St Andrew SP - Panama City Beach, FL

ST ANDREW SP, FL

A typical campsite on the water.
More than half are not on the water.

RUN BY: State of Florida

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   

Ft Pickens NSS - Gulf Breeze, FL

FORT PICKENS

RUN BY: Gulf Island National Sea Shore (NPS)

LOCATION: Gulf Breeze, FL

UTILITIES: Water and Electricity (30-50A)

COST: $26  

OUR RATING (1-5): I-4

NOTES:  If you are looking for a great place to combine camping, beaches, and history, this is the place for you.  The park is on a long barrier island that has historically been a defensive position for the naval yards at Pensacola. The naval airfield is the home of the famous Blue Angels and you will likely see them practice if you are there on a Thursday morning. We had been snorkeling when they started and sat in the water watching them right over-head. The beaches are beautiful.  Ft Pickens was built around 1837 and was used through World War II.  There are historic guided tours as well as self-guided. Large gun emplacements are all along the island from WWI and II.  It is typical Florida weather, which is far from our favorite, but if you have to put up with the heat and humidity this is a lovely place to do it. You can ride bikes for miles and there is also a nice nature trail.  Kayaking and boating is good on the bay-side. Beaches are magnificent on the gulf-side.  Fishing is limited to a specific fishing dock unless you are a Florida resident. 

(I apologize for no pictures. I used a "real" camera when I was there and haven't transferred the pictures to this computer. I'll try to rectify that asap.)

Environment:  Very open. No shade. Sandy.  We were here in October and it was still hot and humid, but you are on a barrier island.  It has that rugged coastal appearance.  It also suffered a hurricane a few years ago which is why there are almost no trees in the campground. 

Amenities:  There is a camp store nearby.  There are bath-houses 

Phone Service:  Verizon was available 

Location: about 7-10 miles from Gulf Breeze, FL which is right by Pensacola. 

Camping Population:  NPS has a stay limit.  

Sites:  hard surface. Plenty of room - not too close to neighbors.  Sandy with no trees. 

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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