Okaloosa County · Emerald Coast · 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
Okaloosa Island is a barrier island in Okaloosa County, Florida, between Destin to the east and Fort Walton Beach to the west. It is not part of the City of Destin, though people lump them together. The island's public beach is served by Okaloosa County parks, including John Beasley Park at 15500 Miracle Strip Pkwy, with about 200 free parking spaces, restrooms with changing rooms and a reef you can snorkel to from shore, and the Okaloosa Island Boardwalk at 1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, free parking, restrooms, splash pad, playground, volleyball and a restaurant row. Okaloosa County lifeguards staff the island from the second Saturday in March through October 31, roughly 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., extended to 8 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
📋 Okaloosa Island at a glance
| Where it is | Barrier island in Okaloosa County FL, between Destin (east) and Fort Walton Beach (west). Reached by US 98 / Miracle Strip Pkwy. |
| Not Destin | Okaloosa County government, not the City of Destin. Different beach rules and different flag text. |
| John Beasley Park | ~15500 Miracle Strip Pkwy. About 200 free parking spaces, restrooms with changing rooms, pavilions, beach wheelchair program. Snorkeling reef offshore. |
| Okaloosa Island Boardwalk | 1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE (county park of record is 1300). Free parking for now; county is considering paid parking for non-residents. Restrooms with changing rooms, outdoor showers, pavilions, volleyball, playground, splash pad. |
| Restaurants on site | The Crab Trap, Rockin' Tacos, Floyd's Shrimp House, Al's Beach Club & Burger Bar. |
| Lifeguards | Okaloosa County guards the island from the second Saturday in March through October 31. March through May 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., September through October 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Beach wheelchairs | Free from Okaloosa County, March 1 through October 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (850) 259-4131 for delivery to the access. Not available under red flag. |
| Rules | No dogs (service animals only) at the Boardwalk beach. No alcohol in the park (drink inside licensed restaurants). No glass. No fires. Tents and umbrellas off the sand midnight to 7:30 a.m. |
| Flags | Text "BEACH" to 44144 (Okaloosa). |
🏖️ What Okaloosa Island is actually like
Okaloosa Island is the beach that comes with lunch. You park, walk fifty feet, and there's a bar, a burger, a taco stand and a splash pad for the kids. It's the busiest sand on this stretch and that's the entire point. The Boardwalk is where families go who don't want to pack a cooler and hike a boardwalk with three bags; the county built the convenience right into the sand.
John Beasley is the other half of the island's beach story, and it's the one locals pick. Two hundred free spaces, quieter, and a reef you can swim out to from shore if the water's clear. That's a real snorkel spot, not a marketing line. The island sits between Destin and Fort Walton, and everything about it runs on Okaloosa rules: no glass, no dogs at the Boardwalk, lifeguards from the second Saturday in March through the end of October. The hours stretch to 8 p.m. in high summer, which is the best time of day on this coast anyway.
❓ Okaloosa Island questions
Is Okaloosa Island the same as Destin?
No. Okaloosa Island is a barrier island in Okaloosa County between Destin and Fort Walton Beach. It's not part of the City of Destin, and the beach rules and flag system are the county's, not the city's.
Is parking free on Okaloosa Island?
Yes, for now. John Beasley Park has about 200 free spaces, and the Boardwalk has free parking. Okaloosa County has discussed paid parking for non-residents at some island lots, so check the signs.
Where do you park for John Beasley Park?
At the park itself, around 15500 Miracle Strip Pkwy. About 200 free spaces, restrooms with changing rooms, pavilions.
Does Okaloosa Island have lifeguards?
Yes. Okaloosa County guards the island from the second Saturday in March through October 31, roughly 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., extended to 8 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Are dogs allowed on Okaloosa Island beaches?
No dogs at the Boardwalk beach, service animals only. Other Okaloosa County beaches have their own policies; check before bringing a dog.
Can you drink alcohol on Okaloosa Island beaches?
Not in the Boardwalk park. Drink inside the licensed restaurants on site. No glass anywhere on the sand.
Is Okaloosa Island good for snorkeling?
Yes. John Beasley Park has a reef close enough to swim to from shore, and it's one of the better shore-snorkel spots on the Emerald Coast when the water is clear.
What is the Okaloosa Island Boardwalk?
A county beach park with a restaurant row, restrooms, outdoor showers, splash pad, playground and volleyball, at 1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE. Free parking.
Does Okaloosa Island have beach wheelchairs?
Yes, free from Okaloosa County, March 1 through October 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (850) 259-4131 to have one delivered to your access. Not available under red flag.
What time do lifeguards start and end on Okaloosa Island?
March through May 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., September through October 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where do you eat on Okaloosa Island?
The Boardwalk has The Crab Trap, Rockin' Tacos, Floyd's Shrimp House and Al's Beach Club & Burger Bar. Fort Walton Beach and Destin are each a short drive.
How do I check the flags on Okaloosa Island?
Text "BEACH" to 44144. That's the Okaloosa system; Walton County uses "SAFETY" to 31279.
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 Okaloosa Island.
🗓️ Things to do
Activities in and around Okaloosa Island.