Henderson Beach State Park Visitors Guide

Explore Emerald Coast beaches at their finest at Henderson Beach State Park in Destin, Florida! This protected strip of shoreline will make you feel as if you’ve been transported to a deserted island paradise, with scenic views and rolling sand dunes as far as the eye can see. The soft-white sand and crystal-clear, blue-green water attracts thousands of visitors to this seaside sanctuary, year after year.

Henderson Beach State Park opened to the public in 1991, after a local businessman, Burney M. Henderson, sold this undeveloped land to the state in 1983 for $1.3 million. And we are so thankful he did! Tourism and development in Destin is booming, and thanks to Mr. Henderson, Destin still has a piece of untouched natural beauty to enjoy.

Henderson Beach State Park offers so much more than just dazzling Destin beaches! Camping is one of the top things to do here, with an enormous campground that has 60 campsites. Fishing, hiking, picnicking, bicycling, and wildlife viewing are other popular activities to enjoy at the park.

Speaking of wildlife, there is a pet-friendly nature trail at Henderson Beach State Park that is just under a mile in length. The trail leads to a massive and elevated sand dune, developed around the remains of a decades-old bunker, that was built when the military was using the area. This vicinity yields incredible stunning sights, and is the perfect opportunity for wildlife viewing, as well! Awesome animals you may encounter at the park include:

• Migrating Monarch butterflies
• Rare and migratory birds, as well as shore and wading birds
• Dolphins
• Sea turtles
• Rabbits
• Bobcats
• Gopher tortoises
• And MORE!

This special park is also home to the last remaining coastal scrub area in Destin. Sea oats, sand pines, dune rosemary, wax myrtle, and coastal lupine are just a few of the many other natural wonders you may encounter when strolling through the park.