Treasure Island Beach Information
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Treasure Island's Beach is more than 3 miles long and several hundred yards wide at points along "Hotel Row".
The Beach Trail runs along approximately a mile of the beach at the beach's widest section. As you walk along the trail the beach and Gulf of Mexico are west of you and a long line of motels and condo/hotels run east of you.
All of Treasure Island's Beach is open to the public and there are several public parking lots situated at convenient points along the length of the beach.
One of the most asked questions by those traveling to Treasure Island is whether or not the beach is "shelly". Treasure Island's beach is made of sand with small shells in the sand. If you are used to walking barefooted then you will have no problem walking on the beach without shoes. If you have sensitive feet then sandals may be your best bet.
Like any public beach, Treasure Island's Beach has rules which have been created to insure your and the beach's safety. Yes, alcohol is allowed on the beach but glass containers are not. Coolers, chairs and umbrellas are also welcomed but dogs are not.
The beach opens at 5am and closes at 1am. No over night camping or sleeping is allowed on the beach.
No this is not Daytona and no cars are not allowed on the beach except for police and vendors. No dogs are allowed on the beach including the paved beach trail.
During the summer months there are sea turtle nests along the beach. They are marked and protected by volunteers. We also need to mention stingrays which can be found close to shore. The are harmless unless you step on one at which time you will be rudely made aware of that fact by being stung by the ray. Simply do what is called "The Stingray Shuffle" while walking in the water. Shuffling your feet announces your presence to the rays and they will harmlessly move out of your way.
Two other pieces of advice, if you hear thunder leave the beach immediately. Unfortunately Treasure Island along will all Florida Beaches have been the location of fatal lightning strikes. Lightning can travel many miles so even if the storm is miles away you are still in danger of being struck.
Also, this isn't Kansas and the sun is at a much more direct angle. It may take only fifteen minutes to suffer a sunburn that will ruin your vacation. Make sure you wear sunscreen and don't try to get that beach bum tan in one day.
Enjoy the beach but remember the beach belongs to everyone so leave it as clean as you found it.
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At a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection or a crosswalk that is marked mid-block, regulations mandate that:
1. Drivers must yield right-of-way to pedestrians where a sign indicates;
2. If a pedestrian is on half of the roadway and no traffic control signals are available, the driver must yield, slow down or stop to give right-of-way to the pedestrian;
3. Pedestrians may not suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety to walk or run into the path of a vehicle;
4. If a vehicle has stopped at a crosswalk to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway, a vehicle behind the stopped vehicle cannot pass the stopped vehicle; and
5. Pedestrians cannot cross an intersection diagonally except if there is a crossing authorized by traffic control devices.
Common Sense Beach Swimming Rules
Swim within the "Safe Bathing Areas", if marked, at all times.
Florida sunshine is intense. Please be careful when sunbathing and use sunscreen with a high SPF
Learn to Swim - Learning to swim is the best defense against drowning.
Never Swim Alone - Always swim with a companion. At the very least, have someone onshore who can call for help.
Don't Fight the Current - Rip currents are powerful currents of water moving away from shore. They can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea. If caught in a rip current, don't fight it by trying to swim directly to shore. Instead, swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax, then swim to shore. Most rip currents are narrow, and a short swim parallel to shore will bring you to safety. The same forces that cause rip currents also cause longshore currents. These currents are most evident when waves hit the shore at an angle. This tends to cause the water to be pushed along the beach away from the direction of the oncoming waves. Usually, longshore currents are less hazardous than rip currents because they move along the shore, not away from the shore, but they can knock children and weaker adults off their feet. More importantly, longshore currents can feed and increase the power of rip currents. In other words, the longshore current may move along the shore, then turn offshore to become a rip current.
Swim Sober - Alcohol is a major factor in drowning. Alcohol impairs swimming ability and good judgement.
Don't Float Where You Can't Swim - Often, non-swimmers dangerously use floatation devices to go offshore, If they fall off, they can quickly drown. The only exception is a person wearing a Coast Guard approved life jacket.
Don't Dive Headfirst, Protect Your Neck - Diving headfirst into unknown water and striking the bottom can lead to serious, lifelong injuries, including paraplegia. Check for depth and obstructions before diving, and then go in feet first the first time. Use caution while bodysurfing, always extending a hand ahead of you.
