Sunshine Skyway Bridge

[pixiepower04]

Hi there,

Has anyone been over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Tampa.

I'm morbidly afraid of bridges over water but thought the kids and DH might enjoy a jaunt over it.

We would like to visit the beaches on that side so is it en route / close to them?

Many thanks

 

[epcot1stfave]

Yes we have been over the bridge 1990 I think. The toll then was $1. Lovely view as you go over. Wedid visit the beaches but as so long ago I cant remember how close. Dont think they were that far away. If you are over that side it is worth the trip. Enjoy.

 

[juliebrooks35]

We went over that bridge last July, we took a detour on our way south from Orlando as I thought the kids would enjoy it. It did add a fair amount of time to our journey though! Fairly spectacular views on the way over so it's certainly worth doing once. I'm not sure how close the main beaches are as we weren't staying in the area but I don't think they will be much more than 15 mins drive away from the bridge as I do remember seeing the signs for them.

 

[DISNEYPARS]

We went over the bridge in May last year as we were staying at Madeira Beach for a couple of days and took a detour over it to visit the shopping outlets at Bradenton.

Absolutely fantastic especially if you get the pelicans flying alongside you and the views are really good. Bit scary going up because as soon as you get to the top you seem to start coming back down. Bit like a ride really (that was the real reason to do it - not the shopping)

Plenty of beaches along the way between 30 - 45 minutes of the main highway I would think though.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

If you are in the area it's a 'must do' the Sunshine Skyway is awesome.

 

[MorningGlory]

We were over in June. It is well worth the detour down the I-75 to see it

 

[DISWolves]

We were over in June. It is well worth the detour down the I-75 to see it

Went across in August.........Nice photos

 

[MorningGlory]

Went across in August.........Nice photos

Thanks

Junior was chief clicker since I was doing the driving. From catching sight of the bridge until we were up, over and past it, he managed to take a grand total of 48 photos!!

Within about 15 minutes!!!!!!

I'll let him know you complimented his photos

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The current toll is still just $1.00 cash or $.75 with Sunpass. It's really not very scary but the views are great.

BobK/Orlando

 

[pixiepower04]

Great shots Paul (MorningGlory), I remember reading your trip report with the pictures on it and remember saying something rather rude when I saw the lurch upwards

I showed the kids the pictures and their mouths hit the floor, great, definitely one for our trip then

 

[heatherbelle]

We have been over the bridge and loved it too.

Treasure Island beach is not too far away from it, not a lot going on there though, so you may want to take a picnic to eat on the beach. There were no sunbeds or anything really touristy. Saying that me and DS loved it. Whilst we made sandcastles, DH walked up to that pink fancy hotel that is in the virgin book.

I would say going over the bridge adds about 40 mins to journey, we went that was so there were major road works going on in Tampa at the time.

So glad we used the bridge, it was an experience I will never forget, and you felt well and truely that you were in the USA.

We shot video as we were going over and DS loves to watch it back.

Go on, put it into your plan.

 

[karentan]

we're heading over to clearwater and st petes on our holiday this year, and was wondering where exactly is this bridge and where does it go to? thanks

 

[pixiepower04]

This gives you some info but it spans Tampa Bay.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Skyway_Bridge

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Yes... great to go over, loved it.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

we're heading over to clearwater and st petes on our holiday this year, and was wondering where exactly is this bridge and where does it go to? thanks

If you're heading to Clearwater or St. Pete from the Orlando area, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge would not be in your routing. I-4 takes you directly into Tampa and then you'd continue west via I-275 over to St. Petersburg or SR 60 to Clearwater.

If you want to include the bridge in your journey, head south on I-75 before you get to Tampa. I-75 takes you down the east side of the body of water called Tampa Bay. When you get to Palmetto (north of Bradenton) you'll meet up with I-275 which heads back north around the west side of Tampa Bay. Within a few miles of joining I-275 you'll be on the bridge! When you get off the bridge you'll be in St. Pete. Continuing north on I-275 would also get you to Clearwater and eventually east back across the bay into Tampa.

See a road map for this to make more sense.

BobK/Orlando

 

[deej696]

The Skyway is one of the many great bridges in Florida. It has a great history, both good and bad, and is always fun to cross. If you find yourself nearby, its worth the trip, and will be over before you know it...