NAVARRE BEACH
Where
Besides numerous dune crossovers, Navarre Beach promises two main beach access areas, stretching side-by-side along the Gulf of America: Navarre Beach Pier, located at 8579 Gulf Boulevard, and Navarre Beach Marine Park, located at 8739 Gulf Boulevard, Navarre, FL 32566.
Vibe
Snorkeling, sunsets and sugar-sand beaches with a flip-flop and shorts personality.
Billed as Florida’s best kept secret, Navarre Beach welcomes you with free parking and amenities like restrooms and a restaurant. But the beach is the shining star of the show here, a true white sand wonder that caters to families and outdoor lovers of all kinds. The mood is kicked back, with fishermen rolling coolers out onto the pier, kids constructing elaborate sand castles, and swimmers cooling off in the turquoise-hued surf.
See, feel
Popular yet not overcrowded, Navarre Beach boasts a pier that reaches 1,545 feet out into the Gulf of America; smooth, clean, snow-white sands that line a generous beach; and gin-clear, astonishingly blue-green waters set against a backdrop of rolling dunes.
While the water is usually calm, tides, winds and offshore systems can occasionally cause rough conditions.
On or near the beach
Soaking up the sun and letting the salt air work its magic is a time-honored tradition at Navarre Beach, as is swimming and exploring the pier. You can rent a pole and fish, or take a stroll and just hook into the blockbuster views.
Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary has made the Marine Park—to use their words— ‘snorkelicious’—welcoming snorkelers of all skill levels to discover vibrant sea life on reefs a mere few hundred feet off-shore.
For more adventure, rent a paddleboard or kayak from vendors that include Navarre Kayaks and Sage Paddle Company. Sage also rents beach umbrellas and chairs.
Grill up something tasty and dine under the shade of a seaside pavilion. Or splash over to Windjammers on the Pier to grab a tropical concoction or nosh on beach fare that includes fish tacos, gator tail and burgers.
Accessibility
Both areas of Navarre Beach offer free ADA parking, as well as four ADA access points and two ADA-accessible kayak launches. Navarre Pier and its restaurant, Windjammers on the Pier, are handicap accessible. The Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, sited across the street from the beaches (at 8740 Gulf Blvd.) offers has a no-cost wheelchair rental. They ask that you make reservation requests at least 24 hours in advance.
Facilities
Amenities at Navarre Beach include restrooms and showers; Navarre Pier and its restaurant and bar, Windjammers on the Pier; a concession with T-shirts and beach essentials; and fishing pole rentals and a bait and tackle shop. Sage Paddle Company rents beach umbrellas and chairs, kayaks, paddleboards, and golf carts while Navarre Kayaks rents kayaks and paddleboards.
Numerous beach pavilions are available for rent, in varied sizes with a varied numbers of tables and grills. None have electricity.
Lifeguards
Navarre Beach offers seasonal lifeguards. Here’s a map of stand locations.
Parking
Parking is free but limited. It can fill early, particularly on weekends and holidays, so plan ahead.