Located at the southeastern tip of Panama City Beach, St. Andrews State Park is probably one of the more beautiful places you will ever visit. This pristine 1,260-acre park offers a peek at what the entire beach area looked like before hotels, restaurants, and homes took over most of the 27 mile stretch of beach front.
Well-known for its sugar white sands and emerald green waters, this former military reservation has over one-and-a-half miles of beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and Grand Lagoon.
The north side of the park fronts Grand Lagoon. There’s a pier, a boat launch, a picnic area with grills, and plenty of campsites on the north side. The south side fronts the St. Andrew Bay channel entrance. There is a huge rock jetty to explore and the fishing is exceptional.
The back side of the jetty contains a shallow area known as the \’kiddie pool\’ that is away from all of the boating traffic. It\’s ideal for swimming and sunbathing. There is also a big pavilion that many people use for weddings, birthdays and other gatherings. The west side fronts the Gulf of Mexico. It has beautiful white beaches and a nice pier. It is popular with fishermen, surfers, boogie-boarders, and sunbathers.
Two nature trails wind through a rich diversity of coastal plant communities – a great opportunity for bird-watching. Full-facility campsites, as well as primitive youth group camping, make this park a popular overnight destination. A concession offers snacks, souvenirs, and fishing amenities.
For more information, check out the St. Andrews State Park webpage on the Florida State Parks site at www.floridastateparks.org/standrews
Contact Information
- Address: 4607 State Park La., Panama City Beach, FL, 32408-7323
- Phone: 850-233-5140
- Cost: $8 per vehicle, up to 8 people
- Hours: Daily 8AM – sunset
