11 Best Florida Panhandle Beach Towns—From 30A to Pensacola Beach

One of the things I love most about Florida’s beaches is the diversity. With over 800 miles of beaches to explore, there’s a little something for everyone. If you’re looking for some of Florida’s best beaches, you’ll find many in the northwest corner of the state in an area known as the Panhandle. This section of the state hugs the Gulf coast and offers calm, beautiful waters, and that dreamy, white sand. 

The Panhandle is home to a mix of lively cities and laid-back beach communities, and each is special in its own way. It’s easy (and fun) to explore multiple ones in the Panhandle, too. While I can’t choose a favorite, this list shows a handful of my favorite beach towns in Florida’s Panhandle. Since many people really enjoy taking a ride down Florida’s 30A, a scenic highway that stretches through multiple communities in the Panhandle, I’ll start with those, and then share some of my other favorite beaches in this scenic part of Florida. 

On the corner of 30A and 393, you’ll find the Gulf Place Town Center—one of this town’s main hubs. It’s very close to the beach, and you can easily walk there from the Ed Walline Regional Beach Access. There are vacation rentals onsite, but even if you don’t stay there, you can enjoy some great restaurants, shopping, and art galleries. On a hot, summer day (or any day for that matter), there’s nothing better than an ice cream cone from Pecan Jack’s Ice Cream and Candy Kitchen. They have a variety of interesting flavors like the Cookie Monster and Angel Mint. Those 21 and up can also try boozy flavors like Bourbon Pecan Praline or Limoncello. 

Grayton Beach is a 30A community that has a funky feel to it and deserves its own spot on the list. After all, their town slogan is “Nice Dogs, Strange People.” Grayton Beach State Park is very popular, but you’ll also want to check out the Shops of Grayton, which has somewhat of a Bahamian feel to it, and the Grayt Wall of Art—a collection of colorful public art. The Red Bar is a local favorite you have to check out, too.   

If you’ve seen the movie “The Truman Show” you’ve had a peek at this charming 30A community, as this was the filming location for the film (although it was called Seahaven in the movie). You may even want to plan a day to walk around town and check out filming locations from “The Truman Show.” Seaside is a planned community that has a luxury feel with pastel-colored buildings and white picket fences. It’s a walkable area that has a town center with local boutiques and restaurants. There’s also a variety of events such as live music and outdoor movies in the amphitheater, and the Saturday Seaside Market.

This is a luxury planned community along 30A that is thoughtfully designed with an architecture-first mindset. You’ll immediately notice the sparkling white buildings, but pay closer attention when you’re there and check out all of the interesting lines and angles. Alys Beach is all about the details, and you’ll find that everywhere you look. It’s a walkable community with a Mediterranean flair, and you can stroll around and check out upscale shops and restaurants. Some of the favorite local spots to grab a bite include O-Ku, Fonville Press, and George’s. 

This charming Florida beach town on 30A feels more like a European village than a typical beach town, but I totally love its walkable, cobblestone streets. This is an upscale community that has a walkable town center where you’ll find local boutiques and art galleries. You’ll find several dining options, and Pescado and Havana Beach Bar and Grill both have great rooftop bars where you can take in the views. This one really has an upscale vibe to it, and if you enjoy great architecture, you’ll love Rosemary Beach. 

You can cross the bridge from Pensacola to reach Pensacola Beach, but there’s also a ferry that can take you beachside. Once you’re there, you can get around on the free trolley that operates each summer. Make sure to visit the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk where you’ll find shops and restaurants, an amphitheater, and the giant shell that makes the perfect Instagram-worthy backdrop for a family photo. Laguna’s Beach Bar and Grill is also a fun spot to take the family, as it has an adventure park that includes fun activities like ziplines, go karts, a ropes course, splash pad, and more. Red Fish Blue Fish and Peg Leg Pete’s are a couple of the other local hotspots where you can grab food and drinks. 

This is one of the panhandle’s most-visited beach towns and has a more commercialized and lively atmosphere than some of the other best beach towns in the Florida panhandle. While you can find an active nightlife here, there are also several family-friendly activities such as Shipwreck Island Waterpark and Swampy Jack’s Wongo Adventure that has go karts, mini golf, a carousel, bumper cars, and more. Pier Park also has more entertainment, including the PCB Wheel that gives you some of the best views of Panama City Beach. You’ll find great shopping and dining options at Pier Park, too.  

This community offers a less-developed, chill vibe. It’s a quiet community that’s less busy, but has a beautiful beach and a marine sanctuary that is great for snorkeling and diving. However, you can also get to know the local marine life at the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center. It is one of the coolest things to do in the area and is very family-friendly. This is also a fishing community that has the longest fishing pier on the Gulf coast. Beer-lovers will want to check out St. Michael’s Brewing Company to try some of their local brews like the Sooper Trooper and the Air Commando American Pale Ale. If you like sours, try the Electric Strawberry Sour. 

Located between Panama City Beach and Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach has a thriving downtown that has several local shops and restaurants, as well as fun events such as their Downtown Saturday Markets that happen the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month. It’s a fun place to stroll around and check out the fresh produce and creations of local artists. Just across the bridge, The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island offers more shopping and dining by the beach, and during the summer, you can also see a fireworks show every Wednesday night. One of the most popular attractions in the area is the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, and you can have up-close-and personal experiences with several of the animal residents such as dolphins, stingrays, gators, turtles, and even penguins. 

Destin is one of the livelier and more-developed beach towns in Florida’s Panhandle and has an abundance of shopping and dining options. Destin Commons is one of the popular spots, and people love checking out the murals there. They even have a free, self-guided audio tour that you can listen to as you stroll along, learning about each of the artistic creations. HarborWalk Village is another must-visit spot that offers more retail therapy and great eats. You’ll find a variety of family-friendly activities there such as mini golf, an escape room, and a zipline that gives you some of the best views of the sparkling water and sugary sand. During the summer months, Big Kahuna’s Water Park is another favorite activity in this area. 

This is one of Florida’s Panhandle beach towns for those seeking a small, charming town. There’s only about 1,000 residents that live there, and it’s a slow-paced, relaxing vibe. You’ll find a few shops where you can find whatever you forgot at home, as well as cute souvenirs. But don’t expect to shop till you drop, and don’t anticipate seeing many national chains. What you will find is an amazingly beautiful beach and some great local restaurants that showcase a variety of flavors for any palette. Start with Caribbean Coffee and Cafe for breakfast, grab lunch at Mango Marleys, and pick up some fresh seafood at Shell Shack to cook up for dinner. Just make sure you save room for ice cream at Mexico Beach Sweets. 

Florida’s Panhandle really has something to offer everyone—whether you’re looking for a lively city full of nightlife, or a relaxing small town. All of these beach towns may have the same beautiful white sand, sparkling blue water, but each town has their own unique personality. That’s part of what I love about the Panhandle. It’s a drivable stretch that allows you to explore a few different beach towns when you visit. 

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