For a Florida Island vacation far from crowded beaches and high rise condos of other some areas, come to Saint George Island in the heart of what’s known as Florida’s “Forgotten Coast”. This mostly undeveloped and un-crowded stretch of Florida’s panhandle from Mexico Beach to Carrabelle is largely overlooked by the typical tourists guides (hence the name), but includes this along with some other notable beach stretches which are real treats to visitors.
Saint George Island State Park offers about nine miles of barrier-island beach facing the Gulf of Mexico providing the opportunity to walk for miles along undeveloped beaches. You can walk, hike or bike in pristine coastal areas to your heart’s content here at the Forgotten Coast’s Saint George Island State Park. Many times on the far stretches of the beach, you won’t see another soul.
Although the Gulf waters here aren’t as clear here as they are farther west on the Panhandle, (due in part to the freshwater flow of the nearby Apalachicola river), it’s still a beautiful place well worth planning an adventure. Visitors can expect a delightful experience here on this windswept barrier island off Florida’s panhandle coast.
The Park is located on the island’s east end, and boasts nine miles of mostly wild and deserted beach, the perfect getaway for those seeking a natural Florida experience. The peace and solitude found along these pristine Gulf shores adds to the island experience here. Saint George Island State Park has two hiking trails. One, the Gap Point Trail is a 2.5-mile one way hike, and the other is 1.0 mile each way.
The park entrance is located on the far-east end of this island. The campground is located about 4 miles from the Park’s front gate, and the beach is only about 500 or 600 yards from the campground. Because of its relative remoteness, entrance to the park is available only to campers after dark. You can camp in the state park and go for long walks down the beach at night. The Park has 60 campsites with water and electricity hookups, plus a dump station. The campground has lots of trees and most of the campsites have a decent amount of shade. Restroom facilities complete with hot showers are available in the campground.
