Clearwater Ferry Review – An Easier Way to Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Ferry is a ferry service from the mainland of Florida to Clearwater Beach. It is a water transportation service with stops in downtown Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, and Dunedin. The ferry is a covered, open air pontoon boat manned by one captain and one crew member. Rates start at $4 one-way for a regular adult ticket.

I rode the Clearwater Ferry from downtown Clearwater to Clearwater Beach with a group of shutterbugs for a planned photowalk on Clearwater Beach. This review is an honest, unpaid review, and all opinions are my own. The owners and operators of Clearwater Ferry did not know I planned to write this.

Clearwater Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Florida, and indeed, in the United States. As a barrier island with only one road from the island to the mainland, that road can get really congested, especially on weekends, holidays, and during high season. The solution to sitting in your car for an hour or so getting to and from the beach, of course, is to take the Clearwater Ferry. If you’re going to the beach alone – and some of us prefer it that way at times – this is also an easy way to cut your costs and meet others who are headed there, too.

As suggested, I purchased my tickets online several weeks in advance. A week or so before the outing, I drove to downtown Clearwater to the municipal marina at Coachman Park where the ferry stop is located. The park and parking lot have often been closed over the years for events and construction so I haven’t spent very much time there. I wanted to make sure I knew exactly where I was going as I tend to run late for everything. On this scouting trip, however, everything was open, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a dock house with restrooms, the Clearwater Ferry loading area clearly marked, and lots of parking. I arrived at sunset and found families fishing on the public docks and seawall, groups of young adults walking around, and couples watching the sunset.

As it turns out, scouting ahead ended up a good idea. The park, parking lots, and street to the municipal marina were all closed. I drove one way then the other looking for a place to park, finally finding a spot on the street less than a block from the marina. A six-foot chain link fence encircled the entire area, including the marina’s north seawall, keeping everyone out. The only way to access both ends of the marina? Along a dock that runs the entire length of the north end. After a brief wait, the ferry arrived, and we embarked. I learned an important lesson that morning: always check the website before leaving. Clearwater Ferry has everyone’s email address and could have updated us of the parking and access situation. However, only their website was updated. Ticket holders didn’t receive any email or text updates. I hope they consider implementing an update system in the future.

The Ride on the Clearwater Ferry

The trip on the Clearwater Ferry from downtown Clearwater to Clearwater Beach lasts but a few minutes. Ten minutes, maybe 15. The route passes south beneath the Memorial Causeway bridge then west along the Causeway. We passed a mangrove island, a rookery that’s home to hundreds of birds, some migratory and others year-round residents. Past the island, residential sections of Clearwater Beach come into clear view. Multi-story condominiums and two-story mansions line the water, white-washed walls glistening in the morning sun. Small boat docks punctuate miles of concrete seawall. Closer to the Clearwater Beach Marina, several anchored sailboats sit protected near the Causeway, all of them pointing in the same direction into the tide like a herd facing a storm together. The captain expertly navigates the pontoon boat into a slip, and we disembark for a day at Clearwater Beach.

On the return trip, we saw a roseate spoonbill on the mangrove island and another in flight. I was too slow to get a photo of either. Most of us on the return trip were the group I attended the photo walk with, short by several who couldn’t find parking and missed the ferry in the morning. One couple from the morning returned with us, and it was fun to catch up with them, especially as they were visiting from Pennsylvania.

About the Boats

In summer 2021, the Clearwater Ferry has three boats in service. We rode Hailey’s Crossing, the smallest of the three and perfect for quiet week days like the day we used the ferry. This boat can carry 21 passengers. The other boats are Maddie’s Crossing, their first boat, which has a capacity of 42 passengers, and their newest acquisition, Monica’s Crossing with a capacity of 63.

Final Thoughts on the Clearwater Ferry

Riding the Clearwater Ferry is a fun way to get to Clearwater Beach, especially on busy weekends when the traffic may be congested and the parking might be hard to find. It’s best to book your tickets online in advance and be sure to book the correct times and pick-up locations. Also, check their website before arrival to make sure there are no changes to the weather, schedule, or parking. You can find their website here.

Despite the issues we experienced at first, the ride was enjoyable, and the crew were extremely friendly and accommodating. On two occasions passengers embarked at the wrong time and were welcomed aboard. The crew also invited a couple who lost a phone to take a later ferry. That said, it might not be possible to make these kinds of concessions if the ferry is busy and full. I will definitely ride the Clearwater Ferry again and will try it from some of the other stops as well.