St. Andrews SP - N Florida area - My impressions

[DutchmenSport]

We arrived yesterday at St. Andrews State Park near Panama City, Florida. We will be here until Saturday morning when we'll break camp and take 3 days to return home to Indiana.

I asked the question some time ago for anyone's experience with St. Andrews and received various comments, which I really appreciated. Those comments did help for us to prepare to visit this campground.

Now, In December 2014, we stayed at Port St. Joseph State Park, just a little South and East of Panama City. We would have gladly returned to Port St. Joe had there been an open camp site for our week. But the only one open (anywhere) for this week was St. Andrews. So here we are.

First off. Today is our 30th wedding anniversary! Thus the reason for this trip. We debated about a cruise but for the price involved and the length of time, we couldn't justify that expense. So we decided to do what we love best ... take off with the camper.

Now a word about Northern Florida. First off, we arrived yesterday (Monday) March 9 and drove though this Spring Break mess about 4:00 pm. OH MY GOSH! If I only had any clue what SPRING BREAK really meant, I think we would have headed for CANADA! So after caught in a sea of traffic, teeny-boppers flooding the streets, and watching these zannie young people screaming, yelling, and carrying on along the edge of the road (which put ME at edge), we arrived safely.

The campground is everything I would expect. We are very pleased! All 35 and 1/2 feet of trailer fit in the space just fine and even had room for the truck to park withing anything overhanging in the road. And ... believe it or not, I even set up the DISH Satellite this afternoon, even in the midst of all these palm trees, I found a hole. So, the wife is VERY, VERY happy now!

We are really NOT beach goers. We love the beach, but the older we are getting, we appreciate the beach from behind the windshield rather than under our feet. The temperature is in the 80's right now, and very bright and sunny. My balding head has a hard time with this intense sunlight, so the windshield view is just fine.

We took off today and drove back to Mexico Beach. My wife wanted to revisit a novelty shop we visited last December and get more doo-dads! Considering this was our 30th anniversary, I told her to get anything she wanted... well, $79 later she was happy. I knew I married a practical girl! She's happy, I'm happy, we're all happy.

Now about Florida.

I can honestly say I do not like the area from Panama City westward (including this area around St. Andrews St. Park, Panama City Beach area) and much more prefer the area East of Panama City and heading on South.

Although both state parks are very nice in their own way, I much more prefer Port St. Joe St. Park. It's more (my) style of camping. The entire setting is a bit more natural, and there is NO high rise commercialism right outside the front door.

Both State Parks are very quiet, and everyone is well mannered. I think folks play so much at the beach all day, they come back to their campsites exhausted and crash asleep! I was amazed last night, with EVERY campsite filled, it was 100% quiet! But... too many lights for me! That just goes with a higher population of people, no matter where they congregate.

Port St. Joe was DARK and almost every campsite was occupied in December too. But the campsites are further apart, and somehow designed to be just a little more private (at least that's my impression).

I suppose there's an attraction for both areas. For those who really enjoy the go-go-go-go-go camping lifestyle, St. Andrews is the place. There's so much to do along the boardwalk and in town, you can go broke in a heartbeat! Everything from helicopter rides to 30 flavors of popcorn ... you name it!

On the other hand, if you want laid back inactivity, the Port St. Joe is the place.

Actually, I think the beach is more accessible at Port St. Joe than at Andrews. At St. Joe, you just walk over the boardwalk and you've got 6 miles of beach, and virtually no one there. At St. Andrews, there's a zillion people and you've got to drive to get there (unless you just enjoy a hot hike.)

If you go into town, you've got to find somewhere to park your vehicle to get to the beach and then fight a zillion tourists.

Maybe my next Florida trip will be further inland! Both parks are very nice! It's just one is an extremely busy place and the other is laid-back.

[wannavolunteerF]

Teacher's Pet,
Falling Water is neat, but if you have time go to Florida Caverns too. it is near and the cavern tour is a really interesting.

[wannavolunteerF]

dutchmen sport,

where did you stay at St Joe? which campground section? I have stayed in the more wooded campground, but only with a tent or a small Aliner. I want to go back, but from what I remember it was hard to get through trees to make the loop to the few sites a larger trailer would fit it.

[wbwood]

Retired JSO wrote:
We too have moved west to Grayton Beach. Small village area with a great beach and an assortment of good eats within a few miles. The new loop has FHU with none of the power and flooding issues of St Adrews.

We enjoyed Grayton last year during our daughters Spring Break. We stayed in the newer section. The only thing I didn't likie was no shade and the gravel lots. If they could put the sewers in the older section, then it would be heaven. The older section sites were shady and private. Plus some of them on the lake there. We also love Seaside and the closeness, although you don't really see it from Grayton.

We also enjoy Topsail. We like the concrete pads, FHU and cable tv for late night or inclimate weather watching. Actually it's not really that important as we don't even have cable at home...lol. My daughter prefers the pool over the beach, so Topsail gives a good mixture.

[Retired_JSO]

We too have moved west to Grayton Beach. Small village area with a great beach and an assortment of good eats within a few miles. The new loop has FHU with none of the power and flooding issues of St Adrews.

[Dog_Folks]

Glad to hear a good report from a visit to the state. We so often only hear the complaints. (Some justified, some not)

You are the type of person that residents and business people welcome to the state. And often, although nothing is said, the type of "tourist" that we go out of way to give provide good experience.

[DutchmenSport]

Dog Folks wrote:
...With respect: You ARE the tourist...

Good point! We're avoiding the boardwalk area, focusing on old St. Andrews and areas that are not so "touristy". We love the "natural" stuff ... you know ... where the people live and work, like the fishing boats at the marina, some of the local city and town parks, (which we've found a few around), places along Business 98 where you can stop, visit a local shop, eatery, spend time and talk and socialize with the locals. We really enjoy looking at the homes, and basically, just seeing how people really live in this area.

Found a great fruit market not too far from the St. Park, and spending time now talking to other campers. We're beginning to get a good feel for this area, and so far, have missed the crowds. So I think we're doing well.

What amazes us though, is how much commercialization, business, and tourism is so close to the park, and yet, this State Park, although extremely busy with people coming and going, is still so very, very quiet and peaceful!

I was dumping my blue tote at the dump station when a group of young people riding bicycles rode by and started heckling me about how my **** smelled! I figured they were spring breakers in a tent and just ignored them. Other than that, the experience has been pretty positive so far, after our initial "shock!"

[Dog_Folks]

Congratulations on your 30th. I hope for many more for you two.

Very good report and fairly presented.


At the end you said:

"If you go into town, you've got to find somewhere to park your vehicle to get to the beach and then fight a zillion tourists."

With respect: You ARE the tourist, in a tourist town, and the peak of tourist season and mentioning how many tourists are there! LOL You are part of the situation buddy. 🙂

Please come back as explore more of the great state of Florida, there is lot to see bedsides the mouse in Orlando.

Happy Camping

[Crodad]

We're going to stay for two nights at Blackwater River SP in June, on our way to St Joseph Island SP. It looks like a very nice and clean Park. If you want to stay more inland next time, take a look at this one.

[Teacher_s_Pet]

As Scottiemom said thanks for the review. We will be heading N and E from The Rio Grande Valley on the 23rd. I have three new places on our trip to visit our son and family in Melbourne.

• Davis Bayou Campground in Ocean Springs MS
• Falling Waters State Park in Chipley FL
• Lake Griffin SP in Fruitland FL

We'll be passing through Pendleton and Lapel, after doctor's appointments on our way north to Warsaw at the end of April.

[Scottiemom]

Congratulations on your anniversary! Here's to many more!

Thank you for such a thoughtful and informative post. We have never been to either park but have been in the area, so that gives us something to explore.

Hope Indiana is warmer when you head back. I think things were better yesterday especially. We go there for doctor's appointments in Indy in the spring and fall. Remnants of our past life.

Thanks again!

Dale

[fla-gypsy]

I have been to St Andrews many times and camped along the bay with great views. the beach is very nice there but also very busy as noted. I would never go to PCB during SB but I enjoyed the dining choices offered there. My preferred Gulf Coast CG is Grayton Bch SP.

[edatlanta]

I host at St Andrews in the summers. I will arrive this year on 5-15 for four months and this will be my fifth consecutive summer. I know I have the snowbird thing backwards, but....

For the record, the Treasure Ship is gone. It was torn down 2-3 years ago. It had been closed for some time after a fire. It is now just a patch of green grass.

I agree on the Captain's Table.

[Dutch_12078]

Congratulations on 30 years with your bride! If you don't care about beaches, then next year come on down and see "the real Florida" at Myakka River or Alafia River State Parks. Or one of the many other fine inland state parks!

[robsouth]

Ditto on St George Island SP.