There are a number of reasons why Grayton Beach consistently ranks in the top ten of Florida State Parks. The white sandy beach is easily accessed from the campground. The park is full of birds. The staff and volunteers are extremely friendly and helpful.
There are two loops in the campground. The newer one is more open and has concrete pads while the older one has sites carved out of the abundant vegetation. It’s not for larger RVs but perfect for tents and smaller RVs like ours. If you want open and sunny, pick the new loop. If you want private and secluded, pick the old loop. If you get a site that’s oriented just right, you can use your satellite dish.
Our first three days at Grayton were like the photo above. There were times during the day when you could barely see that there was a beach out there. Then, for our last day, we were rewarded for our patience with the 180 degree panorama below.
There is an 18.6 mile long bike trail that runs from Topsail Hill Preserve State Park to Inlet Beach along dune lakes through the planned communities of Watercolor, Seaside and Rosemary. The western end nearest Topsail is quieter and much less developed. There is a great deal of construction happening and there are many driveways cutting across the trail from Seagrove to Deer Lake so be extra careful to watch for vehicles. A collection of old Airstream trailers line the trail in Seaside serving everything from hot dogs to asian to anything with melted cheese.
Once you’ve parked in the campground, you can get to almost anything you need by bike. If you’re looking for a place to stop and unwind, this is it.
Just on the other side of US-98 is Eden Gardens State Park, originally the home of William Henry Wesley and his lumber company. After his wife died, Lois Maxon bought the property and began developing the gardens that can be enjoyed today. The temperature drops and time slows down.
