Destin has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Florida Panhandle, complete with gorgeous white sand and sparkling emerald waters. Located just east of Ft. Walton Beach, Destin has more than twenty-four miles of beachfront access. Visitors love to explore the beautiful beaches through state parks, public beach access, islands, and park areas. In no particular order, we’ve put together a list of the Top Ten Beach Locales in Destin that we know you’ll return to again and again.
Henderson Beach State Park
The State Park encompasses a protected strip of beach that preserves the local ecosystem. It features snow-white dunes, a nature trail, a boardwalk, and Destin's last scrub area. For wildlife lovers, Henderson Beach State Park is also popular for watching migratory shorebirds, dolphins, and sea turtles. The campground offers a chance to immerse yourself in a secluded nature experience.
O'Steen Public Beach
This picture-perfect sandy shore is located on the west end of Destin. Located here you will find the famous Destin jetties, which have created a beautiful base for artificial reefs, attracting a variety of fish. Don’t know what a jetty is? Jetties are man-made stacks of large rocks that stretch out into the water and serve as a breakwater and maintain a clear channel for boats. These jetties create an area that is calm from waves, creating the perfect place for snorkeling and beginner swimmers.
Norriego Point
The knee-deep tide pools are formed by rocks and roped off from the open waters of East Pass making it a safe space for small kids. The Norriego tide pools are protected from waves, so it is a great place to go snorkeling. This is also a great spot to watch the boats coming in and out of the harbor or watch the hermit crabs in their natural habitat.
Crab Island
Crab Island is not actually an island but an oversized sandbar known for its crystal clear waters and bustling boat paradise. It is one of the most popular destinations in Destin for boaters, tourists, and locals. There are floating eateries and bars, ice cream boats, coconut boats that pop open fresh coconuts for customers to drink, and more. It has been featured on HGTV and Good Morning America, published in various travel magazines, and featured in publications across the globe. Crab Island is one of Destin’s favorite attractions.
John Beasley Park
Beasley Park, located on Miracle Strip Parkway adjacent to the Destin/Ft. Walton Visitor Center, is the perfect place to explore the beaches, gulf waters, dunes, wildflowers, and wildlife of Okaloosa Island. John Beasley Park offers beautiful views of the iconic white sands and turquoise water, dazzling sunshine, and plenty of opportunities for spotting seabirds and dolphins. The park’s wide range of amenities adds a boost to the overall experience and there is plenty of parking available.
The Shore at Crystal Beach Park
If you are looking for a calm, quiet, and relaxing beach you may want to try Crystal Beach. You will find this beach access tucked away at 2966 Scenic Highway 98, across from Camille’s at Crystal Beach seafood restaurant. It is a public access beach with breathtaking scenery and convenient amenities packed all in one. Thanks to its relatively small size, Crystal Beach is a quiet and peaceful destination undisturbed by crowds.
Princess Beach
This hidden gem gives you a secluded peaceful experience on Okaloosa Island. You will feel you have your island to yourself. It is accessed by a small dirt turn-off that’s easy to miss off Scenic Highway 98 between Eglin Beach Park and Eglin Matterhorn Beach. Once you get onto the beach, you’ll be greeted by gorgeous turquoise water and pristine dunes. Princess Beach is a great way to beat the crowds and get some real peace on your beach vacation.
Eglin Matterhorn Beach
Located on Okaloosa Island, this beach offers unobstructed views of the water with no buildings, vendors, or boardwalks. The Matterhorn beach access is one of four beaches at Eglin property that are open to the public. A free beach permit is required to access this military base. Beach permits are available online through Eglin’s Jackson Guard Natural Resources.
James Lee Beach
James Lee Beach is one of the largest public access beaches in Destin. Located on the eastern end of the city next to Pompano Joe’s restaurant, this famed destination offers pristine white sands that draw tourists and locals alike. Several dune walkovers will take you straight to the water and amenities include covered pavilions, picnic tables, restrooms, and a playground. There is a large public parking lot as well which is free to the public.
June White Decker Park
This small park is a popular spot to relax in a beach chair and soak in the sun, or simply take a stroll and admire the seaside view. This park is located at 1950 Scenic Highway 98, next to The Back Porch seafood restaurant. The park has public restrooms, showers, and a bike rack on-site for your convenience. Due to private property on each side of the park, it fills up quickly so you will want to come early.
Other Popular Destin Activities
Watersports: Destin is full of excitement on the water with jet skis, dolphin cruises, snorkeling, parasailing, scuba diving, banana boat rides, and much more. Some of the top-rated watersports in Destin include Crab Island Cruises, Destin Snorkel, Mobile Sports, and Emerald Coast Scuba. Whatever your water sports adventure is, there is something for everyone.
Fishing: Destin is an excellent place to fish and is even nicknamed “the world’s luckiest fishing village”. With abundant fish and variety, this is indeed a lucky spot for fishing. Destin has the country's largest commercial fishing fleet. Boating Magazine named Destin “One of the Top 10 Places to Live and Boat in the United States." For more information check out The Complete Guide to Fishing in Destin.
Shopping: Destin Commons is an outdoor shopping center that’s a fun spot for shopping, dining, entertainment, and events. The City Food Hall has numerous restaurants, trivia nights and something for just about everyone. For shopping on the harbor, the shops in HarborWalk Village in Destin are the place to be. Stop in at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island, where you’ll find unique shopping and dining.
Dining: Pompano Joe’s Seafood House is a unique Caribbean style seafood restaurant that offers open air dining and serves up great food and refreshing drinks. The Back Porch has been a local favorite in Destin since 1974, serving the finest smoked tuna dip, ice-cold oysters and their famous char-grilled Amberjack, with a daily happy hour from 3:00 till 5:00 pm.
Golf: Destin is a great place to perfect your golf swing with some of the best public golf courses in the country. Top-ranked in Destin, Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club is a must-play for golfing enthusiasts. Golfers will get swept away at Windswept Dunes Golf Club, with this spacious course featuring dramatic landscapes. Guests of Panhandle Getaways receive a free round of golf daily at Regatta Bay, Windswept, Emerald Bay, or Shalimar Point.
Need Help Planning Your Trip to Destin?
If you're ready to hit all of these top beaches and activities, Panhandle Getaways has a wide selection of vacation rentals in Destin and Ft. Walton Beach.