Simply stated, if you want a really peaceful beach and you don't mind stretching the distance, then Opal Beach will blow you away. The sand is so soft next to the roadway, that probably couldn't get your car out if you drifted into it. One reason is the parking lots are not that big and you cannot park on the roadway leading to the parking lots. Have I been there on holidays? Yes, but it still doesn't get anywhere near the crowd density of Pensacola or Panama City Beach. But people seem to like to congregate and won't use the energy to find this oasis of a beach. Opal Beach is actually on the same coastal road. Ironically, this is only 10 miles from totally overrun, chaotic Pensacola Beach, which is so crowded at time, you spend your time rolling trying to find a space. You simply have tons of white, talcum powder quality sand and beautiful clear water. It is amazing how easy it is to find yourself a good spot at least 50 feet or more away from other beach guest. If you have an annual federal park pass, you place that on your dashboard or mirror lanyard. Other times there is an envelope system to insert your money into and you stick the tag on your dashboard. Sometimes a park ranger will be there to collect fees. There is a fee collection booth at this parking lot. Another parking lot further in has a picnic concrete gazebo, bathroom facilities and outside shower facilities. Located less than 10 miles east of Florida’s Gulf Islands National Seashore, Henderson Beach State Park provides picturesque views along the Gulf of Mexico and puts RVers near popular vacation destinations like Destin, Florida. One parking lot that has no facilities whatsoever does NOT have a booth to collect a parking fee.

If you encounter an issue while in the park, contact Gulf Breeze Dispatch at 85. Heed the following warnings and pay attention to all posted signage for the safety of yourself and others. None of that!įacilities- As you into Gulf Island National Seashore, all of the building will disappear behind you. Driving in Gulf Islands National Seashore may seem like a day at the beach, but conditions can quickly turn hazardous if you are not careful. There are no hotels, condos, fast food shops, retail store.

Yes, it is located in a federal park with consist of clear water, white-white-white sand dunes and reed grass. Gulf Islands National Seashore extends 160 miles along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and Mississippi. It is actually in the Gulf Island National Seashore Park. It is west of the Navarre Beach Pier, on Florida Highway 399. Location-This beach is about a one hour drive from Destin, Florida. Opal Beach is one of them? Never heard of it? That's a good reason why you can have hundreds of feet between you and the next party. There are beaches on the Coast of Florida, that 'feel' so isolated, you'd think you were just dropped onto them from another planet. But on holiday weekends and a lot during the weekdays of this summer, it has been hard to get some 'extra social distancing' activated. It is a rather high end crowd, not much noise and rowdiness. Destin is my favorite beach to drive to from the Atlanta area. Clearwater Beach on the white sand Gulf Coast, you better get there by 930am on a weekend or you'll spend quite some time parking. Like South Beach on a weekend! Whew, forget about getting close to it, if you haven't gotten there by 9am. Small coves on Big Lagoon shelter ducks and Common Loons from the winter wind, offering good, close views.In Florida you can find a lot of crowded beach. Least Terns and Snowy Plovers nest in the protected areas on the north side of the road and elsewhere, so be careful not to disturb them. Beach (south side) and lagoon (north side) accesses along the road allow looks at Northern Gannets October through March, and a diversity of gulls, terns and various shorebirds year-round. Return to the main park road, which runs eastward for another 2 miles. Pine Warblers and Eastern Towhees call from the pinewoods while the boardwalk winds through marsh good for Clapper Rails and Spotted Sandpipers at muddy edges. A 0.5-mile loop with a boardwalk nature trail begins here, which can be good in spring for songbird migrants such as Swainson’s Thrushes. To begin, turn left (north) 0.25 mile past the fee booth and park at the end of the road. This property encompasses the eastern tip of Perdido Key at the mouth of Pensacola Bay, with miles of undeveloped beach.

Gulf island national seashore park