Bay County Gulf and bay coast · Florida
Carl Gray Park Beach
- State
- Florida
- County
- Bay County
- City / community
- Panama City
Florida Panhandle · Bay County Gulf and bay coast
A reopened North Bay beach park with picnic facilities, playgrounds and paved public parking.
Good fit: A reopened North Bay beach park with picnic facilities, playgrounds and paved public parking.
Plan around: A named coastal bay shoreline with public park or pier context.
PLAN THE BASICS
At a glance
- Dogs
- Unknown · clarification pendingDetails & restrictions
- Restrooms
- YesDetails & restrictions
- Lifeguards
- Unknown · clarification pendingDetails & restrictions
- Public access
- Public accessDetails & restrictions
- Beach driving
- Unknown · clarification pendingDetails & restrictions
Choose an entrance
Carl Gray Park waterfront at 4600 Collegiate Drive
A reopened North Bay beach park with picnic facilities, playgrounds and paved public parking. See the entrance section for accessibility details and sources.
Official route / restriction details ↗Parking, route & accessibility evidence
Parking & entry: Public sand access and parking are separate. Current charges, legal parking allocation and payment at this exact crossing were not established; do not use a hotel lot without permission.
Parking source ↗Accessibility: Sidewalks and paved parking are listed, but a continuous step-free route onto the sand was not established.
Accessibility source ↗Open the county entrance directory ↗
Use the directory to check each entrance’s identity and status. Guide map pins are approximate shoreline locations, not turn-by-turn entrance directions or proof of current opening.
Known for
A named coastal bay shoreline with public park or pier context.
Sources & review dates
known for
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Rules & facilities
Check before you go
Check the exact manager’s closures, DOH site, forecast and posted flags; verify staffed coverage rather than assume it from a planning badge.
Sources & review dates
check before you go
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Admission, payment & passes
Sources & review dates
admission payment passes
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
What to bring & supporting visit details
Plan your visit
Arrive via Carl Gray Park waterfront at 4600 Collegiate Drive. Check parking, route surface and current signs before carrying equipment onto sand.
Sources & review dates
plan your visit
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Public or private?
Public access
Who can visit: Open to the general public, including visitors, during permitted hours and subject to posted rules.
Entry route, fees & access boundaries
- Manager / access authority
- City of Panama City.
- Access basis
- This listing covers a publicly managed beach access or park, not a private guest-only beach.
- Where to enter
- Named reopened municipal North Bay beach; park reopening does not guarantee safe water. Use Carl Gray Park waterfront at 4600 Collegiate Drive. No neighboring private parking, gated association crossing or outer boundary is granted.
- Fees & reservations
- See the entrance section for parking and entry details and sources.
- Restrictions & exceptions
- Use Carl Gray Park waterfront at 4600 Collegiate Drive. Remain on signed public/authorized routes; do not cross dunes, closed structures, private resort lots or military boundaries.
- What this label covers
- Named shoreline and supported arrival only; public access is separate from temporary closure.
Beach ownership, the route across land, public shoreline-use rights and access to facilities are separate questions. Rules vary by state and location. Use the identified public entrance or documented permission; neither a nearby resort nor an admission fee by itself establishes that a beach is private. A mapped beach is not permission to cross private property.
Access policy reviewed 2026-10-05. Not a live closure report or a property-boundary survey.
Allowed & prohibited activities
Alcohol: Alcohol rules are not confirmed for this beach.
What still needs confirmation
PCB sandy-beach alcohol wording does not govern this municipal bay park; confirm its posted rule.
Fires and grills: Any permitted fire or grill areas still need confirmation. Follow the restrictions stated here.
What still needs confirmation
A park grill or civilian bonfire permit does not grant a sand fire here. Check the specific manager’s authorized area and current burn restriction.
Overnight camping: Overnight beach camping permission is not confirmed.
What still needs confirmation
No lawful overnight beach permission was established for this exact park or military route.
Shore fishing: Shore fishing rules are not confirmed for this beach.
What still needs confirmation
No exact permitted shore-casting footprint or bathing-area exclusion was established for this arrival. A fishing license does not grant private crossing or permission to cast through swimmers.
Sources & review dates
Alcohol · Fires and grills · Overnight camping
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Shore fishing
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
- Hours
- Follow the posted entrance/park hours. Beach-equipment removal hours, pier operating hours and permit access windows are not interchangeable.Carl Gray Park Beach · hours evidence ↗
- Dogs on the beach
- A pet-friendly park, path or nearby business does not establish dog permission in this exact sandy bathing area. Confirm the park’s posted beach rule.Carl Gray Park Beach · dogs evidence ↗
- Lifeguards
- No exact current staffed tower season or duty schedule was established for this shoreline. Posted flags and patrolling responders are not a staffed-tower promise.Carl Gray Park Beach · lifeguards evidence ↗
- Restrooms
- The city reopening announcement lists public restrooms and drinking water. No beach rinse shower was established.Carl Gray Park Beach · restrooms showers evidence ↗
- Access & beach rules
- Use Carl Gray Park waterfront at 4600 Collegiate Drive. Remain on signed public/authorized routes; do not cross dunes, closed structures, private resort lots or military boundaries.Carl Gray Park Beach · public access rules evidence ↗
- Beach driving
- No drive-on-sand route is established at this beach; designated roads, lots and golf-cart rules do not grant sand driving.Carl Gray Park Beach · driving evidence ↗
Conditions & activities Surf, sand, wildlife and suitability
Conditions at the beach
Saved reports below are dated snapshots, not live conditions. JavaScript refreshes them from official sources when available. Source timestamps and tide times identify their time zone.
Weather observation
Saved report · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.
75°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Tyndall Air Force Base · 20.9 km from destination reference · nearby reporting station, not a beach sensor.
Observation: 2026-10-05T21:55:00+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T23:25:28.535Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-05T23:55:00.000Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.
UV forecast
No current-hour UV estimate is shown in this saved page. Use sun protection; the live forecast loads when available.
Daily forecast
Saved report · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.
Saved forecast for this beach’s NWS grid
- 2026-10-05T18:00:00-05:00–2026-10-06T06:00:00-05:00: Tonight · 70°F · Showers And Thunderstorms · wind 10 to 15 mph NE
- 2026-10-06T06:00:00-05:00–2026-10-06T18:00:00-05:00: Tuesday · 77°F · Showers And Thunderstorms Likely · wind 15 mph ENE
Source issued/updated: 2026-10-05T23:15:26+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T23:25:28.701Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-06T11:00:00.000Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.
High & low tides
Saved prediction · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.
Panama City. NOAA regional tide prediction reference about 7.4 km straight-line from planning point; not a local observation, navigation advice or swimming guarantee. Predictions, not measured water levels or safe crossing times.
- 2026-10-05 05:37 · High tide
- 2026-10-05 16:32 · Low tide
- 2026-10-06 07:24 · High tide
- 2026-10-06 17:03 · Low tide
Prediction dates: 2026-10-05–2026-10-06 · station local time.
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T23:25:28.455Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-06T23:25:28.455Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.
Panama City. NOAA regional tide prediction reference about 7.4 km straight-line from planning point; not a local observation, navigation advice or swimming guarantee. Predictions, not measured water levels or safe crossing times.
NOAA tide station ↗NOAA swim & rip-current forecast
No usable dated snapshot available. Follow the official source link for updated information.
Forecast risk is not the flag flying at this beach. Conditions can vary within the forecast area.
Official local flag & condition status
Flag color: not currently verified
Check the exact arrival, closures and posted flags. Regional forecasts are not observed flags or a guarantee of safe swimming.
The Beach Database does not convert weather or a rip-current forecast into a colored flag. Check flags and signs on arrival and ask a lifeguard where available.
Weather warnings & alerts
Saved report · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.
Alerts returned at the recorded check
- Flood Watch · Flood Watch issued October 5 at 3:39PM EDT until October 5 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL · source expiration 2026-10-05T20:00:00-04:00
- Rip Current Statement · Rip Current Statement issued October 5 at 1:32PM EDT until October 6 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL · source expiration 2026-10-06T05:00:00-04:00
Source issued/updated: 2026-10-05T23:23:16+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T23:25:28.762Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-06T01:23:16.000Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.
Weather alerts do not confirm swimming safety, lifeguard staffing, water quality or beach closures. No alert does not mean safe water.
Water quality
Check DOH Bay’s exact named sampling site and dated advisory. Sample collection, laboratory completion and notice dates are separate; an old lift or nearby result is not today’s all-clear.
Sources & review dates
water quality
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Crowd meter
Editorial fit: a park or pier outing by the bay. No measured crowd count or live parking occupancy is supplied.
Sources & review dates
crowds
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Sand & sandcastles
A named coastal bay sand/shore setting; tides, seagrass, oyster edges and soft footing vary. No on-site texture test or calm-water promise.
Sources & review dates
sand shoreline
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Surfing profile
No tested surfing break was established at this bay shore. Shelter does not mean safe or consistently calm water.
Sources & review dates
surf
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Beachcombing
No reliable beach-specific shell abundance or productive search zone was established. Check local collection rules; do not promise finds.
No exact productive fossil zone or documented shark-tooth find rate was established for this shore.
Sources & review dates
shelling · shark teeth
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Snorkeling & scuba diving
No tested shore-snorkeling route or reliable visibility profile was established for this exact arrival. Booked offshore trips are different from an on-foot beach entry.
Panama City Diving operates local offshore wreck and bridge-span trips, but these are separately booked boat dives; no tested scuba entry was established at this beach.
Sources & review dates
snorkeling · scuba
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Shore & sky wildlife
North/East/St. Andrews Bay coastal bird and marine habitat is separate from an animal-sighting guarantee. No species list was field-counted at this exact beach.
Sources & review dates
wildlife
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
History & interesting facts
The city announced the rebuilt park reopening on October 29, 2024 after a 15-month renovation.
Sources & review dates
history
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Food, stays & rentals
EXTEND YOUR BEACH DAY
Food & drink nearby
Local dining recommendations
Local dining recommendations: Hunt’s Oyster Bar and Captain’s Table Fish House are named Panama City seafood options; plan a separate town stop rather than assume food service at this bay entrance.
Sources & review dates
dining
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Accommodations by the beach
Hotel Indigo Panama City Marina at 7 Harrison Avenue is a booked downtown bay-front lodging option; it is a separate trip from these municipal beaches.
Sources & review dates
accommodations
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Activities & rentals
Panama City Diving at 106 Thomas Drive offers booked dive charters, rental gear and guided St. Andrews shore dives. Its shop is a separate trip; no concession at this exact crossing is implied.
Sources & review dates
commercial activities rentals
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Explore nearby beaches
Sources & review date
Guide desk research reviewed 2026-10-05; this is not a field-by-field current verification or an on-site inspection. Official facts, dated agency evidence and editorial assessments retain their own scope. Unknowns and conflicts remain open. Methodology · Rating explanations · Correction history
- Carl Gray Park Beach managing authority ↗
- Carl Gray Park Beach · hours evidence ↗
- Carl Gray Park Beach · dogs evidence ↗
- Carl Gray Park Beach · lifeguards evidence ↗
- Carl Gray Park Beach · restrooms showers evidence ↗
- Carl Gray Park Beach · public access rules evidence ↗
- Carl Gray Park Beach · driving evidence ↗
- Carl Gray Park Beach · parking entry evidence ↗
- Carl Gray Park Beach · accessibility evidence ↗
- Carl Gray Park Beach · sand shoreline evidence ↗
- Carl Gray Park Beach · surf evidence ↗
- Carl Gray Park Beach · water quality evidence ↗
An exact-location hero photograph is pending. No photograph of another beach is displayed.
Visitor experiences
Original, moderated reviews and photographs. Visit dates and entrances provide context; visitor ratings and reports do not replace official facts or current conditions.
Read approved visitor experiences here when available.