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Port St. Joe, Florida · Beaches

Cape San Blas Beaches: Where to Put the Chairs Down

Port St. Joe sits at the heart of Florida's Forgotten Coast, where miles of undeveloped shoreline, emerald Gulf waters, and powdery white sand make for some of the most beautiful beaches in the entire country. Pack your sunscreen and bookmark this guide!

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Cape San Blas white sand beach with emerald Gulf waters, Port St. Joe Florida1

Cape San Blas

Cape San Blas Rd, Port St. Joe, FL 32456

Consistently ranked among the top beaches in the nation, Cape San Blas is a 17-mile stretch of pure Gulf Coast paradise with zero commercial development, powder-white sand, and stunning emerald-green water. The narrow peninsula juts into the Gulf of Mexico with St. Joseph Bay on one side and open Gulf on the other, meaning you get breathtaking water views in every direction. It's a haven for scalloping, kayaking, horseback riding on the beach, and watching loggerhead sea turtles nest at night. Bonus: the historic Cape San Blas Lighthouse stands right at the tip for a perfect photo op.

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St. Joseph Peninsula State Park beach looking west, pristine white sand and dunes, Port St. Joe Florida2

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

8899 Cape San Blas Rd, Port St. Joe, FL 32456 (850) 227-1327

Named the #1 beach in the United States multiple times by Dr. Beach, T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park is the jewel of the Forgotten Coast. Ten miles of untouched shoreline, soaring white sand dunes, and crystal-clear Gulf water await, with virtually no crowds. Rent a cabin right on the beach, hike through the maritime hammock wilderness, or kayak across the serene bay side. The park is home to an incredible variety of migratory birds, making it a world-class birding destination too. If you only have time for one stop on this list, make it here.

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Where You'll Sleep

Make Ellie's Crab Shack Home Base

White sand three minutes from the front door, sunsets off the deck, and the dog gets a vacation too.

Halloween Week and Thanksgiving, Sorted

Happening Near Port St. Joe Right Now

From Oct 15October 15 to 18

Blast on the Bay Songwriters Festival

Port St. Joe and Indian Pass · About 20 minutes from Ellie's Crab Shack · Adults, kids welcome by day

Forty-plus Nashville songwriters playing their own hits, unplugged, in bars and on porches around town. The Sunday finale at the Indian Pass Raw Bar is a Forgotten Coast rite of passage.

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From Nov 6November 6 and 7

Florida Seafood Festival

Battery Park, Apalachicola · About 40 minutes from Ellie's Crab Shack, worth the drive · All ages

Florida's oldest maritime festival, now in its 63rd year, with oyster shucking contests, blue crab races, a parade and the Blessing of the Fleet. Apalachicola oysters are back this year.

Details

From Nov 20Late November to mid December, free (the center posts exact dates each year)

Forgotten Coast Festival of Trees

The Joe Center for the Arts, Port St. Joe · About 20 minutes from Ellie's Crab Shack · All ages

Local businesses decorate dozens of trees and the town votes for a favorite, with story time, crafts and Mr. and Mrs. Claus on the schedule. A sweet hour in town between beach days.

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See everything on around Port St. Joe this season

Port St. Joe Beach, calm Gulf waters and white sand in Port St. Joe, Florida3

Port St. Joe Beach

Howard St Beach Access, Port St. Joe, FL 32456 (850) 227-1223

The in-town beach at Port St. Joe offers calm, shallow Gulf waters and a laid-back small-town beach vibe that's hard to find anywhere else in Florida. It's a perfect spot for families with young kids, the gentle waves and gradual slope into the water make it one of the safest swimming beaches on the Gulf Coast. After your beach time, walk or bike to Port St. Joe's charming downtown for fresh seafood, ice cream, and local shops. The historic downtown is just blocks from the sand, making this the most convenient beach stop on the Forgotten Coast.

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Mexico Beach Florida, white sand and pier on the Gulf Coast4

Mexico Beach

Mexico Beach, FL 32456 (850) 648-8196

About 30 minutes east of Port St. Joe, Mexico Beach is a small Gulf-front community known as Florida's "Unforgettable Coast", and for good reason. The quartz-white sand and clear emerald water here rival any beach in the state, and the town's small-town charm keeps the crowds away. Cast a line from the iconic Mexico Beach Pier, hunt for Gulf shells along miles of uncrowded shoreline, or simply plant an umbrella and watch the dolphins play. It's the kind of place where locals keep coming back year after year, and once you visit, you'll understand why.

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Indian Pass Beach, wild coastal dunes and remote Gulf shoreline near Port St. Joe, Florida5

Indian Pass Beach

Indian Pass Rd, Port St. Joe, FL 32456

Indian Pass is Old Florida at its absolute finest, a remote, wild stretch of beach just 8 miles south of Port St. Joe where loggerhead sea turtles nest, dolphins cruise the shoreline, and beach bonfires are part of the culture. Drive your truck right onto the sand (with a permit), crab in the shallows, or fish the tidal pass where Apalachicola Bay meets the Gulf for some of the best speckled trout and redfish on the coast. Don't leave without stopping at the legendary Indian Pass Raw Bar for a bucket of ice-cold oysters, it's a Forgotten Coast institution that's been serving locals since 1992.

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Want the full write-up with more photos? Read it on visitportstjoeflorida.com.

More Port St. Joe Guides

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The White Marlin and Oysterette in Port St. Joe, FL Restaurants Where to Eat in Port St. Joe and Cape San Blas The White Marlin and Oysterette · Krazyfish Grille · Joe Mama's Wood Fired Kitchen and more Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center, Port St. Joe, FL Family Activities Port St. Joe With Kids: Turtles, Lighthouses and Paddleboards Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center · T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park · George Core Park & Cape San Blas Lighthouse and more Scalloping in St. Joseph Bay with Bayou Boat Rentals On the Water Boats, Scallops and Kayaks on St. Joseph Bay Bayou Boat Rentals · AquaBear Adventures · Lady J Charters and more

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