Treasure Island got its name from a marketing stunt pulled in the early 1900s, when property owners buried wooden chests on the beach and staged their discovery to drum up interest in the island. That kind of resourceful charm still lingers across this small Gulf Coast city in Pinellas County, tucked just west of St. Petersburg along nearly four miles of white sandy shoreline.
The city is made up of three distinct areas: a commercial downtown core, a quieter south end of brightly painted cottages, and a north side that borders the lively John's Pass Village in Madeira Beach. Each section has its own personality, giving the city a layered feel despite its compact three-square-mile footprint.
The rental landscape here leans residential and relaxed, offering a mix of low-rise apartment communities, beach cottages, and mid-size condo-style buildings. Colorful single-story rentals sit alongside updated waterfront units that appeal to those seeking easy Gulf access.
