Beaches & Parks
Mexico Beach is home to some of the world’s most beautiful white-sand beaches and clear, clean emerald waters.
Geologically, our beaches are quite rare. The sand found on the majority of the world’s beaches contains a mixture of approximately twenty different materials. The sugar-like white sand found in Mexico Beach, however, contains only one: evenly sized quartz crystals. This quartz sand originated millions of years ago in the Appalachian Mountain range. Because our area lacks the influence of silt-bearing rivers, our sand remains pure and white. This white quartz sand is highly reflective—which is the reason our beaches remain cool, even during the hottest summer months!
The City of Mexico Beach has almost five miles of beach available for residents and visitors to enjoy. Public beach access is easy and abundant with direct parking access and a number of easy-to-spot walkovers connecting Highway 98 to the beach. We’ve worked hard to ensure that our beaches are pristine and ready for visitors to come and enjoy. It’s time to make memories that last forever on the Unforgettable Coast!
Walk-Overs
Beach walkovers are located along Highway 98 in Mexico Beach. They are easy to spot and provide beachgoers with convenient and direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. They also protect our natural vegetation, our sand dunes, and sea oats. When visiting the beach, please be sure to utilize our walkovers and not walk on the dunes.
Parks & Recreational Programs
The following public parks are administered by the City of Mexico Beach. The Recreational Program below is administered by the Tyndall Air Force Base:
Canal Park
Location: End of Canal Parkway on the west side of the canal
Facilities: Beach access, parking, picnic area, restrooms
City Municipal Park
Location: 21st Street and Paradise Path
Facilities: Pickleball courts, basketball court, playground equipment, picnic area, restrooms
Crooked Island – Outdoor Recreational Program
Location: Tyndall Air Force Base
Facilities: Hunting, Fishing & General Recreation
Parker Park
Location: 2500 Highway 98
Facilities: Pet friendly area, parking, restrooms
Sunset Park
Location: 1813 Highway 98
Facilities: Beach access, parking, picnic area, restrooms, outdoor showers
Under the Palms Park
Location: 7th Street and Maryland Blvd.
Facilities: Walking path, playground equipment, picnic area, parking
Life Is Better At The Beach
Sea Turtles
Five species of Sea Turtles share their beach with us. Please help us protect these endangered creatures.
- Do not touch turtles or their nests.
- Nesting season is May 1st to October 31st.
- Do not take flash photography of turtles or their nests.
- Call (850) 647-8238 to report any unmarked turtle crawls.
- Close all blinds and draperies on the beach side of your accommodations at night. Keep turtles in the dark!
- Remove lounge chairs, umbrellas, boats, coolers and tents from the beach at the end of each day.
- If you encounter a Sea Turtle at night, please remain quiet and slowly step away.
- Do not disturb turtle tracks—they are very valuable to researchers studying Sea Turtles.
- Pick up plastic bags, balloons, Styrofoam, fishing line and other debris that you encounter on the beach. These items can be fatal to turtles if ingested.
Safety
The City of Mexico Beach does not operate a warning flag system or utilize lifeguards as riptides are not common in our waters. We do, however, urge all beachgoers to follow good safety practices when enjoying our beaches. Do not enter the water alone, and do not allow children to enter the water without adult supervision.
Beach Rules And Restrictions
When you visit Mexico Beach, please observe these rules so that everyone can have a wonderful time.
The City of Mexico Beach has the following rules:
- The speed limit is 35 mph on U.S. Highway 98.
- No passing is allowed on the shoulder on U.S. Highway 98.
- The speed limit is 5 mph in the canal—this is a No Wake Zone!
- There are restricted areas for wave runners; these are 300 feet offshore.
- No glass is permitted on the beach.
- No open fires are permitted on the beach.
- Walking on sand dunes and/or sea oats is not permitted.
- No pets are permitted on the beach within the city limits of Mexico Beach.
- Pets are allowed on St. Joe Beach in Gulf County east of the county line at Highway 386.
Leave No Trace
Welcome to our beautiful beaches! We hope your enjoy your time here. While enjoying your stay in Mexico Beach, we hope you will help us keep our beaches beautiful. The Leave No Trace ordinance states that all personal items must be removed at the end of your beach day. Any items that are left unattended between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. will be removed and disposed of. These items include but are not limited to: tents, chairs, umbrellas, toys, and coolers. We appreciate your efforts in helping us keep Mexico Beach clean and beautiful.
