St. Andrews State Park

Shell Island ● Camping ● Trails ● Fishing ● Beach ● Kayaking ● Wildlife ● Food Recommendations

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Located in the heart of well-known Panama City Beach in the Panhandle of Florida, St. Andrews State Park will provide the opportunity for a quality day trip or full-blown camping trip!

With miles of picturesque beaches with white sand and emerald water, the adventure and exploration opportunities are endless at St. Andrews State Park. Plenty to do during an extended stay, clean campgrounds, and adorable water-front campsites. This Florida State Park is easy to navigate and access, making a day-trip ideal, too.

Shell Island

Arrive early in the morning and board the Shell Island Shuttle to be whisked away to the otherwise inaccessible Shell Island.

Shell Island is located across the ship channel from the main part of St. Andrews State Park. Known for the great number of quality sea shells, this island would make for a memorable vacation activity, souvenirs included (you just have to pick them yourself).

To board the shuttle you head to the Off the Hook Bar and Grill. Shell Island Shuttle does actually leave from St. Andrews State Park (anymore – it used to be) but it is still technically a part of the barrier island that makes up St. Andrews State Park.

As of publication (May 2022) tickets are $25 for adults (ages 13+) and $18 for children (ages 2-12).

Camping at St. Andrews State Park

Camping at St. Andrews State Park is one of the best ways to experience the true Florida. Step away from the tourist traps most hotels and rentals push you towards.

At St. Andrews State Park the price of camping is significantly cheaper than staying in a condo or renting an Airbnb or VRBO in Panama City Beach. This means camping at St. Andrews State Park is a very affordable way to see and experience the infamous Florida gulf coast beaches.

There are two campgrounds at St. Andrews State Park but one is currently (as of May 2022) closed because of the sustained damage from the category 5 hurricane Michael in. The other campground has been recently renovated and reopened.

In my humble opinion the best camping spots are those that are on the water. These spots elevate your vacation to other level by providing access to the bay and activities (like fishing from camp or launching your kayak) that would otherwise be harder to get to or impossible.

There are other good campsites besides those on the water and I would recommend any campsite at St. Andrews State Park that you can find available as it has been very popular and difficult to make reservations.

The best time of the year to camp at St. Andrews State Park or any campground on the Florida gulf coast is May. During May you won’t encounter as many bugs and the weather is perfect – warm enough to swim but not hot enough to make camping uncomfortable.

Trails at St. Andrews State Park

Throughout St. Andrews State Park you can find a handful of mapped trails (excluding walking the beach which is highly recommended).

Gator Lake Trail is a short at about 0.5 miles and family friendly with a nice view of a fresh water pond. If you have keen eyes and luck on your side you might spot one of the many alligators.

Heron Ponds Trail heads into the pitch pine trees with an imitation old turpentine mill and still. For any history buffs – this hike can’t be missed at St. Andrews State Park. You can really get up close and personal with the old mill and read a bit of the history of turpentine market and the pitch pines that supported it. UPDATE! After hurricane Michael this trail is closed but you might be able to grab a glimpse of the mill? Let me know if you visit what it looks like.

Don’t tell the Park Rangers but we actually took our pup, @juniperthecorgi, on the Sandy Point trail that heads along the bay and down the beach… dogs are allowed on the trails at St. Andrews State Park and after the trail technically ended… well we just kept walking all the way to the point of the peninsula. Dogs are not allowed on the beach and while we were on the bay side of the beach at the end of the trail, we never encountered anyone.

The Beach Trail starts where ever you enter the beach and wraps around the peninsula until you meet up with the Sandy Point Trail on the bay side… It’s a romantic walk along the beach. The further you walk the less people you encounter.

Fishing at St. Andrews State Park

One of the most popular places to fish in St. Andrews State Park is on the jetties that extend along the ship channel. This water is deep at a projected 38 feet (http://standrewbaypilots.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/coast-pilot5.pdf). This offers the opportunity to fish that can’t be found when beach fishing.

Besides fishing off the point into the ship channel, an angler can fish along the jetties that separate the Gulf of Mexico beach from the dangers of the deep, swift, ship channel. Heading towards the point of the peninsula takes you along the ship channel but it is a good distance out with breakers strategically placed. This area is heavily populated by mangrove or grey snapper. Spear fishing is not allowed in the park (and not allowed off jetties when not in a park) but if it was, it would be a great spot!

Fishing in the bay from a water front campsite is arguably the best way as all of your gear is right there with you.

If you are so inclined the bay is excellent to fish by kayak. You will probably catch Piggy Perch, Sea Trout, and the occasional Redfish (or Red Drum).

The most exciting fishing might be from the Sandy Point trail that heads from the marina all the way to the point of the peninsula. From the peninsula you can still fish the ship channel where you will catch Spanish Mackerel or Ladyfish (among others) and have the opportunity to catch something larger like a Jack or King Fish.

Beaching at St. Andrews State Park

With over 3 miles of beach St. Andrews State Park offers ample opportunity to get your daily dose of vitamin D.

The beach at St. Andrews State Park covers some much ground that with a willingness to walk a little ways – you will find a secluded spot to make your own. If this isn’t your MO you can find a nice, relatively quiet spot at the mouth of one of the board walks.

St. Andrews State Park is a peninsula so you can walk uninterrupted from the gulf side of the beach to the bay side.

St. Andrews State Park and beach is home to an adorable family of raccoons. To find their spot, you have to turn the corner from the Gulf beach, a little inland and around the curve to the beach parallel to the ship channel. In this cove, you can also find schools of mullet! Generally not very scared, swimming with these fish makes a fun snorkeling experience.

Unfortunately dogs are not allowed on the beach at St. Andrews State Park but they are allowed at your campsite and on the walking trails. If you want to find a dog friendly beach, head into Panama City to the Russel Fields Pier. On the west side of the fishing pier you will find the Dog Beach at Pier Park. Here not only are your furry family members welcome, they are encouraged!

Kayaking in St. Andrews State Park

A great opportunity to get out on the water at St. Andrews State Park is by kayak or canoe. The bay of the park is usually mild without the waves of the gulf and chalk full of fish and sea grasses.

Do bring some sun cover up or bottles of sunscreen because the sun does beat down and reflects right off the water back onto you.

If you are so inclined the bay is excellent to fish by kayak. You will probably catch Piggy Perch, Sea Trout, and the occasional Redfish (or Red Drum).

Launching your kayak is easy as cake if you are camped at one of the campsites that run along the bay of St. Andrews State Park. Leave from camp and pull back up to camp. If you are a day visitor or not lucky enough with a bay-front campsite, head to the marina where you can launch from the beach of the Sandy Point trail.

Wildlife in St. Andrews State Park

In addition to the family of beach raccoons, throughout the park you will see white-tail deer, little brown bunnies, alligators, herons, seagulls, and lizards galore. From driving down the road, to walking along the trail, to the individual campsites, the friendly deer are everywhere. As with any wildlife, feeding them is not allowed. Keep wild animals wild.

This doesn’t even mention the amazing sea life you can visit at St. Andrews State Park. From shrimp, snails, starfish and crabs in the bay to tarpon, snappers, sea turtles, and Florida pompano in the gulf.

White tail deer at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach

Food Recommendations in Panama City Beach

Outside of St. Andrews State Park there are many restaurants and bars. Enough to keep you busy. We try to visit somewhere new each time we travel to St. Andrews State Park but there is one restaurant in Panama City Beach we are dying to go back to – Half Baked Oyster Bar. Get the baked Gouda oysters and you WILL NOT REGRET IT. Even better? This place is a short drive from the park.

A great place to grab a beer that has a very local vibe is Patches Pub. They serve some good food but it defiantly has a bar feel to it. With outside seating, this place is perfect for a cool summer night.

Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant is a tourist trap BUT it has good frozen drinks and is beach front with outside (or rather open concept) seating.

Any place where I can sit at the bar or under an umbrella and enjoy beach views and the salty air is a good place in my opinion.

Atmosphere counts for a lot when you’re at the beach and Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant has that beachy feel.

All these restaurants in Panama City Beach are close to St. Andrews State Park and a great way to close out a fun day at the beach.

No matter how long you plan to spend, St. Andrews State Park is a must see destination and has something for everyone.

St. Andrews State Park is a top Florida State Park!