Upham Beach

The beach here is a little bit more shelly than the surrounding beaches. Upham has a lot to offer people looking for a convenient short stop. The sunset is much nicer at Pass-​a-​Grille, but if you’re short on time and don’t want to drive 10 min more, this beach is just fine. I did see a guy with a g-​string on once. That was kinda scary. Upham is a good option, just not your best option.

This is a beach with exceptional strengths but also significant weaknesses. This makes it difficult to rate. If the strengths coincide with what a person wants in a beach that person could easily give it 5 stars. Yet others might give it only two stars.
Located. at the north end of St Pete Beach its existence is not evident when driving Gulf Boulevard which is several blocks from the coast in this area. The only indication it exists are several small signs at about 70^th Avenue indicating beach access to the west.
One of the strengths is there is plenty of parking, more than any other single beach access point between Pass A Grill and Sand Key Park. It also has a beach front hot food facility which is rare.
Unlike the area to the south, the sand is hard packed making walking to the shore easy. However the sand contains some shell debris.
Several volleyball courts are available for use. I believe there were beach umbrellas available for rental in the past but I haven’t seen them my last few visits. I recently have visited on weekdays so perhaps it’s only a weekend thing now. I don’t know.
Weaknesses include there being only one full body height beach shower. Showers at the north end south entrances are only leg height.
T Groins have been installed to reduce erosion. However when erosion exposes them they’re ugly beyond belief. Presently they are not exposed.
This is not a party beach. The several blocks between Gulf Boulevard and the beach are packed with older one and two story mom and pop motels. Their customers are mostly older people and an occasional family with single digit age children.
There are lots of drive-​in attendees due to the ample parking. The drive-​ins are a typical beach mix.
Overall this is a decent beach that most people will find acceptable. For some people is strengths will make it their favorite beach.