WATER & COAST
St. Joe Beach
Gulf County · Panhandle & Emerald Coast
A quiet west-facing beach community about ten minutes from Port St. Joe, sitting right on the line between two time zones.
ABOUT THIS PLACE
St. Joe Beach lies along the western edge of Gulf County, roughly ten minutes from Port St. Joe, on the stretch local people simply call The Beaches, which also takes in WindMark Beach next door. It has an odd distinction: the boundary between the Eastern and Central time zones runs through here, so a short drive can change the hour. The shoreline faces west, which means the sun sets over the water rather than behind the houses, and that is the reason people walk down to the sand in the evening. The sand is white and the beach is pet friendly. This is a residential and vacation-home community rather than a resort strip; the pace is slow and there is no boardwalk or pier. WindMark Beach has nearly four miles of paved walking and cycling path along the water. Seafood restaurants are close by, and St. Joseph Peninsula State Park is a short drive for shelling. Bay scallop harvesting was closed for the 2026 season because the scallop numbers were low, though fishing, boating and swimming carried on as usual
Not identified in this guide as an officially clothing-optional beach. This is a visit category, not a safety rating—check surf, lifeguards, water quality and posted rules.
BEACH CONDITIONS
Keep comparing