St. Andrews State Park Camping Guide
Located in Panama City Beach, Florida, St. Andrews State Park offers standard tent and RV camping along with furnished glamping tents. The campground sits beside Lower Grand Lagoon, with beach access, trails, boating facilities and other park amenities a short distance away. Campsite inventory has changed during the park’s campground rebuilding work, so a fixed historical site count should not be treated as the number of sites currently available to reserve.
📍 St. Andrews State Park Campsite Map
St. Andrews State Park is located at 4607 State Park Lane in Panama City, Florida, between the Gulf shoreline and St. Andrews Bay. The map below is useful for checking the campground’s location, nearby roads and the general relationship between the camping area and the rest of the park.
🏕️ Campground Overview
The campground has historically used two main loops, but the old assumption that every numbered site is currently available is no longer reliable. Florida State Parks specifically identifies West Loop sites 93 through 158 as part of the reopened campground inventory.[b] The agency also states that only a portion of the East Loop is open for reservations while construction continues on the remaining campground area.[c]
| Campground Area | Site Numbers | Current Reading |
|---|---|---|
| West Loop | 93–158 | Florida State Parks specifically identifies this range as reopened for reservations when overnight camping is operating. |
| East Loop | Historically numbered within the 1–92 range | Only a portion is currently identified as open. Do not assume every site from 1 through 92 can be booked. Check the reservation system for the active site numbers on your dates. |
This distinction matters because an older campground map or campsite list can show a numbered site that is not part of the current reservable inventory. The reservation system should be treated as the final source for which individual sites can actually be selected.
Current standard campsites include water, 30- and 50-amp electric service and sewer hookups, plus a picnic table and grill. Florida State Parks states that the campground can accommodate equipment ranging from tents to RVs up to 50 feet long, although the dimensions and restrictions of the individual site still control what will fit there. Laundry facilities, campground bathhouses and accessible restroom facilities are also available when the campground is operating.[a]
🧭 Choosing a Campsite
A site number alone does not tell you whether a campsite will work well for your setup. For an RV, a 50-foot park-wide maximum does not mean every pad fits a 50-foot rig. For a tent, the questions are different: ground space, nearby facilities, shade and the site’s relationship to the lagoon may matter more.
| Selection Point | What to Check | How to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| East or West Loop | Whether the specific site appears in the reservation system | West Loop sites 93–158 have an officially stated reopened range. East Loop availability is partial, so verify the actual selectable site number rather than relying on the full historical numbering. |
| Tent or RV | Equipment type allowed for the individual site | Choose the correct equipment type during booking. Tent campers can use standard sites where permitted, while an RV must meet the site’s published equipment and size limits. |
| Rig Length | Individual pad length and equipment limit | The park publishes a campground maximum of up to 50 feet, but the selected campsite may have a lower limit. |
| Waterfront Priority | Reservation map, site location and current site photos | Many sites face Lower Grand Lagoon, but a lagoon-side position should be confirmed from the individual listing rather than assumed from the loop name. |
| Shade and Privacy | Current site photos and vegetation around the pad | Do not assume every site in one loop has the same shade. The West Loop lost tree canopy before its reconstruction, and vegetation can differ considerably from one site to the next. |
| Bathhouse Distance | Campground map and the position of the selected site | Campers who expect frequent restroom or shower trips may prefer a site closer to campground facilities. |
| Accessible Site | Accessible designation and site-level details in the booking system | Use the reservation system’s accessibility information rather than assuming a paved or concrete surface provides every feature you need. |
| Backing and Turning | Pad orientation, total rig length and room around the campsite | For a long travel trailer, fifth wheel or motorhome, check more than the pad length. The tow vehicle, turning angle and space needed to back into the site also matter. |
The campground has changed considerably from the layout documented in the park’s 2016 management plan. That plan described the former Lagoon and Pine Grove loops with 176 sites and four bathhouses, while also noting shoreline and drainage issues that affected parts of the campground.[g] Those historical figures are useful for understanding the campground’s development, but they should not be substituted for today’s reservable inventory.
🌟 Glamping Experience
Visitors who prefer a furnished tent can also look at the park’s glamping accommodation. The current concession information places the glamping tents at campground sites 15, 16 and 17. Each includes electricity, air conditioning, a queen bed, a twin-sized cot and water views.[f]
- Queen bed with linens
- Twin-sized cot
- Electricity and air conditioning
- Water views
- Picnic table, fire ring and charcoal grill
- Potable water and basic furnished-tent amenities
Glamping is an overnight accommodation, so it is also subject to temporary park closures and the availability shown by the applicable booking system.
🌊 Activities and Amenities
- Beaches: The park has more than 1.5 miles of white-sand beach, with areas used for swimming and shoreline recreation.[a]
- Water Activities: snorkeling, scuba diving, paddling, boating and fishing are available in and around the park.
- Hiking and Biking: Visitors can use nature trails and approximately two miles of paved park roadway for bicycling.
- Wildlife Viewing: Coastal habitats, marshes and inland natural areas support many of the species visitors commonly look for at the park.
- Picnic Areas: Picnic facilities with tables and grills are available in designated areas.
- Visitor Center: The Environmental Interpretive Center is associated with the park’s exhibits, but Florida State Parks currently flags the visitor-center exhibit amenity as unavailable. Check the current park information before planning a visit around it.[a]
📅 Reservations and Camping Fees
The reservation window is different for Florida residents and visitors who live outside Florida. Florida residents may reserve campsites or cabins up to 11 months before arrival, while non-Florida residents may reserve up to 10 months before arrival. New inventory is released daily at 8 a.m. Eastern Time.[d]
Same-day campsite bookings can be made through the reservation system until 1 p.m. local time when a site is available. Unreserved and unoccupied sites may also be offered to walk-in visitors, but walk-in availability is not guaranteed.[d]
The park’s current fee page lists standard camping at $28 per night plus tax, a nonrefundable $6.70 reservation fee and a $7 nightly utility fee. The utility fee does not apply to tent camping. Rates and added charges can change, so use the total shown by the official reservation system when booking.[e]
Camping FAQ
How far in advance can I reserve a campsite at St. Andrews State Park?
Florida residents may reserve up to 11 months before the arrival date. Non-Florida residents may reserve up to 10 months before arrival. New future inventory is released daily at 8 a.m. Eastern Time.
Are all East Loop sites from 1 through 92 currently open?
No. Florida State Parks states that only a portion of the East Loop is open for reservations while work continues on the remaining campground area. Use the official reservation system to see which East Loop site numbers are actually available for your dates.
Which West Loop sites are identified as reopened?
Florida State Parks identifies West Loop sites 93 through 158 as the reopened West Loop range. Individual availability still depends on operating conditions, reservations and any temporary closures.
Can an RV up to 50 feet camp at St. Andrews State Park?
The park states that campground sites can accommodate camping units up to 50 feet, but that is a park-wide maximum. Check the length restriction and pad information for the individual campsite before reserving a long RV or trailer.
Can I make a camping reservation on the day I arrive?
Yes, when inventory is available. Florida State Parks allows same-day campsite bookings through the reservation system until 1 p.m. local time. Walk-in camping may also be possible if a site remains open, but it is not guaranteed.
How do I know which campsite is currently available?
The official Florida State Parks reservation system provides the active inventory for the dates you select. This is especially important at St. Andrews because construction, maintenance, temporary operating conditions and existing reservations can affect which numbered campsites are bookable.
Sources
- [a] Florida State Parks — Experiences & Amenities: Current campground utilities, RV size information, campground construction status, beach information, visitor-center status and current overnight operating notice. (Official Florida State Parks source.) Florida State Parks
- [b] Florida State Parks — Manager’s Message: Identifies West Loop campsites 93 through 158 as the reopened reservation range. (Official Florida State Parks source.) Manager’s Message
- [c] Florida State Parks — Construction Projects at St. Andrews: Confirms that reservations are open for the West Loop and a portion of the East Loop while work continues on the remaining campground area. (Official Florida State Parks source.) Campground Construction Update
- [d] Florida State Parks — Camping and Cabin FAQ: Florida-resident and non-resident booking windows, 8 a.m. Eastern inventory release and same-day reservation rules. (Official Florida State Parks source.) Camping Reservation FAQ
- [e] Florida State Parks — Hours & Fees: Current published St. Andrews campsite base rate, reservation charge and utility fee information. (Official Florida State Parks source.) St. Andrews Hours & Fees
- [f] St. Andrews State Park & Shell Island — Glamping Tents: Current glamping locations at sites 15, 16 and 17 and the amenities supplied with the furnished tents. (Current park concession service information.) Glamping Tents
- [g] Florida Department of Environmental Protection — St. Andrews State Park Approved Unit Management Plan: Historical campground layout, former campsite inventory and campground shoreline and facility background. (Official Florida Department of Environmental Protection planning document.) Approved Unit Management Plan
