CAPE SAN BLAS
Where
Cape San Blas, a slender thread of white sand that curves around St. Joseph Bay and stretches 20 miles into the Gulf of Mexico, promises numerous beach accesses, some with ADA access and facilities. The Cape is also home to T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, a highly acclaimed beach park located at 8899 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe FL 32456.
Vibe
Ultra-casual, top-ranked beach with everything but the crowds.
Shhh—don’t tell! Cape San Blas has abundant amenities that include restrooms, showers and a concession; plus outdoor activities like swimming, scalloping and camping. Yet it manages to slide under the radar, just far enough off the beaten path that you’ll never have to fight to find a spot to plant your beach umbrella. Here, you’ll find towering dunes; migrating raptors, songbirds, butterflies and dragonflies; and a generous dose of sun and salt air. You might see families splashing in the waves; couples admiring the sunset; or a handful of beachgoers searching for seashells.
See, feel
Dr. Beach named St. Joseph Peninsula State Park the number one beach in the nation in 2002, and having taken the top spot, it can’t be rated again—but it’s still got the magic.
Encompassing 1,900 acres, the beach promises minimal surf; blindingly-white, powdery sand; and dunes that arc high above the seeming endless landscape of clear, tranquil, turquoise water.
While the water is usually calm, tides, winds and offshore systems can occasionally cause rough conditions.
On or near the beach
Sunning and swimming are popular, but that’s just the tip of the sandbar at St. Joseph Memorial Park. The shelling is legendary, and birders won’t know which way to look. Part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, the park is beloved by wood-warblers, plovers, and even rarities like the Western Kingbird and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.
You can bike two miles of paved road; hike a vast assortment of trails; canoe and kayak; and Scuba Dive artificial reefs just offshore and north of the park. Anglers can try to hook speckled trout, red drum, flounder and a vast array of other fish. Scalloping is immensely popular in the summer. You can even camp here, in primitive sites or those with facilities. Here’s more information about park activities.
Accessibility
Dedicated to making the park welcoming to all visitors, accessible amenities at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park include outdoor shower/rinse stations; the park concession; the marina basin; the picnic shelter and picnic facilities. It provides an accessible route to the beach and also offers a beach wheelchair and an electric mobility device, offered first-come, first-served.
Facilities
Amenities at the park include a boat ramp; cabins; campgrounds; a canoe/kayak launch; pavilions; and restrooms and showers. The Scallop Cove Too concession offers food, snacks, drinks, groceries, beach supplies, boating and fishing supplies, camping supplies and beach rentals. They also rent pontoon boats, kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and dive flags.
Lifeguards
There are no lifeguards; swim at your own risk. Visitors are reminded to pay close attention to the Warning Flag Signs posted at welcome stations and on the beaches. These flags indicate the swimming conditions at the beach.
Parking
Parking is included with admission.