Opened in 1947 with just about 300 acres, Saint Andrews Park has grown over time to encompass almost 1200 acres of picturesque land bordering the Gulf of Mexico in the Florida Panhandle.

The land was formerly known as the St. Andrews Sound Military Reservation. We have the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to thank for the ship channel known as "the Pass", Shell Island, and the 400 foot marble block jetties.

Later during World War II the United States Army also improved St. Andrews State Park with paved roads, a bridge & pier for the lagoon, a few buildings still in use today, and a 155mm gun mount that is currently an observation area.

Saint Andrews State Park features a variety of possible recreation activities including camping, fishing, the Ashley Gorman Shell Island Cruise, picnicking, boating, bird watching, and alligator viewing.

The entrance fee for St. Andrews State Park is $5.00 per vehicle or just $1.00 per pedestrian, bicyclist or Annual Individual Entrance Permit Holders.

Campers will need to pay a camping fee of $24.00 per family or party.

Some of the amenities or attractions you can expect to find at St. Andrews State Park include Shell Island, Gator Lake, Turpentine Still, Sandy Point, the Grand Lagoon, the Gulf Pier, the Ashley Gorman Shuttle Pier, a fishing Pier, camp sites, a boat ramp, nature trails, picnic areas, bathhouse, Camp Store with ATM, the Jetty Store, and laundry facilities.

Most of the pictures above were taken inside the new Environmental Interpretive Center that was created in part due to efforts by the Friends of St. Andrews State Park. The "Friends" are a volunteer organization that watches over the park, and spearheads a variety of activities including beach cleanup, sea turtle monitoring, the native plant nursery, nature trail maintenance, and education workshops.