Avoid the Coastal Herds: Enjoy Florida’s Most Uncrowded Beaches in Franklin County

We recently stumbled across a Weather.com slideshow featuring jaw-dropping photos of the world’s most crowded beaches. On these jam-packed shorelines, there’s barely any room to move or breathe—and visitors can just forget about frolicking in the sand or safely splashing in the surf. All we can say is, no thank you! Here in Franklin County, we’re accustomed to a little more elbow room. Actually, A LOT more.

If you’re looking for the most unspoiled and uncrowded beaches in Florida, you’ll find them right here on the Forgotten Coast. From St. George Island to Carrabelle to Alligator Point, Franklin County visitors enjoy wide open spaces and quiet, calm coastline. No high-rise resorts or mobs of tourists in this untouched area. Just a laid-back attitude, breathtaking Gulf views and bountiful nature.

Our tranquil beaches offer plenty of space for array of adventures—from swimming, fishing and paddling to kite-flying, bird-watching or just relaxing on the sugar white sand. If you want to steer clear of the vacationing masses, escape to one of these low-key beach destinations:

Serene St. George Island

St. George Island is truly a slice of paradise. This beautiful 22-mile barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico is home to the most pristine beaches the Sunshine State has to offer. Offering miles of uncrowded expanses for sunning, shelling, swimming and fishing, most of the island’s beaches are also pet-friendly. There’s only one thing this idyllic island lacks: noisy crowds.

It’s no wonder why St. George Island is constantly landing awesome awards. Consistently rated one of the best beaches in the nation, SGI was recently featured as a Top Florida Weekend Getaway with the Kids by Trips To Discover FL. To top it off, St. George Island was ranked as number 7 in the Northwest Florida Daily News Top 10 Best Beaches in Florida list and also named by TripAdvisor as one of the 15 Most Romantic Getaways in Florida.

Calm Carrabelle Beaches

In Carrabelle, you’ll find two mainland bay beach areas just west of the town center. Thanks to the protection of offshore barrier islands, these blissful beaches feature gentle surf. Both beaches are close to the historic Crooked River Lighthouse and Museum.

Carrabelle Beach, located just 1.5 miles west of the City of Carrabelle, is a long, curving pet-friendly beach with plenty of space to find your own piece of sand and solitude. Bordering on St. George Sound, this shoreline boasts clear, calm and inviting waters and a gently sloping bottom. Visitors often spot a variety of shore birds and dolphins jumping in the nearby surf.

Just west of the Carrabelle Bridge on Gulf Beach Road, Old Carrabelle Beach is one of the best-kept secrets in Franklin County. This romantic stretch of soft sand offers superb fishing, stunning sunsets and unmatched tranquility.

Alligator Point Peace & Quiet

Alligator Point boasts some of the most magnificent, undeveloped beaches in Florida. Whether you want to take stroll, swim in the emerald surf or curl up with a book in the soft sand, this beach is the perfectly peaceful setting. Referred to as “The Point” by locals, this small coastal area is also renowned as a hot spot for inshore and offshore fishing. There are no high-rises, glaring lights or throngs of tourists here, which allows for relaxation and exquisite stargazing.

Want to break away from the coastal crowds and go off the grid? Escape to the most uncrowded beaches Florida has to offer! Book your Forgotten Coast getaway today.