Camp Helen State Park
Inlet Beach, FL
Camp Helen State Park occupies the spot in Inlet Beach where Lake Powell, one of the rare coastal dune lakes on this stretch of Florida, empties into the Gulf through a narrow inlet. A boardwalk crosses the inlet and climbs over dunes before dropping onto open beach, with old cabins from the park's mill town history still standing near the entrance. It's a quieter walk than most of 30A offers.
The dune lake and the mill town history make this a genuinely different kind of 30A park, though the boardwalk and stairs mean it takes more effort to reach the sand than most beaches nearby.
How we score beachesBring your own kayak or paddleboard if you have one, since there's no boat ramp here and the rental stand only runs seasonally through the Friends group. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trails, though not on the beach itself, so plan around that if you're traveling with one.
There's a small lot just past the gate, 4 dollars per vehicle and 2 dollars for anyone walking or biking in, paid on the honor system into a box. It's rarely full, even in season, unlike most of the parks nearby.
A wooden boardwalk crosses the dune lake outlet and climbs a set of stairs over the dunes to reach the beach, so it isn't stroller or wheelchair friendly the whole way. Most of the walk in from the lot is flat and shaded.
Leashed dogs are welcome on the park's trails, but pets aren't permitted on the beach, playgrounds, or the historic cabin area.
Lake Powell stays paddleable most of the year, while the Gulf side follows the usual Panhandle pattern of warm water and hurricane season from June through November. Fall afternoons here, once the summer crowds thin out along 30A, might be the best time to walk the boardwalk.
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