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Most Clearwater drives go south down Gulf Boulevard. The better one goes north: Alternate 19 under the oaks through Dunedin, Ozona, Crystal Beach and Palm Harbor to the sponge docks at Tarpon Springs, then on to Anclote and the quiet roads beyond. It is a grand tourer's road, long and shaded and easy, with a Greek lunch at the end. This is the route, the stops and the cars that suit it.
The route north
- Clearwater Beach over the Memorial Causeway, north on Edgewater Drive along the bay to Dunedin.
- Dunedin, Main Street and the marina, then Alternate 19 north out of town.
- Ozona and Crystal Beach, the stretch where the oaks close over the road and the bends appear.
- Palm Harbor and the long run to Tarpon Springs.
- The sponge docks on Dodecanese Boulevard: lunch, the bakeries, the boats, the car parked in view.
- Anclote River Park and the road to the lighthouse ferry, then back the same way or inland on US 19 for speed.
A grand tourer's road
This is not a road for the GT3; it is a road for a car with a trunk and a long-distance seat. The Ferrari Roma at $1,195 is built for exactly this, forty-five miles of easy road and an arrival at the docks that stops the street. The BMW M850i Gran Coupé at $349 does it with four seats and a V8. The Porsche 911 Targa 4S at $799 with the roof open under the oaks is the romantic version, and the Corvette C8 at $399 the value one. With a family, the Urus.
The cars, priced
| Vehicle | Per day | 3+ days (per day) | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Corvette C8 | $399 | ~$339 | ~$1,955 |
| 2022 BMW M850i Grand Coupe | $349 | ~$297 | ~$1,710 |
| 2021 Porsche 911 Targa | $799 | ~$679 | ~$3,915 |
| 2022 Lamborghini Urus | $999 | ~$849 | ~$4,895 |
| 2021 Ferrari Roma | $1,195 | ~$1,016 | ~$5,856 |
Delivery to the beach hotel, insurance and a daily mileage allowance included; the loop uses about half of a normal day's allowance.
Timing
Leave the beach by nine; the docks are quiet until eleven and full by one. Lunch at noon, back on the beach by three, roof up before the afternoon storm. On a weekday the whole thing is empty; on a Saturday in season, leave an hour earlier.
Requirements
You must be 21 or older with a valid driver's licence, proof of full-coverage insurance that extends to a vehicle of this value, and a major credit card in your own name. International licences are accepted with a passport. A refundable security hold is placed on the card at handover and released after the car is returned and inspected; the figure depends on the car and is confirmed in writing before you pay anything.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Tarpon Springs from Clearwater Beach?
About fifteen miles up Alternate 19, thirty minutes with the beach traffic behind you. The full loop north to Anclote and back is about forty-five miles.
What is at the sponge docks?
Dodecanese Boulevard: the Greek bakeries and restaurants, the sponge boats, and a parking lot where the car will be photographed by strangers.
Which car suits this drive?
A grand tourer: the Ferrari Roma, the BMW M850i or the 911 Targa. It is a long, shaded, easy road with a lunch at the end, not a track.
Is Alternate 19 slow?
Through Dunedin and Palm Harbor it is 35 to 45 mph with lights; between the towns it opens up under the oaks. The point is the road, not the pace.
Call or text 813-921-6973 with your dates and the delivery address; we reply the same day with availability and a written quote. More on the exotic car rental in Clearwater page and the Tampa Bay fleet.
