Where Is 30 A Florida? Why Does Everyone Love This Best-Kept Southern Secret?
Do you know what’s common between Kellie Pickler and Katie Holmes? They both love 30 A Florida. And suddenly, there is a booming fanfare around this apparently unassuming highway stretch.
Today, every southern traveler wants to visit 30 A, Florida, as the scenic drive takes you to the stretches of white sand after a 24-mile-long scenic journey. Also, the deep blue water here and the brightest Sun here take you instantly into a vacation mode.
Also, the beaches here are so diverse, it almost feels like changing scenes every mile with just a click of the mouse or the remote control of your television.
So, let’s head to 30 A, Florida, this time and explore the coastal beauty of the Emerald Coast of Florida. In this Dream and Travel Guide, I will cover the following key areas about 30 A.
- What is 30 A Florida?
- Where is 30 A, Florida?
- How to reach 30 A Florida?
- How to move around 30 A Florida?
- What are the beach communities in Florida?
- What are the most beautiful beach towns in Florida?
- What are the places to visit in 30 A, Florida?
- What are the things to do in 30 A, Florida?
- Where to stay in Florida 30 A?
- Where to eat in 30 A, Florida?
- Where to shop in 30 A, Florida?
- Things to keep in mind when you are in Florida 30 A
- FAQs
What Is 30 A Florida? Where Is 30 A?
30 A is a scenic highway that passes along the Gulf Coast. Also, this highway connects Panama City Beach and Destin.
The road stretches through the “Emerald Coast of Florida” and between Destin and Panama City Beach, connecting a wonderful collection of Florida’s beach towns. This area is also known as the Florida Panhandle. The Florida Panhandle has a total coastline of 28.5 km.
Furthermore, 30 A Florida runs in South Walton County near the coast.
However, there are slight variations between what travelers know as 30 A and what the locals call 30 A. Tourists call the entire 28.5 km stretch 30 A.
Locals refer to the intersection of 30 A and Highway 98 as 30 A. This intersection is located between Dune Allen and Inlet Beach or Rosemary Beach.
However, this stretch is not just about beautiful beach towns. You will love having fresh seafood and other local delicacies.
Moreover, you will find many boutique shops and art galleries here for shopping and cultural exploration.
How To Reach 30 A, Florida?
30 A close to Georgia, Alabama, and many other southern cities. You can visit 30 A from these cities as a weekend coastal trip.
However, if you are traveling from any other country, you have to fly to the nearest airport, the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) in Panama City. From there, it will be around 40-45 minutes of driving to 30 A.
The Destin or Fort Walton Beach Airport is another airport close to 30 A. It is a 50-minute ride by road from the Destin Airport to 30 A.
30 A also has the Pensacola International Airport, which is 2 hours away.
How To Move Around 30 A, Florida?
30 A Florida is a walkable street. You can also take a bike or a car to explore around Florida. Furthermore, you can take the 30 A Trolley Shuttle Service, available from March to October.
To be more specific, this shuttle service is available from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This shuttle service passes through the Florida 30 A beach towns. You can buy a day pass from the 30 A Trolley and get unlimited rides.
What Are The Beach Communities In 30 A, Florida?
It’s the local people or the beach communities that make 30 A so special! This is the reason why your day trip to the beaches can turn into a weekend-long stay or a week-long vacation.
Of course, the bigger and busier cities such as Destin and Panama have shopping malls, high rises, amusement parks, touristy restaurants, and beaches. However, the smaller beach towns offer you a more laid-back and authentic experience.
What Are The Most Beautiful Beach Towns In 30 A, Florida? The Places To Visit In 30 A
As you explore the 30 A, you will find these beautiful beach towns. Let’s get familiar with them.
1. Seagrove
Seagrove gets its name from the surrounding dense groves of forests. Further, the beach here is beautiful with ivory sands, and you have to pass through vines to reach the beach.
2. WaterColor
WaterColor is located between the Western Lake of Grayton Beach State Park and Seaside. It is a family-friendly community. Also, it’s a favorite if you want to have fresh seafood and wine.
3. Alys Beach
Alys Beach, named after the wife of the original developer of the beach town, has an air of the ultimate southern sophistication.
The surrounding palm trees add to the aesthetic appeal of the place.
4. Rosemary Beach
Along with the boogie rides and bike adventures, Rosemary Beach also allows some moments of quiet or solitude. Furthermore, the restaurants here serve the best crabs and deviled eggs.
5. Grayton Beach
What’s not to love about a beach town that has an unofficial slogan of “Nice dogs, strange people?” Have a margarita and recline in a hammock for the ultimate laid-back beach experience.
6. Seaside
Seaside is, of course, the nicest beach town in 30 A. It is more famous as the shooting spot for The Truman Show movie.
From the idyllic seaside lawn to the seaside post office and food trucks, everything about this beach town is so Instagrammable!
7. Blue Mountain Beach
Between Santa Rosa and Grayton Beach, Blue Mountain Beach is known for its laid-back vibe. It is located at an elevation of 65 ft, the highest elevation in South Walton.
It gets its name from the blue lupine flowers grown on the dunes. Furthermore, you will have the best shrimp queso and pastries here.
8. Santa Rosa Beach
Founded in 1910, Santa Rosa is the largest and oldest beach community in 30 A. It has the Travel+Leisure accolade as one of the “Top 5 Favorite Towns in America.”
It has miles of natural trails and local watering holes. You can explore them on a bike. Furthermore, Santa Rosa Beach has one of the most happening dining scenes in 30A.
From sushi to barbecued shrimp, all of these are amazing!
9. Inlet Beach
“A classic beach town that many generations have come to visit.” This is what Visit South Walton has to say about Inlet Beach.
It is the first beach town you will encounter is 30 A if you are coming from the east.
What Are The Things To Do In 30 A, Florida?
Being a coastal paradise, 30 A allows you to explore various beach activities such as sunbathing, swimming, and playing beach volleyball.
Furthermore, thanks to natural attractions such as St. Andrews State Park, you can try various water and adventure activities such as camping, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and snorkeling.
Also, you can explore more pristine areas such as Shell Island, where you can spot dolphins. Moreover, you can have a cultural experience and see how the local communities function here by visiting Captain Anderson’s Marina before Sunset.
During the dusk, you will see fishermen unloading their fleets. However, along with these coastal experiences, you can also attend the events and festivals in 30 A. You can even explore the lakes here.
1. Attend The Festivals And Events At 30 A
30 A has regular community events. Furthermore, it has some major festivals, connecting the local culture with global excellence.
| Festivals and Events in 30 A | Why You Will Love Them |
|---|---|
| Annual 30 A Songwriters Festival | Musicians and songwriters from all parts of the USA take part in it |
| Seaside Farmers Market | Takes place every SaturdayKnown for artisanal goods and fresh produce |
| South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival | You can taste more than 800 types of wines and various cuisines at this festival. |
2. Visiting The Lakes Of 30 A
Coastal dune lakes or the lakes in the beach communities in 30 A are a rare natural phenomenon.
Barring 30 A, dune lakes are only found in Madagascar, New Zealand, and Australia.
Things To Keep In Mind When You Are In Florida 30 A?
- For visiting Florida 30 A on weekends and during the peak season, you must make all the bookings in advance because there will be a lot of traffic.
- Most beaches do not allow dogs without a permit.
- For a long stretch of 30 A, you will not be able to see the ocean due to many buildings and the distance from the beach.
Is Tourism Around Florida 30 A In Danger? Why So?
Destin and Panama City Beach are very important for the beach tourism landscape of Florida. Panama City Beach is also highlighted as one of the cheapest beaches in Florida.
However, despite the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) ensuring a tourism boom and 2024 having a record number of tourists, Panama City Beach is struggling to replicate the success in 2025.
The Panama City Beach Tourist Development Council has confirmed that there have been fewer summer visitors to Panama City Beach compared to 2024. So, thanks to the tourism taxes, Panama City Beach and the areas around Florida 30 A are having a softer tourism year in 2025.
Moreover, the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport has mentioned a 3% drop in passenger traffic in 2025.
Still, the travel authorities of Panama City take this tourism dip as an apparent downfall. ECP is expanding its lounge area, and after the completion, the lounge will have 80,000 square feet more area with better passenger amenities.
Furthermore, ECP is all set to introduce new flight routes. So, connectivity will be better and easier.
Overall, the future of tourism in Panama City Beach and areas around 30 A in Florida looks promising. A slow summer does not always mean a bad winter.
So, we are hopeful as the brightest rays of the Sun kiss Florida beaches.
Where Is 30 A? Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the frequently asked questions and answers about 30 A in Florida.
Yes, 30 A Florida is a kid-friendly family destination. The beaches here have gentle waters. Furthermore, the little ones will love the fun activities at Shipwreck Island Waterpark in Panama City Beach and Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park in Destin.
Moreover, many restaurants here have kid-friendly menus, and various accommodations here focus on kids’ requirements and have kids’ clubs and play areas.
It’s difficult to call a particular town the nicest in 30 A. However, Seaside, the filming location of the movie, The Truman Show, is surely one of the nicest towns in 30 A.
The town looks very aesthetic with pastel-colored houses and architecture. Furthermore, with a central square and pedestrian-friendly streets, it is one of the most walkable towns in 30 A.
Furthermore, it has a happening food truck scene, and all the infrastructure and amenities here are focused on community development.
With a laid-back vibe, community focus, and stunning coastal beauty, 30 A is the Hamptons of the South. Also, as the Hamptons offer the perfect unwinding experience to the New Yorkers, 30 A is a perfect coastal retreat for people from the southern states.
People of Dallas, Atlanta, Nashville, and Birmingham flock to 30 A in great numbers.
Furthermore, 30 A has grabbed the attention of the likes of Jessie James Decker, Chris Stapleton, Jason Aldean, and Russell Brand.
Highway 30 A or County Road 30 A starts near the Topsail Preserve State Park on the west and ends at Inlet Beach in the east.
This scenic highway in South Walton County stretches for around 24 miles along the Gulf of Mexico.
Grayton Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, and Rosemary Beach are some of the prominent beaches in 30 A.
It depends! The intensity of the crowd in 30 A depends on the season you are visiting. For example, the Spring Break Weeks and the summer season (June to August) are very busy in 30 A.
In both these times, the rentals are very high, the beaches are super crowded, and traffic congestion is common.
However, in the shoulder season of September and October, and the winter months have fewer visitors at 30 A.
Destin is around 20-25 minutes away from Destin. However, if the traffic congestion is high, it can take close to one hour.
It is difficult to pick a favorite between Destin and 30 A because of the difference in the vibe. 30 A has a laid-back vibe, and the focus is more on an upscale experience and community building.
Destin, on the other hand, is always bustling with crowds, and it is a family-friendly attraction. Furthermore, it has the most vibrant nightlife.
Panama City is the closest city to 30 A. It is a 30-minute drive east from 30 A to Panama City.
Seaside is the most walkable town in 30 A. The planning and design of the town make it pedestrian-friendly.
The restaurants, shops, and markets are within a short distance of each other.
Condo rentals, small inns, and bed and breakfast setups are easily found in Florida 30 A. However, you will also find luxurious resorts such as WaterColor Inn & Resort.
Bookstores, toy stores, clothing shops, and various other types of shops are quite frequent in the beach towns of 30 A.
Some prominent names for shopping here are:
‣ Beau Interiors in Grayton Beach
‣ Sundog Books in Sunside
‣ Patchouli’s on Rosemary Beach
‣ The Art of Simple in Seaside
The last two shops are ideal for shopping for interesting artwork and goodies.
30 A has uncountable restaurants and cocktail parlors to appease the connoisseur in you. For example, NEAT will elevate your palette with the best cocktail.
On the other hand, Chiringo in Grayton Beach serves the best food with simple and fresh ingredients.
Furthermore, you can see the Sunrise and start your day with breakfast at Black Bear Bread Co. Also, you can end your day with the best Sunset views on the rooftop of Pescado.
