Grayton Beach State Park
Grayton Beach, FL
A mile and a half of sugar white sand behind Walton County's dune line makes up Grayton Beach State Park, along with Western Lake, a 100 acre coastal dune lake that rarely gets crowded even when the beach does. National rankings have repeatedly called this one of the best beaches in the country, and the nearly 2,000 acres of pine flatwoods behind it keep any development out of view.
The sand and the dune lake together are hard to match anywhere on the Gulf, the only real cost is a parking lot that caps out fast and sometimes turns cars away by midmorning in summer.
How we score beachesRent a kayak from the ranger station instead of hauling your own if you want to paddle Western Lake, since the lake is calm enough for a casual outing and the rental line is usually short outside of peak summer.
Entrance runs 5 dollars per vehicle for two to eight people, 4 dollars for a single occupant, and 2 dollars per person walking or biking in. The lot fills fast on summer weekends and holidays, and the park will close to new arrivals once it does, so an early start matters.
A boardwalk leads from the main lot over the dunes to the beach, a flat, easy walk. The trails around Western Lake are mostly packed sand and can get soft in spots.
Dogs are not allowed on the beach, boardwalks, or bathing areas at Grayton Beach State Park, though leashed dogs are permitted in the campground and on the trails.
Summer brings the warmest water and the fullest parking lot, with hurricane season running alongside it through November. Spring and fall keep the same sugar sand with a much better shot at finding a parking spot.
More Gulf Coast beaches
Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Key, FL · Gulf Coast
Fine quartz sand that stays cool underfoot even in summer, sloping gently into calm Gulf water, and consistently rated among the best family beaches in the country.
Clearwater Beach
Clearwater, FL · Gulf Coast
A lively Gulf-front strip with a fishing pier, a nightly sunset celebration at Pier 60, and calm, shallow water that makes it an easy family favorite.
Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach, FL · Gulf Coast
Sugar-white sand within the Gulf Islands National Seashore, with dunes protected from development and water clear enough for snorkeling near the jetties.