Last updated on March 18th, 2025 at 06:18 am
Eight state parks along the coast of Florida’s Panhandle showcase Florida’s best beaches, making these beaches with camping among the most desirable in the state.
The soft white-sugar sands and the Gulf’s emerald green waters of these treasured parks set the stage for a magical overnight stay in your tent or RV.
Let’s go!
Big Lagoon State Park / Perdido Key
Big Lagoon State Park has two white-sand beaches of its own on the Intracoastal Waterway, but if you are looking for beaches directly on the Gulf, simply cross the bridge to Perdido Key. Perdido Key State Park doesn’t have its own campground, making them perfect sisters.
Aside from its twin beaches, Big Lagoon also has boat ramp, making it an excellent choice for paddlers and boaters. The park is the starting point for the 1,515-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail.
Crabbing in the shallow waters of the lagoon is also a popular activity in this 655-acre Florida state park with camping.
Big Lagoon is popular with bird lovers as a migration rest stop for birds who cross the Gulf to and from Caribbean islands and Latin America. The park’s mile-long boardwalk, a three-story observation tower and the park’s 3.5-mile nature trail are perfect for viewing.
Big Lagoon State Park, 12301 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola, FL 32507. 75 sites with water, 30/50-amp electric, picnic table, fire ring/grill. Maximum RV length is 40 feet. Wheelchair Accessible: Yes. Pets: OK, but not on beaches. Rates: $20 plus $7 per day utility fee and a non-refundable $6.70 booking fee. Reservations: Book online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or call (800) 326-3521 up to 11 months in advance for Florida residents, 10 months in advance for non-residents.
Perdido Key State Park, 15301 Perdido Key Drive, Pensacola FL 32507. Camping at Big Lagoon. Activities: Birding, fishing, hiking, shelling, surfing, swimming. Day-use fee: $3 per vehicle; $2 for pedestrians and bicycles.
Grayton Beach State Park
This 2,000-acre park embraces one of the most beautiful beaches in the U.S., a sugar-sand paradise that stretches a mile along a peninsula between Destin and Panama City Beach.
The park features a 4.5-mile trail within the park for hiking and biking, connecting to a paved, multi-use trail that runs the length of County Road 30A through Walton County’s colorful seaside villages.
There’s a boat ramp to launch your canoe or kayak into Western Lake, a rare freshwater lake amid the sand dunes, a unique feature of this section of coast.
Besides the campground, the park also has 30 duplex cabins.
Grayton Beach State Park, 357 Main Park Road, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459. 59 tent and RV sites with water and electric, a few with sewer; 30 cabins (2 BR/1 bath). Maximum RV length is 40 feet. Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, including beach wheelchairs. Pets: OK, not on beach. Camping Rate: $30/night plus $7 utility fee for RV hookups (not tents). Cabins: $110-$130/night (plus $7 utilities). Reservations: Book online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or call (800) 326-3521 up to 11 months in advance for Florida residents, 10 months in advance for non-residents.
Related Story about Grayton Beach State Park.
Henderson Beach State Park
As of March 2025, the campground at Henderson Beach State Park remained closed for renovations.
The sugar-white sand beach with 30-foot high sand dunes and convenient location near Destin shopping make this Florida state park with camping an attractive destination for RVers.
A nature trail winds through the rolling dune system. Surf fishing is popular here, and the catch includes pompano, red fish, flounder, catfish, whiting and the occasional cobia.
The campground is well-maintained with landscaping curated for privacy. The rest rooms have heat and A/C, showers and coin-operated washers and dryers.
Henderson Beach State Park, 17000 Emerald Coast Parkway, Destin, FL 32541. 60 sites with a mix of back-in and pull-through sites, water, 30/50-amp electric, picnic tables, ground grills and clothesline posts (no sewer hookups). Maximum RV length is 60 feet. Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, including the beach. Pets: OK, but not on beach. Camping Fee: $30/night plus $7 daily utility fee and $6.70 booking fee. Reservations: Book online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or call (800) 326-3521 up to 11 months in advance for Florida residents, 10 months in advance for non-residents.
Read more: Henderson Beach State Park
St. Andrews State Park
With its proximity to Panama City in the heart of Florida’s “Redneck Riviera,” you can just imagine how crowded this beachfront park can get in summer.
There are two fishing piers, a jetty and a boat ramp. Two nature trails offer opportunities for birding, especially during the spring and fall migrations. It’s also a good spot to observe the Monarch butterfly migration.
From March through November, take the park ferry to Shell Island for a day of shelling, sunning and beachcombing.
The campground is huge with 176 sites on two loops. There are five restrooms with showers and a laundry facility in the campground. Most sites have a view of Grand Lagoon.
Three sites are set aside for “Glamping” in luxury eco-tents with queen beds, two cots and air conditioning, already set up and ready to go (for a price).
St. Andrews State Park, 4607 State Park Lane, Panama City, FL 32408. 176 sites with water and electric, picnic tables and grills. Maximum RV length is 45 feet. Wheelchair Accessible: Yes. Pets: Yes. Camping Fee: $28/night plus a $7 daily for utilities and a $6.70 booking fee. Utility fee does not apply to tent camping. Reservations: Book online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or call (800) 326-3521 up to 11 months in advance for Florida residents, 10 months in advance for non-residents.
St. George Island State Park
St. George Island State Park is on the east end of a barrier island that frames Apalachicola Bay, one of the most productive oyster beds in the world.
Miles of pristine, white-sand beaches await you for swimming, sunbathing, shelling and beach combing. Two boat ramps on the bay side offer access for canoes, kayaks and small boats.
Nature trails meander through nearby pine forests and coastal scrub. Two primitive campsites can be accessed via a 2.5-mile trail or canoe and kayak.
The main campground is tucked behind rolling dunes, a short walk to the beach.
You are close enough to the commercial fishing port of Apalachicola to enjoy fresh fish, especially oysters, at any time of the year.
St. George Island State Park, 1900 E. Gulf Beach Drive, St. George Island, FL 32328. 60 campsites with electric and water, no sewer. 6 sites have concrete pads, and the rest are hard-pack sand. Maximum RV length is 43 feet. Hammocks: Yes. Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, including beach wheelchairs and a floating mobi-chair. Pets: OK in campground, but not on the beach. Rates: $24/night plus a $7 nightly utility fee and a $6.70 booking fee. Reservations: Book online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or call (800) 326-3521 up to 11 months in advance for Florida residents, 10 months in advance for non-residents.
Read more: Apalachicola and St. George Island State Park
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
Oh, my! The beaches on St. Joseph’s Peninsula are unbelievable, consistently ranking among the best in the nation. The park offers 10 miles of white-sugar beach on Cape San Blas and some of the highest sand dunes in the state.
Launch kayaks and paddle boards from the beach, or at the bayside boat ramp. There are three hiking trails, including a six-mile Wilderness Preserve Trail that meanders through 1750 acres of an unspoiled coastal eco-system bustling with wildlife.
Swim in the Gulf or the bay. The two campground loops are a short walk to the beach. The Shady Pines campground has more shade. Some sites accommodate RVs up to 40 feet, but most are much smaller with individual limits.
Eight cabins are available for $100 a night overlooking St. Joseph’s Bay.
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, 8899 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, FL 32456. Eight cabins and 119 camp sites with 30-amp electric, water, a picnic table and fire ring. Max RV is 40 feet. Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, including beach wheelchairs. Pets: Yes. Camping: $24/night plus $7 daily utility fee and a $6.70 booking fee. Cabins: $100/night. Primitive Camping: $5.00/ person/night. Reservations: Book online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or call (800) 326-3521 up to 11 months in advance for Florida residents, 10 months in advance for non-residents.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Towering sand dunes surround three miles of pristine white-sand beach and encompass two freshwater coastal dune lakes at this sprawling 1,600-acre state park on a barrier island west of Panama City Beach.
Bring your bicycles. Outside of the campground, the 1,640-acre park is off-limits to cars. A tram runs to the beach from the campground.
The campground is unusual for state parks with its swimming pool and shuffleboard courts. Every campsite has a cable TV connection. Restrooms with showers have both heat and A/C and laundry facilities.
The park also has 30 bungalows and cabins, and the campground store offers glamping in a fully outfitted tent with a queen bed, linens, rugs, lamps and portable air conditioners or heaters.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, 7525 W. Scenic Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459. 156 RV campsites with water, 30/50-amp electric, cable and sewer hookups. Max RV is 45 feet. 22 tent sites on elevated pads with fire ring, water and electric. 30 bungalows and cabins. Wheelchair Accessible: Yes. Pets: Yes. Camping: $42/night for RV sites plus $7/night for utilities and a $6.70 book fee; $24 for tent sites. Max RV length is 45 feet. Cabins: $100-$145/night (seasonal). Glamping: $130. Reservations: Book online at reserve.floridastateparks.org or call (800) 326-3521 up to 11 months in advance for Florida residents, 10 months in advance for non-residents.
Read in depth: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
FAQ / Frequently Asked Questions
Is park admission included in state park camping rates?
Yes. Park admission is included in the base camping rate.
Do Florida residents have an advantage when reserving campsites in state parks?
Yes. Florida residents can book campsites at Florida State Parks up to 11 months in advance, a 30-day head start over non-residents.
Are Florida residents entitled to discounts?
Florida residents 65 and older are entitled to a 50% discount off the base camping fee. The discount does not apply to utility or booking fees, which are additional.
A 50% discount on the base camping fee is also available to families from a Florida-licensed foster home and to Florida residents with a Social Security disability award certificate or a 100% disability award certificate from the federal government.
Can an individual reserve more than one campsite?
No, at least not for the same dates in the same park. However, some parks have group camping areas with some restrictions and qualifications, such as youth groups or non-profits. Contact the individual parks directly.
Can I reserve a campsite for someone else?
No. Registered campers must produce identification to rangers upon arrival at the campground, and the ID must match the name on the reservation.
Is there a limit on how long I can stay?
Yes. There is a two-week limit for a reservation at any one state park, and there is a waiting period between bookings at the same park. However, you can book different state parks back to back, if sites are available.
Are pets allowed in state parks?
Yes. Pets are allowed in all Florida State Park campgrounds but not on beaches.
Is alcohol allowed in state park campgrounds?
Registered campers are permitted to consume alcohol at their campsite but not other areas of the park.
Editors Note: This FAQ applies only to Florida State Parks, not other public campgrounds, such as state forests or national parks. The rules are different there.
My boyfriend and I are new to the RV world, I would like to find a park next to the water to stay the weekend with my three dogs. Off the beaten path, if possible.
All of the campgrounds in this particular story are on the Gulf, and pets are allowed in the campground but not on the beaches. Aside from that, your request is a tall order! Florida is a big state, and there are more than 60 state parks with campgrounds, even more county, national and state forest campgrounds. Most state parks allow up to four (4) pets, while I’ve seen other campgrounds set the limits at two. I suggest you check out our Camping Channel for campgrounds near you. Where are you located? Go to http://www.floridarambler.com/florida-camping Good luck!
The Panhandle is already under too much pressure from those emigrating from other states and countries that I hate to see it get worse. I wish these places stayed unknown.