St. Petersburg is a coastal city
located at the southern tip of
Pinellas County, a peninsula
surrounded by water on three
sides. Tampa Bay, a large natural
harbor, is to the east and south,
while the Gulf of Mexico and the
Intracoastal Waterway are to the west.
St. Pete is part of the greater Tampa
Bay region of West Central Florida,
the fourth largest metro area in the
Southeast with more than 4.3 million
people.
It’s easy to get around. Interstate
275 is the major highway that runs
through the city. A series of bridges
connect St. Pete with sister cities of
Tampa, Clearwater and Bradenton/
Sarasota, and with the barrier islands
and beach communities of the Gulf
of Mexico. The Howard Frankland
Bridge and Gandy Bridge connect St.
Pete with Tampa to the east, while
the Sunshine Skyway Bridge connects
with Bradenton and Sarasota to the
south.
There are three airports, and dozens
of alternative transportation options,
including buses, trolleys, bicycles,
electric scooters and the Cross-Bay
Ferry to Tampa. It’s also possible to
park the car and walk as downtown is
very pedestrian friendly. In addition,
there are public marinas on Tampa
Bay and the Gulf of Mexico for those
cruising in by boat.
Cross-Bay Ferry
TRAVEL
2021 | St. Petersburg’s Visitors Guide 65