Exploring Panama City Beach
Bracketed by two state parks – St. Andrews State Park to the east and Camp Helen State Park to the west – Panama City Beach stretches nearly 20 miles along the Gulf of Mexico. Although most of the shoreline is heavily developed, there are free public beach access points all along the shoreline, including several larger parks with parking lots.
The bay side of Panama City Beach is where the trails are. Near West Bay, Conservation Park includes a whopping 2,200 acres, most of which is pine plantation. More than 11 miles of trails crisscross the park. A paved bike path network called Gayles Trails connects it with West Bay and Frank Brown Park, an aquatic center bayside.
Just 15 minutes north of West Bay are the state’s oldest state forest, Pine Log State Forest, and the spring-fed Econfina Creek watershed. The Florida Trail crosses both.
While this region took a strong hit from Hurricane Michael in October 2018, most recreation areas have reopened and the beaches are as lovely as ever.
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Articles
Florida’s Best Urban Parks
When you live in a tightly packed space, you need somewhere green as your go-to place nearby. These are our top picks for parks in Florida’s urban areas, chosen for their diversity of outdoor activities and/or their unique green spaces.
Gayle’s Trails
A network of paved trails north of US 98, Gayle’s Trails connect two major parks in Panama City Beach with nearby neighborhoods.
River Levels in North Florida
Cold weather and high water causes hypothermia, so play it safe. Before hiking in winter in North Florida and the Florida Panhandle, check these flood gauges.
Where to Stay in Panama City Beach
On our trips to Panama City Beach, we’ve intentionally steered away from the dense strip of condos and hotels that dominate much of the oceanfront west of St. Andrews State Park. We’ve often made the Sheraton Bay Point Resort our base camp, enjoying its natural setting along Grand Lagoon. We’ve also been guests at Pinnacle Port, a condo complex adjoining Powell Lake, one of the largest freshwater coastal dune lakes in the world. It was easy to walk right into Camp Helen State Park along the oceanfront, and to view sunsets over Powell Lake from the balcony.
For camping, St. Andrews State Park is a popular destination and is just starting to reopen sites for use after cleanup from Hurricane Michael. Just a block from the beach, Raccoon River Campground has 30/50 amp sites as well as tent sites. There are also several RV-only accommodations off US 98. Naval Support Activity Panama City has two RV parks as well as cabins for active military and veterans use.
NEARBY: Blountstown, Destin, Ebro, Marianna, Panama City, Port St. Joe, South Walton, Wewahitchka | PART OF: Northwest Florida