FLORIDA SCENIC HIGHWAY 30A

Florida Scenic Highway 30A is the rural road that hugs the coastline along the Gulf in south Walton County.  It travels along some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world.

The highway is south of US-98, which was built in the 1930s.  This highway swung north and away from the beaches west of Panama City.

Back in those days these little communities were not connected.  Many people wanted things to stay that way, but that was not to be.

The 1959 Florida road map below shows Grayton Beach and Seagrove as communities at the ends of dead end roads extending south from US-98 about 3 miles.

Eventually, these secluded communities and their neighbors were connected in the early 1970s when Florida Scenic Highway 30A was built along the Gulf. 

The highway connects several unique communities along its 28.5 mile length. 

You will go through 12 communities, from east to west:

• Inlet Beach
• Rosemary Beach
• Alys Beach
• Seacrest
• WaterSound
• Seagrove
• Seaside
• WaterColor
• Grayton Beach
• Blue Mountain
• Santa Rosa
• Dune Allen

SEASIDE
Prototype for New Urbanism

Seaside was created in the early 1980s and is the inspiration for many of the newer communities which have grown up along the highway since then.

Robert Davis decided to turn his family's 80 acres near Seagrove Beach into a brand new model for all Florida Towns.

His grandfather had bought the property in the 1940's, and it was a family retreat.

He wanted to create something like the Florida towns of old.  These were places where folks sat on their front porches and chatted with neighbors walking by.

People could walk to the post office, the library or the grocery store.

Read More About Seaside, Florida

The success of Seaside spawned many of the other new communities along 30A.

ALYS BEACH

Alys Beach is an exclusive, unincorporated planned community along Scenic Highway 30A in Walton County, Florida, on the Gulf Coast.

Developed on 158 acres purchased by the Stephens family in the late 1970s (named after Alys Stephens), construction began in the early 2000s.

It features striking all-white stucco architecture inspired by Bermuda and Mediterranean styles, with thick walls, flat roofs, and clean lines that evoke a Greek island aesthetic.

Designed with New Urbanist principles by architects like Marieanne Khoury-Vogt, the pedestrian-friendly town emphasizes pocket parks, private courtyards, hidden pathways, and a vibrant Town Center.

It offers world-class amenities, pristine white-sand beaches, and a serene, upscale atmosphere blending modern luxury with old-world charm.

As one of the last developed beachfront communities on 30A, Alys Beach prioritizes thoughtful master planning, community spaces, and natural beauty preservation, attracting affluent residents and visitors seeking refined coastal living.

Population is about 400 with a focus on exclusivity and elevated lifestyle.

WATERSOUND

Watersound is a collection of master-planned coastal communities developed primarily by the St. Joe Company along the eastern end of Scenic 30A.

It includes WaterSound Beach, WaterSound West Beach, WaterSound Camp Creek, and WaterSound Origins, spanning diverse settings from gulf-front dunes to inland areas near Lake Powell.

Emphasizing harmony with nature, the communities feature architecture inspired by maritime history, with tree-lined streets, boardwalks, parks, and extensive amenities like private beach clubs, pools, trails, golf, and recreational facilities.

WaterSound Beach offers over a mile of white-sand shoreline in a gated, secluded village planned by Robert A.M. Stern.

Origins provides a more family-oriented coastal village vibe with modern conveniences.

Overall, Watersound promotes a relaxed, multi-generational lifestyle centered on outdoor activities, community connections, and the pristine Emerald Coast environment.

It blends luxury residential options with natural preservation across its expansive footprint.

ROSEMARY BEACH

Rosemary Beach is a New Urbanist planned community on 107 acres along Scenic Highway 30A founded in 1995 by the Rosemary Beach Land Company under Patrick Bienvenue.

Designed by Duany Plater-Zyberk (creators of Seaside), it draws inspiration from the French Quarter, Caribbean, and historic coastal towns.

You will see cobblestone streets, varied architecture, pocket parks, and a walkable Town Center featuring shops, restaurants, galleries, and a Town Hall.

It fosters community interaction through pedestrian paths, boardwalks to the Gulf, and events. The vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere includes family-friendly amenities like pools, tennis, fitness centers, and gated beach access.

Named after local realtor Rosemary Milligan, it blends old-world charm with modern upscale living on pristine beaches.

With a small population of about 700 and high walkability, it remains a sought-after destination for second-home owners and visitors seeking charm, culture, and coastal elegance.

State Parks on Florida Scenic Highway 30A

Two of the most fantastic Florida state parks are also along this route: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Grayton Beach State Park.

This stretch of coast is between Panama City Beach and Destin, both well known Florida tourist destinations.

THE OLD TOWN OF GRAYTON BEACH

Grayton Beach looks more Old Florida than most of its more modern neighbors.

It's just about in the middle of the route, and has a lot of weathered old beachy homes and cottages that remind you of a bygone era when it was the only settlement along what was then a lonely coast.

The community is surrounded by Grayton Beach State Park whose white sands were once listed by "Dr. Beach" as the most beautiful beach in America.

The land along this stretch of beach was first homesteaded in 1885 by former Army Major Charles T. Gray.

The town of Grayton Beach was founded in 1890 when Army Generals William Miller and William Wilson came to the area. They named the town for Major Gray.

The town remained remote and hard to visit until the 1930s when US Highway 98 was completed as the major route between Pensacola and Panama City.

Grayton Beach has also survived a few hurricanes. Opal in 1995 caused a lot of flooding and damage from Gulf waters which topped over the tall dunes.

The only original home in the community is called "Wash-A-Way".

It is was originally built in the 1890s by Captain Gray and is now a thoroughly modernized bed and breakfast inn.

It's at the end of County Road 283 right on the gulf and got its name when the unnamed hurricane of 1926 washed away its foundation.

The Red Bar was a historic restaurant and bar that was destroyed by fire on February 13, 2019.  Faithful fans of the place from near and far mourned the loss.

Those fans have been overjoyed that he owners built a new one that opened for business on July 15, 2020.

Seasonal and short term rentals are available all along Florida Scenic Highway 30A, but most of them are fairly pricey.

More budget minded travelers can look into the camping and cabin accommodations at the two State Parks, but reservations should be made well in advance.

---

A great resource for hungry travelers along Scenic Highway 30A is this article from Visit Florida, the State of Florida's official tourism marketing corporation:

30 GREAT RESTAURANTS ON 30A

This link takes you to a good listing of lodging in the area.

LODGING IN THE SCENIC HIGHWAY 30A AREA

---

---