Henderson Beach State Park Reviews

So beautiful and peaceful! We arrived early morning when the park opened. The parking lot was relatively empty and there weren’t many people on the beach. Sand is soft and beautiful white, water is clear. We enjoyed a walk along the waters edge for a little over an hour.

By the time we left, the park was getting busy. Traffic to get into the parking lot was backed up past the entrance and into the highway.

Go Early!!

Seated and service began. The food was excellent. Service was very good!
Can't wait to go back! Beach view was excellent.
Atmosphere was great for my date night.
Wine was good.

Beautiful, clean beach!! White sand. Clear water. No jellyfish (unlike some of the other beaches in the area). Nice bathrooms and showering station, too.

After being quarantined for months, we longed for the beach. This spot is gorgeous with bathrooms and shaded tables. They are allowing half capacity, and the parking spots are xed out every other space. Be aware that the 2nd walkway is under repair. They do not open until 8, so no early birds allowed.

Beautiful beach with no crowds. Nice pavilions with picnic tables and restrooms a short walk over the boardwalk.

Gorgeous beach, easy access. Wonderful attendant at arrival. They do weddings on the beach so don't be the folks we saw who chose to sit 2 feet from the clearly "reserved for wedding" area

This is the most stunning, beautiful, and cleanest beach we went on during our week stay in Destin during they July 4th vacation. It was a $6 per car charge to get in, with no alcohol, glass, or pets allowed. But let me tell you how amazing this beach is. Swoon. Clean. Clear waters. The day we went the waters were so calm you could just float. Such a lovely day in the water with our family. Totally see how people fall in love with Destin, this was our first trip and it will not be our last. <3

One of the best state parks we've ever visited. It's a slice of paradise right in the heart of Destin.

Great place just to walk for exercise, contemplations, or in my case stroll while talking business. Place is quiet and clean!

Beautiful beach. Private campsites, lots of foliage. Nice paved roads. Many amenities nearby and good phone service.

Boardwalk to beach closed requiring a 1.5 mile trip to the beach from camp. Bathrooms closed from 9-10 for cleaning. Seems a better time could be picked for cleaning than when people need to shower.

We spent a windy and partly cloudy day here and it was fabulous. It costs $6 to enter and there was plenty of parking spaces. We appreciate bathrooms and showers. It was uncrowded and relaxing. Double red flags were flying, but it was still a great day.

Enjoyed this area of the beach. Only thing after 5 mins of swimming in ocean my husband was stung by a jellyfish. The attendant said they had some visiting but never would have imagined after 5 minutes they got him. So that ruined the whole beach trip for us. But it’s a crystal clear area and very clean

Beautiful unspoiled beach away from crowds. You can bring your own chairs and umbrellas. The water is a beautiful, clear turquoise!

The beach and water here are beautiful - unspoiled section of beach. I think they should charge a few more dollars to keep some of the ppl out who will easily pay the $6 but leave their trash laying around. Also perhaps charging a few more dollars then they could make some improvements to the bathhouse and add a shower or two. I would like to see some lifeguard stands too - I saw a couple park rangers running up and down once or twice during our 3+hour stay but not really anyone life guarding. This section of beach is also flat enough you could walk the beach. It has plenty of parking - even on Memorial day after noon we found a spot! Plenty of walk overs as well. Two or three bathhouses in between w/ outside showers.

this is an excellent spot for families or couples. it is very relaxing and the beach is well maintained. the water is clear. there is an entrance fee of 6$ per car with up to 8 people. The sand is powdery white and the there are showers and pinic areas with ample parking.

Very relaxing beach for Destin. Have to pay to get into the park and no alcohol but it was worth not having the extra mayhem. Recommended if wanting to get away from all the crowds. The dune walking paths are really fun too. Good workout inbetween laying on the beach and playing in the water.

We stayed one night in the campground. Bathrooms were clean. Laundry was $2 wash $2 dry. Nice wide spaces, very nice staff.

Yes you have to pay a nominal fee to get in but it keeps out the rift raft and provides for a beautiful beach to sit out and soak up the sun or in the water and soak up the waves. Very clean park. It's our favorite beach.

Henderson Bech Stat Park provides a majestic shoreline that is anchored by 30-foot snow-white sand dunes. Enjoy walking in the sand or wading in the turquoise Gulf waters.

We had a great afternoon enjoying the beach. Chose this spot and we are glad we did. Lots of space to enjoy ourselves and not feel crowded. Meant to only stay an hour ot so and ended up staying most of the day. clean restrooms available and a pavillion to get out of the sun if you want.

Perfect place to surf.clear water and not much crowded.we really enjoyed.nice park had good and clean restroom to change etc.only $6 to get in too.

This was an incredible beach and even though there were double red flags meaning no swimming we had incredible waves to listen to, clean restrooms and a picnic pavilion. It was also a treat to take a right once inside the park and drive alongside the sea oats and ocean for a beautiful view for a few hundred yards. This was affordable and not crowded

Beautiful beach. Texture of sand is the same as other beaches we went to. Very nice. City keeps the beach and pavilions clean. Water is crystal clear. Little shade so umbrellas (and chairs) are a must. Vending machines in pavilions in case you need drinks/snacks.

Nice park to enjoy the beaches of Destin! There is a parasol rental service and chairs and bathrooms. There's no way to buy food or save lives. It's really worth it. Sand is like sugar and crystal clear water.

I think this is the most beautiful beach I have ever been to!! Water is really shallow, which was perfect with my young kids. They were able to play safely without me being really worried. Bring a tent... to provide shade. They have chair rentals for a good price if you don’t want to haul all your stuff.

Family vacation, got directions here from hotel front desk. Close to hotel, paid $6 to park but that was not bad. Seems to be clean, quiet beach, not crowded. Maybe this was due to pending inclement weather but still a nice outing. Rentals available, pavillion etc. I recommend, but will also try to check out public beaches while here.

We stopped over Thanksgiving weekend to check out the park and take the short nature walk. The walk through the dunes was nice although I would say it would be hot in the summer. Allow about 45 minutes for the 3/4 mile hike. Bathroooms were nice and there are multiple boardwalks down to the beach
We drove through the camping area looking for a possible future camping experience. The spots are well segregated from other campers but the trees are short so there is lots of sun.

We ended our last full day in Destin at Henderson Beach State Park and what a visit! We went on a weekday so it was not crowded. Easy parking. Clean covered pavilions to have a bite to eat since we packed our lunch. After lunch, headed to the beach which was clean and also not crowded. Plenty of space between other visitors. The water was nice temperature, clear and green. Although purple beach flag was hoisted we did not spot any jelly fish (yeah!). The highlight of the day though was spotting a pod of dolphins! There was a baby dolphin (with mom nearby) that was being extra playful and bobbed in and out of the water. We kept our distance but at one point a dolphin was about 50 ft away! One of the dolphins even leaped out of the air! It was so fantastic to see the dolphins in the wild. Visitors were applauding and taking video of the dolphins. They swam around for quite some time before finally going further out to sea. I highly recommend Henderson beach!!

Went to Henderson Beach State Park early in the morning to get a little serenity and I was not disappointed. Great place to just sit, watch, and relax. Bathrooms were on site which made it nice if you want to stay for the day and have a picnic and get in the water.

Beautiful views great for the kids bathrooms and shade bring a few bucks and your in. Loved the clean sand we will be back fr.

Caught a beautiful sunset while walking on the beach here. beautiful white sand. Lot's of parking. Very relaxing visit.

If you are looking for a great beach day, this is perfect! It costs $6 per car to park, but it is truly worth it every dime. There are covered picnic tables to eat lunch on, and nice restrooms.

We went to Henderson Beach State Park for two days during our long weekend stay in Destin and it was the highlight of the trip. Beautiful white sand, sparkling water, and nothing to see but the expanse of ocean will soothe all of your stress and erase any worries. The beach did get increasingly crowded as the day went on, but there is plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the surroundings. Public restrooms were clean and easily accessible. We didn't mind paying the $6 fee for us to enjoy the natural beauty of the beach. Go early, pack a picnic, grab your beach chairs and umbrella and go to Henderson Beach State Park--you won't regret it!

Peaceful, quiet, lots of space to spread out. Lovely sunsets. We didn't swim on this trio as the water was too cool for us, but we enjoyed walking along the beach. Nice dunes, too.

Visited in August, was our first time in Destin and we loved it! The tide was a bit high but still had lots of fun. Sand was soft and white, and not too much seaweed around.
There were too many trump flags for my liking but no one can deny the emerald coast is absolutely beautiful!
Hope to be back soon!

The beach is lovely with white sand and nice waves. The parking lot is near the beach and picnic tables under cover.

Our family enjoyed multiple visits to this beach during our vacation. The beach was so clean! The water was gorgeous.

Great family experience visiting the Okaloosa Island Pier in the early evening. Very inexpensive cost to walk the pier ($2.00) per person. Very fun to walk to the end and lots of fun to watch the sea turtles and dolphins which are quite prevalent.

The beach was crowded but I expected that due to the other comments. Water was clear. I wish they had more trash cans available.

First time here. Loved the white sands and the beach area. Went during the week so wasnt too crowded yet. Beach area very clean, was patrolled as well. Enjoyed the time to sit and relax.

I set up the Toes in the Sand Dinner at Beach House Cafe for my husband and I. It was the perfect experience with Robert, our server. Beautiful ambience and delectable dinner at sunset.

A great place to jump into the Gulf! The sands are awesome, the water is wonderful...what else do you need?

This is a beautiful beach, not pricey, but not worth it, if you are staying on the beach anyway. It is a very small area and the trail was a joke. It just walked you around in a circle in the sand, nothing nature related, nothing to talk about, just hot sandy walking. The park worker was not friendly upon arriving. Now I will say if you are not staying on the beach and need a low populated beach day come here, because there was not many people here. I am used to better parks like St Andrews, etc, that may be why this one disappointed.

Water is beautiful! Sand is clean and so soft. It’s a very beautiful place with pavilions to gather and eat under and grills to grill food. It’s $6 a car load and I always enjoy my experience here!

We visit the campground every labor day weekend. Facilities are clean, there is noise from cars at night which is due to the proximity to the road. But overall great facilities. Very Clean bath house.

The State Park offers beautiful beach. A walk on the beach in the morning and evening was peaceful. And there are protected birds and you will see crabs on your evening walk.
Water is so beautiful.

The beach was beautiful and clean. It was not too crowded despite being the 4th of july weekend. Chairs and umbrellas were affordable. We were seated near the shore. Beautiful for walking, swimming or taking a nap under the umbrella! The entrance fee is reasonable and there was plenty of parking. Bathrooms and picnic area were clean. I will definitely go back!

Pristine white sand beach. Well maintained, no trash anywhere. Places to rinse off after coming off the sand. Only downside is that they charge you to get in, then charge you to use the bathroom. Didn’t mind the entrance fee since the beach is so well maintained and is quite the slice of heaven.

We have been many, many times to this park. It's a long drive from Houston to this park and it's always worth it. Clean, friendly, beautiful, and the staff is as great. What else can you ask for? Pads are nice and level, well shaded, and quiet! Will absolutely return.

This is a great beach. Having to pay a few bucks to get in keeps out the riff-raff and makes it a more enjoyable visit.

We visited in February when it was still quite cold. Amazing water so beautiful. Walking trails, dunes, bath house. I wish it was warmer but I would definitely make this a stop.

This beach as absolutely gorgeous. Recommend highly. My family had a blast and the water was a gorgeous blue-green.

We discovered Henderson Beach State Park during a trip to Okaloosa Island. Hoping to escape the dingy water full of sea grass and little, sticky bits of green plant pieces in the ocean around our hotel, we drove 15 minutes to Henderson Beach State Park in Destin. We found beautiful clear turquoise water, white sand dunes and clean beaches with beach chair and umbrella rental. There is parking, picnic pavilions, restrooms and both steps and ramp options to get to the beach. The guys working the beach chair and umbrella rental were so nice and efficient. Special shout out to Joey and the staff working 6/25 and 6/26.

Beautiful beach with amazing soft white sand. Good place to take the family if you want to find seashells.

We went to Henderson Beach because it was recommended as family friendly. It does cost $6 per vehicle to enter, and that includes parking, facilities, and the beach. You can also rent beach chairs and umbrellas right there as well. There are sand showers along the boardwalks for you to clean off as you leave. Also, to our surprise, there was a little snack shop set up in the parking lot selling ice cream and drinks. Great beach for relaxing and letting the kids play that's away from the overcrowded "main" beaches along Destin.

Beautiful Beach with great swimming area. Always clean. Price has gotten ridiculous in the last couple years. Don't even think about renting a campsite, prebooked by wealthy overseas jerks for months in advance.Most beautiful water in miles. 4th prettiest beach in Florida.

Nice clean beach with a pavilion. The park closes at 8pm but you can come and go as you please. The park is close to restaurants and has facilities.

Very pretty and clean beach! The water was so beautiful. Bathrooms and shower areas were cleaned.
Loved that it was handicap accessible and lots of ramps were available.
Don’t let the long line to get in the area discourage you. It moves pretty quick!

We found other parks in the area we liked much better like Eden and Topsail west of Panama City and St. Andrews and St Joseph’s east of PCB.

My Wife and I decided to come to Henderson in order to Avoid the Crowded Beach at our condo 2-5 minutes away. The $6/Day fee per car was way worth the money instead of dealing with the crowd. Henderson State Park made the trip to Destin for my wife and I as the beach was very clean and it felt like we were the only ones there. The staff at the park was very friendly and helpful if you needed anything. It was great that the entry fee covered the whole day because you could leave and go get lunch or something and come back until 6:30PM. The water was so clear while we were there and very pretty. The facilities were very clean and has multiple restrooms, showers to wash off sand, and walking trails for you to enjoy.

there are also chairs and umbrellas you can rent for $40/Day but we brought our own stuff and set it up ourselves. Everyday was a great day at Henderson State Beach Park.

I’m not really sure why someone complained about the seaweed in the water because every beach I have been to has seaweed.

We walked the beach and it was sooo beautiful. Bathrooms were pretty clean, and at each exit there is a spray station to wash the sand off your feet.

Great location to visit the beach. Not super busy and a family friendly location. Love our beautiful beaches.

Wonderful beach with excellent bath facilities for a full day of sun and fun. Red flags were out on this particular day but the beach appears to be a gradual drop.

The beaches were clean. Not a lot of people. perfect! Went for some kite flying and snorkeling with the family and it was excellent.

I stayed at a condo with extremely limited beach access (private beach area certain days and times), so I found this public beach just a short drive away and wish I had come here first. It was clean, beautiful, and peaceful! Not crowded at all, well taken care of, and very accessible. I saw a few families having sunset photo sessions and I absolutely plan to do so as well on my next visit. Highly recommend. 10/10

One of the best locations to enjoy the Emerald Coast. Plenty of parking, away from the crowds along Scenic Gulf drive, parking is $6 with in and out privileges, just have to show receipt. 6 pavilions, restrooms, hiking, staff comes around and cleans up regularly. Beach is wheelchair accessible. Many other amenities. Great place. Helicopters are a nuisance, as well as some low flying planes but we still enjoyed it and would rather deal with that than the traffic and lack of parking at the other beaches.

So, didn't know exactly what to expect as this was our first time in the Destin Area! It was a GEM of a find! I would recommend heading in early to get parking but there are multiple areas with parking, bathrooms, and picnic tables. The walk down to the beach was very manageable! I only wish I had more than one day I could have visited!

Stopped by here for some nature. There was a very cute dune trail just under a mile. It was a nice walk There was a small playground and a beach house with showers and restrooms. Small boardwalk and lots of beach area. When you first enter the park there is a very small store with souvenirs and drinks.

Great view, very nice trail that was pleasantly more physically engaging than was expected. Park staff were awesome, jokes and smiles go a long way to welcoming someone into a park. Bought a sweatshirt, staff happy to help, and prices very reasonable.

We went here in June and we were glad we found it. The beaches in Destin on that particular day were packed and because of the resorts or hotels, public spaces were limited and a little packed. We searched out a beach and when this came up, we decided to go. Being a state park they were very good about following the rules on how many vehicles were allowed to enter and they run a nice, clean park. AT least when we were there. Our suggestion on the entry fee, Bring exact change if you can. They had a cash-only line and it was much faster. The staff we encountered were nice and professional and answered our questions before we went in. We will definitely make this a spot to visit again.

If you’re looking for a less crowded Destin area beach this is it. $6 to park is totally worth it. The background is sand dunes instead of high rises. The water is typically crystal clear (most of the year) with a turquoise tint.

get there early to find prime beach front spot. The beaches are very clean and water is amazing. It is $ 6.00 per day per carload but it is worth it.

Gorgeous beach with facilities, etc. and plenty of space to spread out. We stayed at a hotel nearby, came down onto the beach through June Decker public access (very crowded), and walked in front of a hotel's chairs to get to this wide, gorgeous beach.

The sand is perfection and so is the view. Can’t go wrong here. I enjoyed every moment there. Showers and restrooms available. Not crowded in October.

Incredible white sand and emerald waters make this an idyllic place to spend a beach day. There are pavilions for rent and beach chairs, umbrellas can be rented from the volunteer group that supports the work of this Florida State Park.

Beach was great. Park ranger not friendly.

We are planning a camping vacation and thought it a perfect opportunity to check out campsites. There is one small sign that said campers only. But we thought that to mean you can’t hang out here unless you are camping. We planned to just drive thru and leave. Park ranger stopped us, was quite rude, didn’t care that we are elderly and wanted to see sites,. He made us leave and followed us out. That was a first. He could have been friendly about it. I wouldn’t camp there.

We didn’t realize this beach cost $6 to enter. The hotel I booked was closer to this beach so we only went one day and went to various free beaches the other days. It has some nice shelters but we didn’t use them so I am sure the fee is used for the upkeep. It had a few rental chairs available. The beach was nice.

Loved everything about this place. Clean beach, clean picnic areas and restrooms. Plenty of parking available. Costs money to get in daily but I thought it was worth it.

Very clean and spacious! Clean water and beach! Our favorite beach on our trip! We visited this beach every day in our trip. Plenty of shaded picnic tables to eat your lunch and cool down in the shade if you need to. Very family friendly.

This beautiful beach was not crowded even though there were a lot of people there. Great place for singles, couples and families and can spend all day, it is just that nice.

Absolutely beautiful! The first day there was a lot of seaweed in the water but we didn't even care. It was mostly gone by the next day. The sand is white and you can still see the bottom when the water is up to your chest. That's probably one of my favorite things about the water. I'm from the Midwest and tend to be nervous when swimming, at first. But the only thing we saw on our 5-day trip was one jellyfish. I only have one complaint and that is public beach access. All of the resorts seem to own most of the beach, meaning the sand. There are a couple of spots, maybe 100 ft across, that the public is allowed to set up a spot for themselves. So if you're not staying at one of the hotels or resorts right on the water, you have to cram into this very limited space with all of the rest of the city. They should limit how much each resort can "own." While 200 people are trying to squeeze into this small space, look to your left or right, and you'll see the same blue chairs lined down each direction, for what seems like miles. In those areas, you'll see maybe 50 people either way you look, on the beach or in the water.

This beach is absolutely beautiful. There is an entry fee but it is well worth it. Bathrooms and picnic pavilions are kept very clean. Park rangers are also careful about updating flag conditions for swimmer safety.

Beautiful white sand. Gorgeous warm emerald water. Came July 4th. Very crowded but expected. Need to pay to enter $2 per person. Slows the line down so get there early to avoid and to get a spot. Bathrooms on site. Plenty of parking. There is a lifeguard but I would watch kids closely. Very little marine life but waves can get large in late afternoon.

Beautiful beach park! $6.00 entry and totally worth it! Sunset views are incredible! The sand is sugar white and ocean is emerald green.

Don’t want to tell you how nice it is!
Because I want to save it all for myself!
Nicest Park in Florida!

Excellent excellent excellent. There is ample parking, the facilities are always clean. The beach area has plenty of room to spread out and the park staff does a great job of keeping the place clean and the visitors safe. Definitely worth visiting.

I’ve been to a lot of beaches up and down the east and west coast and a few in Europe and South America but this was my first time to the Gulf of Mexico and I definitely have to say this is by far the best beach I’ve been too. The sand (Jipson) is like sugar and even at the peak of the day is cool. The water is a beautiful clear Emerald color.

This has to be our favorite campground since we started full-timing almost 6 years ago. Our site was huge and clean, and it was a reasonable walk to the white sand beaches and blue-green water. The water was also clean, and warm enough to wade in without discomfort. I hope we can come back.

The facilities are more than adequate for a great day at the beach. Pavilions are spacious and clean as well. The staff is friendly and helpful.

It’s clean, amazing, and there is always plenty of space to set up. Our favorite thing about Destin.

My family thoroughly loved our hike through this only park that has preserved the original Florida coastline!

We visited at least 8 beaches along the Florida panhandle during our stay, and this is the number one favorite. Well worth the $6 per carload admission. Crystal clear water, white powder sand, clean restrooms and showers. Could have stayed all day.

For $6 you can find easy parking, restrooms, showers 🚿for all the sandy feet, and plenty of good beach areas 🏖️to enjoy! This is such a convenient way to enjoy Destin!

Absolutely breathtaking! Would highly recommend! You do have to pay to park but it’s worth it! They have staff that are constantly going around the park to check on things!

Beautiful beach, soft sand. Very spacious. The water had a lot of jelly fish though, which we didn’t see at a beaches just up the road. We also didn’t see many sand dollars. Good beach for nice evening walks.

Great sugar sand beach, no crowds, beautiful sunshine and emerald ocean water. Bring your own chairs and umbrellas you only have to pay for parking. For car with 2-6 people $6.00usd

Does cost $6.00 per car but nice natural beach with wonderful picnic shelters with restrooms. Three different sections and a nature trail and RV camping area. Peaceful stroll on the beach.

This has been one of the prettiest beaches I have swam at. It's a must stop! They have restrooms and they sell ice at the enterance.

Beautiful water!!! Our first time there and it was very beautiful. Had construction going on but easy to get to. We couldn’t swim because of the rip currents but was able to stand knee deep. Pretty white sand too!!! We will be going back to spend a full day!!!

One of the cleanest beaches we’ve ever been to. Super white sand. Parking was easy and plenty of parking

They limited capacity to 50% and blocked off everywhere parking spot too! This was a great relief to me and my family as the COVID-19 pandemic is currently going on.

$6/ per car load
$4/ car with 1 passenger

Clean bathrooms
Rinse off areas

Very family friendly.

Pack a tent, towels, sunscreen and cooler for food and drinks but take some bags to keep your trash together!

The park has the best beaches and plenty of room to spread out. You will not be consumed by the thousands of umbrella and chair setups like at the other beaches in Destin. The park rangers patrol the area for safety and keep an eye out for any dangerous conditions. Very family friendly!

We were staying at the Henderson Park Inn which is located in this state park. The beach is stunning with white sand and turquoise water. The weather was lovely on the days we were there in January - perfect for a walk along the beach.

We went here to have pictures made while we were in Destin. Beautiful beach. More secluded area. I have no problem paying to get in for what you get.

1st time visit. Park entrance fee included in camping fee. Campsites are huge, very private and priced inexpensively, especially for being on the beach. Many campsites are pull through. Camp hosts were great and delivered large reasonably priced bundles of wood. Water and electric worked great. We were unable to get TV reception over the air. The beach boardwalk looks cool but was closed for reconstruction when we visited. Hope to use it for quick beach access on our next visit. Nature trail is very pretty and pet friendly. We were walking so a bit of a jaunt back to park entrance if you plan to go out to eat. There is a bike lane. Would recommend a cruiser to get around if you plan to stay a while. Dump station available along the road between campsites and entrance.

Very beautiful beach with clear water. Had showers and changing rooms. Wasn't to crowded and the beach and the water was gorgeous.

Very nice park. It was nice to see the beach, dunes and surrounding areas in a natural, unspoiled state.

This was my first time to the beach and this was absolutely amazing. You have to pay to get in but it is so worth it. The sand was beautiful and it wasn't crowded like some of the other places we visited on our trip. The water was crystal clear and so beautiful. They also have some picnic areas close to the parking lot so you can bring food and hang out all day if you want.

Awesome beach! Wasn’t to crowded in the area we chose to sit. Water was great and kids enjoyed riding the waves.

This place is beautiful, one of the nicest beaches I’ve seen thus far. It was clean, the beach wasn’t over crowded, and it seemed like a safe place for solo travelers like myself. I went to the beach one day near the Okaloosa Island Pier and had no issues with my belongings being bothered. Will definitely be back in the future!

Nice beach. White sand. Had a covered table area with grills close by. Outdoor shower and feet rinse stations functional.

Great park with only a $6 entry fee per car. Brought are dog and did the short nature walk with the kids. Nice facilities for beach goers.

Just two weeks earlier i visited Miami beach but after visiting Destin i can after visiting here no need to go Miami beach.. Very clear water, beach amenities available and no noisy crowed.

Very clean facilities. Beautiful beach. Well worth $6. My husband, myself, and my 15 and 17 year olds enjoyed the beach. The walk from the parking lot to the beach is about 75 yards; however, if you have asthma and it’s hot- TAKE YOUR INHALER! The ranger road by several times when we were there and made sure we were following the flags- double red that day. We could still put our chairs in the water and stay wet and cool though.

After visiting the more crowded Miramar Beach the day before, we opted to visit this beach on the recommendation of co-workers.

We arrived shortly after it opened, and while there was already a queue of cars at the entrance station (entry fee of $6 per vehicle), there was plenty of parking available. The walk to the beach was just a short distance from the parking lot, and much of the walk was on a well-maintained boardwalk overlooking the dunes and beach. The powdery white sand was so fine, it made a squeaking sound when we walked on it! The emerald water was very warm and crystal clear, and the beach was not at all crowded (which surprised us, since we visited over Memorial Weekend). Concessions were open when we visited, and the bathrooms were clean.

I highly recommend this beach over others in the area...much less crowded with gorgeous views, perfect sand and water, and all the amenities you need!

Beautiful white sand beach, go early to avoid parking issues, less busy than other local beaches. $6 parking per day. Not many shells to be found but really pretty sand and blue water.

Good facilities and parking, drive around to find lots that are not as crowded. Lots of sea grass and crowded near walkways to the beach. There are better beach options available if you don't need the pavilions.

Clean, gorgeous beach. Definitely not secluded or private, tons of people but still wasn't feeling crowded. Be prepared to pay a entry fee $6-8.

Double Red 2 days in a row which was a LIE and $6 to park just to sit in the sand. HUMM NO!!!!@ So for our family and we came to Destin for a summer vacation, we love the beach and come ofter. However, Florida has changed the beach laws were you have to use a public beach if your hotel is not on the beach sand and water. So our hotel told us the closest public beach was Henderson Beach. So the 1st day we checked the online beach flags and the color was "Yellow" so we go to the Henderson Beach and we get to the gate and it says "DOUBLE RED" flags which is you can go on the beach but not touch the water; understandable because it was windy, lightning and raining. 2nd online says "Red" it was sunny 80°plus weather get down to Henderson Beach and it says "Double Red" again so now I'm upset and I ask the question to the gate man he said theirs are double red but we could try another beach but it will probably be the same. Tell you this he was a LIE went about 5 to 7 mins down the road and the flags was "Red" so we were able to get in the water and parking was FREE... We will never use Henderson Beach. Do your research on other beach access.

The park is wonderful. It gets you away from the rental areas on other beaches close to it. The 6.00 fee per car does help keep it less crowded and at times you feel like you have the place to yourself. The have covered pinic areas to get out og the sun. Rinse off showers at entrace to the boardwalks.has a small gift shop, Has bags of ice.Great parking area. Right in the middle of Destin and close to the hotels.

This is a beautiful beach that is clean, serene and relaxing. Lots of space with gorgeous sand and water. I cannot find any faults.

Nice beach, restrooms, plenty of parking. Worth the fee of $6.00 and if you leave, reentry is free the same day.

Oh my gosh. This beach is AMAZING. The sand is a beautiful white, and the water is a beautiful turquoise. We spent hours here.

Beautiful White Sands!!!

I have been to Florida several times but not this area. This compares to the Caribbean! Blue water and white sands. Easy to drive in or ride bikes. Friendly and helpful staff. $6 a car, if more than 8 people $2 a person.

There is a camping area, lots are very private

Great covered picnic area. Several tables. Bathrooms. No dogs in the beach (county ordinance). Not too busy, unless Thanksgiving is the off season...not sure why? Too cold to swim for most, but there were several in the water. I saw lots of people in swimsuits enjoying the sun. I plan to get a beach chair from Walmart across the street and read my book for the next week.

This was our go-to beach during Spring break.
Nice, clean white sand. Area was well maintained with plenty of parking.

Beautiful powdery white sand and emerald water. Nice small trail and playground (missing swings). It was peaceful and not crowded. Nice picnic pavilion.

Pretty beach and it wasn't too crowded when we were there. Nice and relaxing. I think it was $5 or $10 to get in for a car load.

Nice trail with signs about the plants. Enjoyed it.
Good value for the price .
Beautiful surroundings

We have stayed here several times and always a great visit. Sites are nicely wooded and spaced apart for privacy. Bathrooms are always clean. Restaurants, grocery and all needs close by. Only problem is traffic, busy area.

Beautiful white sand beaches. The gulf was a lovely blue-green while I was there. In November, it wasn’t too crowded and there are plenty of places to easily access the beach.

The sand is a soft, powdery white and easy to walk in. I did forget that walking in the sand will work those muscles you forget about. It was easy to walk the 1 1/2+ miles I walked.

Entrance fee varies by how many people are in the car and I saw that camping is available.

There are also buildings with restrooms and rinsing showers if you are worried about tracking sand into your vehicle. I saw a couple of access points for those in wheelchairs.

Beautiful beach with clear water & soft white sand! Unfortunately we visited in the winter and it was a little too chilly to be in the water other than our feet.

Crystal clear waters and white powder sand. Parking free. 3 shelters with picnic tables and rest rooms. Recommended Highly ♡

Henderson Beach State Park was the perfect spot for a short trip to Destin. Parking was only $4 and there were showers and picnic table to use. There is a charming little nature walk to get from the parking lot to the beach. The natural beauty of the beach grass and soft waves crashing set the tone for a calm day by the water.

The beach itself is stunning. Even in late July it wasn't super crowded. The white sand is soft and the crystal clear water has the green glow that the Emerald Coast is known for. You can even see schools of tiny fish swimming around you!

This park offers a great blend of tranquility, natural beauty, and easy access. Highly recommend for families, couples, or anyone wanting a break from the busier public beaches.

Nice park but hard to find with my GPS kept taking me to other areas. Entrance to park across from Walmart

If you are trying to get away from it all, this area of beach is a perfect spot. There are several fisherman in the area-that’s the only drawback if you are trying to get in the water. Parking can also be a bit tricky.

Henderson Beach was the absolute PERFECT beach spot! It was $6 to get in, but we were paying parking at others, so not a big deal. It has the perfect areas, beautiful water to play and swim in. The sand bars go out a ways, so little ones can walk out a good way too. We took our own umbrellas and chairs with sand toys. There are several pavilions with tables and shower rise areas. Super duper clean. There was a little vendor that you could buy a few things from for the beach and little snacks, but not tons. We saw a ton of fish and found some beautiful shells. We also had our family pictures taken on this beach at sunset, amazing is all I can say! We will definitely be back!

It was a long day; so much wasted time waiting in bumper to bumper traffic & horrible road conditions
due to construction and top it off
102° with heat index. Thank God we got to Henderson beach in one piece. Beautiful beach.
Bathrooms were atrocious filthy

Beach was clean, water was clear, nice facilities. Kids loved riding the waves on their boogie boards. Get there early to avoid the line to get in. Definitely worth the stop!

This beach was beautiful. I was in a wheelchair/knee scooter for my vacation and Henderson Beach State Park has beach friendly wheelchairs to use for no cost for day use. It made my vacation great!

While all the beaches we went to were great, this was our favorite. It had a few less people, the water was clear and sand great for kids to play in.

Ok to just drive to the end and back I guess. Been there done that kind of a deal for us. Easy to find it, right on 98. If on your was why not a quick stop

Went with my husband during the afternoon. Got to the shore and set up our chairs. Immediately the biting flies swarmed is. I quickly applied sunblock and got into the water. Husband was frustrated so I told him the water would get them away. Well, they followed us out to the water! He even went under and they were still flying around waiting to land. Went back to our chairs and more came. We immediately packed up and left. It was awful! There was another couple near us swatting them while they sat on the beach. We left after only being there 15 minutes!!! Didn’t have any issues with any other beach while in Destin. It was a beautiful beach so I don’t know why the flies were so bad?!?!

Clean beach with not a far walk to the beach from the parking area. No alcohol allowed, but was fun without. Very clean. Cost to enter, no re-entry.

Okay at night but not during the daytime! Fun good water and a lot of sandy so if it your first time at the beach in Florida this is it

I always go to Henderson Beach when I visit Destin because it's never over crowded, peaceful, and most of all beautiful! It's less than 10 minutes from the hotel I normally stay at on Harbour Blvd.

Lovely beach in a state park. Nice walkway over the dunes to the beach. Convenient changing area and restrooms. Accessible for wheelchairs or for people with limited mobility.

I wanted to be here all day everyday! It does cost a minimal amount to enter the park. Beaches are clean and the time of year we were there was not crowded.

Everything you need.... We went to Henderson Park on the last day of our trip! What a hidden gem! Not many people, pristine beaches, bathrooms and showers! It was breathtaking and not overcrowded! We LOVED it! You MUST go!

Well kept beach, pavillion, and picnic areas. Stopped for a picnic lunch. Probably would not have paid specifically to visit this park but I have an annual pass.

If yo are in Destin you must stop by Henderson Beach State Park! Bring a cooler and enjoy a family picnic!

Very nice, clean beach. No seashells at all, just seaweed….. ha! Sand is like white powder, enjoyed many hours here. Small fee to enter at the gate.

Excellent state park, great facility, clean, safe. Recommend to be early the parking fills pretty quick, highly recommended!

You're here for the beach! Henderson Beach State Park has lots of parking, multiple bathrooms/showers, some chair rentals and refreshments. There is a very large beach area that allows for plenty of room for tents and to spread out.

Nice place to walk on the beach and enjoy some water fun. Although it was crowded there are plenty of areas for lounging on the beach!

Memorial weekend the weather was nice the sand was beautiful but the water was green full with algae that will stick in your hair and everything it can ,

I'm sure it would have been perfect if it was cleaner waters but either way I had fun .

This beach is a BEAUTIFUL location to visit! Can't wait to make a return trip with the family!! Thr sand is so fine and beautiful!! And the water is a gorgeous blue and clear!! 10/10!!

Henderson Beach State Park is in the heart of Destin, offering a quieter place to enjoy the beach and unobstructed beach/sunset views. There are picnic sheds available and there is a camping area.
There is a small fee to enter the park but you have to exit the park by 6:30 p.m. which is the only downside (except camping areas). You can enjoy the beach during the day with much smaller crowds but evening/night use is limited.

This beach was amazing. clear water, not very crowded. Not a lot of boats which was nice. Beautiful white sand.

This beach is so pretty. Secluded and very few people. A must see in Destin. Take a chair and umbrella, some snacks and spend the day there. Picnic table provided under cover.

Beautiful Beaches ⛱️ in Destin Florida, we have fun, Good times with the family, we pay 10. For the entrance, have bathrooms and showers

This beach is so clean, the sand doesn't burn, the water so clear, they have nice bathrooms and the sand seems easier to walk on than other beaches. It is flatter to get to the water, important if you are old.

The best sand I have ever experienced because it is the result of pulverized granite. So it's soft and cool and does not burn your feet. The water is crystal blue. A real paradise.

Great place to go for a mostly empty stretch of beach and to walk dune paths to bird watch. We saw cardinals, Eastern Towhees, and chickadees there. It’s very hot if you wait till mid morning or after in summer, so I’d get there when it opens at 8. The path is less than a mile but it’s mostly deep sand, so sort of a tiring walk, even for people who enjoy outdoorsy things. Not terrible, just — you know — walking in dry sand.

Recommend for people who like to spot lizards and birds.

This is a great state park. It is less crowded than all the surrounding private beaches that are covered in $50/day rental chairs. Everything is awesome about this park...the facilities, the beach, the view, etc. $6 is well worth it.

Gorgeous. Low population of visitors on beach which makes it all the better. Clean restroom facilities.

We been coming to destin for the past 4 years and never visit it here. We loved it! We actually had a condo with a private beach but we ended up here every day of our visit.

This is my favorite place for a great day at the beach!!! Better if you rent the chairs and umbrella there not bad at all!!! You won't ha e to worry about carrying stuff but your food and towel!!

I have been hitting this park for 5 years straight now and love it. Yes, it sometimes has jellyfish or seaweed, but its the ocean. Get over it! Parking is very reasonable and umbrellas and chairs are available on weekends to rent. Go offseason if possible to avoid the crowds.

And the Rangers and other volunteers are really great to deal with. We are planning on bringing a motor home down next year and staying in it on the beach.

This is a very nice beach, sand is perfect. Nice showers and restrooms. We had a wonderful, relaxing experience here!

This beach is beautiful. The bathrooms are clean, and there is a nice shower area to rinse off after. There are large pavilions to take a break and get out of the sun for bit. Highly recommend.

This state park has everything if nature is your call. The beach is great, the camping is available and well done, and the location is the best. You are close to everything in Destin yet isolated enougfh to enjoy a stay with nature. You will enjoy this wether a short afternoon or several days.

The water is why they call this the Emerald Coast, the sand is very soft. They have facilities. Most visitors are locals from middle aged to teen agers, they do have people from Alabama come down.

Very nice state park. We enjoyed biking here. The beaches are beautiful with such sparkling white sand and green water

My husband and I enjoy visiting state parks/hiking in our home state, Arkansas, so we decided to visit a few state parks while on our vacation to the Destin area. We really enjoy the nature trail, and the beach was beautiful! It was fun doing a little trail on sand as that is not something we had experienced before. We also enjoyed all of the different plants that were identified on the trail. The staff in the gift shop area was very nice as well. I would definitely recommend a visit!

This was probably the best $6.00 we spent our entire week exploring the beaches along the Gulf Shore National Seashore. It's also amazing how $6.00 is what separates the crowds. We were vacationing all along the Gulf Shore, and while people visit Destin for a myriad of reasons, the emerald water and squeaky quartz sand along this stretch of beach was a dream!

In Feb very unpopulated, but beautiful natural setting with bathroom facilities. A vigorous walk on beech got my steps up!

We love this place. We strongly recommend that you spend the $25 to get two chairs and an umbrella. It's a much more comfortable situation than carrying chairs and holding an umbrella. The waters so clear and you can see forever. My only suggestion for a change would be that they open earlier and stay open later. We would have loved to watch the sun come up and set there. Beautiful. With all the crowded beaches we couldn't figure out why this one wasn't, but we were so glad. Peaceful and Beautiful.

A nice beach area kind of tucked in with condos all around, from Deer Lake and Grayson up to Henderson but the really big beaches are just over the bridge on Okaloosa Island and a little farther to the next huge beach at Gulf Island National Seashore, peace and quiet except for the crashing of waves and the calls of seagulls!

Beautiful beach with white sand. Many types of wildlife birds to watch. Clean restrooms. Outdoor showers. Rental umbrella and lounge chairs available. Highly recommend!

This is a really pretty park. But our RV stay was ruined by the helicopter trips constantly circling the park. We are here on the weekend so maybe this isn’t a problem during the week. Anyway, the constant noise ruined the serenity of this beautiful place.

Had a blast was well worth the visit. $6 entrance fee. We went early so wasn’t very many people there very beautiful clean beach definitely will be back!!!

This is a beautiful state park. I liked to use the park to exercise and walk around. They have some facilities and a nice beach. I'll definitely be back.

Great beach. The water was crystal clear. I would recommend getting there early, because it got crowded. The $6.00 parking you pay to park is worth it: restrooms. shade. picnic tables.

Beautiful beach with clear water and clear sand. Very calm, not noisy at least on a Wednesday after Memorial Day . There are showers but I didn’t see public restrooms close by. Entrance fee is $6 , you can bring tent, chair and cooler. There was algae and that was the only bad thing. Overall it is a great spot.

Destin only has a few public beach access points squeezed in between its many resorts, and at all of them both parking space and beach space are at a premium. Henderson Beach State Park has nearly a mile of beach frontage, plenty of parking, restrooms, and even some picnic shelters. The beach is beautiful and on the days we were there (the last week of June) it was not too crowded. The only catch is the admission price, which is per vehicle and fairly reasonable. If you plan to spend a couple of hours or more at the beach, it definitely is worth it.

White sand beaches were gorgeous and the sand doesn’t get hot! Water is beautiful, clear, and emerald green. There was a long (slow) line to get in, but entrance fee is only $6/car, and despite the line, the beaches weren’t nearly as crowded as other public beaches we visited in Destin. Rinse showers available, as well as picnic pavilions and restrooms.

I have been to Destin Florida many times. I have driven past the entrance of the Henderson State Park several times and never went in. This visit to Destin I decided to take a look. What I found was a very nice natural State Park. It had basically four separate parking areas for day tourist, each area had its own gazebo with tables and chairs for eating your foods and snacks. A short little bridge over the sand dunes will it take you down to the pristine and beautiful Santa Rosa beaches.

The cost for the two of us to get in was $6, and the parking was plentiful. It is centrally located in Destin, so we ordered food for takeout from The shrimp basket restaurant, and then take it back to Henderson State Park to eat at one of the gazebos.

Santa Rosa Destin beach has many free parking areas that are beachfront. But when it is heavily travel during holidays, this place would probably be a better alternative, with a little bit less crowd, because there is a fee. The beach itself is just as good as all the beaches along this coastline, but it is nice that it has facilities as well as a gazebo and some walking trails. So if you find the other beaches to be too heavily populated when you go down to the panhandle area, you might want to try Henderson Beach State Park.

Beautiful white sand with stunning emerald water. Plenty of showers to rinse off after a fun day at the beach. Love this beach.

This is our first time camping here. The sites are surrounded by vegetation which allows doe wonderful privacy. The sites are very spacious and clean.
The staff and hosts are helpful and accommodating. To top it off the beach is a few short steps away.

Beautiful beach! Will definitely come again. The water was so beautiful. It can get a little crowded, but we went on a weekday and it was okay for the summer.

Great place for pictures! Beautiful and not real crowded. Pavilions for grilling and hanging out were nice also!

A great visit. The restrooms, rinsing stations and parking lot all top of the line. The walk down to the beach was not as daunting as the photos show. The short walking trail was also very interesting. We visited at the end of October so it was not crowded at all. Very clean.

Beautiful weather, clean beach, and lots of seashells. We had a wonderful time enjoying the sunsets on the beach and the weather couldn't have been better.

Henderson Beach was amazing! The beach was very clean and had such a good family atmosphere. We will definitely visit again.

This is one of the most amazing beaches I have ever visited. The fact that it is a State Beach Park only makes it better. Excellent ammenties and sites are secluded near the beach and well kept. Book your spot well in advance and if you are thinking of only spending a couple of days...double it!

Such a beautiful, peaceful place. No pets allowed but naturally someone was walking their dog on the beach. We don't take our kids to adult only beaches, respect the no pet rule folks

We like to come here every year and we still love it ! Beautiful water , clean bathroom and is not to crowded it. We paid $6.00 for a family of 6 to get in but is all worth it. We will see you next year again

The beach is beautiful and has a shower to take water from the sea. Just be careful of jellyfish. The sands are very white and the water is very clear.

Fabulous resort and spa!! Susan, (the concierge) was our go to person from the emails before our arrival to making reservations for all our fun outings, made our trip so enjoyable. We will definitely plan a return trip!

This small state park (entry fee was minimal) was not crowded, but not a huge amount of parking. A boardwalk takes you to the white-sugar sand beach and the beautiful water of the Gulf. In my opinion, this area of the Florida panhandle has the prettiest water from Texas all the way to the Keys. The water is clear, and green on a sunny day. The beach was not crowded and the restrooms at the park were clean. There is a roughly half-mile nature trail that winds between high sand dunes with wildlife and trees, shrubs, grasses that we enjoyed.

We loved camping here! Sites are nice and clean as well as the bath houses. It's great to have the beach to just the park goers.

This beach is beautiful & clean. It's a nice quiet place to go away from the crowds of Destin & Panama City. Great for the family.

For $6 you can park very close to the beach and take the pier walk all the way down to the beach...so easy compared to many other beach locations with limited access. The Beach was clean and very family friendly. We will be back here soon!

Our trip to Henderson was great, the water is beautiful and the day we went the water was calm and easy to swim in. We saw stingrays and lots of fish. There was a stinger warning in effect but the jellyfish were very easy to spot and no one was stung. We spent the whole day and enjoyed it. Will be back!

Great place to spend the day and enjoy time at the beach. $6 fee to enter but well worth it. Not over crowded like some of the resorts. Clean bathrooms and picnic areas.

The staff is doing a very good job with Covid 19 procedures, parking, clean facilities. You have the beach, swimming, fishing, hiking, camping. I saw people walking their dog, there is wildlife, lots of birds.

We stayed at th Marriott Fairfield Inn across the street and paid six dollars per day to drive in. The park is big but did sell out one or two days. People grill on charcoal grills and picnic in pavilion areas. We love the beach and beautiful water. Some mild jellyfish stings were reported but every body stayed in the water.
Wear swim shirts for protection.

This beach is gorgeous with sand dunes and pristine white sands! We had a beautiful day and truly appreciated that they reduced the allowed occupancy due to COVID-19.
Everyone maintained their distancing while enjoying the emerald water!

Very nice state park! Very clean area, they charge $6 to park and also has areas for campground. They have picnic tables, trash cans bathroom and shower. Nice beach area!

We didn't camp here but walked the walking trail which was nice. It also has a beautiful waterfront/beach. The beaches in this area are awe worthy. There is a public beach access outside of the park not too far away. They have restrooms available in this area which is nice.

Well maintained park. Water was good here even when the water at Panama City wasn't. Easy access to the beach with the excellent boardwalk. The staff seemed to be super friendly and very helpful. Definitely worth the drive from Panama City Beach for a day trip.

We were there this last time for the week of the 4th of July and it did not rain one time, the water was literally crystal clear (blue & green). The sand is always sparkling white and fluffy. We can literally sit out there from
Sun up past sun down.

Beautiful, Peaceful, Recommended, Plenty of parking, clean modern facilities, sugar squeaky beach sand, emerald crystal clear water, recommended.

Lots of available parking and short walk to beach. Beautiful beaches and not so crowded like some of the others in the area. We spent most of the afternoon enjoying the water. Would recommend this park for a day at the beach.

Beautiful and normally peaceful. I very much enjoy spending beach time here, moreso than other stretches of beach in the area.

Although we could not go into the water because of hide tides..Its a beautiful beach, and the white sand is gorg.

So, we stayed at the Emerald Grande. This condominium does not have a walk out with beach access since it is on the Destin harbor. We looked on Google earth for public beaches. While there are some, many do not have a lot of parking and showers were not a guarantee. Across from Destin Walmart, is Henderson Beach State Park. If you’re a camper, there are places to do that. From the entrance, it is very wooded and full of dunes. You drive the paved road to be a little building, were you pay six dollars for two people or more… Just per carload. It is four dollars if you are by yourself. We were in Destin six days and went to Henderson every single day. It is a much lower key beach experience in the public beaches. There are less people, there’s more room to spread out, bathrooms, showers, and pavilions. Although a few miles from our condo, we almost felt like it was the best kept beach secret.

This is the best beach in Destin. $6 Entry Fee, Parking, Showers, Restrooms, Chair Rentals and space to spread out and have space unlike most of the beaches around here. Recommend Highly.

The sand is so clean and soft and white! Very impressed with how clean this beach is, my kids had a ball, $6 per day to to have access until sunset, would definitely redid in the area, one of the nicest beaches I’ve been to.

You pay a small entrance fee like most state parks, varies by how many people are in your car. (There is also a fee if you walk in).
The beach is beautiful and well maintained. The crowd was minimual so we had plenty of space. There are no lifeguards on duty.
There are small showers to rinse off sand coming off the beach.
There are several shelters with picnic tables set up. Also have clean bathrooms .

Beautiful from the ocean side. Walked past on the shore from our condo. Not very crowed. Has public rest rooms.

The condo rentals and resort at The Henderson Resort and Spa are beyond fabulous! They create an atmosphere that is comfortable, easy, safe and family friendly. All of the staff (Laura, John, Dulce, Kim) at the resort are amazing and go out of there way to make your vacation as effortless as possible. I highly recommend this resort!

Public beach that is kept clean and has nice facilities too. Lots of open space for sand and sea enjoyment.

This was our second vacation to Destin and we absolutely love it. We love the white sand and that beautiful blue water. Both times we have gone to Henderson Beach State Park and we have never had a problem. The beach and restrooms are always clean.

Henderson Beach has very dazzling white beaches. The ocean truly showed off its brilliant blue colors.

This park is very clean. The water and sand is beautiful. There are picnic shelters, bathrooms and showers. We visited in June 2019 and the beach was not too crowded, very quiet and nice. They also have camp grounds available with beach access and full hook ups.

White sand, blue green water, small crowd! This was perfect! There are close bathrooms and showers to rinse off when you’re done. We liked it so much we went back the second day.

Nice beach with beautiful sand- clean facilities- $6 entry fee - worth it to escape absolutely PACKED beach at our Sandestin Resort Rental. Many reviews claim that HBSP was uncrowded. My experience- it was crowded, but not miserably crowded like our resort beach area. Nice day spent at park. Easy walk from parking to beach. Very clean

Gorgeous beach! We went there on a very cloudy day and it was still beautiful. We will be going back next time we’re in Destin.

$6.00 was worth the peaceful, clean, easy parking. Calm blue waters. I only saw some algae, but my lifetime beach experience says it’s pretty normal. I have been to some beaches and at times have seen extensive off looking stuff in water, but not here like one reviewer mentioned.

Went for evening wedding on the beach park did a wonderful job, accommodating us and making us feel welcome .
Picturesque for a wedding.

We had a great day at the beach. We rented the two beach chairs and umbrella for $50 for the day. We packed a lunch because there wasn't any place to get food at the beach. They did have a soda machine but you could only use dollar bills. The restrooms weren't the cleanest. The beach was pretty crowded when we were there. It was worth the $6 entrance fee for our family of four.

We paid $5 a car to get in Henderson Beach State Park. We parked at the first pavilion. The first pavilion offered two chairs for rent at $50 a day or $25 for a half day. The beach was wonderful with white sand and clear water. The pavilion has good restrooms and outdoor showers. We spent about 5 hours at Henderson Beach State Park.

Beautiful area. Public Beach Access. Showers, picnic area and playground available. Great spot for families.

Always beautiful! This park is clean, well maintained and the facilities are immaculate. We love this little spot of paradise.

$6.00 access which is well worth it. Great beach, bathrooms are well maintained, good wash areas with benches.

This beach is beautifully maintained. $6 per day entrance fee. Has numerous pavilions with bathrooms and picnic tables. We came for a wedding on the beach and reception in a pavilion. Beautiful backdrop. Can only stay till 10 in the pavilion for special events. Would definitely visit the beach again.

Very clean area for the family to go and enjoy a state park for only $6.00 for a day, that is youth frendly to include showers pavillions and vending

Beautiful and convenient!! Lots of space to enjoy your day at the beach. Clean restrooms. Lots of parking. The staff is kind and welcoming.

The beach was average at best. The white sand was really cool. They had a place to wash your feet as well. Destin itself was ok. Nothing special.

Very nice small State Park. The campground is affordable with good amenities for a State Park. Beaches are not pet friendly but they do have a trail you can walk your dogs. No dogs allowed on any beaches in the area. We had a nice hike. $6 entry for the day

This beach is absolutely stunning—crystal-clear water, soft white sand, and a peaceful atmosphere. What makes it even better is how convenient everything is: there’s plenty of parking available, and they have freshwater showers so you can rinse off before heading home.

It’s the perfect spot to relax, swim, and take in the beauty of the ocean. I had a wonderful time and can’t wait to come back!

We had a very large strip of the beach entirely to ourselves, it was just what I was hoping for. It was clean and we had a great time, my wife was pregnant so we did a maternity shoot, having the beach to ourselves was amazing.

Always our favorite part of the Summer beach trip! The park is so well maintained. Lots of parking, plenty of outdoor showers to wash off the sand, and very clean restrooms! The shoreline is beautiful, the water is clear, and it's so much more peaceful here. It's a breath of fresh air, away from all the large crowds. A great place to bring your family and beach chairs for the day.

What a beautiful beach! I love how blue the water is and how white the sand is. I wish New Jersey had beaches like this. What a gem! I’m happy this beach was close to where I was staying.

Great location from hotel. Had a great beach to boogie board on and can walk out really far. Walking distance from food. Clean restrooms.

Henderson state park is pretty and clear! We could not swimming today because of strong waves. We still enjoyed the scenery!!

This is a nice beach along highway 98 in Destin. It's a nice beach with parking. This is a state park with facilities. It has a nice nature walk trail among the dunes and is inexpensive to enter. Only $6 per car.

Beautiful beach. White sand. Sea birds on the ground and in the air. Some beachgoers present but the beach was not crowded. I walked along the beach and back for about 20 minutes. Serene.

The soft sands are gorgeous and a beach walk is always good for my soul. Beautiful nature trail loop with informative placards and a nice playground too make this a wonderful park. You can get online tickets for Florida State Parks which makes admission easier.

Henderson beach is well maintained with plenty of space for chairs and canopies and they have pavilions and picnic tables and clean restrooms. This is a great beach to visit.

We went on a very foggy day but enjoyed the trip. Will definitely go back and do the walking trail and some time on that wonderful beach. Picnic area and parking areas were well kept as I expected them to be.

Just passing through but did spend a couple of hours to walk on the beautiful sandy beach! Lots of parking space ! Saw a couple of interesting things ! A sea cucumber as well as a ghost crab! Had never seen nor heard of them before!

Goregous, uncrowded beach. It is a state park, so you have to pay to get in, but it's so worth it. I hate we visited here on our last day. This is a definite must on our next visit here.

We heard about this park a few days before we decided to head toward Florida. We were lucky enough to get 4 days due to a cancellation. This park is amazing. Each site is private. You cannot see your neighbor, each site has water, electric, firepit, clothesline, picnic table. Close proximity to the walkway to walk to the boardwalk to the beach. Dump station on the way out of park. It is very clean. Camp host is always available. Bathhouse is large and clean and washers and dryers are available. We will definitely be back. We will book far enough in advance next time to be able to book a longer stay.

We are NOT beach people, yet we ended up staying in Fort Walton Beach for an extended period. This was a great place to visit to see wild dunes and beach in action. Have yet to get out feet wet, Haha!

A wonderful nature preserve that provides safe passage through delicate dunes. The signage is excellent to learn about vegetation, animal life, plant-animal interactions, natural history, etc. Grateful this refuge was set aside amid all the commercial activities of the Emerald Coast.

We enjoyed taking out a 2-person kayak and paddling up and down the shore line, it was great. Will return for sure.

Great beach with parking close. You pay $6 to park but it is well worth it. Beach was clean and beautiful. They also have a restroom on site. We will be back.

Beautiful beach, beautiful sand dunes, beautiful and clean campsites and facilities. WARNING: keep your food in your car at all times—rats, very bold and plump rats, at least 65% marshmallow, surrounded the campsite from sundown to sunup and were not very scared of us. We had no problems with our food kept away safely in the car, but could hear the critters scurrying all night long. I would stay again at this campground because everything else was wonderful, and during the off season it was very quiet. We camped in a tent on site 28. Lots of privacy between sites with dense vegetation. We could hear highway noise though but enjoyed being otherwise out in nature and not in our apartment. However, if you can snag a site closer to the beach, the better; but we were lucky to get a site at all as they book up fast. So yeah; lovely part of FL and nice campground. Just be smart with your food/trash, maybe bring a dog if you have one handy to keep the beasts away, but mostly don’t think about it too much ;)

This was our first trip to Destin. After checking out a few beaches, nothing compared to Henderson Beach. Very clean, nice facilities on site. We won’t be going anywhere else!!

Great value especially for senior Florida residents. The sites are nicely placed with woods in between. Harder and harder to get reservations being the best. Shopping and restaurants so convenient.

View was amazing! Even had a manatee run in!! There is a cash entry fee as well as a line of cars to get in and park—so get there early! We left around noon after getting there around 9 and saw cars getting turned back for no more parking!

This SP has a fee to get in and can have a huge line to enter so know that. The beach is wide and open with plenty of space. You don’t have to worry about all the umbrella and chair vendors here like you do on other popular Destin beaches

Henderson is a must do beach for us every year as it never disappoints us. We always have a good time

A friend and I visitied Henderson Beach State Park while catching up after being apart for a very long time. Its so beautiful and the water is quite delightful. A nice place to visit.

We visited Henderson Beach in one of the coldest Decembers in the Emerald Coast. The beach was somewhat deserted with few people strolling along the sea line and others, fishing.
Before going to the beach; we explored the nature trail/dunes. There is a small but cute playground for children to enjoy. We found the trail easy to do, with some shaded areas perfect for all year around use.
After a refreshing walk on the beach, we enjoyed lunch in one of their covered facilities having plenty of picnic tables. Overall, a nice relaxing experience in an beautiful, clean beach. I can only imagine the crowds during season!

If you want beach time this
is the place to go! Th water is amazingly blue ,clear and the sand it the softest sand you will ever have under your feet! Yes, there is a n entrance fee of a few dollars but is worth it!

What a beautiful State park that we Floridians should be proud of. Our first visit to Destin (but not our last) took us to Henderson State Park.

Pros 👍🏻🇺🇸

- Beautiful beaches; beautiful water
- Very friendly and welcoming staff
- Plenty of parking
- Easily accessible

Cons 👎🏼

- Zero cons; nothing negative during our visit

We enjoyed our visit here. The beach was really nice. We took a metal detector and found a few things. Restrooms were clean and a nice spot to change after enjoying the soft sand on the beach. There are other places nearby with beach access that don't charge admission but I doubt that you'd find parking during the busy season.

We visited Henderson Beach for the first time this year. It’s $6.00 for a vehicle to enter for the day. The facilities are nice. I enjoyed the handicap ramp while pulling my beach cart. It was much easier than having to drag it up and down steps. Once we left the ramp it was a short walk to the water. I also noticed they had beach wheelchairs. I did not need that but I saw someone on the beach in one. That is so helpful for people who are in need of that. They have showers, bathhouse, and pavilions. Everything was clean.

Easily accessible as you enter Destin from Fort Walton Beach by the highway. Rangers at the ticket/parking booth helpful, with good advice. Short walking trail/nature trail. Lots of white sand and “Emerald”/clear water.

Spent the day on the beach during Thanksgiving week. The sand is pure white and so fine. Plus, the pavilions have lights, where we celebrated birthdays by the beach. Will I return? Absolutely.

Short visit to the nature trail. 3/4 mile long through the sand dunes. Nicely laid out. Started going clockwise and reversed going counter clockwise to get 1 1/2 miles in...

My wife and I stopped by, and loved the nature trail. Seeing all of the white sand dunes and their importance to saving our beaches made the trip worthwhile.

Paid parking gets you in and out privileges for the day, so its nice to come in the morning and back for sunset. Bathrooms available as well too.

We visited this beach twice during our stay and it was a pleasant experience both times. The waves were frequent and there were yellow/purple conditions both times but we were careful not to wonder out very far to be in danger of rip currents. Lots of small fish swimming near but harmless. Also warnings of button jelly fish but I’m the stretch we were at we did not see any in the water, only some on shore which were already dead. Highly recommend and entry fee is reasonable. Showers, picnic pavilions and restrooms available.

Beautiful beaches with plenty to do. You can rent bikes, mopeds plenty of beach bars souvenir shops and of course the water

We loved this location! We used the access all the way to the right when you turn in. It had a handicap accessible ramp that went down into the sand. The sand is so beautiful, soft, and white! The water are crystal clear and clean 🥰

We also loved that it has showers to rinse of the sand once you leave and an area to sit out of the sun just off the Parking lot. We highly recommend for $6 a car!

I am Sad ! Am I the only person to notice this awful noise !!! Stunning park stunning waters stunning beach fabulous location excellent park all round BUT WHY are Helicopters flying tourists over this area every 5 minutes of the day and night ?? and site 30 is right on top of the road felt like I was camping in the freeway !!!! Beautifully laid out sites such a shame this is ruined by constant hard nosed noise every 5 minutes day and night ! The residents must hate it

I want this beach all to myself so please don't use this great beach.$6 gets one car in with up to six people all day. Can even go and come back. Great beach with brilliant white soft sand. Will be back!!

This the best place in Destin for family stays and fun. Great beach, terrific staff & service, excellent location & fine food.

We love visiting State Parks. Henderson Beach State Park is located in the heart of Destin Florida. Access is $6 a vehicle. The park has several beach pavilions with covered picnic areas, beach showers, restrooms and changing rooms. The beach is very wide and the sand is snowy white. There is a campground and a nature trail.

If you are looking for peace and quiet you can forget it at this State Park. Whether you’re at the beach or in the campground, ALL DAY LONG you will hear loud annoying helicopters constantly flying overhead. Very surprised they allow tourists to take over with their helicopter rides every 2 minutes… it’s one after another and then another! No wonder the State parks on 30A just an hour away are so sought after. Grayton and Topsail State Parks do not have this noise pollution. Very disappointed.

This park is beautiful. You do have to pay to enter per carload so take just a few cars if possible. We came when we first came to town to waste some time before we could get into our vacation rental. Beach was beautiful and they have bathrooms available.

This place is nice. We came because of all the reviews. We hiked the trail and walked the beach, but didn't find much else to do. Not sure what the hype was about. Definitely not worth the $6 admission to the park.

Temporarily closed but still able to make reservations for our 30th anniversary dinner on July 22. We were called a few days before to notify us they temporarily closed. You should not be allowed to make reservations if the restaurant is closed. We were looking forward to going to this restaurant for 30th anniversary dinner. Luckily we were able to make last minute reservations at a different restaurant .

This place is worth paying for parking. Always clean and beautiful! No beach chair vendors or "private beach" rope offs. I live in Destin and we always go this route if we're staying all day.

Went to this area on my second beach day. It was amazing!! It was significantly less crowded than Miramar beach near all the condos. Had a front row seat literally in the sand at the shores edge. Clear sparkling water, white sands and that “ sea-breeze” really does wonders for your soul. Would definitely re-visit this area. There is an entrance fee, but it was just for two of us so it was $6 total to enter.

Chill non-commercialized beach with the best sand in Destin. Real dunes, ample parking, showers at end of boardwalks, everything you need....

Super clean, well maintained. The camp hosts clean frequently and it never gets dirty or messy. Top choice to go camping. Love the clean beach.

The seaweed was a problem at our condo. I read about the beautiful beach and water at Henderson beach state park. We decided to try and escape the seaweed and it worked! Beautiful clear water. We actually laid in the water and watched little fish swim around us. A LARGE manatee swam by and scared everybody out of the water for a few minutes . Nice changing area with showers. Drink machines available but we took our own. NO alcohol on premises . Very family oriented . Worth the $6 fee.

We have come to this beach many times for our family vacation. How I would describe Henderson Beach State Park: Clean, soft sand, beautiful clear water, great spot for families. You pay a very small fee for the day and you get to enjoy the beach and their grills. They also have rentals I believe but we always bring everything we need. My children always love building sand castles here. They compare every beach we go to to this beach and this one wins almost every time! I actually enjoy coming here versus some of the over crowded ocean front hotels in the Destin area. Go enjoy yourself but as with any ocean, be careful in the water.

Very nice beach area and picnic pavilions for a nominal fee. In and out same day permit. RV privacy in the bushes. Very nice beaches. Plenty of room to spread out. Will encounter mostly couples and families.

The beach is amazing! You can walk for miles and the beach is stunning white soft powder sugar sand. The water is so clear! Can’t wait to go back!

The beach was clean and our kids had a great time. We couldn’t swim one of the days with double red flags up but it was still nice to relax on the sand and build sandcastles

My teenage daughter & I stopped in for a short time. We swam and laid out for awhile. Other than the obnoxiously loud family nearby, we had a wonderful time. The beach is gorgeous. As are all of the beaches in this area. Worth the $6 if you’re looking for something to do.

Clean, well kept beach w great waves that my whole family enjoyed. It was nice to have picnic tables available in the shade and showers.

This is a nice large beach with plenty of room to spread out. Crystal clear water, bathrooms, and boardwalk partial down to the beach. One negative, only one way in which is one lane. The park opens at 8:00 AM we always get there about ten minutes early and wait in line for 10 to 20 minutes. When we leave around 11:00 AM the wait is a mile East and West to get in, they must wait for an hour, which I would never do.

Lots of room to spread out... There were close to 20 of us with umbrellas, chairs etc and we never felt crowded like at the local beaches near our rental house. Parking was easy, the sand soft and white, and the water was gorgeous and warm!

Beautiful beach. We went when the June grass was coming in, so there were lots of dead fish on the beach, but apparently that happens every year for a short season. I love all the beaches here on the Emerald Coast.

I would make sure to check the flags before you plan a trip to the beach, watching for red and blue flags. We went on a day when the wind and surf was higher and it was harder for my kids to enjoy the water. If it is more windy, I would choose a beach that has more protection.