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St. Andrews State Park

Photo: Alan Lupsha / CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

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St. Andrews State Park

Panama City Beach, FL · Panhandle

About

Two long rock jetties reach out from the eastern tip of Panama City Beach and wrap the Gulf into a calm, waist-deep pool where the water glows emerald and kids can wade while snorkelers drift the rocks for fish and sea stars. Beyond the jetty stretch a wide white-sand Gulf beach, a quieter Grand Lagoon side with fishing piers and a concession, and trails through dunes, scrub, and pine flatwoods to old World War II gun mounts. Catch the shuttle across the pass to undeveloped Shell Island, or pitch a tent at one of the 60 pinewood campsites and stay for the sunrise.

Highlights

Calm jetty swimming poolSnorkeling the jetty rocksWhite-sand Gulf beachShell Island shuttleGrand Lagoon fishing piersWWII gun emplacement & dunes trails60-site pinewood campground

Getting there

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Curated guides that feature St. Andrews State Park.

Florida State Parks26 places

Florida State Parks

Florida's park service runs about 175 state parks, and these are the ones worth planning a trip around. Wild barrier islands and sugar-sand beaches, deep springs and dark caverns, 19th-century forts and prairies where bison still roam, from the Panhandle's emerald coast to the coral reefs of the Keys. The definitive short list, not the whole directory.