STATE PARKS

There’s always something for the nature lover to do in Panama City Beach, so whether you’re spending the day at St. Andrews State Park, or jumping on a sailboat to explore the Gulf of Mexico, enjoy the natural bounty of Florida in an ecologically responsible way!

•  St. Andrews State Park, located off Thomas Dr. three miles east of

Panama City Beaches, was named by Travel Magazine as “The World’s

Best Beach” in 1995. The 1,260-acre park is well known for its sugar white

sands and crystal-clear emerald green water. It has thick forests, sand

dunes covered with sea oats, fresh and saltwater marshes, a lagoon

swimming area, fishing jetties, hiking trails, and 1.5 miles of beach.

•  Camp Helen State Park’s beach offers an even quieter beach escape,

but requires a short walk to get to the Gulf. Offering pristine

beaches, excellent trails that wind through dunes and scrub oak

forests, and a rare dune lake, Camp Helen State Park is truly one of

Florida’s most special state parks.

•  The Panama City Beach Conservation Park -In the Panama City

Beach Conservation Park you’ll find 12 looping trails ranging from

0.6 to 11 miles for walking, biking, wildlife and bird watching. The

county’s desire to protect and balance our natural resources while

providing outdoor recreational opportunities is the driving force in

establishing the Panama City Beach Conservation Park. This 2,900

acre tract of West Bay Ecosystem is being restored using reclaimed

water to return a natural water balance to these wetlands.