SHELL POINT BEACH
Where
Shell Point Beach is located at 117 Beaty Taff Drive, Crawfordville, FL 32327.
Vibe
Sleepy nugget of paradise for fishermen and families.
This welcoming, off-the-grid beach is an uncrowded place to enjoy nature and kick back, offering perks like free parking, restrooms and showers. Here, you’ll see toddlers wading or perched on floaties with mom or dad dutifully watching; fishermen casting from shore; and pelicans diving into the surf in search of a meal. The park is beloved by dolphins, who often make appearances just offshore.
See, feel
Shell Point Beach promises 785 of beach along Apalachee Bay, laden with white sand peppered with shells. The blue-green water is usually motionless, and it’s only knee-deep 100 feet out, making it inviting for the most-timid beach bunny. Consider beach shoes to protect your toes from the numerous broken shells. The beach is natural, so expect some potential seaweed.
While the water is usually calm, winds, tides and offshore systems can occasionally cause rough conditions.
On or near the beach
Wade in the surf or go for a swim; work on your tan; or search the sand for a seashell to bring home as a souvenir. Birders will be thrilled by the feathered friends cruising through on their way to St. Marks National Wildlife Reserve, like migrating Merlin and Peregrine Falcon. Part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, the park is home to small flocks of Short-billed Dowitcher, Dunlin, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Black Skimmer and Sanderling and other species.
Savvy anglers know that trout, reds and sheepshead hang out around the bars and in the holes near the beach, but that kayaking will increase your odds of a catch.
Shell Point Beach is dog-friendly. Dogs are permitted on the beach as long as they remain on a leash and owners clean up after them.
Feel like moving? Up the adventure with a windsurfing expedition: Shell Point Sailboard Club offers free windsurfing lessons to the public at Shell Point Beach. Or grab your buddies for an impromptu volleyball match.
Refuel with a picnic under the shade of a pavilion.
Accessibility
The beach is equipped with a mobi-mat, bringing accessibility to the water to wheelchair and walker users.
Facilities
Amenities at Shell Point include restrooms and showers; large and small pavilions (available to rent/reserve, otherwise first come); a playground; volleyball court; kayak launch; and mobile food concession space. The Shell Point boat ramp is nearby.
Lifeguards
There are no lifeguards; swim at your own risk.
Parking
Shell Point offers 82 free parking spaces, but no ADA parking.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SHELL POINT BEACH
Q. Where is Shell Point Beach?
A. Shell Point Beach is on Apalachee Bay in Wakulla County, in Florida's Big Bend, about a 30 miles and 40 to 45 minutes’ drive south of Tallahassee. It is a county park at the end of Shell Point Road, in the small community of the same name.
This is a quiet bayfront beach rather than a Gulf-surf beach, which is the key thing to understand before you go: the water is shallow and usually calm, and the setting is low-key and local. See Wakulla County's Shell Point Beach page.
Q. What are the hours, and is there a fee?
A. The park is open from 6 a.m. until midnight. There is no entrance fee and no parking fee.
For questions about hours or use of the pavilions, Wakulla County's Department of Parks and Recreation can be reached at 850-926-7227.
Q. Are there lifeguards?
A. No. Shell Point Beach is not staffed with lifeguards, so you swim at your own risk.
The blue-green water is usually motionless, and it’s only knee-deep 100 feet out, making it inviting for families. Consider beach shoes to protect your toes from the numerous broken shells. While the water is usually calm, winds, tides and offshore systems can occasionally cause rough conditions.
Q. What amenities are there?
A. The park has a restroom facility with showers, a large pavilion and a small pavilion (available to rent/reserve, otherwise first come), a children's playground, a volleyball court and a kayak launch. The Shell Point Boat Ramp is nearby.
Concession space at the beach is rented out by the county, so food availability varies. Bring water and snacks rather than counting on buying them.
Q. Is the beach accessible for visitors with mobility needs?
A. Shell Point Beach is equipped with a Mobi-Mat, the roll-out matting that lets wheelchair and walker users get across the sand toward the water.
The restroom facility and pavilions are at the parking area, which keeps distances short.
Q. Can I bring my dog?
A. Shell Point Beach is dog-friendly. Dogs are permitted on the beach as long as they remain on a leash and owners clean up after them.
Q. What is there to do here?
A. Swimming, wading, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and shelling are the mainstays, along with sunset watching across the bay.
Shell Point is also one of North Florida's most reliable windsurfing and sailboarding spots. The shallow bay and reliable breeze suit it well, and the local club has long offered free introductory lessons to the public at the beach.
Q. Can I go fishing?
A. Yes. There is shoreline fishing along the bay, and the nearby boat ramp gives access to Apalachee Bay and the St. Marks River system.
A Florida saltwater fishing license may be required; check current rules on the FWC saltwater fishing licenses page before you cast.
Q. What is nearby?
A. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is a short drive away, with its historic lighthouse, birding, hiking trails and wildlife drive.
Wakulla Springs, the town of St. Marks and the Big Bend's paddling trails are also within easy reach, and Tallahassee is close enough for a day trip in either direction.
Q. Where can I eat?
A. Options at Shell Point itself are limited, since this is a small residential community, not a resort strip. The park offers mobile food concession space, but that doesn’t guarantee a food truck will be available.
Panacea, Crawfordville and St. Marks have restaurants nearby, and Tallahassee has even more.
Q. When is the best time to visit?
A. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable weather and good conditions for paddling and windsurfing. Summer is hot and humid with the warmest water and frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
Winter days can be bright and pleasant for walking and birding, but the bay is usually too cold for comfortable swimming. Check the forecast before you head out.
