Camp Helen State Park

Camp Helen State Park sits at the far western edge of Panama City Beach, where the Gulf meets Lake Powell — one of the largest coastal dune lakes in the world. This 180-acre park is a natural treasure, preserving a rare coastal ecosystem that includes pristine Gulf beach, freshwater lake frontage, maritime hammock forests, and the historic ruins of a 1940s resort.

The beach at Camp Helen is strikingly different from the rest of Panama City Beach. There are no high-rises in sight, no condos, no commercial development — just wide, white sand stretching in both directions with natural dune vegetation and the remnants of old wooden pier pilings standing in the Gulf. These pilings, left over from a resort pier built in the 1940s, have become an iconic photo spot and a reminder of the area's history.

Lake Powell borders the park to the north, creating a unique environment where freshwater and saltwater ecosystems meet. The lake is one of the rarest coastal dune lakes in the world and offers excellent kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing. The park's nature trails wind through pine flatwoods and scrub habitat, providing birdwatching opportunities and shade on hot days.

While bonfires are not permitted within Camp Helen State Park boundaries, the adjacent Sunnyside beaches (accesses #96-98, just outside the park) provide excellent bonfire locations with the natural beauty of the park as a backdrop. Many of our guests spend the afternoon exploring Camp Helen and then walk to a nearby public access for a sunset bonfire.