Grayton Beach State Park

We spent several hours on the beach in early March. Or was near empty and the beach was pristine -- almost no sea shells and very white sand. We also walked the one-mile trail which was intriguing. Would highly recommend.

Gorgeous beach, large secluded gravel sites with full hooks. Very friendly and helpful staff. Minutes from restaurants and shops. Best of everything

Grayton Beach State Park is an absolute gem along the Emerald Coast. Not only do you get the gorgeous sugar-white sand and emerald waters, but there’s so much more. You can have a lovely picnic, take a relaxing nature walk on the trails, and even rent a kayak or paddleboard to explore the coastal dune lake. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a little piece of Florida’s natural beauty

Excellent state park with fantastic camping. Each site is large and has a nice large area with a picnic table and fire pit. Most sites are shaded. All sites have 30/50amp, water, and sewer. The bathrooms are nice and air conditioned and air to be well kept. The staff is extremely nice. The park is approximately 1.5-2 miles from Watercolor and Seaside. Will definitely be staying here whenever we’re lucky enough to obtain a spot. The campground is just under a mile from the beach access.

This is a great State Beach. There is a Turtle Reef you can swim out to for snorkeling and see all of the marine life. There is also an RV camp ground. There is some construction taking place so when you visit, follow the lined mat and don't go on the boardwalk because it's closed off. This beach is laid back and most of the people are family, boomers and Gen X.

Another beautiful Florida Beach State Park. Gate staff were friendly and helpful. Nice paved roads and parking lots throughout. Nice restroom facilities near the beach. Beaches were beautiful and as untouched as you can find. The sand dunes are roped off and very cool. Great place for family photos. Lots of photographers utilize this location.

Beautiful walkway to the beach, but still a short hike to the water. Lots of parking. Sand buggy available for disabled to get on to the beach. Yearly pass recommended.

Beautiful coastal dune trail for all ages. Our kids had a blast walking through the “jungle” and playing on the beach afterwards.

This was so worth the trip! This park has so much to offer. There is a camping area that is really popular. I drove through and saw some really nice rv's. They have an area for kayaks and canoes too. The highlight of the park was definitely viewing the huge white powdery dunes and the emerald green water. I found parking rather quickly and noticed the nice beige matted walkway that takes you up the sand and over close to the water. The restrooms were off to the right. No dogs are allowed near the restrooms or on the beach itself. They are allowed on the trails and in the camping area. I am already planning a trip back here so that I can enjoy this beach longer. It's really amazing how the color of the water changes from one part of the state to another.

Took at day trip from our campsite in PCB for a day of exploring and shelling, unfortunately the shelling was a bust but we did get to experience another one of Florida's beautiful State Parks. I can't stress enough how valuable it is to purchase an annual SP pass, Florida has so many beautiful parks if you are traveling across the state this annual pass will more than pay for itself. Visiting this park during the off season was especially rewarding, no crowds so we practically had the entire beach to ourselves, the white sugar sand and clear warm water was the perfect place to be on a warm fall day. Although shelling was a disappointment the abundance of wildlife and native plants more than made up for it. This is definitely a state park I'd return too, maybe spend a few days here in the RV when in the area...

We came here for a photo session because there are no houses and tall sawgrass. What a reprieve from the hustle and bustle that 30A can be. You really feel like you're out there. There was a short wait at the gate to pay our $5 per car and they take both card and cash. Then the long-ish drive to the large parking lot next to the sand. The main bathrooms were under construction and they had porta potties. There is also a pavilion and then we headed off to the water. There was some netting as the terrain is uneven and that helped some of the elderly get out there. It was not crowded at golden hour and we didn't to walk to far until we were alone for our pictures. the scenery was gorgeous of course. We drove through the camp sites on the way out and some of them had a direct line of sight to the waterfront, can't get any better than that. Not sure what happens when the parking lot is full as I read that they can turn people away.

Nice small State Park with beach access with controlled number of vehicles coming in due to limited parking spaces by the beach. Close to the restaurants in Grayton proper, about a mile. Roads are paved but the campground is all gravel except for two or three sites that are concrete. Full hookups on all. Can't say about restrooms or laundry because I didn't check them out. The fee for day use is 5

Nice park, big dune Lake, undeveloped, beach, parking and restrooms. Off the beach is a man made reef Built from submerged concrete which provides structure for fish and other marine life.. the cystal blue water makes this a great spot for snorkeling and paddle boarding on calm days.. We like to fish here and usually hook up. The 30-A corridor is one of my favorite beach areas in the world.

We went here for the beach yesterday. Admission was only 5 dollars per car. However there were a maximum amount of car allowed for entrance. Therefore I recommend to go here early. The beach here was so pretty. The water was water and the beach was clean. It was not crowded at all. We spent about three hours here.

Saw this cool sign there today. Lots of people taking pictures with it. They should put one closer to the water.

Stop by Grayton Beach State park while on a trip to Florida panhandle. Was a nice spot to hand out, cost $5 for entry but it was worth it. Has a small hiking trail, picnic tables and of course the beach area. Only issue is the restrooms were down and they had porter potty which weren't great but it is what it is. But we had fun!

4.5 stars for the state park. Entrance fees is 5 dollars. They include boat lunch area, picnic location, beach access, dunes trail, wash area, bathrooms facilities, and more. This is a beautiful state park. The park is famous on the natural sand dunes. The sand is white as snow. The trail is about 1 miles round trip. You got to go to the top of dunes. The beach aces is connected by timber boardwalk over the dunes. It is definitely best of time for the beach. Unfortunately the wind is too strong not a good beach day with USCG red flag. We saw a lot of boater using the boat ramp.

We enjoyed coming here and doing the Dune trail. You can find it at the back of the parking area. This is definitely an easy trail and we enjoyed doing it. Even the 3 year old liked it! We came on a day that wasn't too hot so we didn't need water but if it is hot, bring some with you! I have a feeling you would probably spot something different every time you came here. There's a cool part at the start where you go through a canopy of trees. I think some people call this the canopy trail but it is marked as the dune trail. Sea shells also cover part of the path so that's pretty cool. We enjoyed checking them all out. This also goes by a coastal dune lake. It is a natural phenomenon that can only be found in New Zealand, Australia, Madagascar, and Florida! How cool is that! Go check it out!

My wife and I were in Panama City Beach and had a car and decided to drive west. We decided to try the state park and the beach was very nice. You have to pay to park, and we really just walked to the beach and back, but it was pretty enough. It was a nice day and we saw some jellyfish and there were not a lot of people attending this day.

Beautiful state park with a beach that stretches far. It was dramatic one day and calm another day. The hike around the sand dunes is awesome and should be definitely be experienced.

Beautiful place for family gatherings and photos. The park ranger was sweet and helpful. Enjoyed the ambiance of the park plus the beach was nice and clean.

Grayton Beach State Park is one of the best beaches in Florida and the US! The water is crystal clear and "Caribbean" like and the beach itself is not crowded. However, do NOT expect a "secluded" beach because there were people there even on a Tuesday morning in October. The park is well kept and the beach has wonderful white sand! There was plenty of parking as well as showers and bathrooms near the main beach entrance.

So many memorable memories were made here :') I enjoyed how kind the park rangers were! The water was so clear as well that you could see the bottom and see fish too :) The sunset was also beautiful and definitely photo worthy. Most days that I went were free as well. I think it was the time we went which was Monday and then a late afternoon on Thursday. However, if you do pay, it's only $5 per car which I think is great. The experience you'll have at Grayton beach is truly a wonderful especially on a nice sunny day!

Beautiful clean state park with wonderful landscape of natural vegetation, sand dunes, beautiful beach -crystal clear blue/green waters and powder soft white sands. Lake for kayaking...Nice campground. A+hu

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep." ~Robert Frost - What a REAL, SIMPLE, NATURAL place to enjoy the BEACH in a basic, cozy cabin in the heart of Grayton Beach State Park with a PRIVATE BEACH ACCESS. If you have a bent for raw nature and remote beach, this is your place It's an island in the midst of the pop culture beach scene. You might see a BEAR too, Be-ar aware!

We stopped by the state park on our way from Destin to Panama City Beach, Florida. It was a rainy day, and since we were just passing through, we decided to take a look around. To be honest, we ended up staying in the car. We were about the only ones in the park, but due to the rainy weather, we decided just to get a quick look around. We definitely will be back! Due to the weather and our just driving through the area, the lady at the check-in house, gave us a 15 to 20 minute pass to take a look at all the attractions in the state park. That was so kind! We had stopped earlier at Henderson State Park to quickly look around, but we had to pay the entrance fee if we wanted to just take a quick drive through the park. We were very thankful that the lady let us see a quick view of the park on a 15 minute guest pass. The state park was covered with beautiful white sand dunes and a beautiful beach. To be honest, we were more captivated with the lake, as we were looking for alligators! We did not see any... The rest of the family was pretty pleased that we did not see any alligators lurking in the water! We did see the Ranger out and about, and we stopped to ask him a few questions. He was very kind! They do have a large area where you can camp and park RVs. I felt like it was a large enough state park that could occupy you and your family for a long amount of time. It seemed very clean and well taken care of. If it had been nicer weather and if we would've had more time, it would have been a great place to explore! We felt very safe and surrounded by beautiful sights. On my next trip to Destin, I would love to explore this park more! I would totally recommend the state park--it's gorgeous!

wonderful scenery blissful sunsets on the horizon beautiful and clear water sand that is soft as snow nice and secluded its worth the 40$

My family has been coming to this area for over 40 years. We choose to stay in our RV at the park and love it here. The campground has numerous sites that aren't on top of each other and very little artificial lighting(no street lights) to blind you if you're outside. Only downside is that you can hear vehicles on 30A but it's almost a half mile away. We love it here and will continue to return.

Beautiful park with amazing crew. The beach is clean and maintained very well. The bathrooms and clean and have ac but are on the older side. Many of the spots have lots of trees and shade and are private. The town around the park has a variety of activities and shops. This has been our favorite state park when staying near Destine.

It was gorgeous here! Soft sand, beautiful water. We went on July fourth and it was the perfect spot to watch fireworks, and they made it free to get in because of the holiday!! :D

About a 40 minute walk to Seaside Square from the campground. Very clean campground with excellent bathroom and shower facility. Only negative was that we left our rental bikes chained to the trees at our campsite and left for breakfast at 9 in the morning. When we returned, our bikes were gone. Found out that groundskeeper called the bike rental company and asked them to pick the bikes up even though check out was not until 1 pm. A simple phone call to us by the campground or bike rental company would have been appropriate. Would consider staying here again. Cost was only $48 a night for RV parking/campsite.

What a hidden gem! Everyone goes to Destin beach, Henderson beach, but this beach is worth visiting. It's beautiful, has natural trails, huge sand dunes, plenty of scenery, and calm beautiful waters. On a scale of 1-10, if Grayton is 10, Destin Beach is about an 8 when it comes to clarity. Definitely less crowded as there is a $5 parking charge and 16 miles up US-98. Some would say it's not worth the drive up and especially back, in traffic, but leave early like around 8am, enjoy it and come back down.

Love this beach, one of my favorite spots to go to, not very crowded, great scenery and great spot for kids, might even see some wildlife on the nature trail, highly recommend coming here if your on vacation or a local.

There are very few places on Earth as beautiful as this place. Of all the beaches I have been to this may be the best. Secluded and quiet with a shallow sandbar that reaches deep out into the Gulf of Mexico, this is the place to come cool off and unwind in the summer. To think that this is only a couple hours away from my house all these years. I will definitely be back.

What a lovely beach in a state park. So, no, it doesn't have chair rentals. But it's beautiful and about 1/100 as crowded as the other beaches on 30A that we visited. Definitely worth a visit!

Grayton Beach State Park is a nice beach spot along the 30-A coastline. The park includes a large stretch of beach, a coastal dune lake, a nature trail, and a hiking/biking trail. The beach access is via a narrow, long boardwalk -- during covid-19, you may want to wear a mask for this portion of the park since there is no way to maintain social distancing if you do encounter someone. The coastal dune lake is beautiful -- kayaks are available for rental. The best time to kayak is in the morning, as wind and waves tend to pick up in the afternoon. The park has a shed and a couple of picnic tables along the lakefront. The nature trail is a 1 mile easy walk through forest and sand dunes. This is another one of Florida's great state parks to visit during your Gulf vacation.

Great trails and very quiet when we went. I recommend the forest trails if you're looking for something more shaded. Easy, flat hikes that even kids could do. We took our pup, and it's very dog friendly as long as they stay on a leash.

I was very disappointed stopping at this place after I read all the good reviews about it. I am on a fat bike bicycle tour throughout the Gulf Coast and I stopped in after pedaling 215 miles only to be greeted by the lady at the guard post and she told me they do not allow bicycle camping on the premises! The way she said that to me made me just feel like some homeless guy looking for a place to stay and it was very disappointing after I explained to her about my sustainable tour of the Gulf Coast only looking for a place to put up a tent and get some rest after such a long ride! So be aware if you're out bicycle touring as I have been doing for many miles now do not come to this park because they are not friendly to anyone being sustainable on a bicycle and trying to have fun on a cross-country tour.

The park itself is beauitiful. It is well worth a visit. It has some habitats there that you just won't find anywhere else. The dunes are massive and the sand is pristine. They have a very unique feature there called the "Hobbit Hole". The dune is so big that it covers entire tree trunks, which allows you to walk over the dune directly into the caonpy of the trees. Like I said, it's extremely unique. And the beaches themselves are simply gorgeous. I've never seen a more beautiful place for viewing sunrises and sunsets. You can camp in tents or in your RV inside the main park area. It puts you right near Western Lake and the dunes. If you want to stay in a cabin, like we did, you check-in at the main gate, then go back out the main exit, and drive about a mile west to the cabin entrance. It is a separate area of coastal scrub flatwoods with its own private beach. The cabins all have gas fireplaces. They have a queen bed in one room, and two single beds in another bedroom. You also have a futon in the living area. The appliances were nice. The stove was state-of-the-art. Dishwasher is small, but gets the job done well. They provide sheets and blankets, as well as pots, pans, dishes, glasses, and silverware. Make sure to bring your own cleaning supplies (paper towels, hand soap, dish soap, etc.). They did offer dishwashing soap, but it only works for the dishwasher. Oh yeah, and no TVs or telephones in the cabins. The cabins are duplexes. There are four in each of the 3 loops. So you get 8 cabins per loop. Loop 1 and 2 are closer to the beach, so they offer a shorter walk. Loop 3 is about twice as far of a walk. We stayed in Loop 1, and it took us about 5 minutes to reach the beach at a slow walk. Wildlife viewing is really good. You get to see all sorts of birds. We saw many terns on the beach, a pileated woodpecker probing a pine tree on the trail, and two deer right on the side of the road leading to the cabins. Awesome! As far as shopping goes, there isn't much. There is a StarBucks near the park in a small shopping complex. We got drinks there once. For groceries, you can go to Publix in Seaside, which is east of the park entrance. I'm definitely a fan of this park. I highly recommend you visit, especially if you have never been. Stay in one of the cabins. We went in the offseason when cabins are $110 per night. They are $130 per night beginning February 1st. The cold weather made it special. It was very peaceful and quiet. I highly recommend this park as a great place to get away from it all for a few days.

Beautiful park with a peaceful bay and a mile-long nature trail that takes you through sandy dunes and forests. There is a section of the nature trail that is very narrow due to brush and while beautiful, couple of snakes were slithering across the trail in these areas and we watched one hide right underneath a fern after making it across and just sit there... so watch your step when you get to these sections! The beach was nice and the dunes behind you make for a great backdrop for pictures or just in general.

While driving back to home in Florida from Texas...going along interstate 10...we drove down in The Destin area to 30A to see some of the 'scenic route'. We drove along 30A to somewhere in the Panama area and back up to 10. While driving the 'scenic route' we saw a red flag flapping in the breeze in the distance that led us to Grayton Park. We pulled into Grayton State Park and were told by the nice man at the ticket building that the fee for this park is 'waived' until Labor Day The beach area was pristine with snow white sand, sand dunes, families picnicking, kids playing and the beautiful Gulf to enjoy. Florida...nothing like it!

Grayton Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches I've been to. Picture powder soft sand, as soft and white as a pillow that sing to you when you take a stroll (it squeaks!), set against crystal emerald ocean in a quiet, tranquil setting. The entire town of Grayton Beach is a quiet little surf town without any high rises or chains in sight. There are no amenities like showers, volleyball nets, or fire pits, perhaps by design. Looking to your left and right, the coastline seems never ending. Maybe you are just suppose to enjoy the beach for it's simplicity the way it is. Not just is it the relaxing vibe of this beach that makes it such a gem, it also features a geographical feature so rare that it only exists in a handful of places on Earth. It's called a Dune Lake which were created by wind and waves thousands of years ago and to this day is constantly ever changing. When a lake reaches a high water level, due to rainfall or inflows, it breaks through the dune system and beach and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Depending on tides and wind, saltwater from the Gulf may enter the lake, along with saltwater plants and animals, creating a tea-colored lake you can kayak/canoe in. The one in Grayton Beach State Park is called Alligator Lake and is around 12 acres. It really is as good as it gets folks!

This was the best way to access a 30A beach without hunting for parking or being on a packed beach with rows and rows of beach goers. The park opens at 8am, and we never got there later than 10am during the week. Recommend getting there close to opening to ensure parking and a spot close to the beach access. They stop letting people in once the parking lot (which is small) is full. They will allow people in as people leave. The beach area is pretty long compared to the amount of parking. You will be able to spread out and have space to yourself. The access from the parking lot to the beach was close. We brought a wagon, tent, and chairs. I didn't see any beach umbrella or chair rentals, so bring your own stuff. There are no dogs allowed on the beach, so leave them at home. The water was beautiful and we saw fish, stingrays, and even a manatee! We brought snorkels to check the fish. We visited the park 3 days during the week and always had a great view right at the water. There are showers and bathrooms at the parking lot. Be sure to check out the nature trail before leaving the park as well.

ReserveAmerica.com is your way of reserving a campsite. Thank goodness we can now find and then reserve sites instead first come first serve. Very shaded campsites. They have clothesline, fire pit, and picnic table. The walk to the beach is actually doable unlike many parks on gulf that might require a bike or car in some circumstances.

If you ever just want to get away for a day or two this is the place to go. My girlfriend and I stayed here last night and let me say we enjoyed every last second. We arrived and met Jody & JoJo. They had exceptional customer service and was very informative about the park. They gave us clear and accurate directions to our plot and the beach! Once we arrived to our plot, we set up our tent and headed to the beach which was only 2 minutes away! The beach was very clean, water was clear, and there wasn't a ton of people which was great! This park had clean bathrooms and showers which was nice and more than enough room to get settled for the night. Our plot came with a fire pit which was awesome and if you've forgot your firewood they have some for sell for $6.50 a bundle. It was very quiet at night and the locals around were extremely friendly. In the morning, JoJo was walking around and asked if we had enjoyed our night which was super sweet of her! All in all, we will definitely come back! Park Amenities: Firewood for Sale ($6.50/bundle) Huge Plots Great distance between each pots & plenty of greenery for privacy Outlets for RVs, Chargers, etc in each plot Clean Bathrooms Community Washer/Dryer (Cost between $1.50-$1.75) Fire pit Large bench table for eating Clothes line in each plot Beach secluded and only 2 Minute car ride Bike racks Pet friendly for additional fees

The best kept secret, y'all. If you're looking to steer away from the super touristy crowd in PC or Destin, this is THE spot. (However, if you want to dabble in both, it's also perfect for that, too!) It's absolutely stunning and the cleanliness of the beach is next level. It looks untouched and at night, the stars will blow you away. They've got trails surrounding the campgrounds and also a lake that you can go canoeing or kayaking in. The signs will tell you -- beware of gators! I have yet to see any, though.. Speaking of animals, don't be shocked to see a bunch of wildlife. I was grilling up food one night with my boyfriend and I said to him, "Awww look at that cat walking by!" He flashed the light over on it and immediately replied, "That's not a cat, babe." It turned out to be a very mischievous and curious raccoon who was hungry for chicken and veggies apparently! Each camp site is conveniently next to the public bathroom and showers, equipped with water, power, and gas. The walk to the beach is about 5-7 minutes and scenic along the way.

Enjoyed this park... needed to walk way down away from other people to get some peace of mind. Beautiful area!

It's really sad that you have to have a permit to have your dog on the beach and a permit is only allowed to residents and property owners. This eliminates all vacationers with their dogs. Can't they designate a time for all pet owners or a specific area or at least allow visitors a chance to purchase a permit. Will not be coming back.

Probably one of the most beautiful, yet short hikes I've been on. We decided to have lunch and scope out the one-mile loop on the lake side. Prepare yourself for a walk in the sand as opposed to skipping through oak roots and such. The landscape is definitely maintained, almost to the point of appearing artificial, but funny enough it's part of the appeal. The hubs and I went in October, so the sun was warm but the breeze was blowing. Late morning, we were one of two couples that were on the trail so it felt like we had the paths to ourselves... well except for the butterflies, but who's complaining there? This was more of a see-the-sites kind of hike, and less of a get-your-heart-pumpin' kind of hike. Gorgeous and worth a return visit.

With out a doubt the best state park in the area Grayton beach has some of the most amazing sights you will see on any beach I have ever been on in the United States. The freshwater dune lakes alone are enough to go to this place repeatedly. I will never get tired of watching the dune lakes and the Bay merge during the tides. And there's always something to be said about the Sunsets in the Gulf but for some reason here they just seem to be the prettiest.

Recommended. Nice place to get away for a couple days. Cabins are nice and about a 5 minute walk from the beach. Forested and scenic walk to a beautiful white sand beach. Cabins are duplexes with a shower and everything you need. No tv. Gas fireplace and an outdoor grill. Bring soap and paper towels. They provide dishes and coffee pot but you will need paper towels, bar soap and dish soap. Automatic dishwasher does have soap provided. Very quiet and peaceful.

If you're a sand dollar whisperer you can feel them living in the sand in the turquoise waters, but don't harm them! Beautiful sugar white sand, warm waters. and opportunities to apply sunscreen every other nanosecond. Love it!

One of our favorite parks on the panhandle. Nice walks. The campground has 2 loops and 3 bathhouses (one by the beach) I have not seen the cabins (no dogs allowed) but I here that they are very nice. Lots of places nearby for food, drink and music

One of our family's favorite stay-cation spots for a weekend camping on the lake or just a day at the beach. This park offers the best of both worlds at the edge of beautiful Western Lake and the white sand of the Gulf. Well-kept facilities. Lots of wildlife... including a family of Bald Eagles you may be lucky enough to spot in the trees or fishing at the beach. Conveniently located near Grayton, Seaside and Watercolor.

Beautiful hike, beautiful beach. We stayed all day and had a great time! We even found a live starfish! One of the highlights of our trip for sure!

We got in for free. Water was so clear I could see my feet. Beautiful white sand. We'll be back tomorrow!

Grayton Beach State park is a stunningly beautiful camping and beach facility. Well maintained roads, campsites, buildings and beaches make this area conducive to a relaxing stay. Although they do have a bit of a "Bob" problem. As I was walking my dog around the park at 12:15pm for the last tour before departure, in the campsite next to mine (#11) sat a golf cart backed into place. I nodded and spoke to the occupant while passing. His response? "You in number 11?" "Yes", I replied. Without missing a beat, he stated firmly, "checkout time is 1". I looked at my watch and said "45 minutes" and continued on with my cruise around the area. Having pulled the slideouts, water line and such on my 26 ft Navion class C and while disconnecting the sewer hose (complete with traditional thick rubber gloves) Maskless Bob, a volunteer, approached from his golf cart at 13:01:30pm and said "you gonna be long? You're supposed to be out by one and there are people wanting to get into this slot" "Check in time is at three, correct?" I asked. "You're supposed to be out by one" he replied, in a rude,gruff, authoritarian growl, fitting a power starved volunteer, overseeing his domain. " Well, standing here discussing it with you isn't accelerating the effort much now is it uh, Bob"? " and went on about the fun business of continuing the disconnection of the "honey pot" line. When I reached the office building at 13:08:20 I stopped to pass along this conversation with the rangers, one of whom kinda smiled and said "well Bob's kinda straight forward" and I replied "no, Bob is just rude,I'm straight forward". They listened to the complaint and I made it short because after all whatta gonna do? Good communication skills are important tools in any walk of life and follow up training, even of volunteers, can make the difference between good reviews and not so good ones. I highly recommend this state park for its beauty and serenity, Bob notwithstanding.