6 Beaches Near Tallahassee, Florida
Searching for the best beaches near Tallahassee, Florida to visit on your next day trip or vacation? If you want only the closest beaches to Tallahassee, you can see the driving times in my convenient drop down menu just below. I organized my favorite beaches near Tallahassee by driving time based on our recent two week road trip. I hope you'll love them too.
- Bald Point State Park - 50 min from Tallahassee
- Carrabelle Beach - 1 hour 15 minutes from Tallahassee
- Cape San Blas - 2 hours 10 minutes from Tallahassee
- Dog Island (ferry from Carrabelle Beach)
- Panama City Beach - 2 hours 10 minutes from Tallahassee
- Grayton Beach State Park - 2 hours 20 minutes from Tallahassee
Bald Point State Park - 50 min from Tallahassee
I like visiting this beach when we don't want to do a lot of driving. You'll find Bald Point State Park on a quiet peninsula. In fact, I think it's one of the most peaceful corners of Florida’s Forgotten Coast. The sandy beach area are located along Apalachee Bay. one of the most peaceful corners of Florida’s Forgotten Coast.
In addition, when kids get restlass, the boardwalks wind through salt marshes where herons and egrets live. You can also see bald eagles and ospreys flying overhead. The beach itself was sandy and secluded.
Local tip:
In the fall you can see thousands of monarch butterflies because they stop here on their migration route. The best place to stay nearby is 4.5-star St. James Bay Golf & Pickleball Resort.
Carrabelle Beach - 1 hour 15 minutes from Tallahassee
Looking for a family beach that's a little closer to Tallahassee than Cape San Blas? Chris and I both absolutely love Carrabelle Beach (Google Maps pin), and have been many times. You'll find it just east of Apalachicola along the Forgotten Coast.
In a nutshell, Carrabelle Beach is broad and flat. The sand is incredibly soft and white sand. Plus, I think its shallow waters make it one of the best beaches near Tallahassee for families.
Just like Cape San Blas, Carrabelle Beach has interesting history. History buffs will be interested in learning that Carrabelle Beach was once used as a training ground for soldiers heading to Normandy during World War II.
What I loved best:
Beyond the beach, visiting the town of Carrabelle was fun with my son and husband. There is a small marina, and seafood shacks serving freshly caught Gulf shrimp. Delicious and affordable! Fried Pork Chop at The Fisherman’s Wife Seafood Restaurant for lunch was a standout.
Need a place to stay? Right across the road from Carrabelle Beach is the family-friendly Carrabelle Beach RV Resort. You can stay overnight just steps from the sand and it's affordable as well.
Must know:
I have to warn you that swimming in the Gulf requires being careful. Franklin County (where Carrabelle Beach is located) uses color-coded beach flags to let you know the sea conditions so that you can keep your family safe.
Cape San Blas - 2 hours 10 minutes from Tallahassee
Now, first things fist, I loved that this area has avoided development. You won’t find high-rise resorts or even boardwalks here. The first time we visited Cape San Bla (Google Maps pin)s, I was amazed by the beauty of this beach. Snorkeling here was my favorite highlight (see my photo!)
The most important thing to know is that Cape San Blas offers several beach access points. If this is your first time and you have kids, I recommend Salinas Park as your first stop. Why? You can enjoy the beach, playgrounds, pickleball, and picnic areas too.
On the other hand, if you crave solitude, St. Joseph Peninsula State Park is be best for you! It actually stretches 20 miles into the Gulf. There are habitats for beach nesting birds and sea turtles. Just remember to walk carefully not to disturb them.
If you are feeling active and want to explore beyond the beach, there are heaps of unique tours with a local guide on offer. You can choose from fishing, wildlife spotting (manatees are my favorite), and guided scalloping trips.
What I loved best:
My personal highlight was exploring T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park at the very tip. Seeing heaps of towering dunes was incredible.
I like that there are places to stay nearby. 3-star Cape San Blas Inn (from $334/night) is a solid choice.
If you love history like I do, locals told us that that "Cape San Blas" means "Cape Saint Blaise," named after Saint Blaise. He was a physician and Catholic saint. This area was named for him because it was believed Cape San Blas had healing properties.
Dog Island
Once in Carrabelle, we had the chance to head to one of the most untouched barrier islands on Florida’s Forgotten Coast.
You can access Dog Island (Google Maps pin) only by boat or small plane. Dog Island Ferry provides weekend service by reservation and costs $15 per person each way.
For a more luxury experience, you can go on a 4-hour boat tour for around $600.
On Dog Island, you can look for shells, take photos of driftwood, and heaps of dunes.
There are no shops so be sure to bring what you need on your day trip. The island is a super vital stop for migratory birds so be sure to not disturb them.
Since there are no hotels, you need to return to Carrabelle (or home to Tallahassee) at the end of your beach day.
Panama City Beach - 2 hours 10 minutes from Tallahassee
This is one of my favorite beaches near Tallahassee when we are in the mood for heaps of activities. Best of all, the sand is super soft and goes on for about 27 miles.
You can swim in the warm Gulf waters, stroll down the Pier Park boardwalk, and pop over to the Russell-Fields Pier. The pier is Insta-worthy and extends 1,500 feet into the Gulf!
The vibe here is the polar opposite to Cape San Blas. You'll be surrounded by families picnicking, swimming, and kids running around.
3-star Hyatt Place Panama City Beach has comfortable rooms if you decide to spend the night.
Grouper Marsala ($28) for dinner at Captain Anderson’s Restaurant was a standout.
Heads up, though, Panama City Beach can get crowded on weekends. parking can be a challenge! So I recommend getting to the beach early!
What I loved best:
For me, Panama City Beach is one of the best beaches near Tallahassee. My favorite highlight was our stop at St. Andrews State Park on the eastern edge of town. We especially loved the calm lagoon.
The campground at St. Andrews State Park is super nice and affordable (but book your spot ahead of time!) In addition, you can also take a short boat ride out to Shell Island. True to its name, the undeveloped barrier island has seashells scattered all across miles of sand. Tickets for the shuttle to Shell Island can be purchased at St. Andrews State Park.
Grayton Beach State Park - 2 hours 20 minutes from Tallahassee
Just 30 minutes north along the coast from Panama City we stumbled on one of the most beautiful beaches on the East Coast. We were driving on Florida’s famed Scenic Highway 30A when we discovered Grayton Beach State Park.
What I loved most about Grayton Beach was the unbelievably soft sand here. The beach is mile-long. Plus, the Gulf water was emerald-green so vacation photos come out amazing.
We stayed in a rustic cabin in the park. I have to warn you that you have to really book far in advance if you want one! The cabin was just a short walk from the beach.
My days started with a swim and ended with a sunset. I only wished we could have stayed longer!
While visiting Grayton Beach State Park, I learned that the rare coastal dune lakes at Grayton Beach are found in only a few places on Earth! I'm glad that the area is being so well cared for. There are four miles of nature trails you can walk on.
What I loved best:
For me, Grayton Beach is one of the best beaches near Tallahassee. Just outside the state park, the town of Grayton Beach added to the ambiance with music and local shops. You can also find a vacation rental here for a few days if the affordable park cabins are already sold out.
Booking Checklist
1. Book Your Flight - I use Expedia because I like their mobile app with my itinerary. They've helped me re-book flights on many occasions. Once you reach their Gold tier, support is especially good.
2. Book Your Hotel - I use Booking.com or Expedia, depending on my destination.
3. Book Your Rental Car - I use Expedia.
4. Book your tours on Viator or Get Your Guide.
5. If you are planning to visit more than three national parks in the next 12 months, we've found that buying the America the Beautiful Pass is cost effective.
