Grayton Beach State Park FL Panhandle

[lizzyinatizzy]

WOW! This was a great place to camp.  The beach is gorgeous, well maintained and was nearly deserted!  The campsites are fairly private as there is vegetation between the sites. The bath house is centrally located and is WONDERFUL!!(can you see that bath houses are my peeve?)

They clean the bath house daily between 9-10 a.m.  You could practically eat off the floor when they are done. The ladies had 3 showers. There were benches and hooks aplenty.  I think there were 4 sinks and 4 stalls.  We only had to wait for a shower stall once.  

The campground was clean and quiet and relaxing for us.  

It is not located all that close to major restaurant chains(about 18-20 mile drive to Destin) But there are some local establishments closer by and there is a grocery store not too far away.  Destin offers plenty of choices for entertainment, food and nightlife.  Within Day Trip Distance, Eglin AFB's Air Force Armament Museum, Pensecola(Navy's Blue Angel's Museum) and Panama City Beach.  Visit the South Walton Visitors Center on HWY 98 for brochures and activity ideas and information.

There were walking trails and plenty of nearby bike trails. The gulf water in that area is emerald green and so beautiful and clean. We really enjoyed the beach.
The campground is in a nature preserve area so you do get visited by critters.
But it wasn't too much of an issue for us.  There is a gate with keypad for late evening/overnight entry.  There was always plenty of park rangers, sheriff's deputies and other "officials" around so I never felt unsafe.  Air patrols scout for sharks and rip currents in the water.  Flags at the beach and entrance alert you to the conditions.

The park rangers were holding an interpretive chat on Saturday. So I am sure they have presentations regularly.  

It's a mix of PUPs, Tent(primitive) campers, pull behinds, 5th wheels and "Big" Rigs. But everyone existed peacefully together!  We will probably make a return trip in the fall.  http://www.floridastateparks.org/graytonbeach/default.cfm
that's the website.

Morgan

[jpurdy1942]

WOW! This was a great place to camp.  The beach is gorgeous, well maintained and was nearly deserted!  The campsites are fairly private as there is vegetation between the sites. The bath house is centrally located and is WONDERFUL!!(can you see that bath houses are my peeve?)

The campground was clean and quiet and relaxing for us.  
............edited

It's a mix of PUPs, Tent(primitive) campers, pull behinds, 5th wheels and "Big" Rigs. But everyone existed peacefully together!  We will probably make a return trip in the fall.  http://www.floridastateparks.org/graytonbeach/default.cfm
that's the website.

Morgan

sounds like a good choice for a fall trip

[erich0521]

Congratulations!  sounds like a great trip.

We spent 3 days at St. Andrews State Park (Panama City Beach) and then 3 days at a private CG in Destin.  Panama City Beach tends to be a bit much for me...too many tatoo parlors, night clubs, etc.  

We had considered Grayton Beach but we weren't sure.

Thanks.

[LimeJeeeep]

thanks sounds like a may or july 08 trip for us....

[happpybooker1]

I fully agree with everything lizzyinatizzy posted. We must've been there around the same time. We were there from June 24-30 in site #16, which is right on the shore of Western Lake. We kayaked right from our site! It was beautiful & we thoroughly enjoyed our stay there.  It was our first time but we'll definitely be back!