Shell Island, FL

Travel Guide

Florida Panhandle featuring general coastal views and a beach
Panama City which includes a sandy beach and general coastal views
Shell Island which includes boating and general coastal views
Panama City featuring signage and a bay or harbor
Panama City featuring marine life and general coastal views
With no commercial development, this barrier island is a great spot to enjoy sand, sun and waves and see some of Florida’s marine wildlife.

Shell Island rightfully earns its name, as the narrow barrier island is covered with shells of varied species. Expect to find conch shells, sand dollars, snails and periwinkles here. As long as the shells are unoccupied, they can be removed from the site. Add exceptional specimens to your personal shell collection.

While the island is 7 miles (11 kilometers) long, it is only about 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometer) wide. Walk easily between the northern and southern shorelines to see the contrasts between St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. You’ll pass tall pine trees, sea oats and island scrub. Look for the narrow inland lake near the coast.

Note that there is no commercial development on the island. The park generally operates a concession boat in the summer offering drinks, snacks, sunscreen and other essentials. Bring a bag to take your trash with you when you leave. When you’re not beachcombing and looking for shells, spread out a towel and relax on the sugary white sands of the island.

Getting to the island is part of the fun. Rent a kayak, motorboat, sailboat or pontoon boat to cross St. Andrews Bay from Panama City or Panama City Beach. You might see ospreys or dolphins along the way. If you have a license, do some fishing as you motor along.

Once on the island, look for evidence of loggerhead and green sea turtle habitation. Nesting season is from May to October. Be careful not to disturb these endangered species. Deer and shorebirds also live on the island.

At one time Spanish explorers established fortifications here, leaving behind a good place to dock at Spanish Shanty Point. If you don’t rent your own boat, arrive here via the large year-round shuttle from Capt. Anderson’s Marina or the Shell Island Shuttle in spring and summer from the mainland half of St. Andrews State Park. Shell Island’s western end is part of the park, separated by the wide inlet to St. Andrews Bay. Pay an entry fee at the mainland part of the park.

Palmetto Beachfront Hotel, a By the Sea Resort
Palmetto Beachfront Hotel, a By the Sea Resort
2 out of 5
17255 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL
$78 nightly
The price is $88 total per night from Aug 10 to Aug 11
$88 total
Aug 10 - Aug 11
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this beach hotel in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,502 reviews)
"Great stay renovated room, friendly staff, no bugs, quiet, easy check-in"

Reviewed on Jul 10, 2025

Palmetto Beachfront Hotel, a By the Sea Resort
Boardwalk Beach Hotel
Boardwalk Beach Hotel
2.5 out of 5
9600 S Thomas Dr, Panama City Beach, FL
$82 nightly
The price is $92 total per night from Aug 10 to Aug 11
$92 total
Aug 10 - Aug 11
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this beach hotel in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free parking, 2 outdoor pools, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the clean rooms and the overall ...
6.4/10 (1,909 reviews)
"We loved the location where we stayed right on the beach. The rooms need to be updated and cleaned better. Everything else was great!"

Reviewed on Jul 11, 2025

Boardwalk Beach Hotel
Radisson Beachfront Hotel - Panama City Beach
Radisson Beachfront Hotel - Panama City Beach
3 out of 5
15325 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL
$132 nightly
The price is $149 total per night from Aug 10 to Aug 11
$149 total
Aug 10 - Aug 11
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 3-star beach hotel in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7/10 Good! (2,209 reviews)
"Staff was friendly. Old building, or appeared to be an older facility. Doors to restroom would not shut because of the doors swelling of all the humidity. You had to kick the door open to go on balcony, you had to slam the door shut to get it to close all the way. Woodwork/baseboards it restroom ..."

Reviewed on Jul 11, 2025

Radisson Beachfront Hotel - Panama City Beach
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Tidewater Beach Resort by Panhandle Getaways
Tidewater Beach Resort by Panhandle Getaways
3.5 out of 5
16819 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL
Stay at this 3.5-star beach condo in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 outdoor pools, and a beach locale. Popular attractions Pier Park and Frank Brown Park ...
7.2/10 Good! (162 reviews)
Beautiful room.
"Room looked like the pictures which was a pleasant surprise! No false advertising. The bedroom was beautiful and the kids lived having their own room, and we loved having separate bathrooms. There was a drip coffee and a k-cup machine (so you know what kind of coffee to buy). The rocking chairs on ..."

Reviewed on Jun 27, 2025

Tidewater Beach Resort by Panhandle Getaways
Shores of Panama Beach Resort
Shores of Panama Beach Resort
3.5 out of 5
9900 South Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach, FL
Stay at this 3.5-star beach condo in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Popular attractions Pier Park and Shipwreck Island ...
5.8/10 (846 reviews)
"Our reservations a suite got lost and Expedia called Shores of Panama and they gave us a large condo on the beach immediately and welcomed us in. Clean, nice personal. One complaint is the parking deck, it was not designed for southern big travel vehicles. Like full size trucks and SUV, but for foreign ..."

Reviewed on Jun 15, 2025

Shores of Panama Beach Resort
Tidewater Beach Resort
Tidewater Beach Resort
3.5 out of 5
16819 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL
Stay at this 3.5-star beach condo in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Popular attractions Pier Park and Frank Brown Park ...
8/10 Very Good! (700 reviews)
"The resort was Awesome lots of room loved the Balcony facing the ocean. The pools and hot tubs were clean and Cool. Everyone was very helpful and nice. If I must leave a complaint it would be the slow elevators."

Reviewed on Jun 23, 2025

Tidewater Beach Resort
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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