Best Tennis Courts in St. Petersburg
The St. Pete courts I actually send people to, from the historic clay at Bartlett Park to the best free hard courts on the bay.
The short version
The best tennis in St. Petersburg starts at the historic St. Petersburg Tennis Center, 20 Har-Tru clay courts open since 1919 for about $15 a day. For free hard courts, North Shore Park on the bay, Crescent Lake, Azalea, and the eight-court Lake Vista complex are the ones I send people to. Most are lit for night play, and every court here is on the map.
St. Petersburg has the best public tennis on this side of the bay, and it is not particularly close. The historic clay at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center is the headline, but the free hard courts at North Shore, Crescent Lake, Azalea, and Lake Vista are the ones I play most weeks. So here is my actual list of the best tennis courts in St. Pete, grouped the way I think about them, with what each costs, how it plays, and who it is for.
One thing to get out of the way first. A lot of online court lists rank St. Pete parks by how many Google reviews they have, which surfaces the big recreation complexes, not the best tennis. The courts below are sorted for tennis: surface, upkeep, lights, and whether you can actually get on. Some of the highest-rated parks in town are really pickleball parks with two tennis courts tacked on, and I have left those off.
The one to play first
St. Petersburg Tennis Center (Bartlett Park)
Clay (Har-Tru) · 20 courts · Lit · ~$15/day
If you play tennis in St. Pete and you have not been here, go this week. The St. Petersburg Tennis Center opened in 1919 and is one of the most historic public tennis facilities in the country. Chris Evert won her first pro title on these courts, and Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, Rod Laver, and Martina Navratilova all played here. There is a small tennis museum on site. Today it is 20 Har-Tru clay courts, most of them lit, groomed and watered to take the Florida heat, with a friendly and seriously competitive community around it. It is a City of St. Petersburg facility run by a non-profit foundation, with a modest daily walk-on fee of about $15 for non-members. For clay this good and this storied, it is worth every cent. See the St. Petersburg Tennis Center page, part of the St. Pete courts directory.
The historic St. Petersburg Tennis Center at Bartlett Park, where the Har-Tru clay has hosted champions since 1919.
Tip
If you have never played on Har-Tru clay, try it on a hot afternoon. It is softer underfoot, the ball sits up, and the points last longer, which is easier on your knees than a baking hard court in July. The St. Petersburg Tennis Center is the easiest place in the city to play it, and a day pass is only a few dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best tennis court in St. Petersburg?
For history and clay, the St. Petersburg Tennis Center at Bartlett Park is the one to play, with 20 Har-Tru courts open since 1919 for about $15 a day. For free hard courts, North Shore Park on the bayfront and the eight-court Lake Vista Recreation Center are the best of the public parks.
Where can I play tennis for free in St. Petersburg?
Plenty of public parks have free, first-come hard courts. The best are North Shore Park, Crescent Lake Park, Azalea Park, Lake Vista Recreation Center, Puryear Park, and Coquina Key Park. The historic St. Petersburg Tennis Center is the main paid exception, with a small daily clay fee.
Are there clay tennis courts in St. Petersburg?
Yes. The St. Petersburg Tennis Center at Bartlett Park has 20 Har-Tru clay courts, most of them lit, open to the public for a daily fee of about $15 for non-members. The Vinoy Resort also has clay, but those courts are for members and resort guests only.
Which St. Petersburg courts have lights for night play?
Most of the city's public courts are lit. North Shore Park, Crescent Lake Park, Azalea Park, Lake Vista, Puryear Park, Coquina Key Park, and the St. Petersburg Tennis Center clay all have lights for evening play.
Where can I see all St. Petersburg tennis courts at once?
Every court here has a page on the TB Let's Play court map, where you can filter by surface, lights, and fees, check parking and hours, and find others near you.
Clayton Walker
Founder
Founder of TB Let's Play and lifelong tennis player. Building the community resource Tampa Bay deserves for finding courts, connecting with players, and making the most of our region's incredible tennis and pickleball scene.
Find these courts on the map
See locations, lights, surfaces, and amenities for every court in this guide.
Open the court mapTB Let's Play is free. Join to find players near you and keep up with local courts.
North Shore Park sits on the downtown St. Petersburg bayfront, a short walk from the Pier.
Crescent Lake Park's free courts, on the water in one of St. Pete's prettiest old neighborhoods.
Coquina Key Park sits on a key with water on three sides, looking back toward the downtown St. Petersburg skyline.
