Dunes and sea oats at St. Andrews State Park
Things to do

Parks and trails in Panama City Beach

For trails, Conservation Park has 24 miles of unpaved paths and eight boardwalks, open sunrise to sunset. Camp Helen State Park, between the Gulf and Lake Powell, costs $4 a car. Frank Brown Park has free playgrounds, a fenced dog area and a 50-meter pool, and Aaron Bessant Park next to Pier Park hosts events such as Mardi Gras and the car and boat shows.

Pick a park
Checked November 1, 20265 parksCamp Helen $4 a car

St. Andrews State Park · Photo: Royalbroil / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits

The short answer

Which park for your day

Conservation Park and the public areas of Frank Brown Park are free. The Frank Brown pool charges its own admission. The city's page for Aaron Bessant Park lists no entry fee or hours; call the parks office at 850-233-5045.

  • A long walk or run in the woodsConservation Park24 miles of unpaved trails, loops from half a mile to 11 or 12 miles.Free
  • A quiet beach with a nature trailCamp Helen State ParkBetween the Gulf and Lake Powell; no lifeguards.$4 a car
  • A playground, pool and dog parkFrank Brown ParkPlaygrounds, a fenced dog area and a 50-meter pool.Free public areas
  • A stroll near Pier ParkAaron Bessant ParkThree walking loops, 1.5 miles of trails in all, and an amphitheater.Entry not published
  • Biking with a beach daySt. Andrews State ParkTwo miles of paved park road; bikes stay off the boardwalks.$8 a car
Compare

Five parks side by side

  • Conservation Park

    Address100 Conservation DriveEntryFreeOpenSunrise to sunsetDogsOn a leash, up to 2 dogs a person

  • Camp Helen State Park

    Address23937 Panama City Beach ParkwayEntry$4 a car, $2 on foot or by bikeOpen8 am to sundownDogsNot on the beach or boardwalks; leash up to 6 ft where allowed

  • Frank Brown Park

    Address16200 Panama City Beach ParkwayEntryPublic areas free; pool $8 a dayOpen5 am to 11 pmDogsOn a leash; off leash only in the fenced dog areas

  • Aaron Bessant Park

    Address500 W Park Drive, next to Pier ParkEntryNot publishedOpenNot publishedDogsOn a leash; pick up after them

  • St. Andrews State Park

    Address4607 State Park LaneEntry$8 a car with 2–8 peopleOpen8 am to sundownDogsNot on the beach; leash up to 6 ft where allowed
Conservation Park

24 miles of trails in the woods

The park protects wetlands that filter treated water before it flows on to St. Andrews Bay. Dogs are welcome on a leash, up to two per person. Paved paths, Gayle's Trails, link the park with trails on the beach side.

Sources: Visit Panama City Beach: Conservation Park, City of Panama City Beach: Conservation Park.

Size
2,900 acres
Entry
Free
Trails
24 miles of unpaved trails; loops from 0.5 to 12 miles (the tourism office's trails page says 0.5 to 11 miles; the city lists 12 trails from 0.6 to 11 miles)
Boardwalks
Eight, more than a mile in all
Open
Sunrise to sunset, daily
Facilities
Restrooms, drinking water, picnic areas and a pavilion at the main parking lot
Water
The city lists drinking water only at the trailhead building; carry your own on longer loops
Not allowed
Motor vehicles and horses on the trails, overnight stays, campfires, smoking and open flames
Camp Helen State Park

A state park at the west end

Pets are not allowed on the beach, boardwalks or playgrounds. Where pets are allowed, keep them on a hand-held leash of 6 feet or less. Service animals are welcome everywhere. One of the park's pages still lists kayak rentals all year, but its main page says they stopped on May 13, 2026.

Size
180 acres according to Florida State Parks (other pages say 183 or 800); between the Gulf and Lake Powell
Open
8 am to sundown, every day; day use only
Entry
$4 a car, $2 a person on foot or by bike, paid at an honor box
Trails
The Oak Canopy Trail, 0.5 mile on packed earth through maritime forest, with views of the salt marsh; the North Trail, 1.8 miles, starts on pavement along Lake Powell and ends in a 1-mile packed-earth loop; free trail guide at the visitor center
Beach walk
0.75 mile round trip from the main parking lot through the dunes, in soft sand
Access
A paved path to a trail north of US 98; ask at the visitor center about a beach wheelchair (850-233-5059)
Facilities
Restrooms, a shower station, picnic tables and grills
Swimming
No lifeguards
Alcohol
Not allowed
Kayaks
Not rented since May 13, 2026; Friends of Camp Helen say the state is looking for a new operator

Sources: Florida State Parks, Camp Helen, experiences and amenities, park rules, trails at Camp Helen, pet policy; Friends of Camp Helen.

Marsh, pines and a sand path to the Gulf at Camp Helen State Park
Marsh, pines and a sand path to the Gulf at Camp Helen State Park.Camp Helen State Park · Photo: Ebyabe / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Frank Brown Park

Playgrounds, pool and a dog park

The public areas are free all year. The pool, tournaments and festivals have their own rules and prices.

Panama City Beach with a dog

Sources: Visit Panama City Beach: Frank Brown Park, pet-friendly; City of Panama City Beach: Frank Brown Park, aquatic center, pool admission.

Size
More than 200 acres, according to the tourism office; the city says over 100
Open
5 am to 11 pm
Free all year
Playgrounds, picnic areas and trails
Running
A lit 1.25-mile jogging loop
Dogs
Three fenced off-leash areas, according to the city; the tourism office also lists 1.5 miles of dog-friendly trails
Sports
Four lit tennis courts
Aquatic center
A 50-meter pool, a 5,000 sq ft splash park and a kids' pool. The main pool is open all year; the city calls the kids' splash pool seasonal
Pool admission
$8 a day; $6 for seniors 65+ and military with ID; under 3 free
Aaron Bessant Park

The festival park by Pier Park

Dogs are allowed on a leash; pick up after them. The city ran its free 2026 summer concerts on Thursday evenings, 7 to 9 pm, from June 4 to August 6. The tourism office's park page says Tuesdays. There's no 2027 schedule yet.

Events at the park

Pier Park

Sources: Visit Panama City Beach: Aaron Bessant Park, pet-friendly, City of Panama City Beach: Summer Concert Series.

Size
70 acres, next to Pier Park
Walking
Three walking loops; the city counts 1.5 miles of trails at Aaron Bessant Park and Pier Park in all, without lengths per loop
Venue
An outdoor amphitheater; the park hosts the free summer concerts and events such as Mardi Gras and Emerald Coast Cruizin'
Memorial
Veterans' memorial
Address
500 W Park Drive, according to the city and event organizers; the tourism office gives 600 Pier Park Drive
St. Andrews State Park

Biking in the state park

Bikes may use the park's roads, including 2 miles of paved park road, but not the footpaths, boardwalks or beach trail. The camp store rents bikes, 9 am to 5 pm. For a short walk, the Heron Pond and Gator Lake trails are each half a mile. Entry is $8 a car with 2–8 people.

St. Andrews State Park guide

Sources: Florida State Parks: St. Andrews hours and fees and experiences and amenities.

Grass, palms and the bay beside a campsite at St. Andrews State Park
Grass, palms and the bay beside a campsite at St. Andrews State Park.St. Andrews State Park campground · Photo: Scott Long / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Kayaks and boards

Renting a kayak or a paddleboard

St. Andrews State Park's concession rents kayaks and paddleboards from two hours; you book them on Viator, from $32.10 for a single kayak. Park entry is extra and the rentals are seasonal.

Kayak and paddleboard rentals on Viator