing out tickets! This is a one-sided dispute process and simply a money-making opportunity to catch innocent visitors.

Unfortunately, no compassion, no understanding, no leeway whatsoever for my innocent mistake. I take full responsibility for not knowing the rules. I would have gladly paid half the ticket, as it was my mistake ("ignorance of the law is no excuse"). I was hoping they might be human, as we all make mistakes. No one got hurt. But, NO. No exceptions!

So, I will reluctantly pay the fine and most likely, not find myself anywhere near Madeira Beach, Florida or Johns Pass. And, have a very bad taste in my mouth for how they handled this. Not very welcoming to visitors. Though, they will take your money!

We stopped by for a visit on our way to Freedom Boat Club in John’s Pass. Clean beach and very safe.

We happened to arrive during a red tide event in the gulf. Lots of dead fish on the beach every morning, but to their credit the beach team cleaned up the fish quickly. Also, the surf is a little rough for small kids. Lifejackets are a must!

A lovely area of the Gulf Coast, long beautiful beaches with fine powdered sand.
Johns Pass is a great area for souvenir shopping ( every type of T-shirt you could wish for) and many great restaurant choices.

beautiful beaches and not very crowded and good parking a aisle or you just have to know where
places to eat on the beach were very good

Madeira Beach stands up to the reputation it has garnered over the years. Great eats, great folks and a wonderful beach. Try it !!