White sand on the Panhandle: Pensacola to Panama City Beach

Route description

Start in Pensacola’s historic downtown, then cross the bridges to Santa Rosa Island and drive west through Gulf Islands National Seashore to Fort Pickens, a brick fort that stayed in Union hands during the whole Civil War. The road is low and exposed; it closes after storms.

Head back east through Pensacola Beach and along the Navarre Beach causeway or US-98 to Destin, where the water turns an intense green over white quartz sand. Traffic on US-98 can be heavy in summer and on spring-break weekends, so drive early.

Leave US-98 for County Road 30A, which runs past rare coastal dune lakes and small planned beach towns. Grayton Beach State Park has one of the finest natural beaches in the area, and Seaside, a pastel new-urbanist town, is good for a stroll and a picnic. Parking along 30A is tight for RVs; use the state park lots.

Rejoin US-98 to Panama City Beach and finish at St. Andrews State Park, with calm lagoon snorkeling and boats to Shell Island. Spring and fall bring warm water with fewer crowds; hurricane season runs June to November.