St. Andrews State Park Reviews

4.7

3 of 57 Best Attractions in Panama City Beach


Reviews

Crowded and don't take shuttle to shell island

By Debie R |

If you take the shuttle to shell island, it drops you off at the end of the island where you can't snorkel, the captain explains that only tour boats can go to the other end of the 7 mile island. There is nothing to do, except walk on the beach. Was a beautiful beach. Be sure to book a boat tour to get to the island and you must do it at least a week in advance. We didn't have a reservation and the shuttle was NOT the answer.

Spectacular views

By chris37912 |

The views were stunning. So many great places to swim and explore for kids and people of all ages. This was our favorite stop during our stay in PCB.

Gorgeous beach!

By Kristin G |

We spent four days here this week and loved it! There are 2 different parts, the lagoon side and the beach side. The snorkeling on the beach side jetty was incredible! Seriously some of the best snorkeling I've ever done and easy for my kids to snorkle too because the water is so shallow. The beach side stays shallow for a while, so it is a great beach for kids! They have bathrooms and some snacks in the store. There are so many crabs and fish to see. The only downside were the jellyfish! FYI there are small clear blobs in the water that don't sting, but there are also larger jellyfish that do. We saw a few people get stung throughout the week. We loved going here during COVID because they limited entry and the beach wasn't crowded. Definitely worth the $8 entry.

Awesome

By Travelingfun1313 |

This is one of Florida’s best state parks!! They have camping on the bay, a pier you can go on, a boat launch ramp, tons of wildlife, plenty of swimming areas and a giant beach!!! This is a great way to spend the day!!

Great Day

By Linda S |

This was the most peaceful and serene time I have ever had at a beach. Coming from South Florida this was paradise. Sand is white powder sand, the waves were mild, and we even saved a jelly fish that was caught in the sand. It was a remarkable day

Beautiful, pristine with lots of room to explore and safe swimming area

By SNSEKRS |

Just returned from PCB on a family vacation and this State Park is a super great choice for a family beach day. I am glad that this park came up on the Trip Advisor things to do listing for PCB and it was well worth it. We decided to spend the afternoon after my wife and daughter had completed a tour of shell island and this park is basically on your way back from the marina heading back to the more touristy beaches of PCB. Even though a majority of the PCB beaches allow the consumption of alcohol in public, the State Park does not so the park is definitely a good family choice to spend a beach day. The park was very well equipped with lots of facilities such as camping, boat launch and tours to Shell Island, hiking paths, beautiful beaches, picnic areas with BBQ pits, well-kept clean washrooms and some food available on site. We had no issue finding parking and there are different lots for different areas you are checking out. Entry fee to the park was very reasonable at $7 per vehicle but I would assume there are additional fees to use the boat launch and camping of course. At the beaches, you have a couple of different areas to choose from - beach facing the gulf and also a beach on the inlet side. The inlet side of the beach would be perfect for the younger kids and was very calm, clean and refreshing. It was actually OK for snorkeling as well since lots of little fish hang out at the inlet rocks. Overall a really great stay and choice for a beach day and I would definitely recommend to families and those who also like the option to do other activities during a beach day.

Pontoon Rental

By Sayona S |

Best place to rent a pontoon. The staff was amazing & went above and beyond to ensure that we had a wonderful time!

Horrible

By Marisa M |

New ferry route. No snorkeling at all. Do not use. Waste of money. Beach same as at condo and water worse. No shells that were remarkable

Beautiful beach

By GmWop |

Beautiful beach and we took some scuba googles and swam along the rocks and saw tons of fish. There were also a number of dolphins out a bit further.

Best state park in the USA

By Parker |

It was my first time in st Andrew’s state park and it did not disappoint The beaches were clean and not too busy and the white sand and turquoise water was the cherry on top the jetty was the best part the views from the pier were amazing. The gator lake also did not disappoint I saw 2 gators turtles and multiple birds. And there was a short easy trail going around the lake that I loved. 10/10 park a most do if nearby

great park

By will |

a relly good place to take the family for the day. also has a great camping area. i will be backi next time we are in town.

Great Views

By Julie H |

This place is amazing! It is basically at the end of PCB, and the beach is less crowded/and you have a jetty pool if you have children, do not like encountering wild sea life, love to snorkel, etc... The roads are rather dated, and taking your camper back in there is a bit-meh, but the campground does offer full-hook up right there on the bay. You are basically sitting right across from Shell Island. You can taxi across t Shell Island here. The SP is right there at the marina to go deep-sea fishing, and it is right there at all of the restaurants/area which the locals will recommend and enjoy.

Beautiful Bayfront

By Bruce H |

Camped here in January. What a beautiful spot on the bay. Deer wandered around the camping area at sunset to add a real touch of magic to the experience. The restrooms were clean -but cold that day.

State park

By David L |

Great state park with boat shuttle service to offshore island that is one price and good for all day

Great day beach trip

By nicole0327 |

We ended up going to St. Andrews park as a last minute decision while driving around and I’m glad we did. It cost $8 for us to drive in, price depends on type of vehicle and number of passenger but $8 was “normal” vehicle. There were a few places you could pull over and look for wild life, one spot had an entire walking area/trails that you could spend a good 15-30 minutes at. Then at the end is the beach on the gulf, so beautiful!! It was much more then I was expecting, sand so white...water so blue....everything was kept very clean and had way less people then the public and resort beaches. Would definitely recommend to everyone to spend the day here at the beach!

Nice beach

By td3891 |

Beautiful beach to sun or walk in the beautiful white Sand. There is a bath house & really nice pier you can walk out onto.

Great park

By bernarda426 |

This park has a little of everything from the beach to bay fishing access to walking. Definitely a little diamond in the rough

Fun Place to Spend a Day

By 462rickd |

There's a lot going on there. Snorkeling along the jetty. People fishing from the jetty. Placid swimming area, or crystal clear ocean water. Lots of wildlife. Nice, short, nature trails.

RELAXING

By goofygirl12 |

Best time ever ! racoons came right up to you. snorkeling, and jetskis are avl as well. highly recommend.

Nice

By sjkplanner |

Nice place to take a walk or just sit on the beach. I stayed for a little while and did some shell hunting. Not much to find.

Must See

By LMMLPN |

Beautiful park
Spent the day exploring and walking trails.
A must see. We definitely will be back anytime we visit PCB.

No large crowds

By Jetscv25 |

We enjoyed our day and many different elements in one place! We paid $8 for the car load and we started out at the kiddie pool. Great place for young children or to snorkel. Almost no waves just boat and jet ski wake. We could walk out a good ways from shore and not worry about the little ones. Just a short walk is the beach and rocks which seems like a place a lot of tour companies come to snorkel. They do have showers to rinse away the sand and bathrooms. Next stop was gator lake we took a quick stroll around the lake and had some good photo ops. We then headed to the fishing pier and it’s included in the price of admission. They also have another section of beach which is more secluded from people. We spent the day here and brought a cooler, snacks, and an umbrella. We have a beach wagon which makes taking your stuff from your car or hotel to the beach a breeze. Keep in mind they limit the amount of people into the park due to covid19 precautions. This is a must do day event while in town.

Nice weather.

By N2whitesand |

A little disappointed to get there and find out there were working on the side I wanted to go to. Felt like this should have been mentioned before we paid. We only stayed a couple hours.

Hidden Jewell!

By Joyce1927 |

Beautiful hidden gem! Beaches were clean and beautiful 😍 very nice facilities for picnics, restrooms, just a very nice place! $8 to enter ran by state parks!

Very nice

By sidingkween |

Park is black topped and easy to get around. Beach is great people were fishing and swimming. Natural settings with some wild life. At the time of our visit we saw only a few birds.

Beautiful Place

By Kevin H |

Beautiful Bay and Gulf Views. Bay side and Ocean Beaches. Surfing, Swimming, Nature Trails. Lots of Parking. Nice Gift Shop with Fishing Supplies. Boat Ramp, Campground

It was another great adventure going to St Andrews State Park

By QUALLS |

Enjoyed seeing and hanging out around the jetty. The sand dunes were really cool to see. We walked along the alligator trail but didn't see any. I kind of wanted to see one but at the same time, I was a little nervous.

Locals love St. Andrews State Park

By deborah b |

Beautiful, state park!! My family goes often for a day trip. Fishing, and enjoy the beautiful beaches!

Beach could have been cleaner

By Randy L |

Got there when the park opened and the weather wasn't the best that day. Noticed several homeless camped right outside of the park entrance. Decided to walk on the beach where the jetty is at one end and a pier was at the other. Not much beach frontage and if we had carried a trash bag we would have had plenty to put into it. They did have restrooms but did not notice any outside showers to rinse the sand off. Probably won't go back.

Peaceable bird kingdom

By Kathy L |


Peaceable bird kingdom. Nice visitor center. Plenty of trails arond the lake and marshland.. Spring is nesting activity.

Great Place to hangout

By Orval F |

They have a kid pool with no wakes. My 5 yr olds loved it and snorkel around. I went scuba diving 30 min before high tide and was great. seen a pod of dolphins and a few small sharks swimming around the outside of jetties walls

Enjoyable trip over to this park

By Sandy C |

Enjoyable trip over to this nice surprise We did not even know about this area snd so glad we decided to go

Best Place to Camp

By Kristy M |

We just got back from our trip to St. Andrew's State Park in Panama City Beach!. We LOVED our site.
We did not have any shade, but we were prepared. We put insulated covers in our skylights in the camper, kept all the window's closed. On the camper door we took a folding windshield sunshade, cut it down and used velcro to secure to the door.
We let the awning out, and popped up one of our canopies (of 2) with a shade panel and we were good to go. The camper stayed cool.
If you are wondering about site 18, it is not shaded, but you face the lagoon. The sun rises from front to back in a / style over your site. The sunrises and sunsets are beautiful. Bathhouse number 2 is just a few steps down from the site. Literally two campsites down.
You will see visitors that come through your campsite. There are two doe and one buck. If you don't move or startle them, they will walk to the edging of the gravel for your site.
The site with gravel is pretty much level. We did not have to adjust left to right or front to back. The rangers have a system in place to spread the gravel back out to make smooth and level in between campers.
Speaking of which, if you have littles be sure to do the Junior Ranger Program. It's FREE!!!
We rode our bikes/ebikes around the campground. Everyone was wonderful.
Another benefit is the playground is directly to the right of your campsite. It's shaded and there is a giant checker board and even a "porch" swing for adults to sit on.
The campground is gated and very clean. The bathhouses are also very clean. Here is a tip though: When you use the potties in the bathroom, make sure you hold the handle down for all your "business" to go down the drain. If not, it doesn't go down and just sits.
The showers were extremely clean and they are handicapped friendly. They have shower chairs for the elderly (which we had my 77 year old uncle with us).
The grills for the campsites were spotless clean. The rangers do a good job cleaning the campsites.
The road into the state park are rather rough, but we were told they are working to repave the whole areas that need repaving.
I hope this review helps you.

This is the most beautiful State park in the world.

By psinned |

Has it all, launching pier, over night camping, general store, bird estuary, gator lake, one of the longest piers in the county. a kiddie pool, miles of soft white sandy beaches, diving, and diving rental. and most important bathrooms.

Great place to visit!

By Connector798205 |

The park is beautiful. We love to see the wildlife and the trees are an amazing place to take beautiful pictures.

No freedom

By Kevin |

Gentrification is afoot in Panama City. The new world order money over morals is in full effect. No dogs allowed anywhere. Pay for entry. Pay for parking. Florida is just another California

Beautiful, quiet place.

By Mitch P |

This park looks like what Panama City Beach use to look like before being over developed. So glad the State preserved this area.

Fun place to snorkel

By Lindak1970 |

Fun place to swim. If you have little kids I would highly recommend it. You can set you stuff up on the jetty side. The water is very shallow. We had a fun time snorkeling and seeing different type of fish. I would recommend going early because it fills up fast and they only let in a certain amount of people. We had a great time!!

Nice Park with Beautiful seashore

By Scott A |

Im a local and I live near this park. Its beautiful all year around. Good for catching a sunset, fishing and even swimming in the summer in kids rock pool-but be sure the sharks aren't passing through ...med sized hammerheads like to circle around in the pool-largely harmless, but wild marine life none the less so just be sure you use caution. Great camping, bring some bug repellant for the biting gnats that are around seasonally. Fishing is good off the pier or the shore

Normally would be 5 stars

By Haeden W |

Currently the beach is being dredged. This means when walking to the water there is a ten foot drop off unless you walk a long distance down the beach and then back up. With young kids this was a nightmare. Typically, this is our go to location.

Small, but mighty ....

By FLworldwanderer |

Beaches, swimming, nature, campgrounds, and boardwalks, it's all here. 1,200-acre State Park offers something, for everyone, as long as you enjoy the outdoors. Spent a few hours, exploring the nature trails, photographing nature, and walking along the beach. You can ride a shuttle to Shell Island, in season. Call ahead for more details. If you are into nature, hiking, etc., I would recommend purchasing a Florida State Park Pass. Hopefully, my short description will be helpful, with your first visit.

Scary

By Carl |

Beautiful park however the FWC park management needs to do something about jet skis and boaters getting too close to shore. Two times now I’ve had jet ski people come close to beaching in front of me they came so close to shore the same with a lot of the big ugly pontoon boats out there people rent. I’ve also had them get so close they fouled lines which is less of an issues than them nearly crashing they come round the corner so quick

Don't miss this gem

By Tara Mason |

This place is gorgeous. The water is clear, the beach is quiet. Come early because it gets busier by 10am.

The porpoises!!!

By Tiffany R |

Had so much fun fishing and paddling our kayaks with the porpoises! We caught a few fish even. The facilities were clean. The first day we tried to go they had already reached capacity (COVD-19) so that was a bummer but the next day we got in.

Beautiful beach

By Indianafamily0f5 |

The water was crystal clear. Almost felt like I was in caribbean. Nice cool breeze, didn’t even feel hot. Would definitely go back.

Special Place

By HRHORCH |

We hiked the perimeter and interior of the island. We enjoyed the diversity of plants and vistas- so different on each side. Seeing undeveloped beach and natural dunes was unforgettable. We didn’t kayak due to wind. I would not attempt to kayak to Shell Island due to heavy boat traffic in the channel. Great place to ride bikes.

Great beach and trails

By mechanic1987 |

We were informed by an employee at our resort to go to the state park instead of the main beach. The gate charge was small, the park offered trails a great beach and at the end of the jetty there is a large pod of dolphins.

$8 a day is well worth the price of admission

By blondeinabmw |

Clean restrooms, plenty of parking, an uncrowded stretch of beach - so worth the $8 per car per day. The line to get in at the guardhouse moves quickly!

Small but fun

By MoMan |

This is a fairly small state park. Has two beach access points. We rode our bikes from a nearby town 17 miles away. $2 per bike entry fee which is kinda silly... bicycles are environmentally friendly, don’t take up much parking space and should not be charged in order to encourage more people to ride there rather than haul in big vehicles. One large loop around the lark about a mile and a half or so. Bathrooms available, outdoor shower too, to get the sand off. There is a gator park which we didn’t stop at. Bird-watching area too, saw plenty of herons, cranes. The beach is pristine white sands. Not very crowded. I preferred it to Destin beach which was swarming with spring breakers. Water in late March was cool but swimmable, as long as there is sun. Good place to relax.

Good stop

By Fam_o_5_plus_1 |

For the $8 entrance fee, it is a great way to spend some time. My husband and son went fishing while my daughter and I walked the beach.

Glamping Panama City Beach style.

By Dennis K |

Glamping was a wonderful Idea brought up by our daughter in law.
It was Early November temps in the 70's grounds were still populated.
our "Glamper" was right on the water overlooking Grand Lagoon, Downtown Panama City and Shell Island. Our tent had a queen, pull out single bed, charging inlets on lamps on both sides of the bed, blue tooth, Grill and a separate pit fire, fan, A/C, cooler and privacy changing room.

Lovely place

By Terry A |

Me and my wife goes here every time we come to PCB we love it, you can walk around and see wildlife, walk to the beach, it’s a great place to visit.

Incredibly Beautiful State Park

By HannahGracie1 |

This will always be one of my favorite State Parks and we spend a day here every time we're in Panama City (3-4 times yearly). The beach and 'shelling' are wonderful. Clean and clear waves and sand, abundance of shells (if you take the time to search). I am always astounded at people who complain about the entrance fee - and others about the roads or camp grounds. Do people not realize entrance fees help pay for maintenance and upkeep?? When we were there last month there were double red flags and only surfers were in the water. Watching them as we relaxed on the beach was quite interesting. Take a picnic or light refreshment to enjoy while you sunbathe.
Before the beach we, of course, walked around the bay where we saw a small alligator and another very small one, sunning themselves. The birding is also, always a treat. FL is so fortunate to have such an incredibly beautiful State Park.

Nice Excursion to Shell Island

By Tammy L |

Loved going to Shell Island from the park. Just make sure you take chairs and a cooler with drinks and snacks if you plan on staying for a couple of hours.

Glamping

By Jeannie P |

Beautiful well maintained state park. Stayed three nights in the glamming tents. Very nice. Comfortable beds.

Best part of Panama City

By Rose P |

Best time ever! We had been here about 8 years ago. Back then, at the kiddie pool, we saw tons of colorful fish. Even in water only 4-5 inches deep, you could look down and see so much amazing marine life. This time there were no colorful fish in the kiddie pool, just white fish and I swam down quite a bit. Maybe because the beach had been dredged recently? On the other side, the snorkeling was terrific and we saw all sorts of marine life. Just absolutely amazing! We made it all the way to the end of the jetty. We also fished for the first time here. We were at the long fishing pier and had a terrific day. Caught some fish, saw dolphins chasing the Sun Screamer and actually got a video of it. Also saw a string ray jump right in front of us, a manatee and a manta ray. And jet fighters flew twice. When hubby and the little one got bored of fishing, they went down to swim, snorkel and play in the waves. They still saw me reel in a fish while they were swimming! Love this place. Need to fix their potholes though. Had looked for the alligators last time, but didn't do that this time. During our week, we came here twice and it was crazy to see the difference in the marine life- we saw so many different fish four days later. So many reviews say that the snorkeling is similar to what you see in the Caribbean and it's absolutely true.

Lovely state park

By MLHart521 |

This is a lovely state park with gorgeous white sand beaches and dunes - like what Florida was before development. There are two nature trails, which we walked. The Gator Lake trail is very short (~0.4 miles) but picturesque - we saw lot of birds but no gators. The Heron Pond trail is a bit longer (~0.75 miles) and takes you through some varied habitat. A highlight was seeing a bald eagle! The restroom facilities add some convenience. Overall, we spent a very enjoyable afternoon walking these trails and also on the beach.

campground not worth the price, especially for tent campers

By worldgirlfran |

There are limited spaces available in the campground due to construction, and we seemed to have the least desirable spot. It was just a small patch of sand up against a hill and very close to the road. In our opinion, this shouldn't even be considered a real spot, and we resented paying the same price as others with far nicer spots. Also, why should the cost be the same for a tent as it does for an RV, since the latter clearly uses a great deal more electricity and water? We don't plan to camp here again.

Fun for everyone!

By Elbango |

Definitely worth a day to enjoy the jetty, fishing, shell island, and exploring. Waves can be pretty harsh on ocean side, but tide pools are perfect.

Relaxing!

By Kimberly B |

We went back to St. Andrews beach on Labor Day. This was a return trip from a month prior. We were able to physically distance ourselves and have a good time away from the busyness of the Panama City Strip. Families had a wonderful time enjoying the calmness of the state park. We will continue to come back for many years to come!

nice drive around the park and sand dunes

By 112princess |

amazing sand dunes and boardwalks to the beach. the drive around the park shows all the native vegetation. We saw deer, alligators in the pond, egrets.

St Andrews State Park is a great place to snorkel with kids

By Suzanne B |

We loved the state park. We have 10, 7 and 5 year old grandkids and it was perfect for them to snorkel. However, the jetty's where the very colorful fish are amazing to see is a little trickey. I recommend everyone to where some sort of a swim shoe. The rocks can be sharp.

Beautiful Campground

By TravelingBum10 |

We camped at Saint Andrews for a week. It’s a great spot! Right by the water and newly renovated after hurricane Michael. It’s all full hookups. You can also drive to the beach area and spend the day sunbathing and swimming. Weather was not the best while we were there. Some fog and high humidity. There’s tons to do. They charge admission.

Beautiful natural beaches and quiet campground.

By TSW |

Stayed for 5 days in the newly updated campground and what a great stay it was, our site was waterfront with a great view of the bay were we watched the dolphins and birds feeding every day. There is a nice boat ramp, dock and camp store. Access to the beach is just a short bike ride across the park. The beaches in the Florida Panhandle just can't be beat, we love the natural dunes, white sands and emerald waters. Close to shopping and several excellent restaurants.

This area was hit hard few years ago by Hurrican Michael and it shows. They are currently redoing all the roads in the park, but don't let this stop you from visiting.

beautiful sand dunes

By corey s |

beautiful sand dunes. had a nice walk with the family and spent a little time on the beach. The Dunes had such white sand. were really picturesque.

Doesn’t Disappoint…still!

By nativetex |

Returned to this beach after first visit a couple years ago and it’s still one of the best in the emerald coast! Came at a perfect time…no huge crowds, quiet, relaxing and AMAZING water! Reasonable fee to enter the park. Clean and well maintained. Even bathrooms were maintained well. There’s a place to rinse off that sugary white sand when you feel the need to. Our Airbnb was an hour away and it was worth the drive! Add this one to your list if you’re in the Panama Beach/Destin area…

Clean beach, great shells

By Seven7777 |

Came here to take a break from the condos. It was still pretty crowded, but the sand was white and soft. It was clean, little litter. The water was very clear. We saw lots of rays. There were more shells here than back by the condos. There is a small gift shop where you can also buy drinks/snacks/beach supplies, as well as bathrooms/showers.

The park

By gentlejim1 |

It is a beautiful park with great up keep. I would definitely recommend coming here. I will say that the rock jetties are a bit treacherous or difficult to travel on-not for folks with mobility issues. The beaches are beautiful with lots of shells.

Park near the Treasure Island condo we stayed at

By eagles78 |

The beach was nice. The trails were not easy to walk because we had lots of rain from the hurricane that had went through Louisiana.

Nice park with great beaches.

By Trevor W |

Our first visit here and we were quite impressed. The fee to enter the park is $8 per carload so very reasonable. We'd love to return when the weather is a bit better.

Good Beach with limited parking on Saturday!

By BangkokSachse |

We paid $8 a car to enter St. Andrews State Park. The sand was white and nice. The water was clean. The beach and water had seaweed. The restrooms were good. The parking near pavilions was hard to find on Saturday.

Not fresh air and peaceful anymore

By Unknown U |

It used to be peaceful and fresh air. Only way to ride bikes in on main busy traffic roads, every 5 min a low helicopter flying over you all day long.lots of boats too close to coast with fuel smell in the air all day, plus many smokers anywhere you go, then add cooking smells from main restaurant and people. It says open 24 hrs but only if you are a camper, otherwise only 8am to 5pm. Not many walking paths. 1 hour total to do all paths together.

Great place to visit

By Jamie S |

Come here multiple times to get away from the main crowds at the beach. Did a few dives around the rocks with no issues.

Get here early

By sandymcdaniel99 |

It opens at 8am but the line can back up. The bathroom houses are really nice and they have outside showers.

Campground before and after a Hurricane.

By Capt R |

I have to start out with a disclaimer. I used to camp here before Hurricane Michael destroyed the campground in 2018 so I am comparing the new campground Florida built to the old one. On the plus side the new sites are first class RV type sites with full hookups and gravel pads and brand new beautiful bath and shower houses. Unfortunately Florida State Parks must have had an engineer and a bean counter sitting in an office who have never camped design the campground. These new sites are so close to each other there is NO privacy and on some sites if you had a large RV and put your awning out you might hit your neighbors rig. We consider ourselves campers, not RV'ers and camp in a nice van camper. We are equipped for hookups but do not need them. The number one thing we look for in a campground is privacy and natural beauty. Only a few sites here offer that, the rest are all crammed tight next to each other. I will take the old campground any day before this new one.

Uncrowded beaches perfect for families with young kids

By Seaside471533 |

We decided to check out the park on a day when our condo's beach was extremely crowded, and we're so glad we did! The beaches here are clean, uncrowded, and perfect for families with small kids. There is a calm area in the jetties where little kids can swim safely, and there's also an area with waves for boogie boards. The next time we visit PCB, we'll definitely plan on bringing out a canopy and making full day beach trips here.

Beautiful

By Mandy M |

What can I add? It's a lovely place, rarely crowded, very clean, lots of room to roam and a peaceful day.

Fun place to explore

By SarahK |

Beautiful park with plenty to explore We arrived late in the day and would have liked to spend more time than we did. Seen lots of wildlife and enjoyed playing on the beach. We plan on visiting again.

A great way to spend the day exploring!

By Amy P |

We always enjoy the park! There are a variety of things to do there; the lagoon for swimming and snorkeling, the pier for fishing and pictures, and the gorgeous landscape spots for spotting wildlife.

Great scenery

By Grant M |

There are very scenic trails to take throughout the park. The shoreline has both the Gulf of Mexico and a lagoon from which you can swim and fish. People also fish off the rock jetty. Certainly worth a visit.

An oasis away from the Spring Breakers

By thetrachwhisperer |

Panama City Beach was quite crowded at this time (third week of March), so we decided to try St Andrews State Park, as it was recommended as a good place to find shells. (My wife is an avid shell collector). It was well worth the $8.00 entry fee. The beaches were not as crowded, the facilities were well kept, and my wife found a long sought after sand dollar! It also was a good place to ride my bike around. Highly recommended if you're in the area.

Spring break 2023 Beautiful not crowded

By HavingHope |

Absolutely beautiful. Kids snorkled and had a great time. Nice restrooms. There is a camp store, and trails to walk. We saw the local deer within 10 feet. There is a play ground as well.

Amazing State Park! Great Views, Well Maintained Beach

By amh419 |

This state park is very well maintained. $8 per car entry at the time that we visited - what a steal! They clearly take care of the park and trails. We enjoyed the little Gator Lake trail, wasn’t too intensive, but pretty. The beach was beautiful and quite expansive for people to be able to space out. We saw a lot of surfers because it’s apparently a good surf spot so that was fun to watch as well. They also have a very cute little gift shop with well made little gifts, and I’d highly recommend spending your money to support this park.

disappointing

By susan |

The hurricane blew away a lot of the wildlife. Two years ago we saw deer, alligators, and lots of birds. This time we only saw one small bird and one large one.

Horrible communication for Sunset Dolphin Tour

By lori s |

The park itself is very nice. Right now it’s a little hard to get in the front entrance due to construction, but I’m sure that will be taken care of soon.
We signed up for the sunset dolphin tour. We got an email telling us where to report and when. When we got there, the pier store was closed and there was no tram insight to take us where it said we were going to go. We tried calling emergency numbers and got no answers. Someone else even tried calling the Rangers and that went directly to voicemail and said the mailbox was full.
Finally, we all jumped in our cars shortly before the tour was supposed to leave and drove where we thought it might leave from. We did make it to the tour and went on it.
It was OK. The captain didn’t seem to tell us much about dolphins, but we did see several. Several people miss the boat because they didn’t know where to go. I tried giving the concessionaire a chance to explain what happened and waited several days, but got no response to my email. I would choose one of the commercial places outside of the park if I were you.

Wonderful place away from the hustle

By seabiff |

Wonderful park for all ages, enjoy a walk on the beach, very clean and safe and lot to do for your family. Enjoy the pier or gator lake
Overall a must for us when we visit

A nice relaxing beach and natural preserve

By Laurie L |

A nice relaxing beach and natural preserve area at PCB. Watch the boats come and go from the channel, fish, swim, sunbath, watch the dolphins in the afternoon or rent a pontoon boat.

The Real Florida!

By stoogeg3 |

We were greeted at the gate and given very informative information from the park ranger as to what we should see and do. She pointed to the initial direction to take and we found our way through lovely scenery on a curving road and ended up by a pier that took us out to view dolphins cruising up and down the shoreline. We could see surfers and those who chose to sit on the beach and absorb the suns rays. We got back into the car and ended up by another area with a lookout pier and then we ventured over to a pavilion where you could walk out onto a boardwalk and go to a jetty where many various sized boats come and go into St Andrews Bay or out into the Gulf. Several people sat on the beach and inside the cove where the water laps up gently compared to the larger waves on the opposite side of the jetty. We continued our drive onward to a small lake trail where you can observe nesting areas for herons, possibly seeing alligators or just observe various fauna and Floridian trees. The trail needs to be updated. We ended up walking opposite the way the arrows pointed on the trail and they weren’t clearly marked. The paths meander in all directions so you could dead-end by a swamp and then you will have to figure how to get back on the right trail. Unfortunately the food and beverage buildings were closed down because of the Coronavirus but for $2.50 you could get a soda in a vending machine. For the $8 day pass it was well worth it. Unfortunately the park closed the very next day due to social distancing from the Coronavirus epidemic.

Experience you must book before you leave

By Brianna L |

Wonderful experience we had with our local guide Jose. Who take care for us and we really enjoyed his guiding. We recommend him for anyone.

Nice Park !!

By randolph |

Construction is everywhere in this park with roads being repaired. We didn't get to see all of the park because some of the roads were closed due to repairs but what we did see we enjoyed. The small visitor center is very interesting and educational.

Jet ski.

By bryancdrum |

Tha place is very nice .pretty. protected .8 bucks for a car load for a certain amount look its nice. Just do it.

Great park

By Rondakf |

great gulf access. Nice campsites, walking trails, fishing piers, You can camp and never have to leave the park to have fun. Will definitely be back

Best beach ever!

By Jill P |

Get there early or you won't get in. Crowds were limited due to covid. Beach was clean and water was clear. The water was shallow enough to go out really far. You could see dolphins from the beach. I found this beach better than taking the ferry over to shell island. Shell island doesn't actually have any shells. Here at least you had access to a bathroom during the day and could drive there yourself. The kids enjoyed playing on the rock jetty and seeing the fish around the rocks. They could snorkel and swim here. Bring a cooler, umbrella, and floats. You'll want to spend the entire day here.

Beautiful place to visit

By Jennifer F |

We took a pontoon boat out for the day and we stoped along the way to do some site seeing and look for sea shell the island did not disappoint we found a bunch of little treasures along the way , if you haven't been here before you need to go visit the water was calmer it was clear for miles along the way

Beach Day

By TravelGirl1020 |

They’re finishing up several pavilions for shade (eating or escaping the sun) throughout the park. The website is usually up to date on information/cost. You definitely need sunscreen/an umbrella. No lifeguard so bring life jackets for young swimmers. Beautiful beach and nice facilities.

Jellyfish 😤😤

By Katie M |

Clean beach, white sands, and clear water… but LOTS of jellyfish 😤😤 I know this is not something that people can control, but it’s definitely worth mentioning.

Calm water. Watch for the jellies.

By Amanda S |

We spent the day here with 3 adults and 5 kids. It was a small fee to get in ($8 per carload). The day started rough as we couldn’t get in the water due to the amount of jelly fish. But after a few hours of playing on the jetty and relaxing in the sand the water cleared and we had a wonderful day. The water was mostly calm with some small waves caused by the wake left by boats going in and out. The kid’s especially enjoyed pointing out different boats and discussing them. The water was perfect and we found lots of shells. Will definitely do this again.

Beautiful dunes

By Retired Camper |

We had camped at the park a few years ago snd loved it. This visit was a day trip to hike the beach and see the dunes. The park is just beautiful and the white sand against emerald water feels exotic.

Really nice!

By Lisa Benedict |

More quiet part of the beach. Water was a little more dirty than the beach by our condo. Lots of jellyfish the day we were there. Very pretty and saw lots of dolphins.

ECO TENT EXPERIENCE WAS OVERALL GOOD

By Vicki N |

We stayed in the Eco Tents in the campground for 2 nights in July. Pretty neat set up. Has a portable AC unit but it just doesn't cut it during the day. We kept it on and had the tent closed up all day, but it was hotter in the tent than outside. Not much shade on the "porch" so it is hard to enjoy the campsite during the hot summer days.

At night, it was comfortable enough to sleep - maybe 78 or so inside the tent. Not cool, but comfortable.

We didn't keep any food in the tent at all to avoid attracting ants and other critters. On the 2nd night we left some clothes inside, and they were full of ants the next morning.

The shower house/bathroom is not very far to walk to. It is NOT air conditioned so hard to use in the summer (hot and lots of bugs at night with the lights on). There are 2 shower houses/bathrooms in the campground that ARE air conditioned so we went to those.

We rented a golf cart for both days and were glad we did. It was easier to get to the beach in the golf cart than driving your car over (t is a long walk) and we were able to drive around and catch a breeze to keep cool.

We got towels replaced with clean ones the second day. Bed was comfy. Eco Tent was "cute".

We had a great time but would have liked it better if the weather were cooler.

Nice gorgeous views, clean park and beaches.

By tammym2737 |

State park has trails 👣 if u like. Gatorlake to walk around. Nice clean bathrooms, lots of parking. Sand dunes that ur preserved. Good snorkeling for beginners, especially children. Pretty waters, watch boats come and go. Jetties. Rocks to climb or look for small fish, 🦀, snails, etc. See dolphins 🐬.
U havea calm jetties beach or walk across to gulf waves. Definitely recommend

beautiful blue ocean

By Spread L |

It was really hot however the breeze made up for it and the breathtaking Blue waters not too deep at first and clean white sand

Amazing!

By GoGo |

Beautiful beach; lots of room to spread out. Convenient restrooms not far from the beach. Water is gorgeous!

Great natural beachfront park - the real Florida

By Brenda Whitt |

We love St Andrews, we’ve been camping here for decades. The gulf side beaches are beautiful. You can catch a lovely sunset from the pier. There’s a new playground that the children love. The jetties swim area is wonderful. There are a couple camp stores. You can ride a ferry to shell island. We always see lots of wildlife, birds, deer, etc when we go. It’s a relaxing place and the campsites are in the process of being redone. There are far less tress now due to hurricane Michael, but still a great place to bring your family.

The Emerald Coast

By Marla Ferraro |

Beautiful beach, lots to do and great places to eat. You see many dolphins and sea turtles. Very peaceful

Great campground!

By MACTN12 |

We were lucky enough to score a weekend camping trip here. The spots were terrific! Recent construction has improved sites and the bathrooms. Can't complain when most sites have a view of the bay.

Great Nature Park

By Eileen H |

This park is amazing. It is a nature park with trails and boardwalks. It is a nesting area for birds. Young birds could be seen in the nests, and we could see some of the mothers feeding their babies. The beach area has white sand and the water seemed calm.

A wonderful place to visit

By Kevin S |

A wonderful place to experience the natural environment of the gulf coast in Florida. The park limits the number of people there at any given time. There are jetties to fish off of or to snorkel and scuba dive around, white sand beaches, places to kayak, and camp, etc.

Beautiful, peaceful park

By bcasey1 |

We entered the park at opening and we're welcomed by a deer family on the roadside. We continued on, stopping at a pretty lake, before arriving at one of the beautiful beaches surrounded by huge dunes, boardwalks and wide open spaces. It was very windy when we were there, but the weather was perfect on an off season fall day. Such pretty views. The water was too choppy for us to swim, and a bit cook, but we saw sting rays and lots if sea birds which wad nice.

Nice beach day

By Nicole |

Went to the pier and there was a lot of areas to see while there. one of the areas on the bayside had alligators near shore which was cool to see. beautiful beachside and a nice area to swim and snorkel.

Wonderful!

By Sharon T |

Peaceful and beautiful . It was very easy to drive around and not get lost. We enjoyed the beach and walks. Easy walking areas.

Beautiful place to camp

By common nighthawk |

I love St. Andrews SP and camping here is amazing. Waking up next to the water to a beautiful sunrise is such a great experience. Campsites have electric hookups for RVs, a camp grill, a fire pit, and a picnic table. There are multiple spacious bathhouses at the campground.

There is plenty to do at St. Andrews during the daytime, including opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, wildlife photography, hiking, paddling, boating, and bicycling. There are multiple shops and the park offers equipment rentals for things like kayaks, snorkeling gear, and beach umbrellas. There is also a camp shop near the campground that offers charcoal, lighters, and other equipment for camping. The park offers hot food and snacks as well as a ferry ride to nearby Shell Island for an additional fee. The staff I've interacted with have always been polite and helpful. The sand is fine and powdery, which many, including myself, prefer to the rougher sand near the Atlantic. It is very nice to go in the colder months, although boating will be windy and chilly and it will likely be too cold for swimming. The summer is better for swimming, but keep in mind that the dunes trap heat and it will be HOT.

Restaurant and grocery options outside the park in St. Andrews and nearby PCB are slimmer than one might find near Central & South Florida parks, but are more numerous than options near many other North Florida parks. Camp Helen SP, the PCB airport, Pine Log SF, and Tyndall AFB are all less than 45 minutes away, and Mexico Beach and Seaside are less than an hour away.

Best State Park Ever

By Debra D |

I love this park. We saw deer, fish, and a water snake. the sand is perfect. We hiked around to Sandy Point. The water was clear, cool but clear. It is a quiet place for a long walk. I love this place. I enjoy coming here.

Just a trip to the Kiddie Pool

By Samantha Duley |

They fixed the broken set of steps leading to the kiddie pool. It seems like there are a lot more rock jetties than i remembered too. Always a great time snorkeling around the jetties and seeing the fish. Be careful though, those rocks are super sharp and literally slit my big toe open!

Loved it

By TravelingBum10 |

Entrance fees depend on how many people are in your car. Go early to find parking. The beach area is beautiful. There’s a picnic area, some overlooks and lots of sand space to sit and relax. Restrooms are close to parking area. There’s also a little grill where you can get some fast food.. A souvenir shop with boat rentals

St Andrews Park

By Carol H |

The area is still undergoing renovations after Hurricane Michael. Some businesses are still closed due to the storm

Fun at the Beach

By andyott1979 |

Walking along the beach watching dolphins and finding shells. Seeing the old gun turret that was exposed during hurricane Micheal. looking out into the marsh area's trying to spot a gator.

Great snorkeling!

By joebooh2 |

Our family traveled here the first week of August. We were a bit hesitant with travel due to Covid, but our worries were quickly erased! PLENTY of space on both the gulf side and at the jetty for families to spread out while still enjoying the scenery and nature. The rock wall provided some great snorkeling and plenty of colorful fish for all to see. Water is brilliant shades of blue and no seaweed issue. Water depth was no more than 5 feet high even at 50 yards into the 'cove'. If you wanted to go on the gulf side, it is steps away and you share much of the same beach area. Bigger waves over on the gulf side and not really worth snorkeling on. pay the $8 entrance fee for a carload and enjoy what there is to offer!

Awesome CampingTrip!

By vs1houston |

My wife and I enjoyed our first trip to St Andrew’s State Park with our 5th wheel travel trailer. Beautiful beaches plus a jetty protected area for snorkeling along with a lagoon side with pontoon boat rentals. Also, the Shell Island shuttle operates from the park.

Great park. Only a portion of the camping area is open with a major renovation underway in the larger part of the camping area. (As a result of Hurricane Michael).

Love this place.

Beautiful views

By MsMac72 |

Great couple of hours. Clean and well maintained state park. Lots of places to fish and swim. Snack bar for quick drinks and snacks.

Always gorgeous

By Vicki M |

We've been to this park many times. My husband used to live in Panama City. The Spanish moss on the trees is the best of old Florida, the beach is quiet and secluded.

Beach Day

By TravelGirl1020 |

We have visited this location several times. Currently it is still undergoing repairs from the last hurricane. Not to worry, they are still open- just realize a few areas might be unavailable. Hopefully the repairs wrap up soon and it doesn’t take the brunt force of a storm again soon. Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Wonderful beaches

By Susanne T |

We had planned on maybe spending a couple of hours but ended up spending almost the whole day.
There is a beautiful drive through the park and pullouts and overlooks; we spent a lot of time at Gator Lake watching the Great Blue Herons! Awesome!
We spent a couple of hours walking the beautiful white beaches, checked out the pier and got talking to quite a few people from all over the country.
The park has a boat ramp, campground and a (seasonal) boat shuttle to Shell Island.
Admission was $ 8.00 and the park closes at sunset.

Wonderful landscape

By J P |

Great beaches and trails. Wildlife is everywhere. The park rangers take great care in keeping everything clean. We saw deer and turtles and a large range of birds. Too cold for alligators but I’m sure they’re there.

Beautiful, well kept park!

By 1796 |

Beautiful, well kept park! The water and beach are beautiful and clean. The park has the necessary restrooms and showers. There is both a calm area protected from the waves by an outcropping of rocks, and a large open beach with waves, with at least one pier. Highly recommended. We will return.

Nothing Special

By Baker |

There's lots of construction going on right now. Significant progress is being made. Lots of campsites close to the water. It will get better in time.

Great place to visit!

By Susie H |

We rode our golf cart to the end of the and and came across this state park. What a delight! We walked to the beach, walked a few trails, went to look for shell island -disappointed that the ferry was closed for the season. Got to visit the store there and met a few new friends.

Beautiful beach to relax with the family

By TD S |

Absolutely beautiful views! We spent the whole day there, lounging on the beach and had a great time!

Amazing Snorkeling for our Family

By randajoy |

We wanted a place to take our teens to snorkel without going out on a boat or far from the shore. We found that here and we all had a fantastic time! Climbing on the rocks and watching how much they enjoyed themselves allowed all of us a perfect day! (Except we did have a jellyfish sting, they snuck in without warning!)

The Pier was awesome! Saw a lot of marine life.

By Smilesalot |

We visited here on a rainy day. The pier was awesome. We saw a lot of marine life. The place to swim looked fun. We rode around and got out at a few places. It was enjoyable. We will go back again, rain of shine.

A big disappointment

By Jimmy F |

The State of Florida hasn’t invested $15 in the park in the last 20 years. The roads are all torn up. The old wooden buildings have rot. Flooding in the parking lots. The beach was nothing special. Chair rental was exorbitant. Even at only $8 per car it’s overpriced. There are many other beaches nearby — don’t go.

A perfect family, friendly adventure

By Rosa C |

Take a walk out on the pier, enjoy incredible views of landscape, natural Sand dunes and Crystal Clearwaters on a white powdery sand beach. The inlet area has a brake wall and a shallow water pool and is loaded in seashells.

Worth your time!

By Lori M |

Beautiful state park. The dunes were facinating and the beach was quiet and very walkable. Well worth the vehicle entrance fee.

Wonderful park!

By Patricia S |

Wonderful park. Much to see and do. My husband was able to fish from the large pier. The rest of us did a half mile hike which was beautiful. We were able to see dolphins playing. Such a treat! A walk along the shoreline of the beach was very nice. We did not have time to fully experience the beach, but the beach there is beautiful! One could spend the entire day there. Great experience!

Beautiful place for pictures!

By asreed75 |

We usually always go to St Andrew’s to swim at least once while visiting but this time we just went on an early evening and took pictures by their pier. Wonderful place for pictures!! $8.00 a carload for the day

Love

By Jaylasmom |

We love it here. This beach is beautiful and clean and even with the park full, there’s still room for everyone. My kids have a blast at the jetties where they don’t have to worry about getting knocked over by big waves or rip currents!

Camp on coast!

By m a |

The camping sites here are truly special, offering lots of activities to immerse yourself in nature. I brought my kayak, hiked the trail inside the park, and snorkeled by the jetties, marveling at the vibrant fish. You can ride your bike along the beautiful beach and savor a delicious pizza just half a mile down the road. The park staff friendly, and you can find essential supplies at the camp store without ever leaving the park. Being a local, I know the park fills up quickly in the summer, so securing a spot at the campground not only guarantees your stay but also guarantees you get in the park on the trip!

Beautiful Park

By KC Gypsy Explorer |

Perfect spot for everything beachy. White sand, rocks for climbing, fishing, beautiful birds. Parking was plentiful although that might change during the summer.

Bring Your Camera. Bring Your Binoculars

By Cathy G |

St. Andrew State Park is a great place for taking photos. A real camera buff will find the layout of the park a perfect place to pose family members for great shots and will also find water birds, osprey, gators, as well as interesting trees to shoot. There are trails to walk. There are beach areas for swimming and other areas for fishing. There are places you can drive around or places you can walk or bike through. You can easily spend a couple of hours or pack a lunch and spend the day as there are clean public restrooms available.

Perfect destination

By Elizabeth S |

The staff was the nicest and most courteous along with the most helpful of anywhere we've been. They went out of their way for us and made sure it was a wonderful experience.
The yurt was well priced and came equipt with a bed and an incredible view, when I say incredible it was gorgeous. There are screens on 3 sides to keep bugs out and allow for amazing air flow, we slept with a view of the gulf and woke up to the fresh air and stunning view. There were even 3 very not skittish deer that came right up to it.
If you care about visiting a place that truly cares about their wildlife preservation, this is definitely the destination for you.
The ammenites were great as well. There was a tiny hiccup with the water that was sorted within the hour and with friendly updates from staff.

Extremely Disappointed

By Nina D |

My husband and I were just there and turned around. The park ranger wanted to charge us $8 to just drive through to check out the campground. All other State Parks and campgrounds allow a 1/2 hour free pass to check out the facilities. We are from New Jersey, this was our first time in Panama City Beach. They are still recovering from hurricane damage, all the more reason to check out the campground. We will be spending our money somewhere else.

Really good experience

By CAMMIE |

The gator pond was really cool. We was able to spot an alligator and the trail was really nice. The beach was amazing, the water very calm and the picnic area clean.

Beautiful! Pristine beaches.

By laura |

Highly recommend taking the ferry to Shell Island. There is a great shuttle service from the visitor center to the dock and the ferry ride is fun and scenic. The island is untouched. Birds, dolphins, crabs…. The beach is beautiful with clear turquoise water. Very few people so you feel like you are on a secluded beach miles from the crowds and buildings. No bathrooms and bring a towel, water, snacks, snorkel, etc… and relax or watch wildlife.

Beautiful Park

By Jo Ellen W |

Even though it was a cloudy day, we decided to go ahead and go to the park. We were not disappointed. The beaches are beautiful and there are bathhouses to change with restroom facilities. I wish we would have stayed longer, but the weather didn't cooperate.

very pretty! Nice park

By Tracy |

You have to pay $8 each car just to go in the park, but it was very pretty! We will be going back for sure! Bring bug spray! Biting flies everywhere!

Drive through of the park

By Velita W |

Our time at St Andrews State Park was minimized by rain. It looked to be family friendly and well maintained.

Love the park

By bigdogwalls |

St. Andrew's state park is amazing with a beautiful beach and great boat ramp.if you visit please take your thrash with you when you leave.

Fun in the Sun

By Kelly M |

Great park for walking, shelling, sunbathing, fishing. There are piers, trails, wildlife, and lots of beach. The entrance fee is reasonable but we get the yearly pass.

Very nice state park with beautiful beaches!

By MsSylviaM |

A beautiful state park at the east end of Panama City Beach. There is a small entrance fee to get into the park. There are beautiful beaches, hiking trails, fishing (from a pier on the north side and a jetty), campgrounds and a shuttle (for a fee) to Shell Island. This park is well worth the entrance fee. The crowds are usually lighter here and there is easy, convenient parking throughout the park.

take sunscreen

By T O |

You cannot go bad.
8$ for a car. There is a great aerea for just the little kids. If you go over the dunes -the gulf will embrace you.
Check with your hotel or timeshare as they may have items like chairs, umbrellas, skim boards....

Excellent beach

By N6113 |

We spent several days on the beach here and were very satisfied with the upkeep and cleanliness , everything was very nice , affordable and well worth the price. Highly recomend

Gators in the Park? - January 2021

By Kitman |

Out doing some sightseeing, I decided to check out this park. There's a fee to get into the park...it was just $4 because I was alone and a Veteran.

Like some of the other reviews mention, the road could use some repairs. But the various parking lots all seemed to be in good shape.

I visited in the winter so there wasn't much traffic even though it was a weekend. Lots of access to the beach is available. There's a short pier and a gift shop/store. There's a few trails you can explore also. I checked out the gator pond but didn't see any. I even drive through the "camping" area...that was full of RVs and pop-up campers. But there were a few hearty "sleep in a tent" campers too.

According to a map I referenced, the park also has a seaplane base. I was hoping to see some planes taking off or landing but none were there. Also, the west end of the camp area was closed off.

For me, nothing more than average stood out about this particular park...maybe if I were to have see a couple alligators. But my likes, might not be your likes...so check it out for yourself.

MUST DO!! Our kids loved snorkeling!

By GoPlaces699551 |

This was by far the best part of our trip. highly recommend doing this with your Spouse or kids. It's $8 to get in with one single vehicle and you can literally enjoy all day here easily

Wonderful natural setting on the ocean

By davereinarz |

Recommended to us as a "don't miss." We hiked the sandy trails. Enjoyed the unique plants. So different from the great plains. After a break for dinner, we came back and watched the sunset over the ocean.

Hidden Secret of PCB

By Jerry H |

What a great place to go in Panama City Beach. The south side of the park is on the Gulf. Plenty, and I mean plenty of beach. Rest rooms there next to the pier - which is currently closed for repairs. The north side of the park is on St Andrews Bay. We saw people unloading kayaks and paddle boards, heading out in the bay. There's a boat ramp - people launching boats and jet skis. $8 gets you in for the day. Can't beat it

Beautiful clean state park

By NHlakelover |

Great beaches, clean rest rooms, convenience stores...and perfect weather! Lots of picnic tables...some covered.

Great day at St. Andrews

By Amy S |

My husband and I spent the last day of our vacation in PCB at St. Andrews Park. We really enjoyed it. There were double red flags out that day so there was no getting in the water but watching the waves from the pier was beautiful. It's eat to see the wildlife too.

Beautiful Beach

By wckdtrix |

This was a great beach and great park. Not too crowded, got to see plenty of dolphins swimming within 30 or 40 feet of us when we were swimming. Beach is clean, water is nice. It was a very nice place to pack a cooler and have a nice day at the beach away from all the party crowd of PCB.

Cancelled Dive Trip

By Jim W |

Lived in Panama City for 4.5 years and finally visited the park. We were supposed to do scuba training in the swim area but storm from the weekend made water unsafe, so we had to leave. Park looks nice but has limited parking. Will have to come back and check out in future.

Relax

By Beth Ann G |

Excellent stores to rent chair, umbrella. Quiet and beautiful . You can buy snack foods and drinks there. So great for watching the boats

Scoping out a beach day

By Kathie1953 |

I want to come back with grandkids. The jetty area, aka kiddie pool, is a perfect spot for some stress free sandcastles and wading. The Shell Island shuttle starts up in March.

Beautiful

By grandquilt |

Beautiful state park. Great place to spend a day of hiking, beach time and enjoy the beautiful of nature.

Good snorkel spot

By Andrew B |

This is a pretty good snorkel spot near Panama City Beach. If you are a comfortable swimmer, I would suggest you snorkel on the outside of the seawall but beware of the current. There were a lot more fish and much more colorful varieties. You can rent equipment here if you do not have your own. A dive flag is required, even if you are snorkeling.

Best kept beach area in Florida.

By Danna D |

They are rebuilding the jetties at the state park and adding more areas to sit and covered seating.
The best kept secret on the beach if you have small kids or love the ocean but hate the waves hitting hard on you.

Wonderful for everyone!

By Cat M |

Lovely park with lots of character! Entrance fee is very reasonable just eight dollars for our car, and the two of us.Great accessibility, and geared to folks who have mobility issues.Bathrooms were clean, and include changing areas for the beach lovers There are areas with picnic tables if you want to have a rest, or a bite to eat. Wildlife is abundant. We saw lots of birds.Nesting Blue Herons at the Gator Lake.There where many shorebirds in the beach area of the park. We also spotted deer grazing along the roadside. Flora and fauna are both diverse and beautiful. We had a great day at St. Andrews and will be going back!

Best swimming in this area

By Green-eyed-mama |

This state park has the best swimming and camping in the area. It’s worth the $8 per car admission. The camp store offers snacks, drinks, beach toys, etc. Water was clear/turquoise on the east side of the jetties, but was dark blue in the ‘lagoon’ protected area west of the jetties. They have two large parking lots (hopefully they’ll add another soon), and it’s best to get there as early in the morning as possible before the park fills up. Being turned away is no fun. Please don’t pass up this gem.

Dread drudge

By Kate S |

We went during dredging so some of the best shell beaches were blocked off. There were large crabs but not much else in terms of sea life.

A lovely surprise!

By Bobby |

This State Park was quite a surprise. It is located on the east end of Panama City Beach. The sand dunes are very impressive, tall and sparsely vegetated.
A great beach to sit on the beach and watch the boats pass through the channel.

Great beaches without huge crowds.

By Gerardo S |

A hidden gem without the crazy crowds. We discovered this park when searching for a real beach in Panama Beach. Most places we visited previously were filled inappropriately even though we are having a COVID surge again but here the park rangers were keeping tabs on the amounts of visitors and closing intermittently as needed.

Great snorkeling for kids

By PelleasPhiladelphia |

A really special place to introduce your young kids to snorkeling. At jetty beach there is a fully enclosed shallows (3-6 ft) with no waves and really decent fish life. Don’t get me wrong - it’s no coral reef, but perfect for first timers.

Early spring trip

By Frank S |

Stayed at Saint Andrews State Park April 6-10. Park was not crowded and weather was fine windy but beach time was enjoyable. We had a 34ft TT and sight accommodations were perfect.

St. Andrews Park

By Teresa V |

My all time favorite part of Panama City Beach. Beautiful beach and beautiful park. I am here several times a week.

A perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon.

By Ross and crew |

The park is beautiful. The area's famous white sand is perfect for walks on the beach. The views are excellent. While we were there, surfers practiced their expert moves, just offshore.

Love this park!

By Cupcaketravel |

We will be back to camp soon!
We could not get a camp reservation for this trip but we will next time. Beautiful park. We spent a day walking around and enjoying the wonderful area.

Nice place!

By hinhankola |

This campground is partially still under construction of some sort ( 1/2025). It’s a long campground so you’re not particularly all shoved together row after row in a big block like most places. They are making it so you need a code to re-enter at night which I think is nice. Lots of room between spaces and close to water. Very nice spaces! Beautiful sunrises. A49 is where we stayed and it’s at the very north east end, and I feel like we lucked out! Very quiet except you could hear the tug boat engines late & early.

Beautiful

By Beth W |

Beautiful place. You can rent bikes and pantoon boats. Lots of trails to walk and wildlife to see. Great for couples or families

Beautiful in its Bucolic Splendor

By Wayne Centrone |

Just enchantingly beautiful. With the white dunes, live oak trees, and sandy paths - St. Andrews is a great place for the beach and exploring. I am such a fan of early morning runs on the trials and through the park.

St. Andrews

By Tim S |

We love going to St. Andrew's state park. Beautiful beaches and a great place for watching a sunset or sunrise. Can't wait to return.

Our favorite spot!

By Heather C |

Perfect place if you have little ones. They can wade in the water without being knocked over. Also, you can see lots of fish! Bring a cooler and an umbrella. Not many amenities since it is a state park.

WE love it ...but.. one Complaint

By GARY D |

WE love the park .Have been here many times .We were here on 8/6/2020.You have a no dog policy for the beach areas, This day , we seen 3 different dogs , with different people around us ?? The folks next to us called the office to report .According to her they were to send a Park Ranger. Four hours later no one came .The larger dog took a crap on the beach and the owner , just shoved sand over it .
Would hate to know my kids or grand kids was digging in the sand and dug up dog turds ,We love dogs ....just not on the beach . A great place.... please don't let it go to the dogs .
Thank you

You won't get bored...

By 2TravelersMn |

St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach, Florida encompasses 1,260 acres. The park offers 1.5 miles of white sand beach, nature trails, sand dunes, alligator lakes, boating, fishing and bicycling. Snorkeling gear and kayaks are available for renting.

Beautiful beach, tons of shells

By theMeat13 |

Great beach for shell hunting!!! Water was gorgeous and it wasn’t too crowded. The facilities were really nice! Loved this place & will definitely be going back!!

Most beautiful place to visit in PCB!

By Britt |

Do not miss this place! It is so beautiful and the water is so blue. We loved exploring on the rocks and my 10 year old son did not want to leave!

summer

By Blanche C |

Place is awesome. Lot of friendly people. Weather was good except for occasional pop up summer shower. Nice access to water.

A nice smaller park that is worth a visit if you're in the area

By Guelphwanderer |

We enjoyed breaking up our beach days with two visits to the park. We saw a fair bit of wildlife while here, and my 5 year old loved the interpretive centre. The beach here isn't terribly different from the other local beaches, but the jetty area offers some calmer water for young swimmers.

Go very early

By JBKDO |

The beach was beautiful. Had restrooms and changing rooms. Get there early, the park was full by 945 AM.

Get there early !!!!

By Tony |

Great snorkeling ! Beautiful beaches. You need to get there early because Of new Covid regulations the park hits maximum capacity quickly.

Beautiful beach!

By Jim K |

Roads need repair but the park was very clean and calming! The pier had fabulous views and the beach was relaxing.

Lovely quiet leisurely PCB Location!

By Stephen S |

Spent some time here away from the hustle and bustle of PCB and really loved our time here...Plus Shell Island is a must!

Clean and close to our condo.

By IslandParadiseUSVI |

Loved this park, clean and close to where we stayed at a great condo at the Shores of Panama unit 1210.
I would recommend this park.

Beautiful beach

By Lesley B |

The facilities are very nice. They’re rebuilding the campground after hurricane Michael. The camp grounds are a little rugged. We’re in site 22 right on the water so it’s great. Beautiful white sand, beautiful beaches, boardwalks.
You can rent pontoon boats , kayaks and paddle boards. Would recommend the state park.

Love This Place

By Larry H |

I'd rate it a 4.5 star if I could...What a fantastic State Park. The only negative I could think of was there is no free wifi. However, you can purchase wifi for $7/day per device. Cell phone coverage was excellent. We were in back in site 123 with a lovely water view. Although the site was listed as 35' we had no trouble parking our 38'10" motorhome and tow vehicle at this site. Cost is $28 per night and an additional $7 per day for utilities. What a bargain! We had fhu, gravel, fire pit, picnic table, and grill at our site. Site is a short walk to bathhouse. OTA tv produce about 45 channels. No shade at this site, but not required in February (temps were in upper 60's while we were here). The beach is about 1.5 miles away and they are beautiful. There is a Winn Dixie about 2 miles away and other shops and restaurants nearby. Access to the campground is controlled by a gate and access to the state park is controlled by a ranger and closed gate after hours. There are 3 camp-type stores here and firewood is for sale. It's qiet and clean here. Hope to come back soon!

Pan-handle Oasis

By Evil_E207 |

We visit the park every time we are in the area. The kids love the beach and searching for shells. There was an abundant of wildlife in the area that kept my kids busy. A must stop for any outdoor and nature lover!

SHAME ON YOU FLORIDA SHAME SHAME

By Mickey_slept_here |

How could a state let a state park get in this condition?? I just do not understand how they could let the ROADS and Campground go to heck in a hand basket. Many years ago this was our go to the beach park and campground but not any more. The campgrounds are open and a little junky looking, The roads are so rough that they are almost to bad to walk on much less drive. Yes the beach, piers and jetty is nice but the overall condition of the park is BAD. We visited other state parks in the area and they were not in this run down condition. DO not guess we will be camping there anytime soon. Come on Florida get your act together and spend some much needed money on this park!!!!!!!

great place

By rodgerk943 |

this place is great place to take your kids ,cause they have a jetty that you dont have to worry about your kids getting hit by boat or jet ski

Beautiful beach

By H1241BHcynthiaw |

Beautiful beach and lovely little store as you go out toward the beach. Raccoons living along the rocks are fun to watch, but if you have food they will steal it. Lots of fun 🙂

small park without any hiking trails

By Lara M |

great beach but no actual hiking trails. you can go for a short walk on the road. the alligator bond "trails" are very short and busy footpaths. lots of nice birds to see in spring

Peaceful, natural beachfront

By HBHB |

A great alternative to the commercial beachfront, with natural dunes, native sea grass and trees, and beach areas protected by a jetty. The park is situated where the Gulf meets the bay. A modest $8 fee gets you parking, outdoor showers, bathrooms, gift shop and ocean access. Camping and fishing is also available. Great for families and those seeking to relax in nature.

Great outdoors

By Ingrid J |

Very nice outdoor adventure with beach access, and beautiful scenery. Lots of alligators and souvenir shops.

Phenomenal

By Randall |

This is a great state park. Beautiful Florida scenery great little swimming area with the beach. This is a hidden gem

Love this park

By Sheryl C |

Love being able to walk out on the pier or walk along the beach.Saw an alligator at the inland lake basking in the sun,also hundreds of herrings at the inland beach across from alligator.Also saw a pelican eating a fish on the beach,deer hanging out at the little camp store,there is lots of wildlife and beautiful scenery to be had there!Must See when visiting!

Not great for dogs

By boudta |

Not great for dogs I specifically asked when we entered the park if there were restrictions for dogs. The person at the gate said they weren’t allowed on beach or the boardwalk.
I didn’t see many paths or trails that didn’t lead to a boardwalk.
We walked very briefly and the dogs were covered with stickers. Pretty views but we had to stay in the vehicle.

GO HERE!

By ddeparis |

Oh my stars! This beach is everything. We stayed in PCB and this was only about a 20 minute drive but it was totally worth it. Calmer waters and crystal clear emerald green waters. It cost us $8 to enter the park and it was worth it!

Love the Jetties!

By Elaine B |

I love the State park. The place called the Jetties (behind the rocks) is perfect for kids. Even if the waves are super high everywhere else, it is calm in the Jetties. They have boardwalks, restrooms and fresh water showers.

Beautiful Beach Area

By Jon H |

Very clean beach, beautiful sand dunes and so much more. Couldn’t begin to explore it all in one visit.

Amazing

By Carmenita C |

Just the beauty of it all! We had our anniversary pictures take there and it was the perfect spot with the perfect photographer ! It was breath taking ! I’ll be back this weekend

Beach walking

By Kathy S |

Great park. We were in PCB for the day and enjoyed spending the afternoon on a beach walk. This is also the gateway, to Shell Island. The ferry is in this park.

Great public use beach

By James L |

Great day trip experience. The park could only accommodate guest up to 50 % so only got to go one day. Still had great time. Would like to come back with RV when COVID 19 scare is over . Beautiful beach. Small charge of $8 per car. Bring exact amount . Not sure if credit cards are taken.

Good little park

By Jeffrey S |

Very nice little park on the Gulf. A friend asked us to take her there, and it was a first time for all of us. Beach access at the point was closed for construction and we didn't know where to go, so we went to the little beach on the pass, where the bay water goes into the Gulf. It's a great beach for little kids. We saw some fish and a couple of crabs. When we left, we went by the beach on the Gulf, which would have been better for us (3 old folks). We also took the alligator walk (didn't see any, but trust you that they are are there). The fee to get in was $8, which is reasonable.

My Happy Place

By Donna P |

I have many happy memories of St Andrew State Park and this visit did not disappoint...beautiful beaches kept in great shape.

Storm Recovery Underway

By Kevin R |

During a recent trip to PCB, we spent a few days at the park. Recent storms have done a number on the "Kiddie Pool" section of the beach, and they are currently working to dredge up more sand to rebuild that part of the park. For the time being, expect to use the parking lot beside the pier. Also, with the work that is being done, they are unable to guarantee reentry to the park once you leave, so plan accordingly.

Nevertheless, St. Andrews remains a great place to spend a day at the beach.

White Sand Beaches..lots of Shells and Wildlife abound just minutes from PCB.

By 4adventures |

What a wonderful State Park in Florida, just a few minutes from PCB. Really enjoyed our visit to the park. Main road is a bit rough - so be careful. White sand beach with lots of shells and beautiful sunsets. Abundant wildlife birds, deer, turtles, gators, etc.. Campground within the park is wonderful. Staff is friendly and helpful..

Staff is gracious even when the public is acting stupid - some guy decided to walk out into the brackish water marsh disturbing the wildlife during our visit. Staff assisted before the gators took care of business... Enjoy the park and leave only foot steps.

FYI, there are also a few good "local" restaurants, family friendly just about a mile or so from the entrance. Keep it a secret...Thomas Drive Waffle and Omelette House (cash only) and Shore Shack Pizza (they also offer adult bottled beverages).

Great but bring your own stuff just in case

By Grady |

Visited here with several of our friends. Website says they rent snorkel gear... not true. But it was all good. They do sell basic gear. Great beach and a calm area at the jetty to snorkel and let your little ones swim.

A must see in Panama City Beach. Beautiful Views

By Brett S |

St. Andrews State Park is one of our favorite things to do when we vacation to Panama City Beach. It only cost $8 per car to enter the park. You can swim in the "kiddie pool" area which is also good for snorkeling as it is a small little lagoon protected from the waves of the bay by large rock jetties and is very calm, typically crystal clear water. The rocks hold a lot of reef fish so make sure you bring your snorkel mask. The jetties are neat and I wish I had time to fish from them. There are two piers here, one on the bay side and the other on the gulf. There are other activities here like boardwalk trails and even a camping area, boat dock, and shell island ferry. The park is just so beautiful. Unfortunately for us, the day we went to swim here there were hundreds of large jellyfish in the water and no one was swimming, especially on the gulf side. But they do have warning flags up for surf conditions and if there are stinging marine life around. Just a great place to spend the day with the fam. We brought an umbrella, large beach towel to sit on, and a cooler with snacks and drinks.

Rainy Sunday visit

By Scott O |

St. Andrews is a very nice park. It has trails with a lot of wildlife as well as great beaches. It was a good visit even with rain

Nice Surprise

By MissPersonality |

This nice State Park was just a short drive away from our hotel. The gate attendant was friendly, and there were quite a few people out walking along the roads inside the park. The resident deer would get pretty close without seeming concerned at all by human presence. Very peaceful setting. I was pleasantly surprised to see all the sand dunes along the beach, and we enjoyed the views from the end of the pier. Nice, clean restrooms available at both the beach and also the boat ramp on the other side of the park. Be sure to walk out on the boardwalks and see how much wildlife you can spot. Nice park and great place for a picnic lunch.

Nice and relaxing

By Jamie H |

This was such a nice day trip to get away from the busy beach and pool. We actually tried to get in on Memorial Day but they had reached the max capacity of people that they would let in. We went the next day and no problems at all. The Kiddie Pool area is great for littles because the Jetty’s block all of the waves that come in. It was a fun time climbing all of the jetty’s out to the point to where we saw at least a dozen dolphins swimming right in front of us. Also saw the raccoons that everyone talks about. Super friendly and take Doritos to feed them. They love them and it’s fine to feed them.

My wife and I love St. Andrews State Park

By George R |

We live about ten minutes from St. Andrews State Park, and we visit about every other day. We have an annual Florida State Park pass. We love the beach by the pier, the area where the jetties are, the hiking trail by the boat ramp on the bay, and visiting gator lake!

St. Andrews State Park.

By adventureme |

Great place to do a small hike or hang out on the beach. They have nice restrooms and change rooms available. Dunes are amazing and the beach is powder white sand.

We love this park but it has changed quite a bit

By Kristi E |

We visit this state park every year when we do our annual PCB trip. We have always loved the protected "kiddie pool" beach area where there was a rock barrier. On double red flag days on the gulf side, we were always able to visit the state park kiddie pool area and the water would be calm and perfect. WELL NOT ANYMORE. I don't know if its due to natural erosion or if they made purposeful changes, but the protected kiddie pool area is no longer protected. The jetty rocks have moved/changed and no longer provide that protection from the rough outer waters. This was the first time I've seen double red flags inside St. Andrews with rough waters. The beach area has also changed, you can now walk from the bay side to the gulf side easily. It looks like changes were made to benefit the surfing community on the gulf side. I hope this place goes back to the old setup, otherwise I can no longer count on the park being a safe haven from dangerous waters!

Memorial weekend

By Elysia B |

Came in sun afternoon to get away from the crowded beaches...I was surprised by the beauty of this park's beach area. We're definitely coming back to camp!

loved it

By buster7236 |

the water was great-the fishing enjoyable. nice sandy beaches bathrooms were clean and large. the convenient store was stocked with all that.s needed.

Shell Island - Fun Experience for Families! The Pier and Sand Dunes are great pics!

By TWOrr |

The shuttle experience was friendly starting with check-in where the lady advised us against snorkeling since Hurricane Sally's affects were still obscuring views. Be sure to bring a source of shade and plenty of water and snacks as there are no facilities on the Island. There were no large shells to be found on the morning we went, but it was a unique experience. On the land side of St Andrews, the walk to the pier and beachfront in front of the dunes is a great one for pictures, and the facilities there were nice and clean.

Special Place

By Gaynell C |

Came to St Andrews State Park just to go snorkeling. We had a great time. Saw several different species of fish & schools of fish & also 3 deer as we were leaving. Have camped here before & enjoyed it very much. Nice warm water showers at the beach & bathrooms & even a gift shop. Perfect place for families with all ages of kids. Plenty of shallow water at the jetties for the kids to play. $8 day use fee per car. Ample parking. Well run operation.
We love coming here.

Preserved little park featuring Florida in all its glory!

By DeniseTaylor5 |

Took less than 25 minutes from bustling, Pier Park to reach this beautiful and peaceful site. The young lady working was super and helped me plan my activities for the afternoon. I skipped kayaking due to a shoulder issue and she recommended I see both of the main trails. Walking from the visitor center to the cabins and surrounding area, I checked out the posted photos and imagined all the fun families and campers had there. I saw several picnic tables and grills which were in pristine condition and you could just tell whomever is in charge of upkeep is doing an amazing job. I followed the canopy of live oak trees which winds around highlighting Florida’s tropical beauty, undisturbed and enjoyed the shaded trail immensely. The trail to the beach showcases the gorgeous white sand beach in its natural state, making you feel like an explorer discovering it for the first time! I passed no one the whole way to the beach and once I made it to the shore there were only two mothers with their kids in sight. I started to walk across some shallow water between the lake and the Gulf and seriously sank over 12 inches which scared the crap out of me! Maybe it’s not always so dangerous but it CAN BE. I weigh 140 and sank like lead. Please keep your kids away from that area. Between the variable rushing current of the water and sinking sand, that area needs a sign! The beach is gorgeous and view spectacular but the water at the entire shoreline unfortunately had a rusty sediment when I was there early September. If you plan to swim, I’d ask about that before lugging all your stuff out there. But don’t let that stop you from seeing it. It’s so worth the walk to experience this serene slice of heaven nestled just outside the busy city.

Favorite Florida State Park

By Sandy S |

It's got it all, incredibly beautiful Sandy beaches on the gulf. A wonderful pier with breathtaking views. Bayside beaches with lots of different views. Gator Lake, that is a bird watching paradise, with beautiful easy trails. Fun to see an occasional alligator and the park is full of deer. My favorite place in PCB. AND a great campground.

Beautiful water and beaches

By Kathy K |

We took our 21ft camper and the sites were very nice and well maintained. There is not a lot to do here in the park other than the pier and beach. We brought our bikes but never rode them as there really wasn't anywhere to go with them.
Beach and water are beautiful. Make sure to bring chairs and umbrellas but they do rent equipment.

Beautiful state park

By Stilsam |

We spend an afternoon here walking the trails and the beaches. Lovely setting, with very nice shelters to have a picnic.

Perfect for day trips

By Sara M. |

This is the best place to go if you just wanna sit by the ocean for the day. Your choice between the beach side or the jetty side (which is calmer and quieter). There are bathrooms and changing rooms and a surf shop, picnic area, and even a snow cone stand. There is also a ferry to Shell Island that leaves from here. Its the only place we go if we arent staying down there and just need a place to hang out for the day.

Outdoor Fun

By Heather M |

This park has it all! We camped here for five nights and during that time we hiked, biked, fished, watched sunsets, looked for seashells, swam, sunbathed, had a bonfire, rented a golf cart-toured the park and we even got to stargaze at night. The outdoor fun was endless. Even if we hadn’t camped I would say that this place is worth the daily admission. Beaches were not crowded and they have several different types of rentals that you may need to enjoy the beach (stand up paddle boards, floats, a camp store stocked with all kinds of equipment) I could go on and on but just trust me when I say this a great park to visit. If you are camping I highly recommend a water site. You can fish from your site and the view is fantastic. Plus at low tide you can spot hermit crabs all over which is fun for the kids (and us adults enjoyed it too ;)

Gorgeous long quiet stretch of beach

By rossdmd |

The state park beach is gorgeous! With some visitors to PCB having dredging equipment and bulldozers out front, why not spend a day at the state park beach. You can be on the bay side or beach side. The beach is so long, you can find a quit stretch or be near other people. No matter where you choose, there will be no construction noise close

Love St Andrews!

By HannahGracie1 |

When we are in Panama City Beach, we always pack a lunch and head to St Andrews for a day. The beach is beautiful and the water is so clear. There is also a short 'hike/walk', to a bay area - and we were fortunate enough to first see a baby alligator, about a foot long, then a full grown gator - it was too bad that a family was encouraging their young son to throw Cheese Crackers to the baby - who ignored them. Both were sunning themselves. We also saw deer as we were leaving. I'm sure there were signs telling people not to feed the wildlife - but perhaps they need MORE signs - LARGER signs. St Andrews is always a great place to spend a day.

Shells, shells, and more shells

By spark4life |

So many shells that it was difficult to walk on the sand without being cut. Not my favorite beach and definitely didn't live up to the hype. Read it was voted best beach in the state -- not my experience. And you have to pay to get in.

Hidden gym

By cmecamp |

Really enjoyed our visit there , walked the nature trail , saw a gator , which made our grandkids day , then hung out at the beach for a while

Beautiful beach!

By Lisa L |

Beautiful beach. Clean, white sandy beach. Clear water. Great for shelling too! Beautiful shoreline. There was hardly anyone there and it was nice and quiet.

Great beach option for young kids

By Jennie W |

The park offers a tidal pool side and gulf side beach. The tidal pool side is very shallow and great for you children that may be a bit timid with waves. Tip for your visits get there early as parking gets very limited and requires a further walk later in the day.

I Love St. Andrews State Park!

By jcoleman2016 |

St. Andrews State Park is a favorite destination of mine. I have been coming here for many years. The beaches are clean, the sand is white, and the facilities are very good. Many dolphins can be seen off the fishing pier.

Lots of beach to be shared and enjoyed.

By RJBandRDB |

We enjoyed good access to the beach, pier, jetties, the friendly service in the stores. One man told us there were lots of fish to be seen in snorkeling. Very clean and well cared for as a nature reserve. You could stay all day if you want to get burned. :)

i highly recommend

By destin |

great placeto take the family. the kids loved the beutiful water it was crystal clear. we were ther all day lobg we will be back next year

Beautiful beaches!

By Nicole T |

Beautiful park with amazing views and awesome beaches!! There is tons of stuff to do here! We rented E-Bikes from Bike PCB and hit the trails! We visited several times on our week vacation.

Amazing Day at St Andrew Beach!

By nativetex |

Highly recommend the drive to this state park if you are in the Ft Walton, Destin, PC Beach area! We struck out getting entrance in Grayton Beach State Park which was full by the time we arrived around noon so we pushed further to St Andrew. Entry fee was reasonable and there was ample parking (we went on a Wednesday afternoon) Picnic area, showers near beach and a couple stores onsite to buy snacks, rent umbrellas, etc. Totally not overcrowded in the section of beach we set up our umbrella at—water was very clear, hardly no seaweed, calm waves early afternoon turning a bit more brisk as evening arrived. On our way out we saw two deer leap across the road—so cool! I will definitely return when I come back to the area!

Breathtaking.

By Emilee B |

Unfortunately, when I visited St. Andrews Park, it was mid February so it was a little on the chilly side. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and it started raining. We left for a little bit and was able to return. I REALLY wanted to see alligators, but I think they were all hiding due to the rain. We did see a couple snakes as well as some beautiful deer that just stood right next to the road and let us stop and admire! I will return soon.

Peaceful

By Amanda S |

Great place to go the water is clear over there and very quite not a whole of people on the beach love the jetties

This is not what it used to be!!!

By Pickering1125 |

Beware!! If you have been here in years past and you were dropped off by the rocks... that is no longer happening! You are dropped off at a pier and you are MILES away from the rocks and the swallow pools and the beautiful snorkeling area. This is one of the reasons we came back to Panama City. The shuttle service has been taken over by a different company and you will be highly disappointed if you were expected what you saw in the past. Very disappointed!!!

Wonderful State Park!

By JCWood07 |

We came here twice during our stay at PCB. The first day we rented kayaks and explored Sand Point. We saw two dolphins while kayaking—possibly a mother and baby. We enjoyed the beach and the trail at Gator Lake. The second day we came back and snorkeled by the jetty. We saw lots of fish, a few crabs, and then literally ran into three manatees! So exciting!

Beautiful!

By Peggy |

Absolutely loved this area and I highly recommend it! I might camp here sometime in the future. Beautiful, white powdery sand, pretty sea shells, CLEAR water.

Great sit seeing n swimming

By Dave M |

I would go here for the beach kids loved it more here than beaches by hotels. There is a section with no waves or current for the little kids

Great little State Park to visit

By St_Matty |

This is an extremely nice State Park. Staff were very friendly and informative. There are walking trails and some fantastic beaches to visit. Only cost us $8 to get in which was a bargain.

Primo dive spot that saves your wallet

By FittingNombre |

Diving the jetties is one of the best dives you can do in Florida! And at $8 per car, it is an awesome value. Get there early, dive around the tides, and you'll be amazed at the variety and amount of life among those rocks.

Vacation

By nancy w |

Awesome place to visits,lots of things to do & buy,prices at the time were good ,,everything close together.

Beautiful park!

By Jeanne H |

Love this park! Beautiful Crystal clear water. Snorkeling is perfect. Shells mostly pieces due to dredging (guessing) go to jetty and walk all the way to the end of beach where jetty stops. Waves there bring in shells. I found a few olives and small nice ones.

Beautiful wildlife park with beautiful beaches

By Olivia T |

a great place to chill for the day, $8 per car and a short walk was a great place to spend the day on the beach, and there was cranes and all types of wildlife inside the park to see while driving through.

"A" for St Andrews

By MaryGreco |

St Andrews is a vacation mainstay for us for the last 45 years
Though hurricane damage has changed the park, it has a great location and staff

Go and visit the "kiddie pool!"

By The Salazar Family |

The currents were horrible during our weekend at PCB. So bad that we could not go to Shell Island. The Shell Island Shuttle recommended St. Andrews State Park and we are so glad they did! We found the "kiddie pool" and enjoyed a few hours there. We even saw a pair of stingrays or skates. The water was perfect and calm. The restrooms were clean and they even had a place to rinse off before heading off. I only wish we had more time to explore.

Bring your Binoculars

By Ankur |

Very nice park with great spots to park and hike. Make sure you check out gator lake. Bring your binoculars to see the Alligators sunning themselves. The kids loved hanging out at the beach all day.

Absolutely wonderful state park!

By nylady21 |

St Andrews is among my favorite of the many excellent Florida State Parks. The beach is incredibly gorgeous with wide sand beaches and amazing views. The trail near Gator Lake has many nesting great blue herons this week, and lots of other great birds. Other areas have a lot of ducks and songbirds.

A must see!

By Debra |

This is a must-see place for a quiet visit with nature. The water and beach are gorgeous with lots of great shell hunting. The baby alligator at Gator Lake was a treat and was showing off for us. Lots of construction, off-season, so lots of things were closed, including the nature center, but it was still well worth the trip.

Once a great destination

By Ron P |

Was my favorite part of PCB but now pier, jetties and over half of the campground is closed. I understand the weather issues but still no excuse. The park resident housing should be closed until everything else is open. Sad to see mismanagement of such a gem.

Love it

By Dee G |

The park is beautiful. Well maintained, quiet, large spaces. Just make sure you bring quarters for laundry. Otherwise you pay with an app that loads in $10 increments-meaning there’s $4 left. If you never run into one of these machines, they’ve got your balance

St. Andrews State Park

By 387indy |

St Andrews is a very clean beach, lots of shells, parking, facilities, sea life, swimming. Lots of birds, some wild life in the rocks.

Gorgeous natural beach

By Jessie |

The beach area is gorgeous here. Crystal clear water and powdery soft sand down by the water's edge. It was relatively crowded when we visited (the last week of June), but there was still room to enjoy the beach.

St. Andrews State Park

By 387indy |

St. Andrews is a small state park, but beautiful white sand and sand dunes. They have a great staff doing a super job with Covid 19 procedures. It's 1200 acres, great beach, facilities, camping, swimming, scuba. There is wildlife and lots of birds.

Nature uninhibited and at its finest.

By Tim L |

With it being "off season" (January) parts of the park were undergoing construction or otherwise not available. However, we still had a wonderful visit well worth the $8.00 admission. The beach was splendid and the trails enlightening. With it being the "off season" we were able to move at our own pace without being rushed.

Simply Beautiful

By Rhonda J |

This state park has beautiful water and great facilities. We enjoyed visiting here several times during our recent visit. We definitely want to take the shuttle to Shell Island on our next trip as well as rent paddleboards or kayaks. This is our favorite beach in all of Panama City!

Nice area, beautiful FL trails!

By Brad N Wendy P |

We took a ride down to St. Andrew’s State Park and views were amazing. We stopped and walked the alligator trail with took about 25 minutes or so. We didn’t see any gators but that was ok because we lived in Louisiana and see them all the time. We really wanted to just see the FL nature trails. It cost $8 per vehicle and they offer a ferry service almost hourly to shell island we did not do this as the day before we visited shell island with an Island Time cruise. They offer kayaking, paddle boarding and all sorts of activities by the jetty’s and there is a pier to walk on for free by the pier store. We opted not to stay at this part of beach because alcohol was prohibited and other things. Very nice area though.

Nature Trail Walk

By Bebe E |

Took our dog and did the loop through the REAL Florida, it ends up on the beach and is just fabulous - an easy walk for those who don't want to climb a mountain

Perfection!

By Always Ready |

The place was perfection! Had EVERYTHING I needed! Close to great restaurants too. The balcony at sunset was amazing 😊

Really nice birding, beautiful beach and pier plus gorgeous sunset.

By edieann |

Absolutely terrific rookery with dozens of great blue herons and their offspring. A bald eagle perched on a distant tree, but easily identified, many great egrets, a few little blue herons, and one gorgeously perched green heron all visible at one site! Unfortunately I only had my iPhone so you will have to take my word for this.

Watched the sunset from the end of the pier, which was lovely. Folks were fishing and in general having a great time.

One of the best outdoor adventures we had while we were in the panhandle😊

Nice beach great times

By Elizabeth W |

Beautiful clean beaches and beautiful weather great waves. Nice amenities, restrooms clean staff friendly.

Unexpected pleasure!

By Doc-Rocketman |

After living in Panama City for many years and owning a condo right on the beach, we gave little thought to going to this park. However, we decided to go there today so we could give our condo guests a recommendation. We were very pleasantly surprised by this lovely, moderately sized park. There are two excellent peers overlooking unusual beaches. There is also a place to rent and launch boats. We were concerned that there would be trailers everywhere, but that was not the case - they are confined to one area. There were some lovely trails that we tried and they were quite picturesque. This is the "true" Florida that every traveler should see. The white dunes rival those of Fort Walton. We were pleased by the cleanliness of the park and the fact that each one of the piers had facilities with restrooms and changing areas. In our opinion, this is a wonderful place for families to spend an afternoon enjoying the beach and having a picnic. The $8 entrance fee is very reasonable considering that a single movie ticket cost the same amount. We are now looking forward to going back to this park again many more times!

Great Beach with only a Few People

By Ashley S |

I suggest going early because we were turned away a couple days due to a maximum capacity. However, I appreciated the beach having that capacity during the Covid crisis. The days that we were there we never felt like we were in danger because of the adequate social distancing that was in place.

Beautiful!

By lmgr2017 |

Quiet and beautiful. This is a great place to get away from the tourist areas. We found great sea shells and quiet beaches.

Best day ever!

By Delyse H |

A perfect day!! Took the ferry to shell beach (the captain and crew were so fun) and spent most of the day in the clear waters hunting for shells and sand dollars, digging in the sand, snorkeling and enjoying the waves.-pristine surgery sand and clearest water of the trip. Came back a second afternoon/evening to enjoy the sunset on the pier and more sand and snorkeling. Beautiful!!

The jewel of the area

By 2BEis2SKI |

Full disclosure, I'm not a fan of this area generally and only visit to see my son who lives here. That being said, I am a huge fan of St. Andrews State Park. It's worth twice the entry fee and gives a great view of the beauty that does exist in this area. The waters are amazingly clear and beautiful. White sand beaches with dunes. Great areas to swim for adults and kids alike. Fishing from the pier though we didn't see anyone catch anything. Nature hikes.

When you're here and away from the heavily populated beach areas, you are reminded what it must have been like for the people that first found this area and how stunningly beautiful it is even today.

I imagine in full summer it's pretty busy here but still worth it in my view.

Fun for the whole family.

By Darkhero7007 |

Fun for the whole family. Lots of seaweed washed ashore all along the beach by our resort. We came here and found beautiful waters and good times.

St Andrews State Park - Great snorkeling and amazing beach

By landfalia |

St Andrews State Park is a wonderful place to visit. We went 2 out 4 days on our trip to PCB. We love snorkeling by the jetties. The water on the ocean side was super clear and free of seaweed, whereas, the ocean in front of our accommodation outside the park had seaweed. The entrance fee for our vehicle of 4 people was $8.

Beautiful State Park with beach access

By TakeFiveTravel |

This beautiful State Park offers opportunities for sea shell hunting, bird and boat watching, fishing from the pier, and fun on the water. In February, the only people in the water were wearing wet suits, but the walk along the beach was beautiful. Clean and safe. Gift shop and restrooms available. Good parking. Access road is rough with lots of pot holes.

The one reason I would go back to Panama city

By Denny K |

We have a YouTube channel, hollow creek outdoors, and we’re looking for a place to film a fishing episode while we were on vacation. Could not have been more pleased. It was an excellent experience, the video says it all “jetty fishing “ if you’re interested. We ran into a lot of friendly and helpful people. Like I said I loved it. If I went back to Panama City it would be to go to this park.

Beautiful ❤️

By Malinda Q |

Absolutely beautiful! First time snorkeling 🤿 had a wonderful picnic 🧺 and nice little walking areas. An absolute must if your in Panama City

Great way to spend the day

By ashley21dawn |

We visited on a Sunday around spring break. We got there early and saw 2 gators around Gator Lake and lots of birds. We spent a few hours at the beach; one side was protected by the jetty and the other side was open to the gulf. Our young kids played happily in the calm protected water for hours. We arrived around 10, stayed until 2ish. The crowd picked up after lunch so we left, but would definitely go again. $8 per car fee was woth it. A walk on thr per was neat as well.

This Beach has it ALL

By pacemommy |

We parked by St Andrews pier and walked about a mile to the tip where the jetties are. There you will find a neat cove of shallow calm water. So you have a pier, surfing on big waves by the jetties, an old fort/cannon location/ history, wildlife, a calm cove, perfect white powder sand and a beautiful view of the ocean and PCB. One of the best beaches we've been to and we have been to many!

There is a charge that the gate for entrance - car of 4 people was $8

Beach visit

By Christopher H |

Great day trip. Beautiful beaches. Bay side is very shallow and nice for young children. Can see a lot of dolphins at sunrise/ sunset near the jetties

State park at its finest

By chelle594 |

One on my favorite state parks in Florida and have been visiting here since 1971. This parks offers overnight or long term camping, sunbathing on gorgeous white sand beaches, fishing, snorkeling and maybe a trip to Shell Island. Nice to have this nature area available where a person can go and just relax.

Fantastic state park

By Starviagera |

Another fantastic state park. This is more $8. Great place for swimming. The water is very clear. Excellent places to walk around. As you enter there is a small interpretative center.

Beautiful Hidden Gem

By John D |

This ocean front park is truly lovely as the land includes marsh lands and transits to beautiful beaches. Boardwalks out to the ocean allow a visitor to access wonderful views. Highly recommend this place.

Nice park

By Zman |

This is a very nice small park with huge beaches on the gulf and on the inlet. Saw a lot of wildlife but not gators. We hit it on a cold windy day so did not stay long. Would go back.

Sunrise destination

By A C |

Clear blue beach. Perfect place for a sunset stroll. The sunsets here will be remembered for a lifetime. Much less crowded than surrounding beaches.

White sand, green water, beautiful beach

By Jen R |

Unfortunately we visited during a time with lots of construction going on, but the park itself is well kept and quiet. There are restrooms and the park store is well stocked with grab and go sandwiches, snacks, and frozen treats. The store has everything you need for anything you forgot to bring with for your day at the beach. Arrive early to claim your spot on the beach and to book a ferry ride to Shell Island.

Perfect day at the beach of St. Andrew‘s

By GolfUMK |

It‘s easy to walk into St. Andrew‘s State Park from the beach. Coming from the strip of resort hotels and condominiums that borders the white beach sands of Panama City Beach it‘s only a six miles roundtrip, and any footstep is worth it. This time of year it‘s not so much crowded, and my wife and I could find an empty spot on the beach bayside for ourselves not far away from the boat dock. One can feel a bit like Robinson Crusoe, just watching the waves hitting the shoreline. Swimming at the bayside is not recommended due to high water traffic in this area, but swimming in the gulf is a must. On the return one should stop at Gator Lake. Gator Lake Trail is only a half-mile but hits the park’s high point with panoramic views in the scrub forest and great birding along an established rookery. Unfortunately we did not see any alligators. Admission is $8 when you use the park’s facilities.

Go and enjoy beautiful sand and sun!

By GoPlaces46053751080 |

This is the greatest beach on earth! Great for families, couples, everyone! Beautiful soft white sand. Not very crowed and easy to get around. Please note there is construction going on there but DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU. Very easy to manage around the construction. Much better than closing it down during.

Nice white sand beach!

By Julie W |

This was a nice quiet place to go to sit on the beach, hang out, and play in the water. We were able to find a beach spot away from others. Nice to watch the birds, boats abs find shells. The park did not seem very big. Camping looked very nice.

Beautiful White Sands Beach!

By Kari W |

St. Andrews is a pretty state park with good facilities. We came to this state park with snorkel gear in hand. So many reviews told us this was an excellent spot for snorkeling! In this we were disappointed so I’m only giving it 4 stars, but the reason was not the park’s “fault.”

Today the water was like looking into coffee; I could barely see my feet on the bottom (4 feet depth) as I stood with my mask and snorkel on.

The friendly woman at the store desk explained that late September often brings RED TIDE. This means high concentrations of algae in the water that makes it dark and murky. So, we opted to walk on the beach and take in the views instead.

The park is clean and well maintained. It was not crowded for us, as it was a Wednesday, school is back in session, and of course Red Tide.

But boats are still taking people out to Shell Island, people are enjoying the beach and making the most of it! The wildlife we saw included seagulls and sandpipers, butterflies and dragonflies.

The entrance fee per car is $8, which gets you in and out privileges if you hold on to your receipt. Boardwalks and stairs give you access to the white sandy beaches, and there are multiple places to shower/rinse off on your way back to the car. Recommend snorkeling withOUT Red Tide, and if you just want a beach day, the low crowd factor this month makes it a must see!

Wonderful beach away from the hotels

By Kate |

The beach here at the state park had so many shells to sift through. Many of them had little critters inside we got to see! The water behind the jetties looked like the perfect place for kids to play as there were no big waves. Our favorite part of this beach is seeing a sea turtle swimming along the shore!

Nice Park

By Mohammed C |

St. Andrews Park was a nice, quiet little getaway from Panama City Beach. Didn't have as many walking paths and trails as I would have liked, but the beach was really nice, especially around the jetty's which is perfect for children because of the shallow water. The damage from the hurricane a couple of years back is also still apparent.

Wonderful day trip

By Odoms37658 |

Beautiful place to enjoy the beach day with the family. Places to snorkel or just enjoy the water. Bathrooms are clean and fairly close. Gift shop also available.

Lots to do

By Rondakf |

Camping, fishing, swimming, hiking trails and more. Great place to spend the day. Reasonably priced. One of the best bargains in PCB

Love this place

By nelsongassman |

Always a great place for you to enjoy the beach 🏝 waterfront beach and clean salad safe place for the family always welcome

Fabulous tour by Angie

By Meganvennie |

We took the pontoon boat tour with Angie out of St Andrews Park to see Dolphins and snorkel, Angie was entertaining and informative very professional, it was windy but nice and quiet, scenery was fabulous! Well worth the money!

Water Front sites are fantastic!

By Pamela Lewis |

We camp here often and it's always fun! We like to get a site on the bay for a great view of the boats, dolphins, sunrise, etc. Just gorgeous! The kids love that it's bike friendly and the beach areas are beautiful. Has a great pier also! Bring your kayak, boat, wave runner and play all day!

Another splendid vacation in Panama City Florida

By Irene K |

We have been to Panama City in the past and we love the beaches and the comfortable gulf water. This time we took the ferry to Shell Island- no swimming in the gulf bc of Idalia but we were able to cool off on the bayside. Very calm place to just chill and start or enhance your collection of shells. Went to historic St. Andrews( the town) and enjoyed good no frills seafood at Hunt’s as well as the Fish House. And don’t miss the West family print museum. You can’t run out of things to do and enjoy.