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Sunshine Skyway Bridge, St. Petersburg, FL

Photo: Robert Neff, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconic

Sunshine Skyway Bridge

I-275 / US 19 across the mouth of Tampa Bay · St. Petersburg, FL

Why you should go…

The Sunshine Skyway carries I-275 and US 19 across the mouth of Tampa Bay for 4.14 miles, rising to give ships 181 feet of clearance. The cable-stayed span opened in 1987 to replace the bridge struck by a freighter in 1980. For a look at the whole structure, head to Skyway Fishing Pier State Park, where approaches of the old bridge now serve as fishing piers, and stay after dark to see more than 1,800 LEDs light the span.

  • #scenic drive
  • #cable-stayed bridge
  • #tampa bay
  • #fishing pier

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Sunshine Skyway Bridge, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Iconic

    The Dalí Museum

    $25–$50

    See Salvador Dalí's paintings and drawings in a waterfront museum entered beside a 75-foot glass spiral.

    9.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    History Buff

    The Ringling

    $25–$50

    Walk a bayfront estate with an art museum of European paintings, a circus museum and the Ringlings' 1926 mansion.

    18 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    The Florida Aquarium

    $25–$50

    See a 500,000-gallon coral reef tank, loggerhead sea turtles, moon jellies, lemurs and stingrays in downtown Tampa.

    26 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Siesta Beach

    Free

    Swim and stroll on a very wide Gulf beach of fine white quartz sand that stays cool under bare feet.

    26 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Clearwater Marine Aquarium

    $25–$50

    See rescued dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, sharks and sea lions at a working marine animal hospital.

    26 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Ybor City

    Free

    Stroll 7th Avenue in Tampa's historic Latin Quarter for cigar shops, hand rollers, free-roaming chickens and the Columbia Restaurant.

    27 mi awayMore like this