Destin is wonderful… destin-ation (too soon in the post for a pun?) for long summer days at the beach, cocktails, and salt water adventures. With the amount of commercialization and private beaches though, sometimes figuring out where to go can be a little tricky. Here’s my guide on where to find the best beaches in Destin and the surrounding areas to make your adventure planning easy.
Your Complete Guide To The Best Beaches In Destin, Florida
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Henderson Beach State Park
- Cost: $6 per vehicle/ $2 per pedestrian
- Hours: 8am – sunset every day
- Facilities: Restrooms, showers, small gift shop, pavilions, grills
- Pair with: Ice cream from Wave Destin
Henderson Beach State Park is certainly one of the best beaches in Destin because it’s got everything!
Of course you have a gorgeous beach to swim in, but you also have toilet blocks, pavilions, beach showers, a small gift store, and plenty of parking.
If you want to leave for lunch and return to the park, keep you receipt and show it on the way back in. Though, it’s worth noting that your return visit is not guaranteed. If the park fills up while you’re gone you will have to wait until others leave.
In addition to the large 1.2 mile beach area, you can also camp here and walk some of the easy trails.
Henderson Beach State Park
Calhoun Beach Access/ Junie White Decker Park
- Cost: Free
- Hours: All hours
- Facilities: Restrooms, showers
- Pair with: Cocktails and oysters at The Back Porch
Great places to go to the beach if you want to be close to a bar – you have the amazing Back Porch close by with a walk up bar. Their Key Lime Freeze is a must try!
There’s a fairly large parking area behind the Back Porch.
However, these aren’t my favorite beach spots because they get so crowded and everyone is condensed to a smaller area, to a point that the beach day is not as enjoyable. Portions get roped off for companies to use and I don’t love the over commercialization of these outdoor areas.
That’s just my personal opinion though and I always recommend you seeing things for yourself.
I love going there for sunrise because it has gorgeous views and peaceful vibes.
Beach at Calhoun Beach Access
Norriego Point
- Cost: Parking fees – pay through the Passport app (signs at the parking area have all the info)
- Hours: All hours
- Facilities: Paid parking
- Pair with: Roast’d Yoga Bar for coffee and an acai bowl
Norriego Point is one of the best beaches in Destin if you’re looking for a place to go snorkeling. There’s a lot of wildlife in this area from bird life to dolphins, turtles, and plenty of fish.
Parking is the limiting factor here so you’ll want to go early. The small parking lot is at the end of Gulf Shore Drive, then you can walk to the beach areas from there.
There are a couple of little inlets that are kind of like large tide pools with rocky areas for snorkeling.
Norriego Point doesn’t have the same hustle and bustle as the other beaches, for example it’s not where you go if you want water sports and umbrella rentals etc, but it’s great for a quiet sunrise experience or snorkeling.
Norriego Point
Pompano Joes Access, Miramar Beach
- Cost: Free
- Hours: All hours
- Facilities: Parking
- Pair with: Drinks/meal at Pompano Joes
The next two beaches are near each other and fairly similar in terms of the beach experience.
Both have that gorgeous Emerald Coast water and are excellent choices if you want a touristy day at the beach experience.
Pompano Joes has a walk up bar if you want to have a drink while you’re at the beach and it’s convenient to be able to break for lunch there without having to give up the views of the water.
Laze at the beach or adventure with any of the nearby water sports operators – the choice is yours.
Use ‘Pompano Joes’ in Google Maps to get there and the large parking lot is next to the restaurant.
Looking back at Pompano Joes
James Lee Beach
- Cost: Free
- Hours: All hours
- Facilities: Parking, pavilions, restrooms, showers
- Pair with: Drinks and a meal at Crab Trap
James Lee Beach is another fantastic option when you want a beach vacation experience with lots on offer.
For drinks, you can walk up to the Crab Trap and it’s also a great option for a lunch close by.
The thing with these touristy beaches is that parking can be limited in the peak season – everyone is trying to visit the same places. If you have to leave during the day for lunch, you might not be getting a parking spot when you return.
Having these beaches by restaurants so you can get a few drinks and lunch during the day is a huge convenience.
Use ‘James Lee Beach’ in Google Maps to get there and the large parking lot is next to the Crab Trap.
Beaches 10-15 minutes from Destin
*keep in mind that driving time is heavily dependent on traffic at the time*
Gulf Islands National Seashore, Okaloosa Island
- Cost: Free
- Hours: 8am – 6pm
- Facilities: Parking, restrooms
- Pair with: Gator Tacos at Rockin’ Tacos
Just a little down the road from Destin is the Gulf Islands National Seashore park.
This is a great spot for paddle boarding, kayaking etc. because the water is usually fairly calm with a long shallower area.
It’s also got a decent stretch of beach if you just want to laze about and swim.
The parking area is quite large and I’ve never had an issue getting a spot here. Also even on busy days when the beach has been crowded, it’s been easy to walk a little further to get more space.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
John Beasley Park
- Cost: Free
- Hours: 1 hour before sunrise – 1 hour after sunset
- Facilities: Parking, restrooms, showers, pavilions, tables
- Pair with: Snacks and drinks at The Boardwalk
A great thing about Okaloosa area is that you can get the same incredible beaches without the hectic crowds.
John Beasley Park is one of those awesome places. You’ve got a beautiful, large stretch of beach and gorgeous water for swimming, snorkeling, or paddling.
Keep an eye out for dolphins here too – I see them all the time!
It’s got plenty of amenities for a full day at the beach and lots of restaurants nearby if you’re looking to dine locally.
John Beasley Park
Eglin Beach Park
- Cost: $5 for parking + must have DOD ID
- Hours: 10am – 5pm during summer/ Friday – Sunday 10am – 5pm during fall (closes for bad weather or training – follow their Facebook page for current closures)
- Facilities: Parking, restrooms, showers, pavilions, tables, water sport rental store + drinks and snacks
- Pair with: Snacks and drinks at The Boardwalk
Adding this one in for the military families as you must have a DOD ID card to access this beach.
There is also a $5 fee for parking but it is well worth it for all the amenities on offer and upkeep of the facilities.
There’s a small kiosk where you can rent water sport equipment like paddle boards and kayaks as well as umbrellas and chairs just steps from the beach which is something that sets this beach apart.
You’ve also got covered seating areas if you want to escape the sun, along with toilets and showers.
The large beach area offers plenty of space and keep an eye out for wildlife in the gorgeous water. I’ve seen dolphins and a huge manta ray here!
Eglin Beach Park
Okaloosa Island Pier
- Cost: $2 to walk the pier – follow their Facebook page for current updates
- Hours: 5am – 12am
- Facilities: Parking, restrooms, small store for fishing equipment and snacks
- Pair with: Snacks and drinks at The Boardwalk
Here’s a great option for a beach day with all the trimmings.
Walking the pier gives you a chance to see the fishermen reel in their latest catch, spot wildlife, and soak in the gorgeous views.
Once you’re done with the pier, there’s a large stretch of beach to base yourself for the day.
You’ll also be a few steps away from The Boardwalk which gives the day a fun, touristy vibe. There you can get food like Gator Tacos from Rockin’ Tacos, drinks, ice cream, and souvenirs.
The parking area is huge, but as with everything in the region, even this large lot can get busy during the peak season. If you’re visiting on a big summer holiday weekend, it might be a good idea to arrive early or be ready to do a few laps until you find a spot.
I didn’t take photos at the Okaloosa Pier – so here’s one from Eglin Beach Park
Beaches 30-40 minutes from Destin
Grayton Beach
- Cost: Free
- Hours: All hours
- Facilities: Park and ride shuttle, showers
- Pair with: Oysters and drinks at AJ’s
When I’m branching out from the Destin and Okaloosa Island area, this is one of my favorite places to go.
At Grayton Beach you can park yourself on the huge stretch of fluffy sand, swim in the stunning water, and keep an eye out for the wildlife that may stop by. A manatee swam right passed me once!
To complete the day, you have quick access to the restaurants, bars, and stores in the area and water sport equipment rental services.
It’s made simple with the park and ride service that is offered for free given that parking is very limited by the beach.
For more information, I have a full guide on how to spend a day at Grayton Beach here.
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Blue Mountain Beach
- Cost: Free
- Hours: All hours
- Facilities: Restrooms, showers, small parking area
- Pair with: Ice cream at Blue Mountain Beach Creamery
Blue Mountain Beach is another beautiful area about 10 minutes from Grayton Beach.
It’s going to give you a quieter, local vibe so it’s a good option if you want to get away from the bigger crowds. I think of it like a scaled down Grayton Beach in terms of facilities.
The parking can be quite limited here with a small lot by the entrance and limited parallel street parking. There are two locations listed on Google Maps, so here are the GPS coordinates: 30°20’16.9″N 86°12’03.3″W
It’s certainly worth a visit to check out this stunning beach area.
Navarre Beach
- Cost: Free
- Hours: All hours
- Facilities: Parking, pavilions, restrooms, showers, water sport and beach equipment rentals
- Pair with: Lunch at Windjammers on the Pier
Navarre is another amazing beach with quiet, local vibes.
Start with a walk along the longest fishing pier in Florida for $1. It’s a fantastic place for spotting wildlife like turtles, dolphins, fish, and sharks.
The beach is just as gorgeous as the others on this list and has a large stretch of beach with plenty of room for you to find a spot.
Navarre Beach
Handy items for you beach days in Destin
Here are some of my go-to favorite things for beach days to help elevate your vacation experience!
- Dry bag for valuables
- Cool Cabana for shade – this is the best thing I’ve bought for beach days!
- Lightweight towel – great for travel too
- Waterproof camera (I use mine with this floaty selfie stick)
- Wide hat
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle
If you’re in the market for a paddle board, I have this inflatable one and it’s awesome!
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How To Keep Your Valuables Safe At The Beach As A Solo Female Traveler
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