Eglin Beach Park

Located in the eastern end of the city of Destin, Eglin Beach Park is a mile-long beach with white sand and sparse vegetation.  It is important to note that Eglin Beach Park is a private beach that can be accessed only by Department of Defense personnel. The beach is open from April to October to all military ranks, retirees, family members, civilian personnel (including all federal employees regardless of duty station), and federal facility contractors and their guests. 

Eglin Beach Park has many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, several pavilions, a barbeque grill facility, a covered deck, picnic tables, and beach vendors. Dogs are not allowed on Eglin Beach Park, and the beach is open from 10 am until sunset.

Eglin Beach Park offers many fun activities including swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, paddle boarding, fishing, biking, and hiking. If you are planning to go in the water near Eglin Beach Park, be careful as the water here is known to have rip currents and jellyfish. This beach is ideal for visitors seeking a more tranquil experience as it sees fewer visitors than other beaches in Destin.

Getting to Eglin Beach Park is easy- the paid parking lot for the beach is located along United States Highway 98 – this parking lot is present near the eastern end of Okaloosa Island and you can easily access it after driving over the Destin Bridge from the nearby city of Destin. Please note that you need to pay three dollars per vehicle on weekdays and five dollars on weekends and holidays for parking here. There is an access trail near the parking lot that leads to Eglin Beach Park.

There are many attractions near Eglin Beach Park. Indian Temple Mound Museum offers interesting exhibits on Native American history. This museum has a gallery displaying the finest collection of artifacts and memorabilia of stone, clay, bone, and shell from European explorers, local pirates, and early settlers. Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park hosts many interesting shows including dolphins, rays, sharks, and sea-lions encounters. In addition, this marine park is home to many kinds of local marine wildlife including sharks, rays, sea lions, and dolphins - and also offers interactive animal-feeding and animal petting sessions. If you are looking for another attraction near Eglin Beach Park, Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park is a family water park that features a lazy river, tall water slides, a mini-golf course, a cyclone twister, a sky coaster, and numerous rides.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Eglin Beach Park. Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurant is a waterfront bistro that serves steamed and fried seafood, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and desserts. McGuire’s Sushi serves delicious Japanese cuisine including sushi, sashimi, tempura, tonkatsu, and sake. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Eglin Beach Park, the modestly priced Brain’s Broadwalk Grill offers light-filled views and serves amazing seafood, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, and salads.

If you are looking for a hotel near Eglin Beach Park, there are many great nearby options. If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 4-Star The Henderson Beach Resort & Spa is 14 minutes away by car and offers many amenities including an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center, a spa, a business center, and a restaurant. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Summer Place by Resort Quest offers many amenities including a golf course, a fitness center, two outdoor pools, a hot tub, a barbeque grills facility, and a restaurant. As another moderately priced option, the 3-Star Islander by Vacasa offers many amenities including a fitness center, an outdoor pool, shuffleboard courts, barbeque grills facility, and a restaurant. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Eglin Beach Park, the modestly priced 2-Star Holiday Inn Express Fort Walton Beach Central, an IHGHotel offers many amenities including an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a restaurant, and a complimentary breakfast.