Things to Do in Port St. Joe: Top Sights and Original 3, 5 & 7-Day Itineraries
Port St. Joe sits on St. Joseph Bay along Florida's "Forgotten Coast," a quiet stretch of the Panhandle with uncrowded beaches, seagrass flats and summer bay scalloping.
This guide covers the best things to do in Port St. Joe, 3, 5 and 7-day itineraries with Cape San Blas, Apalachicola and St. George Island, plus food and where to stay.
Top things to see in Port St. Joe
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
Tall dunes and one of Florida's top-rated beaches.
Cape San Blas
Remote beaches and dog-friendly sands.
St. Joseph Bay
Calm water for paddling and scalloping.
Cape San Blas Lighthouse
Historic lighthouse relocated to town.
Indian Pass
Rustic raw bar and beach.
St. Vincent Island
Wildlife refuge reached by shuttle boat.
Mexico Beach
Small beach town to the west.
Downtown Reid Avenue
Shops and cafés.
Port St. Joe in 3 days: an original itinerary
1Day 1 · Downtown and bay
Start on Reid Avenue for breakfast, then visit the Cape San Blas Lighthouse in George Core Park. Lunch on fresh Gulf shrimp. In the afternoon, rent a kayak on St. Joseph Bay. Watch the sunset over the bay from the waterfront.
2Day 2 · State park
Spend the day at T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, walking the dunes and swimming in clear water. Picnic lunch. In the afternoon, hike the nature trail or paddle the bay side. Dinner on Cape San Blas.
3Day 3 · Scalloping
In season, join a guided bay scalloping trip, snorkeling through seagrass for scallops. Lunch on the boat or at the marina. In the afternoon, beach time. In the evening, cook your scallops or order them at a local restaurant.
Port St. Joe in 5 days
Follow the 3-day plan above, then add these two days:
4Day 4 · Indian Pass and St. Vincent
Take the shuttle from Indian Pass to St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge to see birds and possibly red wolves. Lunch at the Indian Pass Raw Bar. In the afternoon, relax on Indian Pass beach. Dinner in Port St. Joe.
5Day 5 · Apalachicola
Drive to Apalachicola, a historic oyster town, and explore its galleries and old cotton warehouses. Lunch on seafood. In the afternoon, visit the Orman House Historic State Park. Return to Port St. Joe for dinner.
Port St. Joe in 7 days
With a full week, keep days 1 to 5 and finish with:
6Day 6 · St. George Island
Visit St. George Island State Park, with miles of undeveloped beach. Picnic lunch. In the afternoon, climb the Cape St. George Lighthouse. Return in the evening.
7Day 7 · Last day
Final morning on the beach or a sunrise paddle, then shop on Reid Avenue for local art. Lunch downtown. Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport near Panama City is about an hour away.
What to do in Port St. Joe on a weekend
For a weekend in Port St. Joe, combine the state park, the lighthouse and an evening at Indian Pass.
The area is much quieter than Destin or Panama City Beach.
What to do in Port St. Joe in the evening
Evenings mean sunsets over the bay, casual seafood dinners and stargazing on Cape San Blas.
Downtown hosts occasional live music.
Port St. Joe for couples
Couples can paddle the bay at sunset, share oysters at Indian Pass and enjoy empty beaches.
Port St. Joe with kids
With kids, calm bay water, scalloping, the lighthouse and dune walks are ideal.
What to eat in Port St. Joe
Bay scallops
Summer harvest.
Apalachicola oysters
A Forgotten Coast icon.
Gulf shrimp
Fried or boiled.
Smoked mullet
Local tradition.
Key lime pie
Florida dessert.
Where to stay in Port St. Joe: best areas
Downtown
Near shops and the bay.
Cape San Blas
Beach rentals.
Indian Pass
Rustic and quiet.
Mexico Beach
Small and relaxed.
What to do in Port St. Joe when it rains
On rainy days, visit Apalachicola's shops and museums, the lighthouse museum or the Port St. Joe library and galleries.
How much does a trip to Port St. Joe cost?
Expect $150 to $300 per night for rentals, $15 to $30 for meals and about $50 for a guided scalloping trip.
Practical tips for Port St. Joe
Best time to visit
April to October; scalloping usually runs mid-August to late September in Gulf County.
Getting around
A car is essential.
Our practical tips
- Check scallop season dates.
- Get a fishing license for scalloping.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen.
- Book rentals early.
- Watch beach flags.
- Bring bug spray.
Mistakes to avoid
- Scalloping out of season.
- Forgetting a dive flag.
- Ignoring rip currents.
- Expecting big-resort nightlife.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Port St. Joe?
The state park, bay scalloping, Cape San Blas and Indian Pass.
When is scallop season?
Usually mid-August to late September.
Is it crowded?
No, it is one of Florida's quieter coasts.
How far is Panama City?
About an hour.