How to Access the Beach in South Walton

The 26 miles of stunning beaches in South Walton are perfect places to unwind and enjoy sugar-white sand and shimmering, turquoise Gulf waters, as well as rare coastal dune lakes. With more than 50 bay and beach access points in South Walton including everything from easy neighborhood beach access to county-owned public beaches, visitors can soak up the sun and enjoy a variety of water activities.

If you're headed out for some surf and sun, you'll find there are lots of ways to reach the beach. See them all at VisitSouthWalton.com, which includes an interactive beach access map showing the location of public and private beaches in South Walton, as well as their access points. 

Type in your address to find the nearest beach access and amenities. Upon navigating to an area, click on the color-coded beach and surrounding icons to see the full description. The South Walton beach access map is updated regularly, so keep checking back for the latest information.

Need a refresher on Walton County beach access rules? Here’s a quick breakdown of the different types of public and private beach accesses to plan your visit:

Regional Beach Accesses: A regional beach access, or RBA, can be found on public beaches from Miramar Beach in the west to Inlet Beach in the east. RBAs offer restrooms, parking, and showers and bike racks, with several offering ADA access. Each RBA also has a flag indicating current surf conditions, as well as a lifeguard on duty between March and October. Vendor-operated beach chair and umbrella services are available.

Neighborhood Beach Accesses: These smaller public beach accesses are located within neighborhoods and designed primarily for walk-up traffic. Oftentimes, a South Walton neighborhood beach access will also have flags indicating current surf conditions.

County Vendor-Managed Beaches: These are South Walton public beaches where rentals, including beach chairs and umbrellas, are available. These beaches have no restrictions on access or recreation.

State Park Beach Accesses: Walton County is home to four state parks, three of which offer access to the Gulf: Deer Lake State Park, Grayton Beach State Park, and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. There is an entry fee for these parks, but the small cost is definitely worth experiencing the natural beauty tucked beyond their entrances.

Owner-Managed or Resort-Vacation Rental-Managed Private Beaches: Access to these South Walton private beaches is site-specific to the resort, rental agency, or individual property owner. Accommodations can include condos, cottages, townhouses, or single-family homes. Renters and guests should check with their accommodations for access details.

Public access to privately owned beaches is allowed up to 20 feet landward from the wet/dry sand line, known as the Transitory Zone. Enjoy this area for activities like walking, running, and entering the water for swimming or other water recreation.

Here are more guidelines and Walton County beach access rules for visiting areas with private, beachfront property:

• Sunbathing, whether with personal beach chairs or towels, is allowed in these areas from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• To avoid overcrowding, the number of beachgoers in an owner-managed private beach is limited to the equivalent of one person per five feet of the private beach frontage.
• Private beach owners and their guests/renters have full use of their private beach and may relocate or remove beachgoers if they are not complying with the rules.
• Note that beachgoers cannot access the transitory zone through an owner-managed beach site, so be sure to pay attention to signage in these areas to determine where to enter.

With so many beach access points in South Walton, there’s a perfect spot on the sand waiting for you. Enjoy lively fun in the sun in the Transitory Zone or secluded natural beauty at a South Walton state park beach access. Just keep these guidelines in mind, and you’ll be all set for a fantastic experience on Walton County’s beautiful beaches.

For more information and a list of beach accesses in Walton County, visit visitsouthwalton.com/beach-bay-access-locations.

For questions about general beach access, contact the Walton County Tourism Department at (850) 267-1216 or toll-free at (800) 822-6877.