This article about Panama City Beach campgrounds is brought to you by Tentrr. Tentrr offers a wide variety of unique camping rentals — from their Tentrr Signature sites that are the peak of camping comfort, to numerous other glamping options, traditional tent camping sites, and even primitive camping on private land.
Camping near Panama City Beach is a great alternative to the beach resorts and vacation rentals that crowd the waterfront. Camping puts you closer to nature, saves you money, and you can still enjoy many of the amenities that make any vacation simple and fun.
Panama City Beach has over 27 miles of white sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico with dozens of public access points around town and plentiful waterfront restaurants and shops. Numerous campgrounds and luxurious RV resorts are located right along the coast where you can enjoy waking up to the sounds of songbirds and gentle waves, and easily walk to the beach for sun, fun, and watersports galore.
6 Best Panama City Beach Campgrounds
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1. St. Andrews State Park
St. Andrews is one of the most popular Panama City Beach campgrounds and is often ranked among the top beaches in America. Bordered by the Gulf of Mexico on the south and the Grand Lagoon on the north, St. Andrews State Park offers more than a mile and a half of white sandy beaches. Swimming is the most popular activity at the park, and other activities include birdwatching at the Buttonbush Marsh Overlook, fishing from Tiller Pier, and taking the shuttle boat to Shell Island, an undeveloped barrier island only accessible by boat.
St. Andrews State Park Campground features 176 campsites with electric and water hook-ups, picnic tables, and grills. Campsites accommodate tents and RVs up to 40 feet in length. The campground is open year-round. Reservations can be made up to eleven months in advance and are strongly recommended during the peak summer months. A camp store open March through October offers snacks, souvenirs, and fishing licenses, and also rents umbrellas, chairs, kayaks, and snorkeling gear. Campground fees are in addition to a per-vehicle parks admission fee.
2. Grayton Beach State Park
Image from the Dyrt camper Nancy W.
Grayton Beach State Park is located on the Gulf of Mexico halfway between Panama City Beach and Destin and features one of the state’s most pristine beaches. Beach and water activities are the main draw at Grayton Beach State Park, however, the park also offers a one-mile interpretive trail through the sand dunes and a paved 4.5-mile hiking and biking trail along Western Lake, one of Florida’s few coastal dune lakes.
Grayton Beach Campground has 59 campsites for tents and RVs up to 40 feet in length. Each campsite has electricity and water and some also have their own sewer hook-ups. Four of the sites are wheelchair accessible. Grayton Beach also has 30 two-bedroom, one-bath cabins available for rent. Each cabin sleeps six people and is equipped with a fireplace, a kitchen with basic cooking supplies, a screened in porch, and linens, pillows, and towels.
3. Panama City Beach RV Resort
RV campers looking for a spot close to the beach with all the amenities will enjoy the Panama City Beach RV Resort. This Panama City Beach campground is located adjacent to St. Andrews State Park and features its own beach access. Amenities include free wireless internet, a dog park, heated swimming pool, fitness facilities, and free breakfast on Saturdays. All sites have paved pads with patios and electric, water, sewer, and cable RV hook-ups. Special weekly and monthly rates are offered and condo rentals are also available.
4. Henderson Beach State Park
Henderson Beach State Park is one of the top Destin Florida campgrounds. Located 40 miles west of Panama City Beach along the Gulf Coast, the Destin area beaches have a bit more family-friendly vibe than the Panama City area beaches. The sugar white sand and crystal clear waters of Henderson Beach is by far the park’s main draw. The park also has a short nature trail that winds around the park’s sand dunes and leads to a scenic viewpoint of the beach and a playground area overlooking the gulf.
Henderson Beach has 60 campsites suitable for both tents and RVs. Sites primarily cater to RVs with pull-through sites available, water and electric hook-ups, and a dump station. Other campground amenities include a picnic area, showers, and coin-operated laundry area. There is a small per-vehicle admission fee for visiting the park and camping fees are additional. Tent campers may find the camping fees a bit steep considering they pay the same amount as RVs and trailers.
5. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Topsail Hill Preserve is another Destin area campground. The park is named after the tall sand dunes that rise along the beach and look just like a ship’s sail. With three miles of pristine shoreline, several coastal dune lakes, and a variety of wetlands, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park offers excellent opportunities for viewing wildlife. Bike, kayak, canoe, and stand up paddle board rentals are also available at the camp store.
The park’s campground, the Gregory E. Moore RV Resort, has 156 RV sites with electric, water, sewer, and cable TV hook-ups as well as a swimming pool, laundry facilities, and bathrooms with showers. The park has 22 tent sites and offers discounted rates for tent campers. Cabin rentals are also available and accommodate from four to six people.
6. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
Image form the Dyrt camper Stephanie S.
St. Joseph Peninsula stretches for 20 miles into the Gulf of Mexico just 50 miles south of Panama City. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park occupies the northern tip of the peninsula and is a haven for birdwatchers, marine life enthusiasts, and visitors looking for some quiet solitude. The park’s campground and cabins were severely damaged by Hurricane Michael in October 2018 so it’s best to check with Florida State Parks for the park’s current status.
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