Henderson Beach State Park

Located in Destin, Florida, Henderson Beach State Park is a tranquil oasis tucked between the ocean and Emerald State Parkway. Purchased from its original owners in 1983, the park is named for the Henderson family estate who sold it for 13.1 million dollars. Opened to the public in March of 1991, this is the first parcel of land acquired under the Save Our Coast program. Transforming this 208 parcel of land into a protected state park is exactly what the Henderson family wanted: that the land would be protected to preserve the natural features and wildlife, and to allow the public an opportunity to enjoy the natural surroundings. Now a natural habitat for a variety of wildflowers as well as scrub oaks, southern magnolias and sand pines, there is much more to see than just the pristine white beaches.

What to Expect

Offering more than 6,000 feet of scenic shoreline, the Henderson Beach State Park offers more than just beautiful beaches. While the state park offers campsites for overnight camping, if that’s not to your liking there are a variety of Bed & Breakfasts as well as a plethora of other lodging options just outside the park’s limits. In addition to the variety of lodgings, there are a great many restaurants and shopping options to be had.

Henderson Beach State park offers 60 tropical campsites each with gravel parking. Some of the sites have water and electric hookups for RV camping. In addition, there are several pavilions with grills for picnics and barbecues, as well as boardwalks for leisurely strolls along the dunes. In addition, the park features a playground and nature trail for further exploration. With summer daytime highs in the 90’s, and evening lows in the 70’s, the temperatures never feel quite so warm with the fresh breezes blowing off the nearby ocean.

This state park is a favorite of the locals who know it to be the pristine camping gem that it is, and while it attracts its fair share of tourists it is never over crowded and even on the busiest days the beaches are never packed full. It has been advised to get to the parking lot by 10 am to ensure a close parking spot to the beach for ease of transporting coolers and other beach necessities. One of the nice features of this beach is that it is wheelchair accessible.

While on the small side, the campground facility has been lauded for being among the cleanest, and the staff is always friendly and helpful. For these reasons, Henderson State Park has become a favorite for family gatherings, and even if you’re not camping overnight, this park offers reasonable car rates for a daily excursion, and is also a favorite spot for beach weddings. This park is also home to the Family Fun Arts Festival held yearly in May.

Nearby to Henderson Beach State Park are a variety of golfing options, as well as an U.S. Air Force Museum and a Destin History and Fishing Museum. In addition, Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park is nearby and so are a host of other family and cultural activities.

Located right off the Emerald State Parkway in Destin, the state park is hard to miss. No visit to Destin should be without a stop at this protected park to enjoy the secluded tranquil beauty of pristine white beaches. No matter the length of your visit, the fresh ocean air and peaceful sounds of the ocean lapping the sandy shore, the cry of the overhead gull and the fine grained white sandy beaches will leave you refreshed and calm and will make this one of your favorite beach destinations.