Okaloosa & Walton Counties · Florida
HIGH HAZARD · RED High hazard, dangerous currents
75.6Water °F
2.8Waves ft
77.4Air °F
5.35UV
Flag is county-wide from South Walton Fire District · posted Nov 4, 8:00 AM CT
Water, waves, air and UV pulled Nov 4, 8:00 AM CT
Water, waves, air and UV pulled Nov 4, 8:00 AM CT
The short answer
Walton County beach parking is free. City of Destin beach parking is not. Every Walton County beach access, from Miramar Beach to Inlet Beach, has free parking as of November 2026: that includes all of 30A, Sandestin's neighboring county access, Seagrove, Santa Clara and Inlet Beach. Destin, in Okaloosa County, charges $20 for four hours at most city beach lots through the Destin Park & Play system (QR code or text, since March 1, 2026), with residents parking free on a pass and disability placards exempt; James Lee Park at 3510 Scenic Hwy 98 is the free exception, with 170 spaces. Okaloosa Island is still free (John Beasley Park, about 200 spaces), though the county has discussed paid parking for non-residents.
📋 Beach Parking at a glance
| Area | Parking - Cost |
| Inlet Beach | 110 spaces across 3 accesses (East 10, Central 50, West 50) - Free |
| Santa Clara | 30 + 30 on north side of 30A - Free |
| Seagrove Beach | 23 spaces - Free |
| Ed Walline | 39 spaces - Free |
| Gulfview Heights | 22 spaces - Free |
| Blue Mountain | 20 spaces (2365 S Co Hwy 83, not on 30A) - Free |
| Dune Allen | 22 + 4 LSV - Free |
| Ft. Panic | 27 spaces - Free |
| Grayton Regional | 0 spaces (tram stop, 44 Hotz Ave) - Free |
| Miramar Beach Regional | 138 + 62 spaces - Free |
| Scenic Gulf Drive Regional | 18 + 9 LSV - Free |
| Destin city lots | Various - $20 / 4 hours |
| James Lee Park (Destin) | 170 spaces - Free |
| Henderson Beach State Park | ~300 spaces - $6/vehicle + reservation |
| John Beasley Park (Okaloosa Island) | ~200 spaces - Free (for now) |
🏖️ What Beach Parking is actually like
Parking on this coast splits at a county line, and that's the whole story. Walton County doesn't charge, so from Miramar Beach all the way east to Inlet Beach you drive up, park, and walk. Destin does charge, twenty dollars for four hours, and the city switched to QR codes and text messages in March 2026 so there's no app to download.
The tradeoff on the Walton side is lot size. Inlet Beach and Miramar have 110 and 200 spaces. Blue Mountain has 20. Grayton has none at all, just a tram stop. So "free" doesn't mean "easy," and on a July Saturday the difference between a 200-space lot and a 20-space lot is your whole morning. The state parks are the third option: six bucks, a reservation at Henderson, and the emptiest sand on the coast.
❓ Beach Parking questions
Is beach parking free in Walton County?
Yes. All Walton County beach accesses are free as of November 2026, including every access on 30A, Miramar Beach and Inlet Beach.
How much is beach parking in Destin?
$20 for four hours at most city beach lots, paid by QR code or text through Destin Park & Play since March 1, 2026. Residents park free with a pass; disability placards are exempt. Citations are $100.
Is there free beach parking in Destin?
Yes, at James Lee Park, 3510 Scenic Hwy 98: 170 free spaces, restrooms, showers, playground.
Where do you park for Inlet Beach?
Three regional accesses: East (119 W Park Place Ave, 10 spaces), Central (303 W Park Place Ave, 50 spaces), West (435 W Park Place Ave, 50 spaces). 110 free spaces total.
Where do you park for Grayton Beach?
Grayton Beach Regional at 44 Hotz Ave has zero parking; it's a tram pick-up and drop-off. The Grayton Dunes neighborhood accesses at 288 Garfield St and 199 Banfill St have 4 spaces each. Otherwise park at Grayton Beach State Park, $6 per vehicle.
Which 30A access has the most parking?
Inlet Beach, 110 spaces across three accesses. Then Santa Clara with 60 (30 plus 30 on the north side of 30A).
Is parking free on Okaloosa Island?
Yes, for now. John Beasley Park has about 200 free spaces. The county has discussed paid parking for non-residents, so check the signs.
Do you need a reservation to park at Henderson Beach State Park?
Yes. Day-use entry has required an advance reservation since May 15, 2026. Book at reserve.floridastateparks.org up to 60 days ahead.
When do beach lots fill up?
Summer weekends and holidays, by mid-morning. Inlet and Miramar fill before about 9 a.m. Small lots like Blue Mountain's 20 spaces fill earlier.
Can you park overnight at a beach access?
No. Walton County's beach ordinance prohibits overnight camping on any beach, beach access, dune system or parking area.
ℹ️ About this page
Facts last verified Nov 4, 2026. We checked this page against public sources and answered everything to the best of our knowledge, but access rules, fees, hours and businesses can change without notice, so confirm anything that matters for your trip. If you find something here that is wrong or out of date, let us know and we will look into it and correct the page.
Flag and surf data update daily.
🔻 Before you go
🚩 Today's beach flags
Current conditions and what they mean.
🌊 Surf and water
Waves, water temp, wind, forecast.
🚗 Beach parking
Free vs paid lots along the coast.
🐕 Dog rules
Okaloosa County rules.
🍽️ Where to eat
Dining near Beach Parking.
🗓️ Things to do
Activities in and around Beach Parking.