Hi there!
The Henderson Beach State Park beach is one of the best beaches in the Florida Panhandle.
It’s one of the best beaches in Destin.
It is THE Florida state park to go to in Destin!
The water color is amazing at Henderson Beach State Park!
If you go on a good weather day.
You can also see coastal dunes at Henderson Beach State Park!
And it is just to SEE the dunes!
You don’t want to walk across the sand dunes in Henderson Beach State Park in an effort to preserve them.
Dune grass is said to be fragile and an important part of the coastal ecosystem so take care not to step on any no matter where you are!
You will also be walking on a boardwalk trail that goes above sand dunes in order to get to the beach!
Cost to visit Henderson Beach State Park
aka cost of Henderson Beach State Park beach parking
In order to go to the Henderson Beach State Park beach, you’ll need to enter Henderson Beach State Park.
So the cost of the beach parking is the cost of entry into Henderson Beach State Park.
This is around $6 a car for a one-day pass. See current fees.
👆 In 2022, the cost of Henderson Beach State Park was $6 a car.
If you plan to make this a year of going to a ton of Florida state parks, then there is also the Florida state parks annual pass.
Crowds at Henderson Beach State Park: Go early!
As one of the best beaches in Destin, Henderson Beach State Park does get full.
And, when it does, there is limited entry to Henderson Beach State Park. As in, they won’t let anyone in.
👆 Due to Henderson Beach State Park beach parking limits, if you leave the park re-entry is not guaranteed, even if you have already been in the park earlier in the day.
So, especially if it’s a good weather beach day, and even more especially if it’s a good weather beach day on the weekend, the earlier you go, the better!
According to a Florida state park ranger at nearby Grayton Beach State Park, the most likely time to fill up there is between 10am and 3pm, so it’s likely similar at Henderson Beach State Park!
See more for your Henderson Beach trip:
- Why swim with an open water swim buoy
- What to pack for a Florida beach trip
- Henderson Beach State Park campground
More below about going to the Henderson Beach State Park beach!
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Can you swim at Henderson Beach State Park?
Yes, it’s possible to go swimming at Henderson Beach State Park!
That is, if you can don’t think the water temperature is too cold for swimming!
In the winter, spring, and fall, the highest water temperature you will encounter will probably be in the low 60s… mid 60s if you’re lucky! 🥶
For many people, this is too cold for swimming.
But there will almost always be a few people swimming along Florida’s gulf coast even in these temperatures!
I was at another Florida Panhandle beach and there were people who had just come out of the water when the air temperature was in the 40s!!! 🥶🥶🥶 (It was March.)
Henderson Beach State Park lifeguards
There are no lifeguards at Henderson Beach State Park.
The beach is open without lifeguards… at your own risk!
There is no lifeguard, but you can go swimming in Henderson Beach State Park.
The boring safety message for swimming in Henderson Beach State Park and any of the Destin beaches!
The ocean is powerful! The Gulf of Mexico is powerful!
Rip currents exist! Know before you go!
Take care out there!
Look for the beach flag warnings… and take extra caution based on the color of those beach flags!
You will see a green flag, yellow flag, or red flag.
Once you approach the Henderson Beach State Park entry station, you can look for the beach flag.
You will also see beach flags at Henderson Beach.
Even if the beach flag color indicates that there are “calm conditions,” it’s still the ocean, so take care!
Beach facilities at Henderson Beach State Park
Most notably beach facilities means that there is a bathroom.
There are also basic outdoor beach showers at Henderson Beach State Park so you can rinse off sand.
Day use picnic area in Henderson Beach State Park
And as the day use area of Henderson Beach State Park, there are also picnic tables that you can eat at just a short walk from the parking lot.
Stop by a Walmart, Whole Foods, or Publix grocery store on your way to Henderson Beach State Park, and have a picnic along with views!
There is a Walmart directly across the entry road to Henderson Beach State Park. (map)
And there is a Whole Foods and the Publix at Paradise Key that are less than 10 minutes from Henderson Beach State Park. (map)
As a Walmart and Publix in a beach town, you can also buy some of your Florida beach essentials here too if you didn’t bring it from home, including beach chairs and floats.
Henderson Beach State Park store
There is also a small store located at the Henderson Beach State Park entry station.
You can get a few beach basics here, along with Henderson Beach State Park souvenirs.
See more for your Henderson Beach State Park beach trip: What to pack for Florida beach vacation
Henderson Beach State Park beach parking
Once you are near the Henderson Beach State Park entry, you will start to see signs.
The state park entry is located directly off the main road.
Then once you get past the state park entry, you’ll keep driving until you see the first beach parking lot!
Or, you can keep driving to go to the other beach parking lot!
There is not much difference between the beach parking areas. It will just get you to a different part of the beach.
But if you are interested in hiking the dunes trail (literally a walk across sand), then you’ll want to keep driving until you reach the second beach parking lot.
And then from the parking lot of your choice, you can walk to the beach!
If you are staying at the Henderson Beach State Park campground, then there is also a separate beach path from the campground. Since this will lead to a separate section of the beach, it’s kind of like a more private camper’s beach!
Boardwalk trail across dunes to the beach
There is a boardwalk trail that goes across the dunes that leads to the beach.
And you’ve made it to the beach!
And that’s a bit about Henderson Beach in Destin!
More for your beach trip to Henderson Beach State Park and beyond:
- Best beaches in the Florida Panhandle
- Grayton Beach State Park
- St Andrews State Park (beach and pier!)
- Destin beaches
- Navarre Beach (dolphins and shelling!)
- Gulf Islands National Seashore
- Florida Panhandle campgrounds
- Southwest Florida beaches
- Best shelling beaches in Florida
HAPPY OCEAN VIEWING OR SWIMMING AT HENDERSON BEACH STATE PARK!
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