Craving sugar-white sand and emerald waters? Head to Santa Rosa Beach! Nestled along Florida’s scenic Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach offers pristine beaches, nature trails, and charming coastal villages. Whether you're kayaking coastal dune lakes or savoring Gulf-fresh seafood, this South Walton gem is perfect for families, couples, and beach lovers alike.
Santa Rosa Beach, FL Highlights:
- For Beach Lovers: Soak up the sun at Grayton Beach State Park – One of the most beautiful beaches in the U.S. with clear waters and powdery sand.
- For Nature Enthusiasts: Kayak or paddleboard on Western Lake – Explore rare coastal dune lakes surrounded by pine forests and wildlife.
- For Shoppers: Browse boutiques at Gulf Place – Discover local art, clothing, and cafés in this laid-back town center.
- For Couples: Watch sunset from Ed Walline Beach Access – A scenic overlook with easy beach access and romantic ocean views.
- For Families: Bike the Timpoochee Trail – A scenic 18-mile paved path perfect for exploring 30A’s beach communities.
Best Time to Visit Santa Rosa Beach, FL
The best time to visit Santa Rosa Beach is from March to May or September to November. These months offer warm temperatures, fewer crowds, and ideal conditions for beach outings and outdoor activities. Summer is peak season with great weather but larger crowds.
How to Get to Santa Rosa Beach, FL
- By Car: Located off U.S. Highway 98 and scenic 30A, Santa Rosa Beach is easily accessible from Destin (35 min) and Panama City Beach (45 min).
- By Plane: Fly into Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) or Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), both about 45 minutes away.
- By Shuttle: Several local companies offer airport transfers and 30A transportation services.
Where to Stay in Santa Rosa Beach, FL
- Recommended for Families: WaterColor Inn – Beachfront luxury with family amenities, bike rentals, and access to pools and parks.
- For Couples: Hibiscus Coffee & Guesthouse – Cozy and charming B&B nestled in Old Florida-style cottages near Grayton Beach.
Best Things to Do in Santa Rosa Beach, FL
1. Grayton Beach State Park
Rating: ★★★★★
Grayton Beach has consistently been ranked as one of the country's most pristine and beautiful beaches, but the Grayton Beach State Park has much more to offer than its beach. The Western Lake provides opportunities for paddling and fishing, while the miles of trails offer hiking and a chance to explore the coastal forest of magnolias and scrub oaks, twisted and bent by the salt winds. Camping in Grayton Beach State Park in the campgrounds or outfitted cabins offers its own experience as well. With over fifty campsites, each site includes water and electricity, with a few offering sewer hook-ups. 357 Main Park Rd, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, Phone: 850-267-8300
2. Grayton Beer Company
Housed inside the brewing company's state-of-the-art, 30,000 square-feet production facility, the Grayton Beer Company Taproom in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida features a tap wall consisting of more than twenty unique brews. Guests will also find a variety of games to play during their time at the Taproom, such as life-size jenga, cornhole, and darts. Grayton Beer Company is also both a pet-friendly and kid-friendly taproom, and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00am until 5:00pm. Visitors can also contact the brewery to join a tour led by a Grayton Beer Ambassador of the Grayton Beer Company brewing process. 217 Serenoa Road, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, Phone: 850-399-7007
3. The Workshop by Ginger Leigh Designs
The Workshop by Ginger Leigh Designs in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida is a great place to find one-of-a-kind gifts for family and friends. The majority of the works of art created by Ginger Leigh are painted wood and very well done. Other works available include ornaments, stationary, flags, soy candles with pleasant natural scents, and more. The Workshop has helpful and friendly staff and is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from ten in the morning until three in the afternoon. Ginger Leigh Designs are also sold in many other shops across the country, as well as online.
4. Point Washington State Forest
Encompassing approximately fifteen thousand acres and over twenty-seven miles of trails, the Point Washington State Forest features longleaf pine flatwoods, swamplands, wet prairie, and coastal scrub. Visitors are able to explore three different systems of trails, along with a horse trail off of Bay Drive. A variety of outdoor recreational activities are possible within the boundaries of the Point Washington State Forest, including hiking, off-road biking,and hunting. Trail loops consist of a 3.5-mile, 5-mile, and 10-mile trail. Camping is also possible at the Eastern Lake Campground along the Eastern Lake Trail near mile marker 4. 5865 E. U.S. Hwy. 98, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459-6046, Phone: 850-267-8325
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
5. The Underwater Museum of Art
Located off the shore of Walton County in the Gulf of Mexico, The Underwater Museum of Art is the country’s first “permanent underwater sculpture garden.” This one-of-a-kind museum and eco-tourism attraction lies 58-feet deep under the ocean surface and almost one mile off the shores of Santa Rosa Beach’s Grayton Beach State Park. Every year, sculpture works are carefully selected from artists from all over the world to be installed in The Underwater Museum of Art. These sculptures attract various marine life and transform into a living reef over time. To explore the site at-depth, visitors should be certified divers. Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, Phone: 850-622-5970
6. Justin Gaffrey Gallery
Named “Artist of the Year” in 2005, Justin Gaffrey learned how to paint through exploring new techniques that had been used by several of his favorite artists. Combining his own unique artistic style with these methods, Gaffrey has established his own distinct artistic voice. Today, this talented self-taught artist’s works can be seen by art lovers in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida at the Justin Gaffrey Gallery. Gaffrey’s contemporary works are displayed in a home that the restaurateur-turned-artist built himself. The Justin Gaffrey Gallery is open to the public from 10:00am until 6:00pm, Monday through Saturday. 21 Blue Gulf Dr, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, Phone: 850-267-2022
7. The Repertory Theatre
Established in 2001, The Repertory Theatre has become the leading professional theater company in Northwest Florida. With more than eighteen seasons under its belt, the theater provides quality theatre productions in Santa Rosa Beach and attracts some of the country’s most talented professionals. The Repertory Theatre boasts a mission to provide productions and programs that offer a lasting and essential contribution to the area's quality of life and entertain audiences of all ages. The theater also has a reputation of constantly broadening horizons, bringing new programming, as well as venues, to the community to better reach an expanding audience base. 216 Quincy Cir, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, Phone: 850-231-0733
8. Don Pedro's Mexican Restaurant
Don Pedro's Mexican Restaurant serves authentic Mexican fare to the Santa Rosa Beach community along Florida’s Emerald Coast. In addition to its full menu, the local family-owned and operated dining establishment offers daily specials, as well as catering options. Customers will find simple but delicious food, such as familiar Mexican dishes, several breakfast choices, and excellent salsa. Don Pedro's is open Sunday from 7:00am until 2:00pm and Monday to Saturday from 7:00am until 9:00pm. The Mexican restaurant is also known for providing a nice cantina atmosphere with great service and affordable prices. 4942 US-98 W, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, Phone: 850-267-0009
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