Grayton Beach State Park
One of the most photographed stretches of sand in Florida — with a rare coastal dune lake right next to the Gulf. It’s not a free county access like our other guides. Here’s how it actually works.
A State Park, Not a Free RBA — Here’s the Difference
Every other guide in this series (Ed Walline, Inlet Beach) is a free county Regional Beach Access. Grayton Beach State Park is different: it’s run by Florida State Parks, has its own gated entrance, and charges a per-vehicle entry fee. If you’re used to the free RBAs up and down 30A, that’s the one thing that catches people off guard here.
What you get for it: a genuinely different landscape. Western Lake, a rare coastal dune lake, sits right behind the dunes — most visitors walk right past it without realizing what it is.
Grayton Beach State Park — Get Directions
Bring a Few Dollars — This One Has a Gate
Unlike the free RBAs covered elsewhere in this guide, Grayton Beach State Park has a gated entrance and charges a per-vehicle entry fee. Verify: current entry fee amount at floridastateparks.org before you go — Florida state park fees can change. The park frequently reaches capacity on peak days.
- On-site parking inside the gate (fee covers parking)
- Don’t want to drive in at all? The free State Park Express tram runs from the Grayton Municipal Parking lot (1505 S Co Hwy 283) every 30 minutes, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. — the tram itself is free, though that lot charges non-residents ~$15/day in peak season
- Restrooms and outdoor showers on-site
- Don’t want to pay the entry fee at all? See the free option below.
More Than Sand — a Coastal Dune Lake and a Real Park
This is a full Florida State Park — ~316 acres with nearly 1,400 ft of Gulf frontage — not just a beach access, so there’s more to it than a boardwalk:
- Western Lake — a coastal dune lake behind the dunes, with a kayak/canoe launch right on it
- Camping — 59 sites with electric hookups
- Cabins — 30 units (reservations at floridastateparks.org)
- Hiking trails and picnic pavilions
- ADA accessible — Mobi-Mat and a beach wheelchair available (call ahead)
- Restrooms and outdoor showers at the beach
If you’ve only ever seen this park’s beach, the trail and the lake are worth carving out extra time for.
“Regularly named one of the best beaches in the country — and still one of the few spots on 30A with a coastal dune lake right next to the sand.”
Room to Sit, Different Rules Than an RBA
Because this is a state park and not a county RBA, a couple of the rules that apply elsewhere on 30A work differently here:
- Bonfires: not allowed. Florida State Parks prohibit open beach fires here — this isn’t the SWFD permit system that covers the county RBAs, it’s a flat no.
- Dogs: allowed on the park’s trails, but not on the beach itself.
- Lifeguards: none on duty here — always check the posted beach flag conditions before you get in the water.
There’s a Free Option Right Up the Road
If you’re not up for the entry fee, Bets “Beachmama” Haynes RBA at 44 Hotz Ave is the county’s newest Regional Beach Access, just up the road in Grayton Beach village — free, full public beach, restrooms, and a boardwalk connecting to Grayton Dunes.
Further west along 30A, Blue Mountain RBA and Ed Walline RBA are two more free county accesses worth knowing about if this park’s lot is full or the fee isn’t for you today.
Know Before You Go
- This is a paid state park, not a free RBA. Bring a card or cash for the entry fee — verify the current amount at floridastateparks.org.
- No beach bonfires. Florida State Parks don’t allow them here, unlike the county’s permit system at the RBAs.
- Dogs are trail-only — not allowed on the beach itself.
- Gate hours are limited — state parks typically close at sundown. Verify current hours before you go.
Not Sure Which Access Is Closest to You?
That’s exactly what Beach Buddy is for. Tell us where you’re staying and we’ll point you to the nearest access — parking, restrooms, room to sit, and all.
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