Florida RV Park/State Park on the Ocean

fla-gypsy wrote:
The OP did state FHU beach park and pool.

Gonna be hard to find. Generally,in Florida, it is either beach OR pool.

It's all about what you prefer. For me Topsail Hill is an over regulated abomination of a state park and Grayton Bch is the true Florida beach experience that we enjoyed in another time. I may never go back to Seaside, traffic creeps at 5 mph and everything is over priced. Those of us who are old enough to remember and grow up pre rat invasion just have different preferences I guess.

As I've been talking to CecilT privately, I've mentioned to him that we stayed at both topsail and Grayton Easter week. 2 different experiences. Topsail is closer to the OL experience he is looking for, but a far cry from it, lol. Grayton has it's place. I wouldn't stay there to visit Destin. For one, you are 9 miles or so east of topsail. Topsail is good 20 minute drive or so into actual Destin. So at Grayton, you can expect upwards to a 25-30 minute drive into Destin. Grayton a best parts is that you can drive up to the beach and Seaside. If it weren't for Seaside, we would skip Grayton altogether. While it's nice they have some fhu sites, they are nothing more than pea gravel sites with no shade at all. If you want shade, you will need to be on the older loop with W/E sites. They are dirt sites but each are tucked into a canopy of trees and brush. Some of them are also on the inland lake and some have access to it. There is a pathway between a couple sites that people can access it as well.

You might want to consider Hannah Park in Jacksonville Beach. It is right across the street from the beach and has lots of wooded pull through sites with FHU.

https://www.coj.net/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Recreation-and-Community-Programming/Docs/Hanna-Park/hannamap-jan11.aspx

-Dave

Edit: No pool but they do have a water park for the kids.

The OP did state FHU beach park and pool.

We have stayed many times at St. Andrews State Park near Panama City, FL. I would not think of this as an "easy walk" to the Gulf beach, but easy drive and easy parking then a short walk to the beach.

And, many of the sites are on Grand Lagoon, which provides boating and wading/swimming for the kids. Now these sites are right on the lagoon, but the best sites (like 106-112) are reserved a year ahead of time for dates in the Spring and Summer.

Another possibility which does have a short walk to the Gulf beach is Ft. Pickens in the National Seashore near Pensacola--another favorite of ours.

Take a look at topsail state park. Has a pool short walk to beach or you can take the tram. FHU, cable and wifi at store. You can book FL state parks 11 months ahead. This is a popular park so book early.

Topsail State Park

If you want pools and such the Florida State parks are not your first choice except for Topsail Hill SP which does have a small pool. If you want an authentic beach experience without the tourist trappings try the FHU loop at Grayton Bch SP. Plenty of tourist stuff to do over in nearby Destin for either park.

There aren't many Florida SP with camping that are on the beach. Fort Clinch, Anastasia, St Andrews and the Key's parks are the ones that occur to me off hand. None of these actually has camping directly on the beach but the beaches are all within walking distance. Anastasia is the only one which is a very short walk. Jetty Park, which is a county park is another. There may be more in the panhandle, I'm not as familiar with those.

BK