Photo thanks to Ebyabe (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Henderson Beach State Park Campground
A 60-site state park campground tucked behind the white dunes in the middle of Destin, with full hookups and a boardwalk to 1.3 miles of undeveloped beach.
Destin, Florida · on the Gulf
Season
Year-round
Book early; sites sell out months ahead
Elevation
Near sea level
Behind the Gulf dunes
Hookups
Full hookups
30 and 50 amp, water, sewer
Big rigs
Rigs to 60 ft
Back-ins and pull-thrus
Updated October 12, 2026 · Details checked against the park’s website
State park camping in Destin
The Henderson Beach experience
Henderson Beach is the only campground in Destin itself: 60 full-hookup sites on a wooded loop behind the dunes, a short walk from a protected stretch of beach. It reopened after Hurricane Isaias; as of Oct. 19, 2026 Florida State Parks listed no storm closure.
Full hookupsWater, sewer and 30 and 50 amp at all 60 sites
Rigs to 60 ftA mix of back-ins and pull-thrus
Beach boardwalks1.3 miles of undeveloped Gulf beach
Heated restroomsClimate-controlled bathhouse with hot showers
Pets welcomeIn the campground; not on the beach
Dune nature trailA 3/4-mile loop through the scrub
Grills & picnic tablesGround grill and table at every site
Beach pavilionsPicnic pavilions with showers by the sand
Life at camp
What campers say
The campground report card
The published scores are among the best on the coast. Campers praise the clean bathhouse, the big sites and the beach, and the main complaint is road noise from US-98.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report42 ft Jan 2017
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G/5GAT&T 4GT-Mobile 4G
Last reported nightly rate$36 Mar 2026
As reported by Campendium and RV LIFE users; the Google score covers the whole park, not just the campground. Confirm site lengths and fees with the park before you go.
Destin, on US-98
Getting there
The park entrance is on US-98 (Emerald Coast Parkway) on the east side of Destin, between the harbor and Miramar Beach.
From I-10: Exit 56 (SR-85) south through Niceville and over the Mid-Bay Bridge (SR-293, toll) to US-98, then east to the parkToll-free from I-10: Exit 85 (US-331) south over the Choctawhatchee Bay bridge to US-98, then west about 15 miles to the park
US-98 · EMERALD COAST PKWY
Set your GPS
17000 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL 32541
To Destin Harbor*About 11 min
To Miramar BeachAbout 12 min
To Okaloosa IslandAbout 20 min
To Topsail Hill SPAbout 20 min
Reopened after Hurricane Isaias. Overnight stays were suspended after the Oct. 9 landfall; as of Oct. 19, 2026 Florida State Parks listed no closure. Check the park page before you travel.
Check in from 3 p.m. Check-out is 1 p.m.; the ranger station has your site card if you arrive late.
*Drive times are from OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate; US-98 traffic in Destin can double them in summer. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around Destin
Around Destin
Destin Harbor and Miramar Beach are each about 10 minutes away; Okaloosa Island and Topsail Hill are about 20.
Photo thanks to Destin Vacation Boat Rentals (CC BY 2.0)
Destin Harbor
Charter fishing fleets, dolphin cruises, pontoon rentals to Crab Island and waterfront restaurants along the HarborWalk.
Photo thanks to Jeremiah Crosswhite (CC0)
Miramar Beach
Sugar-white sand and clear green water along Scenic Gulf Drive. Lifeguards work the regional accesses March through October.
Photo thanks to logopop (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Okaloosa Island
Gulf Islands National Seashore’s Okaloosa Area: a quiet stretch of beach and soundside picnic spots between Fort Walton Beach and Destin.
Photo thanks to Alexander Hatley (CC BY 2.0)
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Tall white dunes, rare coastal dune lakes and a quiet 3-mile beach. Still closed after Hurricane Isaias as of Oct. 19, so check before you go.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
The three closest RV parks and campgrounds to Henderson Beach, by drive time.
Photo thanks to Destin Village RV Resort
Destin Village RV Resort
A gated park of 27 owner lots a block from the beach, rented lot by lot through the owners.
Photo thanks to Geronimo RV Park
Geronimo RV Park
A spotless 34-site park two blocks from Miramar Beach, with concrete pads and a free golf-cart beach shuttle.
Photo thanks to Destin RV Beach Resort
Destin RV Beach Resort
An upscale 36-site gated resort with a heated pool and private beach access across Scenic Gulf Drive.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Fees, rules and what to ask before you reserve a state park site.
Our take: the best-located public campground in Destin: big full-hookup sites, a spotless bathhouse and a protected beach a short walk away, for about half what the private resorts charge. Sites sell out up to 11 months ahead and US-98 is noisy on some sites, so book early and pick your site carefully.
Campground feesFlorida State Parks · checked Oct 8–12, 2026
Campsite$30 /night
Utility fee$7 /night
Total before tax$37 /night
Reservation fee$6.70 /booking
FL residents 65+ or with a disability$22 /night
Plus Florida sales tax. The utility fee covers water, electric and sewer. Florida residents 65 or older, or with a qualifying disability award, get 50% off the $30 base fee.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the park’s rates page or call (850) 837-7550.
Typical January afternoon
Destin63°
Chicago32°
Mild winters: 31° warmer than Chicago in January; July highs reach about 91°.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider and why campers book it a year out.
Open
Site types
$37 a night before tax, plus a $6.70 booking fee.
Open
Rates & policies
Check-in, stay limits, pets and quiet hours.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you reserve.
Open
Henderson Beach State Park is a 208-acre Florida state park on the Gulf in Destin. Its 60-site campground sits on a paved loop in the coastal scrub behind the dunes, with boardwalks to the beach.
Best for
- Beach lovers who want a protected, undeveloped beach a short walk from the site.
- Big rigs: every site has full hookups and the park lists rigs to 60 feet.
- Budget travelers: $37 a night before tax is a fraction of nearby resort rates.
- Families who want Destin’s restaurants and harbor 10 minutes away.
Consider this
- Sites book up to 11 months ahead, especially March and summer.
- US-98 runs right beside the park; some sites hear the traffic.
- Pets aren’t allowed on the beach.
- Most sites are back-ins, not pull-thrus.
Winter in Destin
Typical January afternoon
63°
Destin
Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport
32°
Chicago
Chicago O’Hare
31 degrees warmer than Chicago, with nights near 45°. Normal January highs, 1991–2020.
All 60 sites have water, sewer and 30 and 50 amp electric, a picnic table and a ground grill. Every site costs the same; the reservation system shows each one’s length.
Standard site $37/night
$30 plus a $7 utility fee, before tax and the $6.70 reservation fee.
Florida seniors $22/night
Florida residents 65 or older get half off the base fee; the utility fee still applies.
Disability discount $22/night
For Florida residents with a qualifying disability award.
Day use $8/vehicle
Day visitors pay per vehicle at the gate; check the park page for current fees.
Nightly$37Plus tax and $6.70 booking fee
Booking window11 monthsOnline or (800) 326-3521
Max stay14 nightsState park limit
Check-in3 p.m.Check-out 1 p.m.
Max RV60 ftSite lengths vary
HookupsFull30/50 amp, water, sewer
PetsWelcomeLeashed; not on the beach
Quiet hours11 p.m.–8 a.m.State park rule
Guests8 per siteState park rule
StatusOpenReopened after Hurricane Isaias (Oct. 19)
Checked against Florida State Parks on October 12, 2026. Fees are set by the state and can change; the $6.70 reservation fee is charged once per booking. Book up to 11 months ahead at reserve.floridastateparks.org or (800) 326-3521.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Is everything open after Hurricane Isaias? The park reopened; check its alerts for any storm repairs.
- Which sites fit my rig? Lengths vary; filter by length on the reservation site.
- Is my site a pull-thru? Most are back-ins.
- Is the playground open? It was closed for maintenance in 2025–26.
- Can I get the senior discount? Only Florida residents 65+ or with a disability award qualify.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Year-round
Ready to camp in Destin?
Reserve through Florida State Parks up to 11 months ahead; spring and summer weekends go first.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Campground and beach photos by Ebyabe via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0), plus a still from the Campers and Campfires video. Video: Campers and Campfires on YouTube. Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: Destin Vacation Boat Rentals (Destin Harbor; CC BY 2.0), Jeremiah Crosswhite (Miramar Beach; CC0), logopop (Okaloosa Island; CC BY-SA 3.0) and Alexander Hatley (Topsail Hill; CC BY 2.0); the images were resized. Other-park photos: Destin Village RV Resort, Geronimo RV Park and Destin RV Beach Resort. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the parks we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Henderson Beach State Park Campground unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the park’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the park and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Henderson Beach State Park Campground at floridastateparks.org or (850) 837-7550. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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