Franklin County Gulf Coast · Florida
Carrabelle Beach
- State
- Florida
- County
- Franklin County
- City / community
- Carrabelle
Florida Panhandle · Franklin County Gulf Coast
A small sound-side county beach with restrooms, an outdoor shower and picnic pavilions, close to Carrabelle’s museums and town services.
Good fit: A small sound-side county beach with restrooms, an outdoor shower and picnic pavilions, close to Carrabelle’s museums and town services.
Plan around: Exact unconfirmed fixtures and staffing remain scoped; check the named arrival before travel.
PLAN THE BASICS
At a glance
- Dogs
- YesDetails & restrictions
- Restrooms
- YesDetails & restrictions
- Lifeguards
- NoDetails & restrictions
- Public access
- Public accessDetails & restrictions
- Beach driving
- NoDetails & restrictions
Choose an entrance
Carrabelle Beach Park at 1860 Highway 98 West
County Wayside Park beach at 1860 Highway 98 West; not the separate Carrabelle Beach Point observation or Old Carrabelle shore.
Official route / restriction details ↗Parking, route & accessibility evidence
Parking & entry: State tourism describes roughly 40 free parking spaces at Carrabelle Beach Park. Use the Wayside Park lot, not roadside dunes; present capacity is not a live occupancy report.
Parking source ↗Accessibility: No exact continuous step-free route, usable mat or beach-wheelchair arrangement was verified for this arrival. A toilet, boat ramp or pavilion alone does not establish sand access.
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
Sound-side sand, picnics and the nearby Camp Gordon Johnston and lighthouse history.
Sources & review dates
known for
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Exact unconfirmed fixtures and staffing remain scoped; check the named arrival before travel.
Rules & facilities
Check before you go
Check current county arrival/parking information and exact-site Health notices; posted flags do not mean guards are present.
Sources & review dates
check before you go
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Admission, payment & passes
Current exact beach-only entry/payment and any island landing/camping arrangement were not established. Separate private lodging, ferry or launch charges are not beach admission.
Sources & review dates
admission payment passes
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
What to bring & supporting visit details
Plan your visit
Choose the named public arrival and check current water notices, dog rules, route fixtures and parking. A picnic shelter is park shade rather than shade along the whole shore.
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
- Franklin County manages the named county public beach/approach; private neighboring parcels and independent businesses remain separate.
- Access basis
- This listing covers a publicly managed beach access or park, not a private guest-only beach.
- Where to enter
- The authority identifies this named public shoreline. Use lawful signed crossings; narrow identity does not grant access through private parcels or draw the outer sand boundary.
- Fees & reservations
- Current exact beach-only entry/payment and any island landing/camping arrangement were not established. Separate private lodging, ferry or launch charges are not beach admission.
- Restrictions & exceptions
- Use public signed crossings, control dogs where allowed, respect dunes and remove beach equipment rather than leaving it overnight. State-park and refuge restrictions take priority over county marketing.
- 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
No exact current shoreline alcohol rule was established in the reviewed beach pages. A restaurant license or county dog ordinance is not permission on beach sand.
Fires and grills: County lists park grills at Carrabelle Beach Park. That supports designated grills, not open beach fires or bonfires.
Overnight camping: Overnight beach camping permission is not confirmed.
What still needs confirmation
No designated overnight beach authorization was established for this arrival. Nearby booked RV lodging is a separate property and does not permit sleeping on the beach.
Shore fishing: The coastal visitor authority identifies shoreline fishing. Follow current Florida licenses and harvest rules, signed swimming restrictions and protected habitat; a fishing charter has separate launches.
Sources & review dates
Alcohol · Fires and grills · Overnight camping
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Shore fishing
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
- Hours
- Exact current hours for this named arrival were not established. A nearby business, tower or ferry timetable does not set shoreline hours.Carrabelle Beach · hours evidence ↗
- Dogs on the beach
- Franklin’s 2021 animal ordinance requires direct physical control on public beaches with a leash no longer than six feet. County tourism identifies the county public beaches as pet-friendly; protect wildlife and clean up.Carrabelle Beach · dogs evidence ↗
- Lifeguards
- No lifeguards are provided according to the state tourism beach guide. Offshore island shelter does not guarantee calm water or swimming safety.Carrabelle Beach · lifeguards evidence ↗
- Restrooms
- County lists restrooms and an outside shower at Carrabelle Beach Park, with ten picnic pavilions. These fixtures belong to the Wayside Park arrival, not Old Carrabelle or the Beach Point observation.Carrabelle Beach · restrooms showers evidence ↗
- Access & beach rules
- Use public signed crossings, control dogs where allowed, respect dunes and remove beach equipment rather than leaving it overnight. State-park and refuge restrictions take priority over county marketing.Carrabelle Beach · public access rules evidence ↗
- Beach driving
- Use lawful roads and signed parking. Do not drive onto sand or dunes from a public street crossing; special-use access permissions must be obtained separately.Carrabelle 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.
73°F · Rain and Fog/Mist
- Apalachicola, Apalachicola · 34 km from destination reference · nearby reporting station, not a beach sensor.
Observation: 2026-10-06T09:55:00+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-06T10:16:48.756Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-06T11:55:00.000Z. 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
- 2026-10-06T06:00:00-04:00–2026-10-06T18:00:00-04:00: Today · 77°F · Showers And Thunderstorms · wind 15 mph ENE
- 2026-10-06T18:00:00-04:00–2026-10-07T06:00:00-04:00: Tonight · 70°F · Chance Showers And Thunderstorms · wind 15 to 20 mph NE
Source issued/updated: 2026-10-06T09:15:36+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-06T10:16:49.087Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-06T22:00:00.000Z. 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.
SOUTH CARRABELLE BEACH. NOAA regional tide prediction reference about 5.3 km straight-line from planning point; not a local observation or navigation/swimming guarantee. Predictions, not measured water levels or safe crossing times.
- 2026-10-06 01:46 · High tide
- 2026-10-06 06:53 · Low tide
- 2026-10-06 11:38 · High tide
- 2026-10-06 19:03 · Low tide
- 2026-10-07 01:56 · High tide
- 2026-10-07 07:35 · Low tide
- 2026-10-07 13:07 · High tide
- 2026-10-07 19:46 · Low tide
Prediction dates: 2026-10-06–2026-10-07 · station local time.
Retrieved: 2026-10-06T10:16:49.014Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-07T10:16:49.014Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.
SOUTH CARRABELLE BEACH. NOAA regional tide prediction reference about 5.3 km straight-line from planning point; not a local observation or navigation/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 named 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
- Rip Current Statement · Rip Current Statement issued October 6 at 3:16AM EDT until October 7 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL · source expiration 2026-10-07T04:00:00-04:00
Source issued/updated: 2026-10-06T10:15:00+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-06T10:16:48.946Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-06T12:15:00.000Z. 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
Official beach bacteria testing · Florida Healthy Beaches
Exact active DOH station: CARRABELLE BEACH. A sample describes its own sampling point and date; it is not current swimming safety or every entrance. Sample dates and retrieval clocks are separate.
Saved laboratory results · not a current advisory check
CARRABELLE BEACH
Historical result · Moderate
Sample collected: 2026-09-28 · 8 days ago. Sample time of day was not supplied by this report.
Enterococci: 40 per 100 mL.
Advisory in this sample report: No. Current status is not established by this older report.
Official report retrieved 2026-10-06T10:17:15.152Z. Sample dates are shown separately. This saved copy may be out of date; check current advisories.
Official Franklin County results ↗ · About Florida Healthy Beaches ↗
What these results mean
Enterococci are bacteria used to indicate possible fecal contamination. Florida describes 0–35 per 100 mL as Good, 36–70 as Moderate, and 71 or more as Poor. These are periodic laboratory samples, not continuous monitoring.
The Beach Database checks the official report daily, but Florida’s sampling schedule is generally weekly or biweekly. The check time and laboratory sample date are different. Samples more than 14 days old are marked older; that reminder is not an official advisory threshold.
A nearby station is identified by name and distance. Its result is context, not a sample taken at this beach. Testing does not rule out all pathogens, harmful algae, sewage spills or other hazards. Follow current posted advisories and closures.
Crowd meter
Editorial fit: a quieter coastal outing rather than a live crowd prediction. No measured visitor count or parking occupancy was established.
Sources & review dates
crowds
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Sand & sandcastles
A sandy sound-side shore sheltered by offshore islands; shelter from ocean swell is not a promise of calm or safe water.
Sources & review dates
sand shoreline
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Surfing profile
This bay/sound setting is not a documented reliable wave-surf break. Offshore barrier protection does not make all water safe.
Sources & review dates
surf
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Beachcombing
The local visitor sources identify coastal beachcombing, but current exact collection rules and a reliable find-rate rating were not established.
No documented productive fossil area or reliable shark-tooth find rate was established for this exact shore. Do not promise fossils from a regional Gulf association.
Sources & review dates
shelling · shark teeth
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Snorkeling & scuba diving
No tested visibility, exact snorkeling trail or permitted shore-entry zone was established. Oyster habitat, pass current and bay water color are not a safe-water assessment.
No verified shore-entry dive site or exact current dive operator serving this shoreline was established. Mainland fishing/boat services do not become a diving service.
Sources & review dates
snorkeling · scuba
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Shore & sky wildlife
The coastal authority identifies shorebird and marine habitat around this beach. Respect turtle/shorebird protections and keep away from signed nesting areas.
Sources & review dates
wildlife
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
History & interesting facts
County tourism documents Carrabelle’s Camp Gordon Johnston coastal training history. Historic McKissack naming does not merge the current Wayside Park and Old Carrabelle shoreline parcels.
Sources & review dates
history
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Water clarity & shore snorkeling
Typical clarity: Not yet assessed. We do not yet have enough beach-specific evidence to describe typical underwater visibility. This does not mean the water is cloudy.
Shore snorkeling not yet assessed. A shore-snorkeling recommendation has not been established for this beach. Check the snorkeling section for access and restrictions.
Typical clarity describes how easily you may see through the water. It does not establish bacterial water quality, safe swimming, calm conditions or visibility today.
Evidence, location scope & review
Desk review 2026-10-06 · No individual entrance measurement or reliable named-beach typical-visibility basis established in this pass.. This is not an on-site inspection or a current conditions report.
No beach-specific pattern established; this does not imply cloudy water.
Do not substitute nearby offshore excursions or general county snorkeling for this beach.
Find clear-water and shore-snorkeling options ↗ · Report a change ↗
A closer look
Photos of this beach and its surroundings. Select a photo to view it larger. These are recorded views, not live conditions.
View larger ↗Beach @ Carrabelle · soupstance · CC BY 2.0 · captured 2008-12-31; archival, not current conditions or access.
Taken: 2008-12-31Beach @ Carrabelle · soupstance · CC BY 2.0
Resized/cropped for display; original colors retained. Adaptations retain the stated license.
Food, stays & rentals
EXTEND YOUR BEACH DAY
Food & drink nearby
Local dining recommendations
riverfront bar
Fathom’s Steam & Raw Bar
Town riverfront stop at 201 St. James Avenue, Carrabelle, reached separately from the public beach. Direct site remains unverified.
A current direct business website has not been verified. Use the separately labeled supporting listing for contact and location information.
View supporting listing / status ↗Website & source check
Supporting source ↗ · checked 2026-10-06. Menus, opening hours, rates and availability can change; check directly before visiting.
Research notes & location scope
Local dining recommendations: Fathom’s Steam & Raw Bar is at 201 St. James Avenue in Carrabelle, a town riverfront stop reached separately from this beach. Confirm service before travel.
Supporting research source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
These listings are unpaid and contain no affiliate links.
Accommodations by the beach
Book the specific accommodation and plan travel to your chosen beach entrance separately.
cottages cabins RV sites
Carrabelle Beach RV Resort
Carrabelle Beach RV Resort lists cottages, cabins and RV sites at 1843 Highway 98 West, across the road from the public beach. The Moorings offers town marina lodging separately from this sand.
Visit Carrabelle Beach RV Resort website ↗Website & source check
Website checked ↗ · Supporting source 2 ↗ · checked 2026-10-06. Menus, opening hours, rates and availability can change; check directly before visiting.
marina lodging
The Moorings
Carrabelle town marina lodging, separate from the public sand.
Visit The Moorings website ↗Website & source check
Website checked ↗ · Supporting source 2 ↗ · checked 2026-10-06. Menus, opening hours, rates and availability can change; check directly before visiting.
Before you book
Confirm the exact property or rental unit, view category, beach route, accessibility and total price directly. Nearby lodging does not establish access to a private beach, a boat transfer or permission to camp.
Research notes & location scope
Carrabelle Beach RV Resort lists cottages, cabins and RV sites at 1843 Highway 98 West, across the road from the public beach. The Moorings offers town marina lodging separately from this sand.
Supporting research source ↗ · Supporting research source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
These listings are unpaid and contain no affiliate links.
Activities & rentals
Journeys of St. George Island offers booked fishing, guided boat trips and kayak/paddleboard outings or rentals. It is a separate operator meeting/launch arrangement, not an unrestricted concession at every beach.
Sources & review dates
commercial activities rentals
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05
Explore nearby beaches
Review dates & updates
Dates below cover the named fact and its recorded evidence, not an on-site inspection or today’s conditions.
- Dogs on the beach: evidence reviewed
- Lifeguards: evidence reviewed
- Restrooms: evidence reviewed
- Beach driving: evidence reviewed
- Parking & entry: evidence reviewed
Closure and condition evidence gets the shortest review cycle; fees, hours and seasonal staffing are checked more often than stable geography. Changed or conflicting evidence goes into a scoped review queue. How reviews work
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
- Carrabelle Beach managing authority ↗
- Carrabelle Beach · hours evidence ↗
- Carrabelle Beach · dogs evidence ↗
- Carrabelle Beach · lifeguards evidence ↗
- Carrabelle Beach · restrooms showers evidence ↗
- Carrabelle Beach · public access rules evidence ↗
- Carrabelle Beach · driving evidence ↗
- Carrabelle Beach · parking entry evidence ↗
- Carrabelle Beach · accessibility evidence ↗
- Carrabelle Beach · sand shoreline evidence ↗
- Carrabelle Beach · surf evidence ↗
- Carrabelle Beach · water quality evidence ↗
Photo: Beach @ Carrabelle by soupstance · CC BY 2.0. Cropped for display; adaptations retain this license.
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.