Crooked Island Beach

Located near the city of Mexico Beach, Crooked Island Beach - also known as Crooked Island East Beach - is a large beach with white sand. This beach is a part of a United States Air Force base known as Tyndall Air Force Base. 

Crooked Island Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities except a restroom, so plan accordingly. 

There are many attractions near Crooked Island Beach within a 30-minute drive. John B. Gore Park is a waterfront recreational park that has basketball courts, a boat ramp, floating docks, restrooms, picnic areas, a playground,a soccer/football field, tennis courts, and two ball fields. The park also has the Historic One Room Schoolhouse and the Ellie Fox Memorial Museum.  Escape Manor offers fun and challenging escape room puzzles. If you are looking for another attraction near Crooked Island Beach, Bay County Historical Museum is operated by the Historical Society of Bay County and it offers an interesting insight into the local history.

Getting to Crooked Island Beach is easy - the beach is easily accessible from United States Highway 98. However, it is important to note that in order to access Crooked Island Beach, all visitors need to obtain a permit from Tyndall Air Force Base. If you want to apply for a permit for visiting Crooked Island Beach, you can visit the Tyndall Air Force Base Outdoor Recreation Program website for more information regarding the permit rules. Unfortunately, this beach is currently off-limits to the general public as it has been significantly damaged by Hurricane Michael and is undergoing repairs. 

There are many attractions near Crooked Island Beach within a 30-minute drive. John B. Gore Park is a waterfront recreational park that has basketball courts, a boat ramp, floating docks, restrooms, picnic areas, a playground,a soccer/football field, tennis courts, and two ball fields. The park also has the Historic One Room Schoolhouse and the Ellie Fox Memorial Museum.  Escape Manor offers fun and challenging escape room puzzles. If you are looking for another attraction near Crooked Island Beach, Bay County Historical Museum is operated by the Historical Society of Bay County and it offers an interesting insight into the local history.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Crooked Island Beach within a 40-minute drive.  The Shrimp Boat Restaurant is an upscale restaurant which offers amazing salads, seafood, steaks, sandwiches, and pasta. Bayou Joe’s offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience. In addition, the restaurant also serves excellent dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner including eggs, grits, French toasts, fries, seafood, sandwiches, and salads. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Crooked Island Beach, Big Mama’s On The Bayou offers delicious Southern-style dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Crooked Island Beach, there are many great nearby options within a 35-minute drive. If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 4-Star Grand Panama Beach Resort by Emerald View Resorts is a 53-minute drive away and offers many amenities including a pool with a sundeck, a children’s pool, a tiki bar,an exercise room, a hot tub, and multiple restaurants. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Holiday Inn Panama City, an IHG Hotel which offers many amenities including a cocktail lounge, a pool, and an Italian restaurant. As another moderately priced option, the 3-Star Hilton Garden Inn Panama City offers many amenities including a restaurant, a bar, a market (which is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week), a fitness center, and a pool. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Crooked Island Beach, the 2-Star La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Panama City offers many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, a fitness center, coin-operated laundry facilities, and complimentary breakfast.