St. Andrews State Park — Attraction in Upper Grand Lagoon

St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach, FL, is a natural paradise that offers a diverse range of outdoor activities and stunning landscapes. Here's an overview of what makes it a fantastic destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts: The park boasts beautiful, pristine beaches with sugar-white sand and clear, emerald waters. It's a great spot for sunbathing, swimming, and beachcombing. The coastal dunes, marshes, and wooded areas add to the park's diverse and picturesque The calm, clear waters are perfect for swimming, and the jetties create a safe environment for snorkeling, where you can see a variety of marine life. The park is a haven for anglers, with options for both saltwater and freshwater fishing. The jetties and piers are popular spots, and there's also a boat ramp for those looking to venture out further. The park's lagoons and the nearby Gulf of Mexico provide great opportunities for paddling. There are several trails that wind through the park, offering chances to see local wildlife like deer, alligators, and a variety of bird species. The Gator Lake Trail and the Heron Pond Trail are particularly popular. The park offers well-maintained camping facilities, including sites for tents and RVs. The campground is equipped with amenities such as restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities, making it a comfortable option for extended stays. The park is well-equipped with picnic areas, restrooms, and a concession stand that offers snacks and beach supplies. There’s also a visitor center with informative displays...

Beautiful beach and a great spot for all ages. The boardwalk and visitor/gifts + snacks center is very well maintained and offers everything you need for a day at the beach. The jetties can get crowded, but most other times of the year it is very peaceful. The gulf side is usually calm enough for most activities but if conditions get too wavy there is a lagoon section protected from strong currents and choppy waters. Great fishing and diving area where the structure provides a habitat for species not normally found on that area's featureless sandy bottom. You will see all types of tropical marine life and there is a good bit of coral cover from porites and oculina along with anemones, coralline algae, and various soft corals, tunicates, sponges, and sea whips/sea rods - although these are generally found in the deeper end. For it's geography in the northern Gulf, you will find species generally more associated with reefs in south florida and the Caribbean including angelfish, spadefish, butterflyfish hogfish, wrasse, parrotfish, and other tropical taxa more common further south. Overall, great spot to take kids who are just learning to swim as well as for more advanced divers with easy access to landmarks, just beware of the swarms of jellyfish that frequent summer months. Fishing is also better imo than the pier or surf in terms of species diversity (grouper and snappers can be caught) but on average, the catch tends to be smaller than other boatless venues...

Difficult to choose between a 4 or 5 stars! We gave it a 4. Pros- Beautiful natural area, friendly staff at the gate, affordable entry fee, going through a lot of infrastructure improvements such as new restroom facilities and new campgrounds with all new pavilions and picnic tables. Other pros include nice, wide trails, a boat launch, mostly flat ground hiking/walking on Heron Lake Trail, and abundant wildlife. Cons- Heron Trail has very poor signage along the trail so it’s difficult to know how to get back to the parking area. There are several areas where the trail has been reclaimed by the wetland so you either have to walk through ankle deep marsh/mud or balance on and walk over a series of fallen logs.. ( fun for us, but it might be an issue for you). The trails are not stroller friendly or suitable for people with mobility issues. Be prepared to carry tired toddlers! We had our pup with us. He loved the trails, but there were terrible burrs everywhere and we had to stop several times to pull them out of his paws. If you take your dog be aware that they are not allowed on the beaches or many other places. Also invest in hiking booties for their feet! We will definitely return but will not bring our pup. One last thing…. Pack water and take it with you in case you get turned around...