If you're looking for a great outdoor adventure, Panama City Beach, Florida is the perfect destination. With its 44 miles of white-sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, dozens of public hotspots, and waterfront restaurants and shops, it's no wonder that Panama City Beach is one of the most popular vacation spots in the United States. But if you're looking for something a bit more off the beaten path, there are plenty of camping sites to explore in and around Panama City Beach. One of the best places to camp is Pine Log Primitive Campgrounds, located in the Pine Log State Forest (Washington County), about 14 miles north of Panama City Beach.
These primitive campsites are scattered along Pine Log Creek and offer a great opportunity to explore a variety of habitats. Unfortunately, there is no water, electricity, or restrooms available at these sites. For those looking for a more luxurious camping experience, St Andrews State Park is an outdoor enthusiast's dream. With more than 170 campsites for tents and recreational vehicles, St Andrews offers motorhome sites with water, electricity, grills, picnic tables, showers and centralized bathrooms.
There are also primitive tent camping sites and group camping sites available. Visitors can also enjoy access to two nature trails, a 2.5-mile stretch of beaches that stretches over the Gulf and the Great Lagoon, and fishing areas. The trails in Pine Log State Forest are marked with red flames (Faye and Dutch Trail), blue (Florida Trail), and orange (Crooked Creek Trail). The Crooked Creek Trail has been designated as the Pine Log State Forest Trailwalker Trail and is designed for off-road bikers but can also be explored on foot.
Farout Apps offers complete logistics and offline maps of the Florida National Scenic Trail (1500 miles), the Florida Keys Heritage Trail (108 miles) and the ECT Florida Connector (92 miles). If you're looking for a beach camping experience, Grayton Beach State Park is a great option. With its water and beach activities as its main attraction, Grayton Beach State Park also offers a one-mile interpretive trail through sand dunes and a 4.5-mile paved walking and biking trail along Western Lake. For those looking for a more family-friendly atmosphere than what's offered in Panama City Beach itself, Destin is located 40 miles west along the Gulf Coast.
Established in 1936, Pine Log State Forest was Florida's first state forest and spans two counties 17 kilometers north of U. S. Highway 98 in Panama City Beach. The forest offers waterfront campsites and a variety of circular trails for hikers, cyclists and horseback riders, plus a 5.7-mile linear segment of the Florida Trail which runs across the state.
The Old Sawmill Trail is the longest trail in the forest at 12.5 miles and was established for equestrian use. The Econfina Creek section of the Florida Trail meanders along rolling hillsides north of Panama City while the Forgotten Creek portion of the Florida Trail in Nokuse contrasts steep ravines with slow streams in rubber swamps with restored areas in old turf farms and pine plantations. No matter how you plan to reconnect with nature on your annual vacation as a family or as a couple, you'll always find a corner under the stars in Panama City Beach. With its stunning views of streams, challenging hikes through sand dunes, access to beaches along the Gulf Coast and more, there's something for everyone when it comes to camping in Panama City Beach.
