Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park

On a barrier island fronting historic Apalachicola Bay, this park offers visitors a little strip of paradise. This St. George Island State Park is a favorite destination for beachgoers, bird-watchers and anglers, offering spectacular Gulf of America sunsets and the best stargazing in the Panhandle. Miles of undeveloped beaches on this barrier island provide the perfect setting for the park, which offers ample opportunities for sunbathing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing, hiking, camping and nature study.

On the gulf side of the island, enjoy perfect blue waters and miles of sugary white sands, and perhaps catch sight of a pod of dolphins.

On the bay side, healthy marshes are home to wading birds and abundant saltwater fish. Nature trails thread through vast scrubs and pine forests, where red-cockaded woodpeckers and bald eagles linger in the canopy and brilliantly blue five-lined skinks dart through the undergrowth.

Few parks offer better opportunities for shelling and beachcombing. The shoreline is active during the summer months when sea turtles and shorebirds such as the snowy plover, least tern, willet and black skimmer lay their nests within the park.

Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park offers something for every beach lover and outdoor enthusiast. Stretching across more than 2,000 acres, the park features nine miles of white sand Gulf beaches and 12 miles of estuary shoreline along Apalachicola Bay. Named the “#1 Beach in America” in 2023, the park offers swimming, fishing, hiking, paddling, camping, stargazing and outstanding birding. It is also a vital habitat for shorebirds and a nesting site for loggerhead, leatherback, and green sea turtles. The park has six large picnic shelters equipped with grills, tables and nearby restrooms.

Hours: Daily, 8 am until sundown.
Admission: $6.00 per vehicle.