St. Andrews State Park keeps Panama City Beach between Gulf and bay
St. Andrews State Park gives Panama City Beach a park day where Gulf water, St. Andrews Bay, dunes, birds, camping, and Shell Island plans all sit close together.
St. Andrews State Park gives Panama City Beach a different kind of edge.
The beach town can feel busy fast, with condos, restaurants, traffic, and families trying to get to the sand. At St. Andrews, the map opens up. The Gulf sits on one side. St. Andrews Bay sits on the other. Dunes, pines, coastal plants, birds, boat water, and campground routines all fit into the same park.
That makes it a good place to understand Bay County beyond the main beach strip. A visitor can swim, fish, snorkel, surf, paddle, walk, watch birds, camp, or build a Shell Island plan. A local may use it as a quieter reset when the rest of the beach feels full.
The park also carries a small story. Theodore Tollofson, often remembered as Teddy the Hermit, lived in a wrecked boat here for many years after a 1929 hurricane. You do not need to turn the day into a history lesson, but the story helps explain why this corner still feels a little separate from the town around it.
Check the park page before going. Fees, concessions, shuttle plans, camping, boat access, beach conditions, and alerts can change the day. St. Andrews works best when the beach bag and the backup plan both match the current park.
Where to see it
St. Andrews State Park at the east end of Panama City Beach. Check Florida State Parks for hours, fees, Shell Island shuttle details, camping, beach and bay access, concessions, weather, and current alerts.
Explore the area
Nearby and related places
Sources
- Florida State Parks - St. Andrews State Park
- Florida State Parks - St. Andrews experiences and amenities
Last checked against these sources: July 6, 2026.
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