Overview
Santa Rosa Beach is in the Emerald Coast region of Florida. The settlement, once known as Hogtown, is on the shores of Hogtown Bayou of the Choctawhatchee Bay.
6 sights · 2 things to do · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Santa Rosa Beach
Eden Gardens State Park
A 115 acre Florida State Park and historic site in Point Washington, south of Freeport, off US-98 on County Route 395.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
A 1,640-acre park with three miles of white sand beaches, along with lakes, and wetlands. The endangered Choctawhatchee beach mouse can be found here.
Deer Lake State Park
There are beaches and picnicking areas in the park, but it also provides opportunities for birding, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
Grayton Beach State Park
The park, which opened in 1968, is the location of salt marshes, dunes, and blue-green waters. It's a good place for swimming, fishing, snorkeling, and camping, and within the 2,200 acres of the park is space for recreat…
Seaside
A master planned new urbanist town with small lots and white picket fences. Visit the small post office and adjacent shops, Ruskin Place Park, Seaside Avenue, The Chapel at Seaside, Seaside Assembly Hall, and the famous …
Alys Beach
Residential community undergoing development. Master planned community with houses built in the Moorish Mediterranean style.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 40°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and Aug. (climate data from nearby Florida Panhandle)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- DSI Destin Executive Airport, Destin — 19 mi away. Directions
- ECP Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, Panama City Beach — 22 mi away. Directions
- PNS Pensacola International Airport, Pensacola — 62 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Eden Gardens State Park, Seaside
- Afternoon Grayton Beach State Park, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Day 2
- Morning Alys Beach, The Village at Rosemary Beach
- Afternoon Rosemary Beach, Deer Lake State Park
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
See
The South Walton Beach 30A, a 15-mile beach road between Panama City Beach and Sandestin, is a relatively unknown scenic route. Key stops west to east:
See Alys Beach
Residential community undergoing development. Master planned community with houses built in the Moorish Mediterranean style.
See Rosemary Beach
The center of Rosemary Beach is a European style street with shopping, dining, and a town square (Western Green). Note: beach access requires code, granted only to those staying in town.
Do
Do Grayton Beach State Park
The park, which opened in 1968, is the location of salt marshes, dunes, and blue-green waters. It's a good place for swimming, fishing, snorkeling, and camping, and within the 2,200 acres of the park is space for recreational vehicle and tent camping, along with 30 cabins.
Sleep
Go next
Nearby
Freeport
City / town · 8 listings · 10 mi away
Destin
City / town · 54 listings · 20 mi away
Niceville
City / town · 4 listings · 22 mi away
Panama City Beach
City / town · 37 listings · 25 mi away
DeFuniak Springs
City / town · 12 listings · 25 mi away
Fort Walton Beach
City / town · 11 listings · 28 mi away
Panama City
City / town · 12 listings · 32 mi away
Navarre
City / town · 41 listings · 42 mi away
My experience
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