St. Andrews State Park

Located near the town of Panama City Beach, St. Andrews State Park is a state park that has multiple unnamed white sand beaches. One of the beaches in St. Andrews State Park is also known as Jetty Beach as it has a rocky jetty. While some of the beaches in St. Andrews State Park are present in mainland Bay County, the state park’s other beaches are present on a nearby seven-mile long island known as Shell Island. The beaches in St. Andrews State Park are favorites of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach. The Gulf of Mexico water near St. Andrews State Park is popular among surfers. In addition, it is also popular among snorkelers and scuba divers, who often enter the water here to explore its vibrant biodiversity - depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of animals in the water near this state park including dolphins and sea turtles. In addition, the water here is also home to many kinds of fish including sheepshead, octopus, and rays. However, if you are planning to go into the water near St. Andrews State Park, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have rip currents. In addition, the water here is also known to occasionally have high levels of microbial contamination. If you are planning to fish in the water near St. Andrews State Park, we recommend following the local fishing regulations. If you like birdwatching, you can view many kinds of rare bird species on the beaches in St. Andrew State Park including snowy plovers and the least terns. St. Andrews State Park is spread over 12,000 acres and has a vibrant landscape with many habitats including sand dunes, marshlands, scrub forests, and pine flatwood forests. You can explore the park via the two nature trails present here. The state park also has a lake named Gator Lake. You can view many kinds of animals and birds in this state park including ibis, deer, alligators, the rare Choctawhatchee beach mouse, and heron. Shell Island, which is also managed by St. Andrews State Park, also offers an interesting insight into the local biodiversity. The state park also has World War Two-era military installations. St. Andrews State Park also has a campground that accommodates both tents and RVs. If you are planning to camp in St. Andrews State Park, you can visit the park’s webpage on Florida State Park website for more information regarding camping rules and amenities.

The beaches in St. Andrews State Park do not have lifeguards. However, the state park has many amenities including showers, restrooms, playground, piers, concession stores, picnic areas, nature trails, and canoe and kayak launching facilities. Some of the beaches in St. Andrews State Park offer access to people with disabilities. The beaches in St. Andrews State Park offer many amenities including sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, hiking, wildlife watching, biking, picnicking, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, surf-skiing, paddle boarding, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, boating, jet-skiing, water-skiing, parasailing, and snorkeling. 

There are many attractions near St. Andrews State Park. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Panama City Beach has a variety of interesting and quirky exhibits for visitors. In addition, it also has a highly immersive and fascinating 7D movie theater and a mirror maze adorned with LED lights. Coconut Creek Family Fun Park is an amusement park that has a variety of fun activities for visitors. Two of its most popular features include two fun 18-hole mini golf courses and a large maze called Gran Maze. If you are looking for another attraction near St. Andrews State Park, Zoo World Panama City Beach is a zoo which showcases a wide variety of animals from all over the world including kangaroos, tapirs, lemurs, sloths, and lions. In addition, the zoo also offers fun interactive activities where visitors can pet and even feed some of the zoo’s animals.

Getting to St. Andrews State Park is easy - the state park is present near 4607 State Park Lane, where a parking lot is also available. It is important to note that you need to pay a fee for entering St. Andrews State Park. You can easily walk to the beaches in St. Andrews State Park from the parking lot. If you want to visit the beaches on Shell Island, you can take the Shell Island Shuttle which departs from the mainland portion of St. Andrews State Park. You can visit Shell Island Shuttle’s website for more information regarding the shuttle fees and departure schedules.

There are many attractions near St. Andrews State Park. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Panama City Beach has a variety of interesting and quirky exhibits for visitors. In addition, it also has a highly immersive and fascinating 7D movie theater and a mirror maze adorned with LED lights. Coconut Creek Family Fun Park is an amusement park that has a variety of fun activities for visitors. Two of its most popular features include two fun 18-hole mini golf courses and a large maze called Gran Maze. If you are looking for another attraction near St. Andrews State Park, Zoo World Panama City Beach is a zoo which showcases a wide variety of animals from all over the world including kangaroos, tapirs, lemurs, sloths, and lions. In addition, the zoo also offers fun interactive activities where visitors can pet and even feed some of the zoo’s animals.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near St. Andrews State Park. Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant & Waterfront Market is an upscale restaurant that offers a pleasant waterfront dining experience. In addition, this restaurant is primarily known for serving dishes prepared with fresh and locally sourced seafood. The restaurant also serves delicious salads, soups, steaks, and pastas. The restaurant has also been praised by many publications including Southern Living magazine, Wine Spectator magazine, and Florida Trend magazine. Schooners is a waterfront restaurant and a beach club that has a festive ambiance. This restaurant serves amazing seafood, soups, salads, and sandwiches. The restaurant also offers live music performances and it has also been praised by many publications including Travel + Leisure magazine and Southern Living magazine. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near St. Andrews State Park, Guadalajara Mexican Grill offers a variety of excellent Mexican dishes including chile con carne, quesadillas, chimichangas, and tamales.

If you are looking for a hotel near St. Andrews State Park, there are many great nearby options within a 20-minute drive. The 4-Star Marriott's Legends Edge at Bay Point offers many amenities including a convenience store, a hot tub, a gazebo, two pools, a patio with a fire pit and a barbecue spot, and a gym. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Hampton Inn Panama City Beach which offers many amenities including a pool, a fitness center, complimentary on-site breakfast, and complimentary breakfast bags on weekdays. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near St. Andrews State Park, the 2-Star Sleep Inn & Suites offers many amenities including a pool, a sundeck, an exercise room, and complimentary breakfast.