ST ANDREW SP, FL
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| A typical campsite on the water. More than half are not on the water. |
LOCATION: Panama City Beach, FL
UTILITIES: water & electric (30-50A)
COST: $24
OUR RATING (1-5): I-4
NOTES: Let me start by explaining that we are not hot-humid weather people. We were in Florida in December and found it unbearable. Years of summer highs in the 60s with 13% humidity make you intolerant of 70-80s with 90+% humidity. Nevertheless, St Andrew is one of our favorite Florida destinations. The campground is on the bay and even those who don't have sites on the water can still often have a good view. There is good diving or snorkeling around the jetty. It is 50+ feet deep on the channel side. A neat experience is to have one of the large cargo ships leave the bay while you are diving at 50 feet. A great place for a family vacation, especially if you like the beach. There lots of great beaches inside the park.
Environment: The entire park is wooded with what I can coastal scrub. I'm not being derogatory. It has it's only beauty but it isn't what people from mid-America or the far north think of as forest. The soil is sandy. It took us weeks to get all the sand out of Sinni and Moe. Deer and alligators abound.
Amenities: Very nice bath-houses, dump stations, play grounds, boat ramp and marina, camp store plus all of the amenities and services of the park. Just look at the map and you know you're within a couple of miles of almost any chain store you can name plus a plethora of bars, restaurants and night spots.
Phone Service: Verizon is good.
Location: The park is at the tip of the peninsula which creates St Andrew Bay. The bay divides Panama City from Panama City Beach. Approaching from east or west you should be on US98 and turn south on Thomas Dr. Once you cross a large bridge stay left and follow the signs.
Camping Population: The campground is reservations with a limited stay, so you don't have to worry about long-term residents. People visit St Andrew from all over the country.
Sites: The sites are very nice. Except for a few, they are all fairly well shaded. Obviously they are flat. Is there anything in Florida that isn't? (Sorry, couldn't help that.)
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RATING KEY: category - score
Categories:
I - established
campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days
II - boondocking,
dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but
one
might choose to stay for more than a night.
III - over-night
areas
You must remember that we are scoring 1
thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the
environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population,
site, phone service
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