Velo Escapes Suncoast Camp · A Past Escape
The Epic
Flat-out fast along the Gulf — the trip where you find out how long you can hold the pace.
The Idea
Five days where the only thing you spend energy on is the riding. Lodging, routes, SAG, meals, recovery — all of it scouted, booked, staffed, and on the schedule before you arrive.
We're posted up at the Hampton Inn St. Petersburg — clean, modern, with the kind of breakfast that gets you out the door at 7 a.m. with food in you. Right downtown, walking distance to the marina and the Pinellas Trail.
Routes stitch together the Pinellas Trail end-to-end, the Fred Marquis Trail, Sand Key Park, and the long causeway crossings of Tampa Bay. Almost entirely traffic-free, almost entirely flat — perfect for big-mile days at a fast group pace. SAG support every ride. A pro-level bike mechanic on staff full-time, riding with the group. Massages on the long-ride day. Group dinners at the best of what St. Pete has to offer — and yes, kit gets washed.
Bring your bike, your kit, and your legs. We've got the rest.
Ride Profile
Itinerary
Arrive between 2 and 6 p.m. (check-in at the hotel starts at 3). Drop your bags. Outdoor pool. Walking distance to the marina and the Saturday market. Evening: 7 p.m. group dinner at The Library — modern American with a long bar list, walking distance from the hotel.
Included meals: Dinner, Snacks
50 mi · 350 ft climbing
An honest opening day. 50 miles north along the Pinellas Trail to the Greek sponge-diving town of Tarpon Springs. Mostly flat, mostly shaded, traffic-free almost the entire way. SAG along the trailheads. Lunch: 12:30 p.m. at Hellas Restaurant & Bakery in Tarpon Springs — proper Greek, walking distance from the trail. Back at the hotel by 3. Pool, marina walk. Evening: 6 p.m. group dinner at Annata Wine Bar — Italian small plates, walking distance.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
65 mi · 500 ft climbing
A real day in the saddle. 65 miles up the barrier islands — Sand Key, Clearwater Beach, Honeymoon Island State Park — with Gulf of Mexico views the entire way. Mostly flat with a few small bridges. SAG support. Lunch: 12:30 p.m. at Frenchy's South Beach Café on Clearwater Beach — Gulf-fresh seafood, beach seating. Back at the hotel around 3. Evening: 6 p.m. group dinner at Birch & Vine — modern Florida, downtown walking distance.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
85 mi · 600 ft climbing
The day everyone's here for. 85 miles up the Pinellas Trail end-to-end and back via the western coastal route — traffic-free, fast, with a tailwind for one direction and a real grinder for the other. SAG support throughout. Lunch on the road at Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks — Greek seafood, fresh out of the Gulf. Back at the hotel: 30-to-60-minute massages (included). Evening: dinner delivered from Bella Brava — Italian. Optional Gulf Beach sunset dinner cruise available before dinner ($125/pp, see below).
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
43 mi · 193 ft climbing
A recovery spin in the morning before checkout. About 43 miles through the southern Pinellas Trail and Fort De Soto Park — flat, easy, beautiful Gulf views. Loose legs, a full hot breakfast at the hotel beforehand, goodbye until next time.
Included meals: Breakfast, Snacks
A note on fitness and ability
The riding is open to intermediate to strong riders — you don't need to race, but you should be able to sit in with a group at 16–18 mph average on rolling terrain for several hours.
Off the front is fine. If you want to push, push. Take your segment, find your gas station, regroup later — we won't hold you back.
Off the back is not. A group this size has one SAG, and it stays with the group. If you can't hold the group's pace, the day breaks — for you, and for everyone else. That's the only line.
E-bikes welcome — a quick note on charging
E-bikes are a great way to enjoy these routes. A couple of practical notes so the day goes smoothly: bring your own charger, and have a look at each day's distance against your battery range. Be smart about taking on the full distance if your battery won't make it — there's no way to recharge mid-ride, so if a day looks tight, plan to ride a shorter loop or sit that one out rather than risk running flat.
Base Camp
We've taken rooms at the Hampton Inn St. Petersburg — a clean modern hotel right in downtown St. Pete, walking distance to the marina, the Saturday morning market, and the Pinellas Trail trailhead. Outdoor heated pool. Fitness center. Complimentary hot breakfast every morning starting at 6 a.m.
Two room types — both two-queen, both quad occupancy. Standard rooms have everything you need; the king-suite upgrades add a small sitting area. Significant others welcome — downtown St. Pete is one of the most walkable beach-town downtowns in Florida.
New This Year
We've put a pro-level bike mechanic on staff full-time — riding with the group every day, in camp every evening.
Before each ride: every bike is greased, lubed, and dialed in. After each ride: every bike is cleaned, checked over, and set up for tomorrow. Flat on the road? Handled. Skipping in the cassette? Handled.
No one is fixing their own flats. No one is lubing their own chain at 6 a.m. This isn't a guide with a multi-tool — this is a pro mechanic, on staff, just for your bike.
Bring your legs. The bike is our problem.
Everything Is Handled
Your own bedroom and your own bathroom. Not a dorm. Not a shared bunk. Significant others welcome.
A real bike mechanic, on staff full-time, riding with us every day. Bikes prepped before every ride, cleaned and dialed in after. Flats on the road? Handled. You don't fix anything yourself.
All meals included — every breakfast, every lunch, every dinner — plus on-bike nutrition and snacks at the villa.
Saltwater pool. Hot tub. Massages on the long-ride day. Indoor fireplace. Sunken fire pit.
On-route navigation support with GPS files and daily ride briefings
A dedicated support vehicle following the route for safety and logistics
A custom-designed cycling jersey for the trip
Laundry service so you can pack light and ride fresh every day
A curated digital photo album capturing the highlights of your escape
An experienced guide riding with the group for navigation and support
Mid-ride snacks and fuel stops to keep you energized on the road
Electrolyte drinks and hydration supplies provided daily
Cold drinks and refreshments waiting for you at the finish each day
A mesh laundry bag for easy drop-off and pickup
Gratuities for local experts, restaurant staff, and hospitality teams
St. Petersburg sits on the western edge of Tampa Bay, the gateway to Florida's Suncoast. Long flat coastal roads. The famous Pinellas Trail — 47 miles of dedicated paved bike path running the length of the peninsula. Sand Key, Honeymoon Island, and the long causeway crossings of Tampa Bay. Almost no climbing. Almost no traffic. Tailwinds and palm trees. The hidden gem of US cycling destinations.
Travel
Closest airports — both work:
St. Pete–Clearwater International (PIE) is about 10 miles from the hotel, roughly a 15-minute drive. Smaller airport, limited carriers — direct from a handful of Midwest cities (Allegiant, Sun Country).
Tampa International (TPA) is about 25 miles from the hotel, roughly a 35-minute drive. Major hub with direct flights from most US cities.
Rental cars available at both airports. Or pick our optional private SUV shuttle from either airport at checkout — door-to-door, no rental-car detour.
Weather
Mid-March in St. Pete is peak Florida cycling — warm dry days in the upper 70s, cool mornings in the low 60s, low humidity (rare for Florida), and the kind of weather you'd build a camp around. Tailwind days are common — and so are headwind days, sometimes both on the same ride.
Rain is possible but usually moves through fast. Pack a light rain shell. Sunrise around 7:40 a.m., sunset around 7:45 p.m. — plenty of daylight.
The afternoon sea breeze off the Gulf of Mexico is real — afternoon rides usually have a steady west wind we can use. Mornings are still and humid.
Official Partner
Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop in Austin is an official partner of Velo Escapes — and our go-to recommendation for any rider coming to this trip who needs a high-quality road rental.
Flying in without a bike? Reach out to the team at Mellow Johnny's directly. They know our trips, they know the kind of roads we're riding, and they'll set you up properly before you head out.
Note: they ship rentals nationwide — so wherever the trip is, they can get a bike to you.
Completed
Trip is complete.
More About This Trip
About the routes. All four rides have been scouted and ridden by us personally. Routes use the Pinellas Trail and Fred Marquis Trail for the majority of the mileage — paved, traffic-free, and shaded for long stretches.
Route flexibility. We reserve the right to change routes if weather conditions warrant it. Florida thunderstorms are unpredictable — we have backup indoor recovery plans for any day they hit.
Time of year. Mid-March in St. Pete is peak cycling season — warm dry days in the upper 70s, cool mornings in the low 60s, low humidity (for Florida), and the kind of weather you'd build a camp around.
One more thing. Bring a positive attitude and a willingness to push when the road kicks up. We'll handle the rest.
