Choosing where to stay in Clearwater Beach shouldn’t be too difficult with this detailed guide to the best oceanfront Clearwater Beach hotels near Pier 60. There’s only a handful of hotels in this location and even less that are located right along the sand with oceanfront views and access. This guide will show you how the best ones compare.
A Comparison of the Best Oceanfront Clearwater Beach Hotels Near Pier 60
Our favorite hotels in Clearwater are located right on the beach just steps away from the pier and feature private balconies overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
Where to Stay in Clearwater Beach – Reasons to Stay in a Beachfront Hotel Near Pier 60
Pier 60 is the focal highlight of the entire beach as well as a hubspot for many of the fun activities in the area. A visit to Clearwater Beach isn’t complete until you’ve taken a stroll down the pier at least once to see the spectacular views of the water from directly above the ocean. Sunsets at Pier 60 are also so beautiful and so famous that a daily festival was created in honor of them. The nightly celebration–also called Sunsets at Pier 60–runs from two hours before sunset until two hours after sunset and features artisans, crafters, street performers, and other entertainment.
Location Map of the Best Clearwater Beach Hotels Near Pier 60
Pier 60 divides Clearwater Beach into two sections–north of the pier and south of the pier. South of Pier 60 you’ll find the Wyndham Grand, Hyatt Regency, and Opal Sands. North of Pier 60 lies the Hilton and Sandpearl Resorts. Here’s how the two sections and different pier hotels compare:
Oceanfront Clearwater Beach Hotels Near Pier 60 – South of the Pier
The strip of Clearwater Beach located south of Pier 60 is the most popular area for sunbathing. Here’s where you’ll find the most beach umbrellas and deluxe cabanas available for rent. The Wyndham Grand and the Hyatt Regency both lie just steps away from the pier, but because of this prime location, their beachfronts also tend to be the most crowded and bustling with activity. The Opal Sands is located just a few more steps past the Hyatt, and while it’s still very close to the pier, it’s positioned further enough away to manage to escape just a little bit of the crowds.
Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach Hotel – Directly Next to Pier 60 on the South Side
The Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach oceanfront hotel is the closest hotel to Pier 60 on the south side of the pier, and it’s so close that it’s practically ON the pier. Almost. It’s just steps away, so if you’re looking to spend a lot of time strolling down Pier 60 and don’t want to walk very far to get there, this hotel might just be for you! There is a small beach access road that cuts in between the beach and actual hotel, but as you can see from the photo above (the road is directly behind the palm trees), the street is neither inconvenient nor burdensome, and you’ll barely notice you’ve crossed it when walking from your room to the beachfront lounge area. The Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach features rooms with gulf views or intracoastal views, and most rooms have their own private balcony or terrace as well. The hotel also contains a variety of suites. If you have kids, you can even book a special Winter the Dolphin themed room, which contains decorations, pillows, wall art, and furniture that feature the beloved star of the nearby Clearwater Aquarium (and popular kids movie). For your dining needs, the hotel features the only Asian-fusion restaurant in Clearwater Beach, a poolside bar and grille, and a lobby bar that serves coffee, drinks, and appetizers.
Reasons to love this Oceanfront Clearwater Beach Pier Hotel
- closest hotel to Pier 60 on south end of pier (just steps away)
- private balconies in most rooms and suites
- rooms and suites with unobstructed ocean views are available
- Special Winter the Dolphin themed rooms are great for kids
- ground-level pool and hot tub with a poolside bar and grille
- on-site Asian fusion restaurant
- lobby coffee bar (which serves Starbucks) and drinks bar
- full-service spa
Possible cons:
- Although the hotel considers itself as beachfront, beach access requires crossing a small street (see picture and comments above)
- Although most rooms contain private balconies, there are a few that don’t, so be extra careful at booking if this is important to you
- rooms with unobstructed ocean views are not automatic, so you’ll have to make sure you book a “Gulf Front view” instead of a “Gulf View” at booking if the view is your top priority
- busiest section of Clearwater Beach and can get loud and/or overcrowded
- this hotel sells out quickly, and it can be difficult to find availability for the dates you want (book in advance!)
Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa – Super Close to Pier 60
The Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort is located directly next door to the Wyndham Grand, so it’s practically just as close to the pier as its neighbor. It’ll take you a few more steps to get to Pier 60, but it’s still just steps away. Like the Wyndham Grand, this hotel requires crossing a tiny street (which is located in between the hotel and the palm trees in the picture above) in order to get to the sugar sand beach, but you’ll barely notice that you had to cross it. The Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort features private balconies in every single room and suite. All room and suite choices also provide either full ocean (gulf) views or partial ocean (gulf) views, and you’ll be able to select your preference at the time of booking. The 8th-floor pool features a poolside bar and grill. There’s also a full-service restaurant on-site that provides pretty ocean views while you dine on seafood or American fare. If you’ve got kids, you can elect to enroll them in Camp Hyatt–a program that offers activities and outings–for an additional fee. The beachfront located in front of the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Resort is the widest of all the hotels on the south side of Pier 60, but it’s also the most popular and, therefore, most crowded.
Reasons to love this Clearwater Beach Pier Hotel
- lies just steps from Pier 60
- private balconies in every room and suite
- rooms and suites with unobstructed ocean views are available
- 8th floor pool deck with poolside bar and grill
- Full-service seafood/American fare restaurant with ocean views
- full-service spa
- Camp Hyatt – scheduled activities and educational outings for kids ages 3-12 (extra fee required)
Possible cons:
- Although the hotel considers itself as beachfront, beach access requires crossing a small street (see picture and comments above)
- Most of the standard rooms offer only partial ocean views. You can choose a full ocean view room at booking, but be prepared to pay a little extra for that prime view (and book in advance because these rooms can get gobbled up fast).
- This is the busiest section of Clearwater Beach and can get loud and/or overcrowded.
Opal Sands Resort Clearwater Beach – Beachfront Hotel Near Pier 60
This is by far my favorite place to stay in Clearwater Beach. Every single room at this hotel–whether you stay in a standard room or suite–has a private balcony with an unobstructed view of the ocean. So it doesn’t matter which room or suite you choose–you are guaranteed an excellent view! Opal Sands Clearwater Beach lies at the southern end of Clearwater Beach directly in front of the break-wall, making it a perfect location to access Pier 60 and Clearwater Beach as well as attractions along Clearwater Pass and Clearwater Bay. Because it’s not directly next to the pier, it’s also a little bit quieter and less crowded than the beachfront in front of the Hyatt and Wyndham (but is still a close, easy walk along the beach to the pier). Another big bonus–this hotel sits directly on the sand and doesn’t require that you cross a small street to reach Clearwater Beach. It’s a true beachfront hotel. I (accidentally) swam with manatees (in the wild) directly in front of this hotel, and it was an experience I will never forget. Three manatees, in fact. They unexpectedly swam into shore near the break-wall and stayed for 3 full hours, swimming circles around us and occasionally even brushing up against our legs. It will forever be one of my favorite memories! Opal Sands also features a zero-entry pool (the only Clearwater Beach hotel with this type of pool on the south side of Pier 60), a full-service spa, an on-site Italian restaurant, and a beachside tiki bar.
Reasons to love this Clearwater Beach Pier Hotel
- true beachfront hotel (doesn’t require crossing a street / sits directly on the beach)
- near Pier 60 (just a short walk along the beach from the pier)
- private balconies in every room and suite
- unobstructed ocean views in every room and suite
- beachfront is less crowded than the Hyatt and Wyndham Grand
- has a zero-entry pool
- full-service spa
- multiple beachfront restaurants (an Italian restaurant and a beachside tiki bar)
- chance to see manatees (Although this could happen in front of any of the Clearwater Beach hotels on this list, Opal Sands is the hotel where I myself had a manatee encounter.)
Possible cons:
- It’s not as close to Pier 60 as the hotels that lie directly beside it (but this could also be a good thing because it makes it much quieter).
Oceanfront Clearwater Beach Hotels Near Pier 60 – North of the Pier
The strip of Clearwater Beach located north of Pier 60 is somehow a little quieter than the area south of the pier, but it isn’t without its own bustling activities. This is the section of Clearwater Beach where you’ll find the most water activities available for hire or rent. Companies like BouYah Watersports line the beach, and when you walk along the sand, you’ll see numerous banana boats, jet-skis, and kayaks awaiting passersby to inquire about the purchase of corresponding activity packages. The hotels located north of Pier 60 sit directly on the beach and don’t require crossing any streets to reach the sand. There’s also a lot more open-sand in this area as opposed to the south side where most of the beach has been populated by endless rows of umbrellas and lounge chairs. These hotels offer lounge rentals as well, but it’s just not the dominant attraction on this side of the beach, and it doesn’t feel anywhere near as congested or clustered as the section south of Pier 60.
Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa – Directly Next to Pier 60 on the North Side
The Hilton Clearwater Beach oceanfront hotel is the closest hotel to Pier 60 on the north side of the pier. The picture above was taken while standing on the end of the pier, in fact, so you can see just how close it is. The hotel is located directly on the beach and doesn’t require crossing any streets. All of the suites and most of the rooms at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort have private balconies. When booking a guest room, you also have the option to choose a city/harbor view, partial gulf view, or gulf coast view. The hotel also has a selection of limited-view interior rooms that have neither a balcony nor a pretty view but will save you money compared to the more luxurious options. It also has five different dining options, including two ocean-view interior restaurants, a Mexican cantina, a poolside bar and grill, and a beachfront tiki bar (which is one of the few places in Clearwater Beach where you are allowed to drink alcohol right on the beach). There’s also a Starbucks on-site at the hotel. The Hilton has 2 pools–a zero-entry pool and an infinity pool.
Reasons to love this Clearwater Beach Pier Hotel
- closest hotel to Pier 60 on north end of pier (just steps away)
- true beachfront hotel (doesn’t require crossing a street / sits directly on the beach)
- private balconies in every suite and in most rooms
- rooms and suites with ocean views are available
- 5 different dining options, including 2 ocean-view restaurants, a Mexican cantina, a poolside bar and grill, and a beachfront tiki bar
- on-site Starbucks
- full-service spa
- Ground-level zero-entry pool and an infinity pool
Possible cons:
- This hotel has a limited number of gulf front view rooms, so if a full ocean view is important to you, book in advance because these rooms can sell out quickly, especially during the summer months.
Sandpearl Resort Clearwater Beach – Near Pier 60
The Sandpearl Resort sits directly on Clearwater Beach and is just a short walk along the sand to Pier 60. Most of the rooms and suites have private balconies, and when booking, you have the option to choose a city view, partial gulf view, gulf view, or gulf front view. Sandpearl Resort offers a beachside grill as well as an elegant, ocean-view restaurant. The latter is the only AAA Four-Diamond restaurant on Clearwater Beach. The pool at the Sandpearl features a zero-entry, lagoon-style design and seasonally shows dive-in movies.
Reasons to love this Clearwater Beach Pier Hotel
- close to Pier 60 (just a short walk along the beach)
- true beachfront hotel (doesn’t require crossing a street / sits directly on the beach)
- private balconies in most rooms and suites
- rooms and suites with full ocean views are available
- 2 dining options, including a beachside grill and the only AAA Four-Diamond restaurant on Clearwater Beach
- full-service spa
- zero-entry lagoon-style pool with food and beverage service (and seasonal dive-in movie showings)
- Camp Ridley – seasonal children’s club
Possible cons:
- Although most rooms contain private balconies, there are a few that don’t, so be extra careful at booking if this is important to you.
- Rooms with unobstructed ocean views are not automatic, so you’ll have to make sure you book a “Gulf Front view” instead of a “Gulf View” or “Partial Gulf View” at booking if the view is your top priority.
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