State park entrance fees on the Emerald Coast
Per vehicle (2-8 people): St. Andrews $8, Henderson Beach and Topsail Hill $6, Grayton Beach and Rocky Bayou $5, Blackwater River $4 (honor box). On foot or bike: $2. Gulf Islands National Seashore: $25 per vehicle for 7 days. Source: Florida State Parks and NPS, checked Nov 1, 2026.
State parks and forests: fee, reservation, dogs
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Henderson Beach State Park
Okaloosa Co., FL Destin
Beach park in Destin.
- Vehicle
- $6 per vehicle (2-8 people)
- Solo driver
- $4 single-occupant vehicle
- Walk or bike
- $2 on foot or bike
- Hours
- 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year
- Reservation
- No reservation needed for day use
- Dogs
- Allowed on trails and in most day-use areas on a leash of 6 feet or less; never on beaches, boardwalks, playgrounds or in buildings and cabins (statewide Florida State Parks rule).
-
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Walton Co., FL Santa Rosa Beach
Over 15 miles of marked hiking trails from the day-use lot, rare coastal dune lakes and 3.2 miles of beach (no lifeguards). Dogs: trails only, never on the beach, tram, boardwalks, dunes or lakes.
- Vehicle
- $6 per vehicle (2-8 people)
- Solo driver
- $4 single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle
- Walk or bike
- $2 on foot or bike
- Hours
- 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year
- Reservation
- No reservation needed for day use
- Dogs
- Allowed on trails and in most day-use areas on a leash of 6 feet or less; never on beaches, boardwalks, playgrounds or in buildings and cabins (statewide Florida State Parks rule).
-
Grayton Beach State Park
Walton Co., FL Santa Rosa Beach
1-mile nature trail and a 4.5-mile hike-and-bike trail (9 miles round trip). Helmets required for cyclists 16 and under.
- Vehicle
- $5 per vehicle (2-8 people)
- Solo driver
- $4 single-occupant vehicle
- Walk or bike
- $2 on foot or bike
- Hours
- 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year
- Reservation
- No reservation needed for day use
- Dogs
- Allowed on trails and in most day-use areas on a leash of 6 feet or less; never on beaches, boardwalks, playgrounds or in buildings and cabins (statewide Florida State Parks rule).
-
St. Andrews State Park
Bay Co., FL Panama City Beach
- Vehicle
- $8 per vehicle (2-8 people)
- Solo driver
- $4 single-occupant vehicle
- Walk or bike
- $2 on foot or bike
- Hours
- 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year
- Reservation
- No reservation needed for day use
- Dogs
- Allowed on trails and in most day-use areas on a leash of 6 feet or less; never on beaches, boardwalks, playgrounds or in buildings and cabins (statewide Florida State Parks rule).
-
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park
Okaloosa Co., FL Niceville
Three short trails for birding and photos: Sand Pine (about 1 mi), Rocky Bayou (1/2 mi) and Red Cedar (1/2 mi).
- Vehicle
- $5 per vehicle (2-8 people)
- Solo driver
- $4 single-occupant vehicle
- Walk or bike
- $2 on foot or bike
- Hours
- 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year
- Reservation
- No reservation needed for day use
- Dogs
- Allowed on trails and in most day-use areas on a leash of 6 feet or less; never on beaches, boardwalks, playgrounds or in buildings and cabins (statewide Florida State Parks rule).
-
Blackwater River State Park
Santa Rosa Co., FL Milton
Honor box: bring exact change. Ranger station staffed 3-5 p.m. Chain of Lakes Nature Trail (1.75-mi loop) and Juniper Creek Trail into Blackwater River State Forest; the river is a designated Florida Paddling Trail.
- Vehicle
- $4 per vehicle (2-8 people)
- Walk or bike
- $2 on foot or bike
- Hours
- 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year
- Reservation
- No reservation needed for day use
- Dogs
- Allowed on trails and in most day-use areas on a leash of 6 feet or less; never on beaches, boardwalks, playgrounds or in buildings and cabins (statewide Florida State Parks rule).
-
Gulf Islands National Seashore (Okaloosa and Opal Beach areas)
Okaloosa / Santa Rosa Co., FL Okaloosa Island
Fees are collected at the Okaloosa Area, Opal Beach (Santa Rosa Area), Fort Pickens and Perdido Key.
- Entry
- $25 per vehicle, $20 motorcycle, $15 per person on foot or bike (good for 1-7 days)
- Annual pass
- $45 park annual pass; interagency passes accepted
- Reservation
- No reservation needed
-
Eglin Reservation (Eglin Air Force Base)
Okaloosa / Walton / Santa Rosa Co., FL Niceville
About 68 miles of Florida Trail and connector trail cross the reservation; foot traffic only. Florida Trail thru-hikers get a free permit from Jackson Guard.
- Permit
- Everyone 16 and older needs an Eglin permit and photo ID: $5 a day or $30 a year (65+: $10; 100% disabled: $1)
- Camping
- $10 per night camping permit (bought at the Jackson Guard office, not online)
- Reservation
- Permit required (eglin.isportsman.net). Check the Public Access Map (PAM) for daily mission closures before you go.
- Hunting
- Several management units along the trail are open to hunting; wear highly visible clothing in season.
Hikers, tell us how the trails are
Sources
- Florida State Parks – Henderson Beach hours & fees
- Florida State Parks – Topsail Hill Preserve hours & fees
- Florida State Parks – Topsail Hill experiences & amenities
- Florida State Parks – Grayton Beach hours & fees
- Florida State Parks – Hiking and biking trails at Grayton Beach
- Florida State Parks – St. Andrews hours & fees
- Florida State Parks – Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou hours & fees
- Florida State Parks – Hiking at Rocky Bayou
- Florida State Parks – Blackwater River hours & fees
- Florida State Parks – Trails at Blackwater River
- Florida State Parks – Pet policy
- National Park Service – Gulf Islands entrance fees
- Eglin AFB Natural Resources – Outdoor recreation permits
- Eglin AFB Natural Resources – Hiking the Eglin Reservation
- Eglin AFB Natural Resources – Hunting seasons
- FWC – Species season dates 2026-2027