T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

Awesome Florida State Park! We stayed in one of the cabins which are along the Port Saint Joseph Bay side. The cabins are newly renovated after being hit by hurricane Michael in 2018. The cabins are one bedroom (actually a loft) and one bath. Behind the cabins is Port St Joe Bay and several hundred feet out the front of the cabins is the Gulf. The park also has an RV campground, a primitive group camping site, as well as two day-use beaches... a small beach on the Bay side and a large beach on the Gulf side which a few pavilions. There are several nature trails in the park where you can often see deer and other wildlife. The park has a small store in the day-use area that sells snacks, drinks, some limited groceries, and fishing supplies. They also offer rentals of beach items as well as rentals of pontoon boats, kayaks, and canoes. It's a beautiful state park that is all about fun in the sun. Great place to visit if you like sand and surf. Highly recommended.

Wonderful clean state park. The staff was always extremely helpful. A bait shop was available within the park along with pontoon, kayaks, and stand-up paddle board rentals. The beach is just a short walk down a boardwalk it expansive and not crowded at all. The park also had some well maintained trails. Had a great time camping at this park, I give it a 10/10!!

The St. Joeseph State Park was breathtaking. It was $6 per vehicle at the gate for entry. On the bay side of the peninsula were walking trails with various areas to step off of the trail and onto the bank of the bay. We saw numerous crabs, a cardinal building a nest, and a herd of deer. On the gulf side, there is a large boardwalk leading to the beach area. They were selling shaved ice as well, and there were public restrooms in a pavilion nearby. I highly recommend visiting.

The campground itself is in a stunning location—beautiful beaches, peaceful surroundings, and great views. We were so excited for our stay and had high hopes for a relaxing camping trip with our family. Unfortunately, our experience was ruined by a serious fire ant problem at Site 34. We set up everything and got settled for the night, only to discover fire ants all over our baby’s pack ’n play. We called and they came out and put ant killer around and everything was fine. The next day the ants were back and with vengeance. It was horrifying and completely unacceptable, especially with a little one involved. We ended up having to pack up and leave in the middle of the night just to keep our baby safe. It was chaotic, stressful, and honestly dangerous. I myself got stung 3 times. (I think the ants are nested under the gravel) I’m leaving three stars because the location really is beautiful—but management needs to seriously address pest control. If you’re traveling with young kids, I would definitely avoid Site 34 until the issue is resolved.

We had 5 days here right around new years. We actually stayed here last year same time right after the park had reopened. This year we actually scored one of the tent only sites with the screened in deck/porch (<not sure what its name is?) I think we had site 17. It was perfect. Not to close to any neighbors and wonderful sunsets. We had water and electricity. Seems both years it’s been a little chilly so we were grateful for full sun and no shade. If you need solar or use a Starlink you won’t have a problem. The bath houses are very nice and clean with hot showers and electricity for drying/styling hair. There is also a washer/dryer available. Beach and grounds are beautiful. We also rented bike and enjoyed exploring each day. Would stay here again in a heartbeat but will try to in early spring or fall. Would like to stay again when weather is warmer so we can enjoy the beach!

Beautiful gulf beach area. Open ocean to the west even though you are on FL panhandle. Great inshore environment for sightseeing both in and out of the water. Multiple areas to access the water on both sides. Camping, hiking trails, even some back country camping out towards the point. And added entertainment from the USAF and others.

Such a beautiful and peaceful place. The staff is very friendly. Great fishing too! My wife and I got the rate chance to see 2 alligators.

We were able to get two nights here on a last minute trip. The site we had included a screened room which was nice, although there were still a lot of gnats in the afternoon. There are a couple trails that we took our pups on, but sadly there were no beach areas that dogs could go on. It was still a relaxing stay and we would certainly stop again.

We had so much fun! It's only $6 per vehicle. We rented kayaks and a SUP. We swam in the bay and then drove over to the ocean side to enjoy a snow cone.

I've been to many state parks in Florida but this one is spectacular and beautiful!! Hardly anyone was there and I would book a vaca just to return to this park... it was that secluded and beautiful!!!

This state park is so beautiful it felt like paradise. The sunset was amazing.The pictures it took look like a post card I would buy in a store.

A boater's paradise, at least from the crowd that was going into/leaving this state park. I made a bike ride into the state park one early morning and we also boated into the state park area (used a third party rental service). It's worth noting that this state park is meant more for the beach/boating crowd. There was one or two hiking trails, one of which was only .75ish miles in length. Use AllTrails app for better reviews on those trails. There is a daily entrance fee for everyone, including those that bike/run/walk/wheelchair into the state park without a vehicle. When we snorkeled in the area, there were tons of sting rays and lots of random small fishes in the area. Definitely an experience!

Wonderful state park. We rented a pontoon and went snorkeling in the shallows. Not much shade due to the dead trees from a hurricane.

Lovely little spot that can't make up its mind on which time zone it is, CST or EST! Nice little nook flanked by water on three sides. You can see the sun rise over the bay and set over the gulf! Loads of rentals and nothing is a few minutes from the beach!

Last year was the first time we vacationed on Cape San Blas. It is a great place for families or anyone. The property owner recommended we go they park. There are walking and bike trails, a boat ramp and the beach was beautiful. They have done great job at getting it cleaned up after Hurricane Michael hit. Visitors are not allowed on the northern tip of the park due to the hurricane cutting through it and creating an island. It is still a great place to visit.

This my number one spot in florida. The beaches have been ranked #1 in the U.S. at one point. The facilities are amazing. Come in the evening to see the sunset...$3 entrance fee. They have great boat ramp facility. Been camping here dozen times. I usually primitive camp about 3 miles in on the peninsula. Usually take my gear and kayak in on the bayside. You can always walk the trail but you will be limited on the amount of gear. If I go with group I usually take the heavy equipment on the kayak/canoe and rest people hike in. Cannot camp on beach. If your not primitive camping then you can book one of the drive up camp sites: http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/map_of_St_Joseph_Peninsula_Sp/r/campgroundMap.do?page=map&search=site&contractCode=FL&parkId=281069 Star gazing on the sand dunes, fishing the troughs along beach, or scalloping on bayside is why I come here. You can catch anything from reds, pampano, whitings, or flounder all in same spot. This place is a gem!!

While driving through FL, a friend heard where we were and told us we needed to stop - so we did. What a surprise find! Day admission was $6, the beaches where narrow and easily accessible on the bay side, and the surf wasn't bad (yellow flag day due to recent storms). We were told you can find sand dollars here, but we didn't have luck - only lots of pieces. We will definitely be back! Enjoy the Ride! Baker & Biker

My family and I decided to road trip for a couple weeks. We chose Panama City Beach as our destination. We've stayed at St. Andrew before and wanted to this time but they were completely booked for weeks so we searched and found this gem. It's a couple hours outside of PCB but I don't feel like I'm missing anything. The grounds are clean and the sit is easy to navigate. Not to mention the lady that set us up was the sweetest and most helpful. Upon check in we were informed that it was sea turtle season and the grounds even gave us red filters to put over our flashlights. I love this place and I would absolutely recommend staying here

The last time I camped here I was young and hated it because the beach was deserted and the campground was in the middle of nowhere. Funny how time changes your outlook! What I hated before is exactly why I was excited to return here. I hadn't been to this state park in 18 years and I was happy to see that not much had changed here. There are a lot more restaurants and stores in the nearby town, Cape San Blas, now than before but the state park is just as sleepy as I remembered. The white sandy beach is just a short walk from most of the campsites. We had a small site but we were just on the other side of the sand dunes and I could hear the ocean from the RV. You can walk for miles on the beach and see only a handful of people. We found lots of scallop shells and some sand dollars. There is a little rental shop on the bay side within the park where you can rent bicycles and kayaks. We took our bikes with us and enjoyed several rides in the park. Keep your eyes open for wildlife as there are lots of deer in the park. Dogs are allowed in the park and on some of the nature trails, but they are not allowed on the beach within the park. There is a public beach not too far outside the park gates where leashed dogs are welcome. Firewood and ice can be purchased at the guard shack at the front gate. They do close and lock the gates early each night so if you plan to arrive late, be sure to call ahead to get the gate code. This is a great place to stay! I definitely won't wait another 18 years to go back there.

What a beautiful state park! I'm shocked it's yet to be reviewed. There's a lot to be said for this sacred space: great beaches for humans and dogs alike, clear water, perfect campsites, and millions of stars at night. It's quiet and relatively secluded, which is nice considering you're not far from other major areas along the coast. In a way, coming here is almost like having an island to yourself. The sites are very limited, so book early! For those of you who are concerned about showers/bathrooms: this place offers nice clean showers and stalls, at least for the women. I'd assume the guys are the same - sorry I didn't peak in, ha! A real hidden gem on the Florida coast and the perfect getaway from all the usual crazy towns and hotels that dot the beaches. If it's peaceful, all natural fun you're looking for, St. Joseph's can provide!

This was a very enjoyable stay. The bathrooms were clean. The beaches were not very crowded. But the best part for us, was that there were no mosquitoes.

This has to be hands down one of the best camping beach state parks I've ever been to. This was an amazing relaxing week for my daughter and I as we joined my father in law in his Rv for the week. The drive to this area of the panhandle from Tallahassee was wait for it... a relaxing drive!! Yes relaxing and driving together in one sentence, for those of us that like that windows and sunroof open, sunshine and wind blowing in your hair type of drive this was it!!! The best part is that most of the drive was along water, Highway 98 is magical in my opinion and it helped lead me to this park. The drive through the park was beautiful, birds of many kinds all over and the sight of the mountainous sand dunes left me in awe!! The boat ramp and marina area with access to the public beach was right to the front of the park with the campgrounds towards the back with their own access to the beach. The campground facilities are convenient, clean and well kept with much thanks to the park hosts at that time. The sites ranged from paved to primitive, with all having water and electric hook ups. There was plenty of trees and foliage for shade. Now on to the star of the park.... THE BEACH!! I am a Floridian so I do know a thing about beaches (not to toot my own horn) but I have been to many and some of the best. This beach at T. H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph state park is truly a mermaid's dream, powder white sand, no one for miles except your camping neighbors that are joining you for some shore fishing and shelling. The water is heaven and the sunsets are absolutely breathtaking. This area of the panhandle from Carabelle to Port St Joe to Cape San Blas is where I would love to stay even in an RV on the beach or a tent!!!

The park was open from 8am to sunset (9pm) while we were here. $6 for the day or $4 for the last hour. The beach is absolutely gorgeous. I drove up early while the rest of my family slept in on our first day of vacation. I couldn't wait to bring them. Clear green water and clean, sugary pale sand. FYI if you are looking for a place to collect shells, I would go to the opposite side of Cape (the water is not as clear there though). Didn't really see any here. I would make it a point to come at least every other day on your vacation. Beach on one side, and shallow bay on the other. Great for casting net to catch bait and hoping over to other side to catch a few for dinner. We caught a shark and a catfish; both pretty good size. We prefer visiting new places every time we vacation, but this place is certainly making a case for a repeat visit or three ;-)

Great state park within the FL park system! I stayed here for the first time in late 2015 and had an RV site for a week. The site had water and electric, but no sewer hookups. There are bathhouses which are close by for all sites which include showers. The bathhouses are very well maintained by the staff and I regularly saw them cleaning throughout the day. The bathhouse also contained a coin operated washer and dryer. This is one of the best state parks due to its proximity to the beach. The beach is NOT heavily populated and is great for beach walks and searching for shells. If you really want to get away and have a beach primarily to yourself then check this location out. A couple of other notes to keep in mind - cell service can be spotty throughout the state park due to the more remote location. There are two areas where free Wi-Fi is available, but it is slow.

If you find yourself driving the coast of Florida across the Panhandle this is one stop you'll be glad you've made. I much rather drive along the coast verses I-10 if time allows and I always try and stop along the way at locations I've never visited before, with the many State Parks in Florida it's almost impossible to visit and enjoy more than a few of these on any trip. Today we chose to make the drive across the peninsula and treat ourselves to one of the state's real hidden treasures. This park is one of the most isolated peaceful places you'll find anywhere you don't just happen upon this park since it's so remote it's best to plan it so you'll have plenty of time to enjoy all of its beauty. The remote location provide the perfect environment to witness nature at its best with no crowds, the white sand beaches washed by the crystal clear green warm gulf water is absolute paradise. This park offers gorgeous panorama views of the ocean with some of the largest sand dunes you'll find anywhere, a few hundred feet in the opposite direction the whole world changes, you can actually view the ocean and the bay from the same location atop one of the walkways crossing the dunes. The shallow bay offers a great place to scallop in July (check with the park for the exact start and finish of the scallop season). You'll never be disappointed stopping here if only for a few hours.

Excellent state park. This review pertains to the cabins available for rental and overall amenities. Booking was easy online and super in-demand: I booked a cabin for mid December 2015 back in February of 2015 and that was the first available weekend. Cabins comfortably sleep 6, but two of those need to be sleeping on their own. The mattresses are wrapped in plastic, and so are the pillows, so they make a TON of noise when you move. They give you linens and towels, but not all of ours were clean, which was probably my biggest gripe about the place. We had to set aside two sets of towels because they looked grody. Bring your own hand soap, bug spray, and paper towels, for sure. In fact, when we go again, we will also bring more towels and more comfortable blankets. The cabins have a dishwasher and basic cooking equipment (pots and pans of varying wear/tear). Bathrooms were clean and adequate. Screened in patio has a little picnic table and two rocking chairs that look out onto the bay. This is a state park; not the Ritz. We were in Cabin 7. It is a short 5 minute walk over some beautiful dunes to some of the most stunning beach I've ever seen. So secluded - not a soul in sight. From the cabins, it's 8 miles of wilderness landscape and shoreline to the tip of the peninsula. It's beautiful at night. Unfortunately, because we went in the "winter," (it was still 80 degrees) the kayak and canoe rental within the state park was closed. Even in spite of dirty linens/towels and not the most comfortable beds ever, this gets 5 stars for value and for the understanding that you're still camping, after all. The location alone is worth 8 stars. The park staff were helpful. We will definitely be back.

The BEST campground I've ever been to! Beautiful beaches, bay, & very clean bathrooms. It was awesome feeling like we were on a remote island. I'd come back here every year if possible. Awesome amenities, too. We had a blast. The staff were also very friendly!

Spent 25 years camping and this IS one of the best parks I have ever been to. Spent 4 days in the park. Day one: enjoying the park and exploring. Day 2 : beachside, plus Port St Joe 3: bay side 4: on both. Much to do. MUCH wildlife, much sea life, much fun! Beautiful park, good facilities!

A gem of a beach/ bay area tucked away outside of Port St. Joe, FL. Great, family friendly (pet friendly too) campground with nice, areas for camping in an R.V. or tent. Each camping area has a shower/restroom-house. We stayed in the Gulf Breeze side and the beach was just a short walk up the boardwalk from our campsite. My family enjoyed fishing in the clear waters of the bay. I enjoyed the nature trails and the raw, natural beauty of the "real-Florida". This is what Florida looked like in years past, long before all of the hotels were built along the beach. Beautiful place to stay and relax. SIDE NOTE: There are some raccoons and small rodents that creep along the campsites in search of food. They are harmless and cute to watch.

"Sugar Sand": a beach sand so white, you think you are walking on sugar. SJPSP is truly an amazing place with two distinct faces. Being a peninsula, one side faces the Gulf, and that's where you will find the most amazing, uncrowded beach you have ever seen. The north side faces St. Joe Bay, filled with jumping mullet, snowy egrets, great blue herons. There's a great campground, amazing cabins that rent for $100 a night, and a small store with snacks, ice and rentals. Being a Parkie myself, I've visited scores of State and National Parks across the country. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park is at the top of my favorites list.

Spent a week with the family here in July 2014 it was the best. A/C in shower/bath house's.

Holy cow. I love this place. Worth the 14 hour drive to get there and the campgrounds were bear-free and that's just the way I like 'em. In all seriousness, we stayed 3-nights at a tent-only spot and loved every minute. The weather was beautiful, the site had everything we needed, and the beach was only a 5-minute walk away. With sand as soft as snow and warm winter weather and sunsets that can take your breath away, this is a very special untouched part of Florida. If you're always thinking Miami or Orlando is all this state has to offer, then take a weekend and detach from your phone and life and take on the calmness of this beautiful and serene park. I'm not a huge fan of camping, but my bf loves it, yet somehow we both left feeling so relaxed and happy that we can't wait to plan another trip here. Phone service is spotty, but there is a free wifi hotspot near the picnic area. There's also cabins you can rent for around $100 per night. At least at Shady Pines, sites have electric outlets and water, and the bathrooms have showers and a washer and dryer. $2.00 for each but the dryer seemed a bit weak. Put my clothes in twice and still was damp. But all in all, a good place. Be sure to take the hike on the wilderness preserve too which takes you to the tip of the park.

A beautiful park. Isolated, clean, and plenty of parking. Swim in the ocean or the bay!

Amazing x 1000. THIS IS MY HAPPY PLACE! Oceanview from the top of the beach access dunes at the last parking area near the tip....walking, wading & kayaking the bay, armadillos, conchs, sea urchins, sand dollars, hermit crabs, sea shells, sunsets. Mmmmmm. Can I move in?

This is for the primitive camping. Park was absolutely beautiful. We stayed the second week of June on primitive camp 3. The hike into the camp site is no joke. It is all sand with hardly any shade, be sure to pack smartly. The hike to campsite 3 is labeled as 1 mile, but you pass the mile 1 marker and hike for quite a bit longer to get to the 3rd site. The beaches off of site 3 were breathtaking, not a soul or development in site. We spotted dolphins swimming and feeding about 30 feet from the shore. The dunes were big and beautiful. It was amazing, but the hike is killer and not for the faint of heart.

Ohhhhhh my goodness. I have found a new Campground Love. FOR REAL. This place is absolutely out in the middle of NOWHERE. It takes way longer than you think it should to get out there based on how far it looks on the map, and you're squirreling around on all these back roads and stuff, which I normally am not a fan of. But in this case? It's worth the extra hour or two past Panama City to get to this little hidden gem. The campsites themselves are probably the only negative other than the ridiculous drive, and that's just because they're so cramped together. When you look at the camp sites on the booking website and it says "no privacy" -- they really mean it. We stayed in the Gulf Breeze camping area, which is closer to the shore and more beachy feeling that the Shady Pines area, which is exactly what we were looking for. Even though it was close quarters and every site and cabin except two were occupied (book early!!!), it was super quiet and peaceful and I never even noticed that we were so packed in at the camp sites. And at only $24 a night - not too shabby. The sites themselves were clean and well maintained - white sand for most of the site, with a bit of grass here and there. A picnic table and fire ring on each site, as well as electric (2 outlets) and water. We ended up with one that was actually pretty shady, which seems to be a rarity after scoping out the rest of the sites in Gulf Breeze. Shady PInes was a lot more woods-looking and had more shade, but I go to a tiny strip of a peninsula to be at the beach and want it to FEEL that way while I'm in my tent even. The bath houses are all pretty conveniently located (which isn't hard to do considering how close everything is) and holy smokes are they ever nice. The one closest to our site looked like it was relatively new and it was super clean and well taken care of. Washer and dryer outside and a large outdoor sink in the breezeway between the mens and womens sections were definitely things I've never seen at a campground before but are a fabulous idea. Inside was bright and not scary or spider-webby at all, with skylights and plenty of lighting as well. Four bathroom stalls, three sinks in one long counter, and three showers. ALL CLEAN. NO SPIDER WEBS. NO BUGS. I am still beside myself, obviously. But the real kicker? There was a thermostat in this place. And it was set to cool. As in, THEY ACTUALLY CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE. I was amazed and floored and yes, I even took a picture because I have never ever in a million years seen a bath house at a state park that is climate controlled. Ever. The beach is lovely and beautiful white sand and there were surprisingly few people out there. Granted, we were there on a weekday during the school year, and most of the campground residents seemed to be retired folks, AND there was a red flag flying(dangerous surf, stay out of the water!) and the wind left it kind of chilly out there. But still. It seemed like we had the beach completely to ourselves for quite some time while we were out there, and even when some people showed up they were so few and far between that you didn't notice them or even hear them at all. And no photo bombs, which is a big deal in my book. The water was a little muddy, but more green further out, so I'm thinking it would be more clear when it's not being pounded to death by all the heavy surf. Pure speculation, though. On the other side of the peninsula is the bay, which is where we spent the other half of our beach-time. EagleHarbor was awesome - super shallow, clear water, and lots of cool critters hanging out in the water to check out. In no time at all we found a zillion sea urchins with shells stuck all over them and three marine hermit crabs. If it had been less cold, we definitely would have been out there in our snorkel gear. AMAZING STUFF. Be sure to watch the little ones closely and wear shoes of some sort though, because there are tons of broken shells on the beach, as well as the aforementioned sea urchins hanging out in the shallow water. There is also a playground and a little picnic area on the grounds, as well as a hiking / walking / nature / whatever trail, and then some nature preserve up by the cabins (which look really nice from the outside, and are only $100 a night and sleep 7 according to the website). Cell service is practically nonexistent if you're with AT&T, which is actually a good thing in my opinion. There's a little concession place at Eagle Harbor that also has wifi if you must, but really -- just don't. You can score firewood and other assorted sundries without leaving the grounds as well, which is nice. So points off for being packed in like sardines and for the lack of shade at most of the sites. But even with that, it's still blows most state parks out of the water. We will DEFINITELY be back. It's not often that you can find and enjoy such a tranquil little slice of nature on a budget.

Amazing place! We didn't camp there but rented a condo at nearby Barrier Dunes through vrbo. A wonderful place to take in nature and not crowded at all.

We drove a long, long time to get to this place and were very sad to pull up at 10 pm to a locked gate (due to my failure to read the part about the gate closing at sunset). Good fortune led us to ranger Billy Quinn at the Rush park. He helped us to reach the after hours staff who gave us the gate code . We made it to our campsite and enjoyed a peaceful night. The campground itself is very nice, clean bathroom, washer and dryer, but the real jewel is the beach. Warm blue green water, white sand. The kids loved it. Would love to spend a week there

Our most favorite state park, devastated. Closed. Inaccessible. What is being done to restore the park? Have heard little in the last month. And no fund drive to help? Hello? Would gladly donate if 1) information was frequent, 2) a plan has been developed, and 3) who to donate funds to. Please shed some light, someone, anyone.

A great place for snorkeling in the Florida panhandle. It is a bit of a hike to get to the park, even coming from Port St. Joe, but it is worth it. The beaches are gorgeous and not packed with tons of tourists, as nearby beaches on St. George Island always are. The park entrance fee of $6 is not bad at all and gives you access to not only the beaches, but restrooms, showers, shelters, and other amenities. The snorkeling in the seagrass beds is what I heard about the most though and what really brought me to the park. The beds are pretty shallow, which means that you need to be more careful with boats and other people around. In particular, there are a ton of large Southern Stingrays on the sandy beds, which can be easily startled. Besides these two points of warning, snorkeling offers a wonderful view into the homes of local wildlife and feels magical. Overall, the park offers a variety of activities and is well worth a visit!

Yes really, I have been all over the world's beaches and honestly these in the park are still the most stunning - at least in the last couple of years. Deserted, pristine and the bluest cleanest water ever. We love it here, walk to the point or sail to the point - 7 miles there and 7 miles back. Hike through the center and cut across massive sand dunes (where signs tell you you can), small trails along the bay. Sand dollars, stingrays, the odd fin! and myriad little fish, never seen more than 3 or four people this far out walking. Cabins/campsite and primitive campsite available. Ask for primitive parking pass if just going in for the day so you can park right by the start of the walks to beach and bay.

This park is extremely well maintained and just as about as beautiful as Florida ever gets. I took my best friend here for a weekend of camping and we still rave about how incredible this park was. We're still planning to do a return trip. Words cannot describe what a pleasure it was to camp here. If you're considering a trip here, stop considering and take the leap. You won't regret it!

Beautiful park. Nice campground. Lots I wildlife. Deer, raccoons, birds, snake, stone crabs, horseshoe crabs, fish, turtle nests, an alligator, and of course mosquitos. Went 1 week after Tropical Storm Debbie and they had gotten 12 inches of rain. The mosquitos were the only downside. There are cabins you can rent if you schedule months in advance. Is isolated. Do NOT expect to do many day trips to Panama City beach- as it is 90 min away.

What a beautiful place, wildlife is abundant but not intrusive unless you invite them. I say that because of the surfers next door who came up from Melbourne Beach to catch the storm surge of TS Karen. They didn't know how to lay there consumables up and some crafty Raccoon's made a party out of it.... I didn't have that problem! But if your into wildlife this is the place to go,If your into beach,this is the place to go..... with practically nobody on it! If the campground is too crowded head west because there's 7 miles of state preserve no humans, no lights, no noise, no roads... nothing but beach, wildlife and nature. The experience there was extenuated by the ride there. Shut off the GPS and take Highway 98 out. Matter of fact if your coming up I75 south of Gainesville take Exit 499 (Alachua 441) towards High Springs Take Highway 27 out of High Springs and just drive. It'll take you into Highway 98 and if you miss that you've missed the best part of the flavor. The ride out was on Highway 98 which follows the shoreline of the Florida Gulf Coast in the Big Bend and Panhandle area. This area is known as the Forgotten Coast because it is largely undeveloped and there are many undeveloped areas with small non-commercialized fishing towns in between. It's hard to find coastline like this nowadays! The park we stayed at is 2500 acres and 9 miles long at the end of Cape San Blas. The last 7 miles of the park is a State wildlife preserve only accessible by foot or boat. Melissa and I were able to experience something special in the first evening that you don't always get to see on the beach. The water was rich with a phytoplankton that emits a brief blue glow when disturbed. While walking in the wet sand every footstep emitted a small galaxy of little blue explosions around each footstep. As the waves rolled in, crested, broke and crashed onto the beach Turbulent water glowed blue. Mosquitoes were abundant in the early evening and early morning hours but using the right area and personal repellents made them practically non-existent.