Gulf Islands National Seashore

The Okaloosa Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore on Choctawhatchee Bay offers a swim beach, picnic area and a variety of water activities. Okaloosa Area is located on U.S. Highway 98 a few miles east of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. From Interstate 10 take Exit 12 south on Florida State Highway 85 to U.S. Highway 98. From Pensacola travel east on U.S. Highway 98 through Gulf Breeze, Navarre and Fort Walton Beach to Okaloosa Area, a 19-acre beach park. The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset.

Facilities
The quiet shallow water of Choctawhatchee Bay attracts visitors to the Okaloosa Area for swimming, sunbathing, sailboarding and sailing.

Limited parking is available for boat trailers. A concrete apron provides an approach only to the high tide line to launch small sailboats and skiffs.

The restrooms are accessible to visitors with physical disabilities. Outdoor showers are located along the back side of the restrooms.

The picnic area has 18 tables scattered in the shade of slash pine trees. Each table is on a concrete pad. There are several tables that have accessible routes from the paved parking area.