St. George Island State Park, Florida

St. George Island State Park is officially known as Dr. Julian G. Bruce St George Island State Park. The park offers miles of gorgeous white sand beaches, camping and stargazing opportunities.

White sand dunes with sea grass, Gulf of Mexico in the background

TL;DR Don't have time to read the full article? Here are my top finds:
🏨Hotels and Vacation Rentals
📍Tours

St. George Island State Park

Contents show

St. George Island State Park has so many things to do including kayaking, canoeing, hiking the nature trails, camping, shelling, and walking the undeveloped beach with gorgeous views.

This end of the barrier island is free of big development leading to a trainquil natural paradise.

There is ample opportunities to do absolutely nothing but watch the waves lap along the shoreline or fill your day with nature study and exploration.

It is a park that can be adapted to whatever type of day you feel like having. We have found ourselves sitting in our beach chairs for hours just watching the world go by and other visits we are all over the park checking out the miles of undeveloped beaches and nature trails.

shoreline with gentle waves coming in off the Gulf

White Sand Beaches

The beaches of St. George Island State Park are gorgeous! They are smooth and easy to walk along the shoreline. Keep an eye out for a pod of dolphins, sea turtles, and other wildlife to swim by!

I keep hoping to see a black skimmer during a visit to the park. You can also see Least tern, Snowy Plover, Willet, and other great shore birds.

Make sure to check the Florida Beach Warning Flags before entering the water to know if there are any hazardous conditions.

Shelling

The shelling is a lot of fun in St. George Island Park. You never know what you are going to find. I tend to find bigger shells that have broken pieces but have heard people have found epic shells while walking.

Picnic pavillion seen over the sand dunes with the Gulf of Mexico in the background

Picnic Shelters

There are multiple large picnic shelters perfect for lunch and relaxing. There are grills nearby so you can bbq lunch or dinner.

Restroom facilities are close to the picnic shelters offering a clean bathhouse for visitors.

Shelters are available for reservations by talking with the park. One thing to know is consumption of alcohol beverages is prohibited in the pavilions and on the beach.

boat launch with signs leading to the water, trees in the background

Boating

Boating is available on both the Gulf Side and bay side of the park. There are boat ramps making it easy to get out on the water in a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard.

The Apalachicola bay side has healthy marshes with tons of wading birds and saltwater fish.

The Gulf of Mexico side is fantastic for saltwater fishing, wildlife viewing, and relaxing.

The two Apalachicola Bay boat ramps are natural and not paved or maintained. One ramp is at the youth/group camp area and the other is at the entrance station at East Slough.

Fishing

A Florida fishing license may be required. Fish found in the area include redfish, sea trout, flounder, pompano, whiting, and sometimes Spanish mackerel.

Anglers should check with the entrance station to see what fishing license may be required.

Large RV with awnings out in a campground surrounded by trees

St George Island State Park Campground

The St. George Island State Park Campground has 60 campsites with electricity, water hookups, and a dump station near the campground. Six of the sites have concrete pads and walkways.

The campground is tucked behind historic sand dunes in the pine flatwoods. The campground is gorgeous! The campground amenities include two restrooms with hot showers, a playground, and a nature train that wanders through the pine forest and coastal scrub.

Pets are welcome but must be on a six-foot leash controlled by the pet's owner. Pets are not allowed on the beach or in any facilities.

The maximum RV length is 43 feet. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance through Florida State Parks. They also have hammock camping available in each campsite.

Tammilee and John at the beach in St George Island State Park

Why you will love St George Island State Park

Florida Gulf Coast State Park
Miles of walkable beaches
Great fishing, hiking, and camp ground
Clean bathhouses, pavilions, and walkways

St George Island State Park sign with palm trees on both sides of it

Things to know when planning a visit to Dr. Julian G. Bruce St George Island State Park

Address - 1900 E Gulf Beach Drive, St George Island, Florida 32328

Phone - 850-927-2111

Hours - 8 am until sundown

Please confirm with the restaurant to ensure that the hours have not changed.

Entrance Fee - $6 per vehicle

Accessibility mat out onto the sand with signs and a yellow flag

Accessibility - There are accessibility mats available at a couple of the beach areas. There is accessible parking and restrooms available.

St. George Island State park has three beach wheelchairs available and two beach cruiser electric mobility devices. They also have a floating Mobi-chair. Inquire at the ranger station about availability.

Mobility mats are available at Beach access points #1 and #8 along with at the East Slough and Sugar hill beach use areas.

The park has six accessible campsites along with an observation platform for birding and stargazing.

Plus Size Seating - Bring your own beach chair for maximum comfort. They have picnic tables in the beach shelters

Dress Code/Suggestions - Beach casual. Be prepared for the Florida Gulf coast sunshine, bugs, and heat!

Pets - Pets are not allowed on the beaches within the park.

Parking - There are multiple parking areas throughout the park.

large sand dunes with grass over them and trees in the background

St. George Island Restaurants and Attractions nearby

St. George Island Lighthouse - a historic lighthouse on St. George Island that you don't want to miss! Climb to the top of this historic lighthouse for epic views.

Aunt Ebby's Ice Cream - a family-friendly ice cream shop where you can enjoy a sweet frozen treat.

Blue Parrot Oceanfront Cafe - fantastic beachside dining with epic views of the Gulf of Mexico.

Mango Mike's Sports Bar & Grill - Great sports bar with an island feel

St George Island Tours and Rentals

Hourly Kayak Rental - Rent a kayak by the hour and hit the water!

6 Person Golf Cart Rental - Rent a 6 person kayak to move around St. George Island. Gas powered, with cooler storage on back.

4 Person Golf Card Rental - Rent a 4 person kayak to move around St. George Island. Gas powered, with cooler storage on back.

Daily Kayak and SUP rentals - Rental kayaks and paddleboards come with paddles and life vests. Free delivery on multi-day rentals.

Beach Wheel Chair Rental - Rent a beach wheelchair to make it easier to get out on the beach and everyone have a great.

St. George Island Lodging

If you are visiting St George Island and need to book accommodations, here are our recommendations.

Buccaneer Inn - Beachfront hotel with outdoor pool, near St George Lighthouse. Check out our review of the Buccaneer Inn.

St. George Inn - Pet-friendly hotel on St. George Island.

The map below shows the current hotels and vacation rentals available in the area. You can select the dates you are visiting to see current availability.

We also have articles on the Emerald Coast of Florida, including Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, Panama City Beach, Perdido Key, Pensacola, Sanibel and Captiva Island, and more.

Don't miss our other Gulf Coast destinations, including Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Dauphin Island, Fairhope, Fort Morgan, Foley, Mobile, Bayou La Batre, Alabama, and so many more!

Keep an eye out for articles on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida!

Check out our Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok pages for more great ideas for the Gulf Coast.