This is a great Florida state park! Lots of planes and helicopters fly over but I loved it! Super nice sites and beach near lots to do.
Zach
Posted Jan 29, 2024; Iowa
Henderson has about a mile of beach and is wedged between the beach and US-98. Gravel sites are level and oriented so that the ample vegetation between sites allows for considerable privacy. I芒鈧劉m guessing that the beautiful maritime forest surrounding sites reflects what the entire area looked like before development of the the nearby communities. Access to the beach is over a paved path through a low forest and boardwalk over dunes. All sites are E/W. Easy access to dump station. Bathhouses are well maintained and very clean; no paper towels though. The park is in the city of Destin near Elgin Air Force base, so expect some noise. Ok, lots of noise.
Psgonecamping
Posted Feb 03, 2023; Eastern Virginia
The helicopters ruined it all!
We won芒鈧劉t come back!
It was deafening!
Kristy c
Posted Jun 25, 2022; Tennessee
Add to the noise pollution LOUD booming bass music that we could feel in our bones. It started after the helicopters quit and went on well past 9:30 pm. Utterly ridiculous. Make no mistake, the helicopters are continuous all day and flight pattern is directly over the park and the beach. For us the campsites don芒鈧劉t make up for it. We will not return.
Kathy
Posted Mar 06, 2022; Virginia
Noise is definitely an issue. Helicopters, small aircraft, highway traffic noise. Sirens and loud cars racing kinda ruined the evening by the campfire. Sites are private and spacious. Clean bathrooms and laundry facilities. Campers use same entrance as day use people which is a big problem. If you leave the campground during daytime expect to wait in a long line to re-enter. Day users have to stop and pay fees and the line is often 10-20 cars ahead of you. No way to go around them.
Janis
Posted Oct 09, 2021;
Pros: Beautiful, immaculate park. Spacious, level camp sites with excellent privacy. The facilities are clean and well maintained. Park employees are very helpful and friendly. The beaches are absolutely stunning. Plenty to do outside the park, as it芒鈧劉s centrally located on the main strip (Gulfarium, Airforce Armament museum)
Cons: Helicopters. I know, I read the other reviews and said to myself, self, it can芒鈧劉t be that bad芒鈧.well, it is and it doesn芒鈧劉t stop unless a hurricane comes through or the sun goes down. After 3 days of it, it begins to get to you. I didn芒鈧劉t mind any other noises, just the helicopters, constantly buzzing you at low altitudes. Rats come out at night. Once the sun goes down big rats come out by the dozens. We had 10-11 in the vegetation just outside our fire ring. Don芒鈧劉t leave anything out you wouldn芒鈧劉t want them on. Booking this campground is ridiculously hard. You either have to have someone die and leave their site to you in a will or get extremely lucky and catch a cancellation. Either way, if you can get an opening, don芒鈧劉t hesitate.
Switchback
Posted Sep 02, 2021; TN
Get rid of the scenic helicopters that are directly over your head at low altitude all day long and this park would have five stars. It was way annoying and totally took away from the pleasant atmosphere of the beach and park. Spaces are large and private. Bathroom and park is meticulous. Hosts are great! A little bit of a walk down the boardwalk and you are on fine white sand beach and clean tortoise water. Took stars away due to helicopter noise, traffic along the adjacent road and surprising amount of emergency vehicle noise. Oh...and did I mention the constant sound of scenic helicopters over your head at 500 ft all day.
Luigino
Posted Mar 22, 2021; Utah
Agree with NOISE pollution comments, adding train, helicopters, loud 4x4 pickups, racing sports cars 芒鈧 come on! This is supposed to be beach camping amongst the 30ft dunes but who can hear the sound of the waves??? Then you have day users & management blocking off usable parking lots so you are sardined into one parking lot of 3 (a huge lot blocked off since last visit at Christmas to repair boardwalk, SERIOUSLY!) Paid $40 per nt camping (including fees/taxes) & you get overcrowded beach. I won芒鈧劉t return!
JP
Posted Oct 14, 2020; New Mexico
Very nice park. Noise pollution prevents the 5th star.
David lawrence
Posted Nov 27, 2019; SWFL
Very private & very clean camp sites and excellent facilities. The park staff and volunteers are doing a super job. Weird there were nearly no biting bugs. Little to no wild life seen in the camp area. US 98 is next to the park so constant noise. Tremendous noise from military aircraft flying over the area. Beautiful beach however it芒鈧劉s 1/4 mile walk. Bicycling is limited to paved paths only. Much of the walk is on a nice board walk. No restrooms near the beach area. No pets allowed on beach but that is understandable. The park is surrounded by hotels, inns, condos and shopping areas. A lot of construction noise during the day. Highway traffic noise all night. Little star glazing due to all the bright night lights. If you are looking for a really premier facilities this is a great park. If your are looking fo enjoy nature other nice shrubbery, try one of the other parks. No bike paths out of the park into Destin due to massive construction projects.
Richard
Posted Sep 18, 2019; Carrollton, GA