We’ve Planned Your Perfect Pickleball Roadtrip
A multicity guide on where to stay and the best courts to play for a pickleball getaway across Florida
Pickleball Weekend in Tampa
Where to Stay
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
Spread out along 35 acres of waterfront, the Grand Hyatt has a hotel tower, spacious casitas that function more like rented homes and an excellent restaurant, Oystercatchers. But it’s the pair of pickleball courts on the property that makes this feel like a destination for players; an hour of court time is free for guests and $20 for anyone else.
What Courts to Play
Crescent Lake Park, St. Petersburg
This is a strong public-court option, with six pickleball courts at the Huggins-Stengel Sports Complex, featuring permanent pickleball lines and nets— meaning there’s no need to negotiate time between tennis matches.
McKay Park, Clearwater
McKay Park on Clearwater Beach has six pickleball courts as part of a renovation last year, making it the obvious pick for anybody wanting games within easy reach of the sand.
Rowlett Park, Tampa
A city-run spot with eight dedicated pickleball courts, Rowlett has the perks of a riverfront park, making it the choice if your travel partner would rather be in a canoe while you’re practicing dinks.
St. Pete Athletic, St. Petersburg
St. Pete Athletic has 14 indoor pickleball courts, plus a restaurant, cocktail bar and coffee bar, making it a good spot for both the serious player and anyone who wants to hold a racket in one hand and something cold in the other.
Tampa Pickleball Crew, Tampa
A good pick for the social side of the sport, this Ybor spot has 18 courts and programming that includes open play, lessons, leagues and live DJ events.
Inside the New World of Professional Pickleball in Florida
Pickle Weekend in South Florida
Where to Stay
JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, Aventura
This sprawling 300-acre hotel in Aventura was already a destination for families, thanks to its waterpark, spa and on-site restaurants. But last winter, it added the Turnberry Isle Racquet Club, with three pickleball and two padel courts, plus on-site instructors. Finish a day on the courts at Chef Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak, because there’s nothing like celebrating a W with a porterhouse.
What Courts to Play
The Fort, Fort Lauderdale
With 43 courts, both covered and outdoor, this is one of the state’s largest pickleball facilities, offering memberships and day passes. There’s skill-rated open play daily, meaning you’ll never have to guess if opponents are on your level. There’s a bar in the middle of the courts, an on-site restaurant from chefs Janine Booth and Jeff McInnis, and a stadium-style court for when your game is ready for the big-time.
CityPickle, Boca Raton
This New York export is opening a 19-pickleball-court indoor facility in Boca in fall 2026, and the renderings make it look more like a swanky country club than your average park setup. Expect a bar and upscale lockers to get you ready for play on the climate-controlled courts. Like the Times Square and Long Island City locations, there are memberships, plus day passes for those just passing through.
Miami Beach Golf Club, Miami
There are bigger and fancier pickleball spots in Miami (like DETA Pickleball Club, with its 17 courts), but these six courts are home to many of the city’s best players. There will be top-notch pickleballers waiting right after the courts open at 7 a.m., and there might still be a line when they close at 8 p.m. The reward for the wait: testing your skills among some seriously good players, especially on the dedicated challenge court. Good luck, banger.
Pickle Weekend in Naples
Where to Stay
Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort
There are hotels closer to the courts (Hampton Inn & Suites Naples South) and even a budget option with a private court of its own (Naples Park Central Hotel). But the Four Seasons has The Sanctuary, a 30,000-square-foot wellness center with treatment rooms and recovery programs, including the Ammortal Chamber, for “human recharging” with hydrogen, vibro-acoustics and multiwave frequencies—which has to help your third-shot drops, right?
What Courts to Play
East Naples Community Park
Folks in Naples claim the city is the pickleball capital of the world, and East Naples Community Park is the capital’s headquarters. With 65 courts, this is said to be the largest pickleball facility in Florida. Nine courts are open to the public, and the rest are run by the USOP National Pickleball Center, which charges $10 for daily access. If being a spectator is more your pickleball speed, every April the park hosts the weeklong US Open Pickleball Championships, billed as “The Biggest Pickleball Party in the World.”
Veterans Community Park
Find 14 outdoor courts, some with lights for night games and all with permanent lines and nets. But the best part of the play here is that it’s generally divided by skill level, starting with beginner-to-intermediate play and going all the way up to banger-level competition, with player ratings ranging from 3.5 to professional.
Pelican Bay Community Park
Opened in February, 10 dedicated courts are available to the public for a $10 daily fee. The courts are divided by skill level, and events like intermediate clinics and round robin play can be booked ahead on the park’s website.
To take a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional pickleball, click here.
About the Author
Eric has been a journalist in Florida for two decades, including stints at newspapers in Fort Pierce, Stuart and Sarasota. His role at Flamingo includes everything from interviewing chefs to first-line editing on cover stories and penning our monthly culinary newsletter, Key Lime.
