Henderson Beach State Park
Henderson Beach State Park
4.5
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The area
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Restaurants
155 within 5 kms
Attractions
51 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- amabry0919Lincoln, Nebraska35 contributionsBest BeachIf you want beach time this is the place to go! Th water is amazingly blue ,clear and the sand it the softest sand you will ever have under your feet! Yes, there is a n entrance fee of a few dollars but is worth it!Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 30 October 2023
- Pat PBrandon, Florida62 contributionsRelaxing day at the beach!We visited Henderson Beach in one of the coldest Decembers in the Emerald Coast. The beach was somewhat deserted with few people strolling along the sea line and others, fishing. Before going to the beach; we explored the nature trail/dunes. There is a small but cute playground for children to enjoy. We found the trail easy to do, with some shaded areas perfect for all year around use. After a refreshing walk on the beach, we enjoyed lunch in one of their covered facilities having plenty of picnic tables. Overall, a nice relaxing experience in an beautiful, clean beach. I can only imagine the crowds during season!Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 3 January 2024
- Laura IVonore, Tennessee27 contributionsSister recommendedWe are NOT beach people, yet we ended up staying in Fort Walton Beach for an extended period. This was a great place to visit to see wild dunes and beach in action. Have yet to get out feet wet, Haha!Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 30 January 2024
- LAW64Tonbridge, United Kingdom1,780 contributionsStunning beachWe were staying at the Henderson Park Inn which is located in this state park. The beach is stunning with white sand and turquoise water. The weather was lovely on the days we were there in January - perfect for a walk along the beach.Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 February 2024
- Heather JohnsonSterling, Illinois51 contributionsSqueaky Quartz Sand=A Beautiful Beach ExperienceThis was probably the best $6.00 we spent our entire week exploring the beaches along the Gulf Shore National Seashore. It's also amazing how $6.00 is what separates the crowds. We were vacationing all along the Gulf Shore, and while people visit Destin for a myriad of reasons, the emerald water and squeaky quartz sand along this stretch of beach was a dream!Visited April 2023Travelled with familyWritten 12 March 2024
- Chuck21 contributionsNice beachVery nice beach area and picnic pavilions for a nominal fee. In and out same day permit. RV privacy in the bushes. Very nice beaches. Plenty of room to spread out. Will encounter mostly couples and families.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 March 2024
- Lillia K11 contributionsGorgeous beach—get there early it gets crowded!View was amazing! Even had a manatee run in!! There is a cash entry fee as well as a line of cars to get in and park—so get there early! We left around noon after getting there around 9 and saw cars getting turned back for no more parking!Visited June 2024Travelled with familyWritten 22 June 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,423 reviews
Excellent
1,884
Very good
411
Average
89
Poor
26
Terrible
13
Lifetraveler1
Atlanta, GA1,389 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
I have been to Destin Florida many times. I have driven past the entrance of the Henderson State Park several times and never went in. This visit to Destin I decided to take a look. What I found was a very nice natural State Park. It had basically four separate parking areas for day tourist, each area had its own gazebo with tables and chairs for eating your foods and snacks. A short little bridge over the sand dunes will it take you down to the pristine and beautiful Santa Rosa beaches.
The cost for the two of us to get in was $6, and the parking was plentiful. It is centrally located in Destin, so we ordered food for takeout from The shrimp basket restaurant, and then take it back to Henderson State Park to eat at one of the gazebos.
Santa Rosa Destin beach has many free parking areas that are beachfront. But when it is heavily travel during holidays, this place would probably be a better alternative, with a little bit less crowd, because there is a fee. The beach itself is just as good as all the beaches along this coastline, but it is nice that it has facilities as well as a gazebo and some walking trails. So if you find the other beaches to be too heavily populated when you go down to the panhandle area, you might want to try Henderson Beach State Park.
The cost for the two of us to get in was $6, and the parking was plentiful. It is centrally located in Destin, so we ordered food for takeout from The shrimp basket restaurant, and then take it back to Henderson State Park to eat at one of the gazebos.
Santa Rosa Destin beach has many free parking areas that are beachfront. But when it is heavily travel during holidays, this place would probably be a better alternative, with a little bit less crowd, because there is a fee. The beach itself is just as good as all the beaches along this coastline, but it is nice that it has facilities as well as a gazebo and some walking trails. So if you find the other beaches to be too heavily populated when you go down to the panhandle area, you might want to try Henderson Beach State Park.
Written 9 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rhonda P
2 contributions
Aug 2021
We love this place. We strongly recommend that you spend the $25 to get two chairs and an umbrella. It's a much more comfortable situation than carrying chairs and holding an umbrella. The waters so clear and you can see forever. My only suggestion for a change would be that they open earlier and stay open later. We would have loved to watch the sun come up and set there. Beautiful. With all the crowded beaches we couldn't figure out why this one wasn't, but we were so glad. Peaceful and Beautiful.
Written 5 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gone Coastal
Surfside Beach, SC64 contributions
Dec 2021
1st time visit. Park entrance fee included in camping fee. Campsites are huge, very private and priced inexpensively, especially for being on the beach. Many campsites are pull through. Camp hosts were great and delivered large reasonably priced bundles of wood. Water and electric worked great. We were unable to get TV reception over the air. The beach boardwalk looks cool but was closed for reconstruction when we visited. Hope to use it for quick beach access on our next visit. Nature trail is very pretty and pet friendly. We were walking so a bit of a jaunt back to park entrance if you plan to go out to eat. There is a bike lane. Would recommend a cruiser to get around if you plan to stay a while. Dump station available along the road between campsites and entrance.
Written 9 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
buffalogirl1961
Flippin, AR179 contributions
Nov 2022 • Solo
Beautiful white sand beaches. The gulf was a lovely blue-green while I was there. In November, it wasn’t too crowded and there are plenty of places to easily access the beach.
The sand is a soft, powdery white and easy to walk in. I did forget that walking in the sand will work those muscles you forget about. It was easy to walk the 1 1/2+ miles I walked.
Entrance fee varies by how many people are in the car and I saw that camping is available.
There are also buildings with restrooms and rinsing showers if you are worried about tracking sand into your vehicle. I saw a couple of access points for those in wheelchairs.
The sand is a soft, powdery white and easy to walk in. I did forget that walking in the sand will work those muscles you forget about. It was easy to walk the 1 1/2+ miles I walked.
Entrance fee varies by how many people are in the car and I saw that camping is available.
There are also buildings with restrooms and rinsing showers if you are worried about tracking sand into your vehicle. I saw a couple of access points for those in wheelchairs.
Written 3 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jenned17
Conyers, GA1,178 contributions
May 2021
We went to Henderson Beach State Park for two days during our long weekend stay in Destin and it was the highlight of the trip. Beautiful white sand, sparkling water, and nothing to see but the expanse of ocean will soothe all of your stress and erase any worries. The beach did get increasingly crowded as the day went on, but there is plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the surroundings. Public restrooms were clean and easily accessible. We didn't mind paying the $6 fee for us to enjoy the natural beauty of the beach. Go early, pack a picnic, grab your beach chairs and umbrella and go to Henderson Beach State Park--you won't regret it!
Written 21 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisdeanne
Edgewood, TX131 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Temporarily closed but still able to make reservations for our 30th anniversary dinner on July 22. We were called a few days before to notify us they temporarily closed. You should not be allowed to make reservations if the restaurant is closed. We were looking forward to going to this restaurant for 30th anniversary dinner. Luckily we were able to make last minute reservations at a different restaurant .
Written 24 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DFWJen
8 contributions
Apr 2021
This is a great state park. It is less crowded than all the surrounding private beaches that are covered in $50/day rental chairs. Everything is awesome about this park...the facilities, the beach, the view, etc. $6 is well worth it.
Written 29 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MELISSA C
SOUTH ELGIN7 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
White sand beaches were gorgeous and the sand doesn’t get hot! Water is beautiful, clear, and emerald green. There was a long (slow) line to get in, but entrance fee is only $6/car, and despite the line, the beaches weren’t nearly as crowded as other public beaches we visited in Destin. Rinse showers available, as well as picnic pavilions and restrooms.
Written 16 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nylady21
Philadelphia, PA679 contributions
Jan 2021 • Solo
The soft sands are gorgeous and a beach walk is always good for my soul. Beautiful nature trail loop with informative placards and a nice playground too make this a wonderful park. You can get online tickets for Florida State Parks which makes admission easier.
Written 11 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S4136XSdavidb
Texas464 contributions
May 2023
This small state park (entry fee was minimal) was not crowded, but not a huge amount of parking. A boardwalk takes you to the white-sugar sand beach and the beautiful water of the Gulf. In my opinion, this area of the Florida panhandle has the prettiest water from Texas all the way to the Keys. The water is clear, and green on a sunny day. The beach was not crowded and the restrooms at the park were clean. There is a roughly half-mile nature trail that winds between high sand dunes with wildlife and trees, shrubs, grasses that we enjoyed.
Written 12 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How packed does it get at the beach shore to set up at the beach? And which days of the week would be the busiest?
Written 26 June 2024
Is it okay to set up a 12x12 tent on the beach sand for a family of 6 and take it down by the end of day?
Written 26 June 2024
Judy S
Kannapolis, North Carolina
I have 40 adults and kids for Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov 23rd. I would like to be able to picnic at the park and wondered how we can do that
Written 18 September 2023
Judy S
Kannapolis, North Carolina
We will have a group of 40 adults and children at Thanksgiving. We would like to reserve a picnic area for our Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, November 23rd.
Is this possible?
Written 18 September 2023
They close at Dusk so I would say no
Written 28 October 2021
I’ve been trying to snag a campsite here for months. I get online 11 months ahead and am ready to click an open site right at 0800, which is the earliest you can book. Still no luck. Any ideas?
Thanks.
Written 28 April 2021
I've been trying also, wish someone would give some advice
Written 12 June 2021
Is there a good place to launch kayaks in this area?
Written 11 March 2021
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