John's Pass Village
Boardwalk and boats
Shops, a few bars, dolphin tours, jet ski and boat rentals if you didn't bring yours. Parking fills up; go early or by boat.
10 min driveNear Madeira Beach · Up the island
Madeira Beach and John's Pass, ten minutes up.
Stay on the quiet end of Treasure Island with a dock, and run up to John's Pass by road or by water.
Same island, other end
Madeira Beach and John's Pass up the road.
Treasure Island is about three miles long. The house is at the south end, in Sunset Beach. Madeira Beach starts at the north end, where John's Pass separates the two islands. It's a straight shot up Gulf Boulevard, or a run up the Intracoastal by boat.
Madeira Beach is a good beach town with a bit more going on than Treasure Island, and John's Pass Village is the thing everyone's heard of: boardwalk, shops, boat rentals, dolphin tours. It reads touristy and partly is, but there's good food in there if you know where to look. Waltz Fish Shak is the one: no reservations, menu off the docks that day, closes when the food's gone.
What's there
Madeira Beach, from here.
Waltz Fish Shak
The hidden one
Tiny, local, no reservations, best seafood on the beaches. Get there before it sells out.
John's PassMadeira Beach
The beach itself
Wide and calm, with Archibald Park as the easy access point.
10 minFishing charters
Out of John's Pass
The biggest fleet on this stretch runs out of the pass. Half-day to full-day, inshore to deep.
10 minThe events
October through December
John's Pass Seafood Festival the last weekend of October, with the locals' Gather for Grouper fish fry the night before. Old Salt King of the Beach kingfish tournament in mid-November. Festival of Lights boat parade in early December, which starts at ROC Park and finishes at the boardwalk. Village Friday on the boardwalk monthly with live music. Parking is bad for all of it; the free city trolley runs from City Hall and the rec center.
10 minBy boat
Up the Intracoastal
A pretty run north past the Treasure Island Causeway. Dockage at John's Pass itself is the hard part, so plan to anchor or pick a restaurant with a dock.
By boatQuestions
People ask these.
How far is this house from Madeira Beach and John's Pass?
About 10 minutes by car up Gulf Boulevard. The house is at the south end of Treasure Island; John's Pass is at the north end.
Is there a vacation rental with a boat dock near Madeira Beach?
Yes, this one, a brand-new 4-bedroom waterfront house in Sunset Beach, Treasure Island, with a private dock for boats to 40 feet.
Can you boat from Treasure Island to John's Pass?
Yes, up the Intracoastal. Transient dockage at John's Pass is limited, so plan ahead.
Where should I eat in John's Pass?
Waltz Fish Shak. No reservations, menu changes with the catch, closes when the food runs out.
Keep reading
More from the island.
Stay here
4 bedrooms, private dock, 2 minutes to the beach.
Brand-new waterfront house on Sunset Beach, Treasure Island. Sleeps 8. Bring the boat.