Northwest Florida’s Panhandle Beaches and State Parks

With the warm, green waters of the Gulf of Mexico as its setting, Northwest Florida boasts some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Many of these beaches are part of the Florida State Park system and for a small fee, are available year round to enjoy in Florida’s mild climate. Beaches stretch from the Alabama-Florida border to the western panhandle of Florida and are famous for their white sands, shelling and overall ambiance.

The town of Santa Rosa Beach has two of Northwest Florida’s most popular beaches: Grayton Beach State Recreation Area and Topsail Hill State Preserve. Grayton Beach contains 1,133 acres; of that, 1.75 miles are beach access and another mile is a hiking trail. The site also has a campground for overnight stays. Topsail Hill comprises 1,640 acres; where 3.5 miles of that number is beachfront and another 2.5 miles contains a hiking trail.

Moving further along the panhandle, Henderson Beach State Recreation Area is located between the cities of Destin and Ft. Walton Beach, most commonly known for their emerald waters capped off with white tips. Henderson is the smallest of all Panhandle beaches with only 247 acres to the park. It does contain a modest 1.3 miles of coastline and an overnight campground. Similar in size to Henderson, Perdido Key State Recreation area is located on the Alabama- Florida border, just 15 miles southwest of the city of Pensacola, Florida.

Finally, the last two beaches are the area’s largest. Coming in at just over 1,960 acres, St. George Island State Park contains 9 miles of beaches, a 2.5 mile hiking trail, and a campground. It is located in the city of St. George Island, Florida. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park is Northwest Florida’s largest beachfront park encompassing over 2,516 acres. This park also has the largest area of beachfront at 14 miles, and 15.5 miles of trails for avid hikers. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park is located in the town of Port St. Joe, Florida.

If planning to visit more than one beach, or if you would like to make more than one trip per year, consider purchasing a Florida park system annual pass. These passes come in individual or family memberships, where families of up to eight people are admitted with one pass. Beaches are least crowded in September and October, which is also a great time to go shelling, especially after a tropical wave passes through the area. Many rare shells and artifacts have been known to wash up on the beaches, as strong gusts and tides blow them in. Whether you are into swimming, hiking or shelling, Florida’s panhandle beaches offer something for everyone.