Destin's newest public beach opened in July 2026 — and it's the only beach park on Scenic Highway 98 with free parking. Here's what's actually there, from someone who went and looked.
| Address | 3310 Scenic Highway 98, Destin, FL 32541 At Tarpon Street & Scenic 98, in the Crystal Beach area |
|---|---|
| Opened | July 15, 2026 |
| Parking | Free — 49 standard, 3 ADA, 29 low-speed vehicle / golf cart |
| Beach admission | Free |
| Restrooms | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Pavilions | 4 |
| Lifeguards | Yes — staffed tower with a supervisor Season and hours: call to confirm |
| Shoreline | 343.7 feet · 2.04 acres |
| Dogs | Not allowed — service animals only |
| Alcohol | Not allowed |
| Bonfires | Not allowed — illegal on all Destin beaches |
| Hours | Dawn to dusk |
Parking, and it isn't close. Destin started charging for beach parking on March 1, 2026 — $20 for four hours along the whole Scenic 98 corridor. June White Decker, Shirah, Crystal Beach, Barracuda, Pompano, the Shore at Crystal Beach: all paid. Tarpon opened four months later and its 49 spaces are free.
For a family of four spending the day, that's $40 saved before you've bought a drink. And unlike the older accesses, the lot was purpose-built rather than carved out of a road shoulder — 29 of the spaces are sized for golf carts and low-speed vehicles, which is how a lot of Crystal Beach actually gets around.
It's new, so everything works. Four pavilions, real restrooms, showers, and a lifeguard tower that was staffed from opening day. The city and Okaloosa County built it jointly, with the Trust for Public Land negotiating the land purchase — roughly $17 million for 343 feet of Gulf front that would otherwise have been condos.
Worth knowing: at 2.04 acres with 343 feet of shoreline, Tarpon is small compared to James Lee Park just down the road (6.6 acres) or Henderson Beach State Park (213 acres). Fewer spaces means the lot is the limiting factor. Go early on a summer weekend.
49 standard spaces, 3 ADA spaces, and 29 low-speed vehicle spaces. Free — no meter, no app, no pass. This is unusual enough on Scenic 98 that it's worth double-checking the signage when you arrive, because the paid corridor starts again immediately in both directions.
This could change. Okaloosa County has been exploring paid parking for non-county residents at its beaches and parks. Tarpon is jointly owned by the county and the city, so it isn't immune. Free as of August 2026 — we re-check this page each season.
Restrooms and showers on site, and four pavilions — the most of any city-run beach park in Destin. Whether any of the pavilions have grills isn't published; Okaloosa County's rule is that only county-provided grills may be used, and personal grills are not allowed anywhere on the beach.
A lifeguard tower staffed with lifeguards and a supervisor was in place when the park opened — which is not true of most Destin beach accesses. Destin's beaches are covered by the Destin Fire Control District, not Okaloosa County Beach Safety, whose coverage area is Okaloosa Island. Season and daily hours aren't published anywhere; call (850) 837-8413.
Three ADA parking spaces. The dune walkover's grade and surface aren't documented, so if you're using a wheelchair it's worth calling ahead.
Destin's free beach wheelchair program does not stock a chair at Tarpon. The three locations that have them are James Lee Park, the Shirah Street access, and June White Decker Park — reserve 24 hours ahead on (850) 837-8413, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Tarpon sits in the City of Destin and Okaloosa County, which means the strictest beach rules on the Emerald Coast. If you've stayed in Miramar Beach or on 30A before, several of these will be different from what you're used to.
Coming from Miramar Beach or 30A? Those are Walton County, and the rules genuinely differ. Dogs are permitted there with a county permit (residents and property owners only), bonfires are legal with a South Walton Fire District permit, and alcohol isn't prohibited by ordinance. None of that carries across the county line into Destin. The line runs right past James Lee Park, about a mile east of here.
3310 Scenic Highway 98, at Tarpon Street. Scenic 98 runs parallel to and south of the main Emerald Coast Parkway through Crystal Beach — if you're on the four-lane highway you've gone too far north.
Yes. 49 standard spaces, 3 ADA spaces and 29 low-speed vehicle spaces, all free. Every other public beach access on Scenic Highway 98 charges $20 for four hours.
No. Dogs are not allowed on any beach in Destin or Okaloosa County. Only service animals under Florida Statute 413.08 are permitted — emotional support animals are specifically excluded. Walton County, which starts about a mile east, allows dogs with a permit, but that permit is only available to Walton County residents and property owners.
Yes — a staffed lifeguard tower has been in place since the park opened, which is not the case at most Destin beach accesses. Destin beaches are covered by the Destin Fire Control District. Season dates and daily hours aren't published; call (850) 837-8413.
No. Bonfires are illegal on all Destin beaches under Okaloosa County Ordinance 79-41. The Destin City Council considered a permit system in 2025 and the ordinance died on the floor in July 2025 without a second. Legal permitted bonfires on the Emerald Coast happen in Walton County, through the South Walton Fire District.
There are 3 ADA parking spaces. Destin's free beach wheelchair program doesn't stock a chair here — the three locations that do are James Lee Park, the Shirah Street access and June White Decker Park, reservable 24 hours ahead on (850) 837-8413 from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
2.04 acres with 343.7 feet of Gulf frontage — small next to James Lee Park (6.6 acres) or Henderson Beach State Park (213 acres). The 49-space lot is the practical limit on how busy it gets.
You've got free parking and four pavilions — that's a full-day setup. Here's what people usually need next.
Last checked August 2026. Parking is free as of this date — Okaloosa County has been exploring paid parking for non-residents at county facilities, and we re-check this page each season. Sources: City of Destin, Okaloosa County, and the joint city/county opening announcement.