Tips for Road Tripping along Florida's Scenic Highway 30A - South Walton
FAMILY ROAD TRIP ALONG FLORIDA’S 30A IN SOUTH WALTON
Scenic Highway 30A on Florida’s Emerald Coast is a must-visit part of the state. Also known as South Walton, this stretch of paradise is comprised of 16 beach neighborhoods, each with their own personality.
30A had been on my Florida bucket list ever since our family moved to Florida 5 years ago, and we finally made a stop there in the fall of 2019. We spent the weekend in Destin hitting the beach and experiencing a dolphin cruise, then spent a day road tripping through the different areas of 30A
While our time was spent just wandering the streets of SouthWalton and admiring the homes, scoping out the scenic vistas, and browsing the shops, I realized that to really experience the area it would be best to rent a home and stay for a few days.
Unfortunately, time was not on our side, so a short road trip would have to do for the time being. However, this area is definitely on my list of places to return to for a relaxing beach vacation in the future.
I would highly recommend planning a trip to 30A to enjoy the scenic highway, spacious beaches, and bustling neighborhoods. Whether you road trip along highway 30A or find a beach rental where you can stay with your family, you’ll love South Walton - the blissful stretch of beaches on Florida’s panhandle.
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WHAT IS 30A?
30A is a stretch of scenic highway in the community of South Walton between Destin and Panama City, Florida. It’s located on the Emerald Coast, otherwise known as Florida’s panhandle.
30A is made up of 16 beach communities or neighborhoods, each with their own personality and design.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT 30A?
30A gets incredibly crowded during the summer months, and the weather is very hot and humid. Rental prices are quite high, too.
That said, if summer is the only time of year you’re able to visit, aim for early June or late August when the crowds are a bit thinner.
We were able to visit 30A in October. The weather was perfect- still hot enough to swim, but not unbearably so. Rental prices are lower and the crowds have thinned out. You’ll mostly be surrounded by locals! The only thing to be mindful of in October is the end of the hurricane season in Florida.
The months between spring break and summer are wonderful, too! Late April and early May are just about perfect in Florida, and you’ll be able to ditch the spring break and summer crowds if you can make this time of year work.
WHERE TO STOP ALONG FLORIDA’S 30A?
If you’re planning to road trip along 30A like we did, you probably have a lot of questions. Which beach communities are worth a stop? Will I be able to find parking? How long should I spend in each spot?
I’ll share which beach communities we decided to visit and why, plus where we found parking!
WHERE CAN I FIND PARKING ALONG 30A?
This was easily my biggest concern. Thankfully, since we visited in October when there were fewer tourists and crowds, parking didn’t end up being an issue at all!
At each community we wanted to visit, free public parking lots were visible and available along the beach. The only place that was more difficult to find parking was Seaside, so we parked in Watercolor, the neighborhood right next to it. It was right around noon, so the sun was blazing hot and the kids complained about the short walk to and from the van. However, it truly wasn’t that big of a deal.
When in doubt, just head toward the beach and you should see parking lots and lots of street parking!
BLUE MOUNTAIN BEACH
Our first stop was Blue Mountain Beach. There was a small public parking lot with clean public restrooms right along the beach. We rolled in around 9 a.m. After taking a short walk along the beach, we meandered a few blocks away from the ocean to find a few small shops.
Blue Mountain Beach Creamery was the cutest little ice cream shop with Charlie’s Donuts located on the other side.
Since it was early we skipped the ice cream and grabbed a few donuts and lemonade, which was a great decision.
If our kids had been a little older, Blue Mountain Beach would have been the perfect spot to rent bikes and begin riding on the Timpoochee Trail which winds through the different South Walton beach neighborhoods. With toddlers and a pregnant mama in the hot weather, though, we opted to keep driving instead.
Takeaway: Blue Mountain Beach is perfect for families. It’s quiet and laid-back with plenty of nature to explore.
GRAYTON BEACH
We didn’t get to spend much time in Grayton Beach, but I wanted to mention it because it’s home to Grayton Beach State Park. For families that love to spend time outdoors, this might be the perfect stop for you.
You can go fishing, rent a canoe or kayak, or hike around Grayton Beach State Park.
Takeaway: Grayton Beach is perfect for nature lovers!
SEASIDE
Seaside is one of the most popular spots along 30A for good reason! You might recognize it from the popular movie The Truman Show, which was filmed there. You can see why it was used as the setting for a movie about a perfect city. The architecture is stunning with white and pastel-colored buildings, quaint outdoor shops, and a stunning view of the beach.
We planned our stop in Seaside right around lunchtime just so we could experience Airstream Row, the lineup of food trucks in Seaside’s main square. We decided on Meltdown, a food truck that makes gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches in every flavor combination you can imagine.
After lunch, we decided to stroll around the square ducking into the adorable shops and restaurants. On the ocean side of the street, there’s an outdoor market called Cabana with beachy apparel and decor.
Along the beach, there are several pavilions that serve as entrances to the beach or places to sit and sip a drink or enjoy the view.
Takeaway: Great for foodie families, shoppers, and a beautiful spot for family photos.
ALYS BEACH
There was something about Alys Beach that was hauntingly beautiful. Maybe it’s that this neighborhood was practically empty without a soul in sight, or maybe it was the stunning city planning and whitewashed homes with courtyards, fountains, and terraces.
This community is upscale and mostly residential. There are a few nice shops and restaurants, including a Charlie’s Donut Truck. Get there early if you want to get your hands on a donut - there’s a limited supply!
We enjoyed Alys Beach because it was such a quiet respite after bustling Seaside. We took tons of photos of the white Bermudan-style homes. You certainly don’t have to be a photographer to get beautiful shots here! Alys Beach also has an amphitheater in the middle of town with a splash pad and park, so bring your swimsuits!
Takeaway: perfect for a quiet cup of coffee, photographers (amateur or otherwise), and place to let kids run and stretch their legs.
ROSEMARY BEACH
Rosemary Beach was the last stop on our 30A road trip. There was plenty of parking around the shops in town, so we pulled in near the Sugar Shak for some ice cream and candy. We enjoyed our cones outside in one of the small parks in the center of town.
I loved walking down the European-style streets and browsing the many shops. This neighborhood also felt very family-friendly, and we saw kids everywhere biking, playing, and enjoying sweets.
Takeaway: perfect for a place to stop for sweets or to shop for souvenirs.
WHERE TO STAY
While we stayed in nearby Destin, if you want the complete 30A experience, I would highly recommend staying in a rental home for a few days in one of the 16 beach communities.
If you want to be right in the heart of the action with lots of restaurants, bars, and shopping, I think Seaside would be the best choice for you. You might also consider Rosemary Beach or Watercolor.
If you want some peace and quiet, you’re better off choosing Blue Mountain Beach. It’s still easy to get to the busier neighborhoods, but you’ll have more space, more nature, and fewer crowds to contend with.
Check Booking.com for home rental options, or of course, use my Airbnb link for $40 off your first booking!
Emily Krause is a Florida-based travel blogger who writes about exploring the world with kids. On A Mom Explores you’ll find best family travel destinations, Disney World tips, and how to make travel with babies and toddlers a little easier.
Emily believes that exploring starts in our own backyards, and adventure can happen anywhere with the right mindset.
