Grayton Beach State Park Campground

Yet another great Florida State campground!  Florida does it right when it comes to campgrounds, and Grayton is no exception.  The beach is beautiful, fairly secluded and easily accessible.  If you know where to look, (just north of the campground), there is access to a wide range of bike (mountain bike or e-bike) trails.  Grab a fish taco right outside the park.  Park itself is quiet and peaceful.

What started off with high hopes and lots of excitement from my daughter wife and myself ended with unneeded discussions and opinions being given by staff and rude volunteers. First the volunteers are all just sorta unhappy I guess you’d say, yes they get free stays because they volunteer but it seems like that volunteering is an annoyance and burden on them and they let you know it as guest. They accused us of leaving cigarettes everywhere at one site even engaging a ranger to vent their frustration too until we laughed and say at 44yrs of age neither of us have ever had a cigarette in our mouths.. then came accusations of beer bottles.. wrong again my friend we don’t drink alcohol either lol…then the rangers taking issue with my daughters service animal. With one ranger telling us it’s ok we will be allowed in the beach etc(note we don’t need his permission nor interaction with him. Ada law allows her and that dog anywhere with few exceptions that humans are allowed and the ranger says to us “you need to also understand other people’s perceptions and questions they might have about your dog” lmao no sir again I don’t have to concern myself with anyone else’s opinions views or issues as that dog is by ADA law (federal) viewed as a medical device no different than a wheelchair etc. after being proposed the question “is it because my daughter doesn’t look disabled? What does disabled look like? Would you treat someone in a wheelchair the same?” He was left bewildered. As he even noted he is allowed to ask 2 and only 2 questions.. is it a service dog? And what task does it perform. U can’t ask for a demo, what her disabilities are etc those are all violations of my privacy and against Ada rules. That’s when he proclaimed that we need to see it from everyone else’s point of view. Needless to say we were glad that stay was over and after calling customer service that also got us no where. My daughter was excluded from the junior ranger program because of her dog so missed out on that and was disappointed, but topsail state park to the rescue!! Id avoid unless your old, cantankerous and angry with life.. if that describes you then you will fit right in with the volunteers

Wonderful campground! Beautiful beaches. Large sites. Some gravel, some concrete. Most look very level. Older section has more mature trees and vegetation which translates to a little more shade a privacy for now but the sites are all spaced apart with privacy in mind. Some sites are in the water but ours was not. I honestly do not think there is a bad site in the entire campground. Cell service for AT&T was great. Very close to the areas of Grayton Beach, WaterColor, and Seaside (the idyllic town where the movie the Truman Show was filmed). Many great restaurants options very close. Front gate of the park closes at 7:15 so make sure you take the gate code. Bathhouse has great water pressure which is a big deal at some state parks.

We visited for our summer vacation. It was supposed to be a quick 5 day trip. It ended up being 9 days! The park rangers and volunteer staff were awesome and very accommodating. We rented a golf cart and were able to cruise to the beach, dinner and ice cream for the kids. We highly recommend renting or bringing your carts or bikes, there are a lot of things to see and places to go.

Great campground. Our sites (9 & 35) were private and shady. Location is great. Convenient to bike into several communities. Lake an beach are perfect. Picnic tables were clean. Fire pits at each site ( although there was a fire ban during our trip)

I wish we could have stayed longer. We had Site 21, not one that has direct access to the lake but it was still great. The site was fairly large and private with all the natural trees and shrubs. The site was level and had some shade. It also had a fire ring and picnic table as well as FHU.

We loved the area. Grayton Beach State Park is a great hub location to go explore the small beach towns along 30A. Perfect for biking. The beach is about a half mile walk but so beautiful. Highly recommend coming here. I wish it was easier to get reservations.

Peace and beauty. The best in the panhandle. Total hidden gem.

We were initially assigned to site number 10 which was small but fine because we were tent camping. After a quick set up we started walking around and found site number 16 open by the water with a breeze. We drove up to the front confirmed availability and moved camp. Keep in mind this is not the beach, it is a lake but also has a trail along side where we walked the dog which was nice.  Ground is gravel but not difficult to stake. Bathroom facilities were very well located in the middle of the inner loop. Our site was on the outer side of the loop but paths to the bathroom are easy to find because there are reflectors making it visible with a flashlight at night. We only stayed one night but would definitely come back and bring bikes so we can check out the cute little beach town nearby.

Grayton Beach is only one gem along 30 A. Huge park with hiking trails, kayaking, and sunsets to die for! We can't get enough of the fun, sun and hospitality of the panhandle. Sites have water and power. Sandy, large and somewhat secluded. Bring everything you need because no onsite store or even any store close.

Grayton State Park lot #35 with full hook ups including sewer on the site. We were very lucky that they had one opening for Easter weekend, and with the Reserve membership the cost was $40 total for two nights. The lots was perfect for our RV and a friend's large tent. Each site had direct access to the clean and well kept showers and bathrooms. The campgrounds were beautifully maintained and of course the beach was jaw dropping. The beach was about a half a mile from the site, a very nice walk or bike ride. Also had a bathhouse at the entrance to the beach. We really enjoyed our stay and will be back. While near Destin, visit Crab Island..the green clearr water is unbelievable..

We will be back here Soon. We all loved it. Sites were perfect. Electric perfect. Water was great.

This place was great; perfect location, quiet campground, short walk/bike to the beach, full hook-ups.  Site was clean and level.  Not far from all the offerings of 30A (but we were there mostly to camp).  Hit the beach for a beautiful sunset each night.  Biked in the forest across the street and biked up and down 30A a bit.  Definitely planning on coming back sometime.

PROS: Great big, full hook-up sites with a fair amount of privacy

Close to the beach

Close to 3oA and shops

Bike path right out front

CONS: Not too much to complain about - would be nice to be ON the beach but...

The accommodations are great. One problem.... The Huge Racoons are smart and clever

Be on your game,they will be testing you.

We stayed in site 35 at the end of December. Site was level and had privacy from the neighboring sites, with electric, water and sewer hookups! Easy walk to Western Lake - some sites even back up to the lake. Longer walk to the beach/gulf, but we found the walk to be beautiful and saw quite a few birds along the way. No pets allowed on the beach - if you have a dog, ask the rangers for the brochure listing dog beaches in FL. We drove to Panama City Beach to go to the dog beach at Pier Park, which was a nice alternative. We did the Barrier Dunes Nature Trail - note that this is listed as a loop, but when we were there, it wasn’t a loop and most people we passed on the trail weren’t wearing masks. In its current state, there weren’t any gulf views from this trail. The campground was VERY quiet the whole time we were there.

We enjoyed our stay. We were at campsite #51. It was private and fit our 35 foot fifth wheel perfectly. We are a family of four with two kids , age 7 and 12. The beach is a short bicycle ride away. However, for a day at the beach, we took our truck to make it easier to haul everything. There was plenty of parking. The beach is gorgeous. We went three days in a row and had calm the first day and boogie board waves by the third. The sand is very soft and clean. The water is crystal clear too. It was also not crowded since it is for campers and day use only. You have to pay to get in the park. All the sites are full hookup. There is a shower house but it wasn’t the greatest. We we’re pleasantly surprised by the washer and dryer on site. It was $2 (in quarters) per load. The site was all gravel and fairly level. The fire ring was in the corner of the site which made it hard to sit around. There are two poles to hang a hammock or clothesline on. We hardly encountered any bugs. All in all, we would come back and recommend this campground to anybody!

Grayton Beach is conveniently located right off 30A. It's really a convenient location to retail and grocery shopping while still offering seclusion. Check in was quick and easy requiring me to quickly pull the side after entry and pickup my parking pass and directions. The Park staff was friendly and polite and my first impression upon entry was that Florida takes pride in their parks.  

This was my first trip to Florida in the Airstream as well as to a Florida State Park. When booking I wasn't aware that Grayton is one of many highly desirable parks that require booking 11 months in advance! As luck would have it I booked July 11th for a night on the July 17th. During the trip I had to bounce around a bit from park to park to complete the trip because of the short notice. If you are flexible and don't mind moving around I found you can make it work. 

The Pad was 37 located on a corner surrounded by nice foliage. The turning radius and parking associated with this campsite is limited. Visitors with larger camping units may have difficulty maneuvering units into the campsite due to the limited turning radius at the site. My rig is 42' in length and I had no issues with the turning radius. Pad spacing is decent and I never felt cramped. Once setup I disconnected the truck and parked off to the side of the lot. Hookups are well maintained. Sewer is level with ground so there wasn't a need to to hook up the Camco Sewer Hose Support. 

Site 37 is located directly in front of the bath house which is just a short walk down a wooded path. 

Beach access is a short walk or bike ride. I really enjoyed the privacy and of course the white sand and emerald water. Destin is acclaimed for having some of the whitest sand on earth because the primary ingredient is white quartz crystal that was sheared off the ancient Appalachian Mountains by glaciers during the last great Ice Age. They washed into the gulf and were ground down by wave action over the many millennia into a white powder that’s so fine it squeaks when you rub your feet upon the surface of the beach. 

I paid $40.03 for one day which is a steal for this kind of experience. Florida does a wonderful job with their parks. If I can find a spot next year we plan to visit again.

Great site and beautiful lake view on site 16. Access to the beach was a bonus (most public beach access are closed due to covid19). They have convenient kayak and paddle board rentals at the beach access for the lake. They also have a great nature trail that offers wonderful views of the sand dunes. Very close to seaside and some great restaurants if you don’t feel like cooking. Site had a picnic table and metal fire ring with flip over grill surface for cooking. They sold ice and firewood at the entrance (locked after office closes for the night). Book early and check site availability often this place stays pretty busy. Bathrooms were clean and serviceable.

You can reserve campsites in Florida state parks 11 months in advance, but I don’t plan that far ahead! We lucked out and snagged a coveted site on the lake due to a last-minute cancellation. Sites are generous and private with many trees separating the sites and it is a very quiet campground. The bathrooms/showers were clean, although the paths to them were a little jungle-like. Canoe and kayak rentals available although we did not use them. It would have been nice to have bike rentals available at the campground, but they are available in town. We walked into the town of Grayton Beach for lunch. Nice white sand beach but not as flat and walkable as others (our calves let us know the next day that this was a vigorous walk)! Because we have a camper van, aside from beach walking, there was not much else for us to do here without dismantling our camper and driving.

Just expanded the number of campsites, kayak and SUP rentals on site. From the campsites to the beach you’ll want to drive or ride a bike. Clean bathroom and outside showers out the beach.

This is perhaps my favorite campgrond. At the beach, but not on the beach. If you get the right campground, you'll be right up on the lake (watch out for aligators) but no matter where you camp, there's easy hiking access to the sugar white sands of the Florida panhandle. Paradise.

Another beautiful campground near the gorgeous gulf!

I stayed 2 nights last winter before it got crowded. cool little camp ground amidst the hustle and bustle of a busy beach town. I was tent camping and had a nice site that backed up to marsh land.

We have camped at Grayton a few times and each time has been awesome! The campsites are very well kept as well as the bathroom facilities. The beach is beautiful there. Our kids would much rather come here than Mexico beach or Panama City. The staff is also wonderful! Always very helpful and friendly.

this is by far best in Florida state parks. place has the best beach. reserve at least 10 months ahead

Excellent & very scenic location for kayaking, camping, enjoying the beach, AND snorkeling! Friendly staff, & very clean restrooms. Day use admission is free through the month too.

I love to run on the beach with my grandson here! It’s clean and so beautiful here...

Great beach campground that is away from the tourist hustle an bustle. Nice sites with a great beach.. Not but a short 20 minute drive to nearest tourist attraction

I was fortunate enough to stumble across this state park a few years ago before it was really well known. The first year or two that I camped here it was fairly easy to find a campsite, I mainly primitive camp, or cabin and there weren't a lot of people at the beach. About two years ago that started changing and now it's next to impossible to book a cabin or campsite in advance unless you plan a year, sometimes more out. That being said the best option is to check the website frequently starting about two weeks before you want to book and try to catch a cancellation. They happen pretty frequently.

As far as the park, sites and beach, this is one of, if not the best I've ever camped at in the state. The primitive sites give you enough space in between where you still feel private, the bathrooms are clean and offer multiple showers and the cabins are simple and great if you want a bed and kitchen. They include a back porch, furniture, and bathroom with shower and no tvs or wifi. The beach is still fairly quite and not packed and the water is usually crystal clear here unless you visit during storms. There's plenty of wild life on the beach and if you time it right you might catch some hatching baby sea turtles.

A huge perk and attraction is "Turtle Reef" located only about 800 feet off shore. It's an artificial reef that will be in the shape of a sea turtle once completed. It's an easy kayak or sup out from the public access beach entry and shallow enough for some fantastic snorkeling. I haven't spotted any turtles yet but there are tons of fish and have seen a few mana rays as big as an adult person.

It all starts at Grayton Beach state park with having several sites with water view on Western lake . We were able to put our kayaks in right off the site. We would definitely go back. However be advised that in September 2018 to 2019 , a full year, the older half of the camp ground is being “upgraded”. They are putting in sewers and they are not sure what else. We loved it just how it was so … fingers crossed…When we stayed, there was only one other tenter and the rest were RV’s. Plenty of green space between each site in the old section but the newer area not so much. Im hoping that remains unchanged.

So much to do in the area . Special Dune walks, beach, town with great shopping and restaurants . Sites and bathroom facilities are well maintained by friendly volunteers.

We visited in January and there was a cold snap but still pleasant during the day.

Campground Review:

This is one of my all-time favorite campgrounds. Florida has a lot of great state park campgrounds and Grayton Beach State Park is definitely one of them. What is not to love about having a great full hook-up campsite, set on a beautiful lake with amazing sunrises and sunsets, and being within walking distance of the most beautiful beach in Florida.

The campground is divided into two loops – one that is old and more rustic and the other is newer. Our favorite spots are 39 and 46 in the new loop and 10, and 18 in the old loop. The older loop (sites 1-36) are sandy sites set amongst trees providing privacy and shade. They have 30 amp electric and water but no sewer and are ideal for tents. Some of the sites in this loop are right on Western Lake giving you direct water access and gorgeous views. Roads and campsites here are sand so be prepared to get lots in your tent or camper. The newer loop (sites 37-59) has crushed gravel campsites, paved roads, and full hook-ups (50 amp). Each loop has a bathroom with shower facilities that were cleaned daily by the camp hosts and are heated. There are also cabins available for rent and all reservations can be made online at Reserve America.

The campground is within walking distance of the beach but there is also a parking lot if you want to drive which is a definite advantage if you have lots of beach stuff or kids. At the beach, you will find restrooms, vending machines, and an ADA beach wheel chair. There is a really nice boat launch providing access to Western Lake which is a globally rare ecosystem found in only a handful of places in the world. Picnic tables and pavilions are scattered throughout the park near the beach and lakeshore. Within the 2,000-acre park are lots of hiking trails that wind the coastal dune forest and the pine flatwoods. The park abuts a state forest which offers many more miles of hiking/biking trails.

One of the reasons we like camping here so much is because we love the funky town of Grayton Beach which is just a short bike ride away. Lunch and a beer at the Red Bar is a must. We also like to ride our bikes to the nearby town of Seaside which is a pretty little “New Urbanism” town where everything is within walking distance. There is a row of Airstream food trucks, a large amphitheater that has free concerts and movies, a great market with prepared foods and good wine, boutique shops, and plenty of restaurants. This park has become very popular over the years and with only 59 campsites it fills up fast. There is a two-week maximum stay and if you want to secure two weeks you should book early (which can be 11 months out).

Product Review:

As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I get to test outdoor gear and equipment from time to time. On this trip, I tried out Boost Oxygen. I spend a lot of time jogging on the beach and find that the soft sand can be quite taxing on my body and provide a great aerobic workout. After a workout seemed to be the perfect time to try to Boost Oxygen which claims to help your body recover after aerobic activity. Admittedly, I was a little skeptical that a few hits of canned oxygen could really have that much of an impact on your recovery time. But, it was surprising how just after four hits, I felt less winded and got my breath back. I found that if I took really long deep inhales of Boost it worked better than shorter ones.

The process is simple you just place your face in the mask, press a trigger, and breathe deeply through the mouth. You take as many hits as you feel necessary. So no more having that feeling of “being winded” or needing to “take a break” from your physical activity. Boost comes in three sizes (pocket, medium, and large) and since oxygen is weightless, the can is very lightweight and easily transportable (but, be aware that this product is not allowed on an airplane). I prefer the medium and pocket size which fits perfectly in my day pack and offers plenty of oxygen for what I need. Ingredients in the can are 95% oxygen and 5% aroma or ambient air. Boost also claims that their product helps in high altitude and where air quality is diminished, recovery from hangovers/fatigue/stress, and improves your body’s overall health and wellness. One of the problems with diminished oxygen during exercise is muscle cramping so Boost could alleviate that condition. It comes in different “flavors” which are pink grapefruit, peppermint, menthol-eucalyptus, and natural. I tried the natural flavor but would be curious as to what the flavored ones would be like.

Oh, and don’t forget to recycle your can.

For a video review of this product click here.