Camp Helen State Park in Florida, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-01. Check linked official notices before travel.

Camp Helen State Park is a day-use park in Panama City Beach, Florida, with trails, a historic district and a beach reached on foot. The beach walk crosses soft sand, so allow for more effort than the short distance suggests. Do not plan on renting a kayak at the park.

Combine a short trail with the historic district

• Oak Canopy Trail: a half-mile earth-packed walk through scrub oak.
• Beach approach: a marked 0.75-mile round trip from the main parking lot through the historic district and dunes.
• North Trail: a 1.8-mile route beginning on pavement beside Lake Powell before an earth-packed loop.

Plan a daytime visit with your own supplies

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Check beach flags and account for soft sand

Swimming areas have no lifeguards. Follow the colored swimming-condition flags at the entrance and beach. Keep children supervised near water. The sandy beach approach is more demanding than a paved path of the same length; choose the shorter woodland walk if that terrain does not suit your group.

Protect the dune habitat

Stay on the marked beach-access route. Protected nesting habitat lies beside it, including areas used by least terns and snowy plovers. Alcohol is prohibited in the park.

Arrange lodge use directly with the park

The historic lodge can be rented for weddings, and staff handle facility questions at 850-233-5059. This is separate from ordinary day admission. Camp Helen does not provide an overnight camping stay.

Start at the Panama City Beach Parkway entrance

Navigate to 23937 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach, FL 32413. All trails start from the day-use parking area. Consult the official trail descriptions to distinguish the North Trail from the route through the dunes.

Nearby parks along the coast

Deer Lake State Park is reached from 6350 East County Road 30-A. Grayton Beach State Park is at 357 Main Park Road in Santa Rosa Beach. Both can close temporarily at capacity, including to pedestrians and cyclists, so check entry conditions before changing your destination.

Choose walking, birdwatching or a beach stop

Visit the historic district and read its interpretation, then choose a trail that fits your group. Ask at the visitor center about borrowing binoculars before looking for birds. Keep any swimming plan conditional on the beach flags and the absence of lifeguards.

Ask about the beach wheelchair before arrival

The park provides a visitor center, educational exhibits, picnic tables and grills. A beach wheelchair is available through the visitor center; call ahead to discuss its use. A paved path accesses the trail north of US 98, but the beach approach includes soft sand. Check the amenities information for facility details.

A coastal landscape with a restored company resort

From earlier settlement to Avondale Mills

Archaeological middens and mounds show occupation more than 4,000 years ago. From 1945 to 1987, Avondale Mills used Camp Helen as an employee resort. Restored buildings now form part of the park’s historic setting.

Watch shorebirds without entering nesting areas

The park supports shorebirds such as snowy plovers and least terns, as well as osprey and bald eagles. The dune habitat is also home to the rare Choctawhatchee beach mouse. Observe from visitor routes without expecting a particular animal to appear.

Contact Camp Helen

Call 850-233-5059. The official park page carries the current rental notice and visitor information.