Shell Island, Florida
Discover a hidden treasure on the coast of the Florida panhandle.
Created when the Gulf Pass was dredged in the early 1930s, Shell Island is a popular day trip from the Panama City Beach area. The island - boasting about 15 miles of coast line- is a part of St. Andrews State Park.
There are three ways to access the island:
1) Via your own ocean safe boat
2) Via a rental boat - bay side only
3) Via the Shell Island Shuttle
Owning and operating your own personal marine vessel is the best and optimal way to access Shell Island. You will find boats anchored just off shore all along both the bay and gulf sides of the island. Your boat… your rules… no time restrictions.
The next best way to visit Shell Island is via a boat rental. While there are several rental companies in the area, I recommend renting from Shell Island Pontoon Boats - located within St. Andrews State Park. Rates, which change seasonally, are available for half and whole day rentals and are extremely reasonable. The only downside to this option is that you can not take the pontoons into the gulf thus only able to access the island from the bay side. Depending which part of the island you anchor off of, usually the gulf side is about a 10 minute walk away. The farther west you travel along the island the clearer the water.
Finally, if you are either not comfortable with the idea of captaining your own pontoon for the day or wish to go the least expensive route, you can purchase tickets for the Shell Island Shuttle at $20 per person. The shuttle departs the state park dock area every half hour starting at 9am in the spring and summer (10 am during off seasons). The shuttle ride is 10 minutes and includes instructions from your boat captain on where to find the best snorkeling and shell hunting locations on the island. You will depart the shuttle on the bay side of the eastern tip of the island. The Gulf of Mexico is about a 10 minute walk away.
Since the shuttle offers round trip transfers between the island and the state park until 5pm each day, Shell Island is a great place to spend the day with your friends and family. Pack a lunch, bring your chairs, and, by all means, don’t forget your umbrella for a little break from the hot Florida sun. Most importantly, please carry plenty of water - stay hydrated!
While you can swim and enjoy the bay side of the island, the side on the Gulf of Mexico offers the best water, sand, and, of course, the shells. A couple of steps into the gulf surf and you will know exactly why it’s called Shell Island. Unlike many locations where you are deemed lucky to find a shell in its whole form undamaged, the shells here are a collector’s dream come true. I recommend bringing your snorkel gear to help you locate these beauties easily in the shallow areas where the gulf spits them out along the waters edge. Shells of all sizes and colors will delight any beach goer.
