Poquito Bayou Park Boat Ramp (Longwood Park) Shalimar, FL (850) 689-5772 GPS: N 30 27.19 W 086 35.50 Fee: None Located on Poquito Bayou on the north side of Choctawhatchee Bay. Excellent single land paved boat ramp with boarding dock. Picnic area, bathroom. You will need to go under the Shalimar Bridge to get to the Destin East Pass. An Okaloosa County operated boat ramp and park. |
Edrehi Avenue Boat Ramp (Swift Bayou Boat Ramp) 211 Edrehi Avenue Niceville, FL (850) 689-5772 GPS: N 30 30.36 W 086 27.19 Fee: None Single lane concrete ramp on Swift Bayou off of Rocky Bayou on the north side of Choctawhatchee Bay. Parking for about 8 vehicles with trailers on the west side of the street. No bathrooms or other facilities present. Sign states closed from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM. An Okaloosa County operated ramp. Click on the following links for more information: |
Pocahontas Drive Boat Ramp 565A Pocahontas Drive Ft Walton Beach, Fl 32547 (850) 689-5772 GPS: N 30 25.54 W 086 37.19 Fee: None Single lane ramp in poor condition on the north shore of Cinco Bayou. Located at the end of a long alley bordered by 6' high wooden privacy fences and private homes. Pavement stops at the water's edge. No parking. Recommended for trailerless shallow draft boats only. Okaloosa County operated boat ramp. |
Rickey Avenue Boat Ramp 165 Rickey Avenue, Ft Walton Beach, Fl 32547 (850) 689-5772 GPS: N 30 26.55 W 086 36.04 Fee: None Single lane concrete boat ramp. Located on Poquito Bayou, the ramp entrance is bordered by residential 6' high privacy fences. There is limited unimproved parking on the west side of Rickey Ave at the entrance to the ramp for about 3-5 vehicles with trailer. Operated by Okaloosa County. |
Twin Cities Park Boat Ramp 198 N John Sims Parkway Niceville, FL (850) 729-5402 GPS: N 30 31.06 W 086 29.54 Fee: None Operating Hours: 24 hours for boat launching Newly renovated in 2010, this is an excellent wide, single lane ramp at the north end of Boggy Bayou in Niceville. It is a popular takeout spot for kayakers coming down Turkey Creek. Park has bathroom facilities, dock, covered picnic tables, and ample parking area. City of Valparaiso operated park. |
Eglin AFB - Postl Point Boat Ramp 120 Flagler Rd Eglin AFB, FL GPS: N 30 28.59 W 086 28.58 Fee: None (Military only) Wide concrete ramp on Weekly Bayou off Boggy Bayou on the north east end of the main Eglin AFB. Boarding docks. Parking for about 15-20 vehicles with trailers. Marina has gas, docks, snacks, frozen bait, bathrooms, picnic area. |
Meig's Park Boat Ramp 45A Meigs Drive Shalimar, FL (850) 689-5772 GPS: N 30 26.014 W 86 34.500 Fee: None Concrete single lane boat ramp located on Lake Vivian on the north side of the Choctawhatchee Bay. Has open parking area for about 10-15 vehicles. Sign states "Shallow Draft boats only". |
National Seashore Boat Ramp Hwy 98 GPS: N 30 23.52 W 086 34.57 Open 8 a.m. to sunset Operated by the National Park Service. Fee: None Single lane paved ramp with sand silting on the ramp. Due to shallow water and sand on the ramp, only usable by shallow draft boats. Paved parking available for boat trailers. |
Florida Park Boat Ramp 230 Grandview Ave Valparaiso, FL 32580 (850) 729-5402 GPS: N 30 29.807 W 86 29.232 Fee: None Operating Hours: 24 hrs for boat launching Single paved ramp with boarding docks located on Boggy Bayou. Some silting of sand, might be too shallow for big boats. Road leading to the ramp is steep. No designated parking area for vehicles with boat trailers. City of Valparaiso park and ramp. Florida park has a separate fishing dock, picnic area, playgrounds, and bathrooms. |
Marler Park Boat Ramp 1275 Santa Rosa Blvd Ft Walton Beach, FL (850) 689-5772 (Okaloosa County) GPS: N 30 24.01 W 086 35.33 Fee: None Excellent wide two lane concrete boat ramp with loading docks. About 5 miles west of the Destin Bridge. Gated, opens 1 hour before sunrise, closes 1 hour after sunset. Paved parking for 20 vehicles with trailers. Park has picnic area, beach, bath rooms, pavilions, and a separate fishing dock on Santa Rosa Sound. An Okaloosa County operated boat ramp and park. |
Hurlburt Field Marina Boat Ramp 207 Cody Ave Hurlburt Field, FL 850-884-6939 GPS: N 30 24.34 W 086 42.30 Fee: None (Military only) Two wide single lane concrete boat ramps on the Santa Rosa Sound. Located south of Hwy 98 on the soundside of Hurlburt Field, the Hurlburt Marina is a full service marina with gas, snacks, bathrooms available. It is about 12 miles west of the Destin bridge. |
Eglin AFB - Ben's Lake Boat Ramp (Eglin AFB Yacht Club Boat Ramp) Eglin AFB, FL GPS: N 30 27.335 W 86 32.676 Fee: None (Military only) Two single lane concrete ramps on the northern end of Ben's Lake next to the Eglin AFB Yacht Club. Boarding docks. Unimproved parking area for about 10-15 vehicles with trailers. No facilities here but the Ben's Lake Marina is only a half mile away. |
800 Beach Drive, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 654-5184 GPS: N 30 24.63 W 086 29.45 Public facility with 5 concrete boat ramps with paved parking. Located about 4 miles east of the Destin bridge on Choctawhatchee Bay. More Information here |
7 Calhoun Ave, Destin,FL 32541 (850) 837-2470 GPS: N 30 23.82 W 086 30.93 Private facility with one concrete boat ramp located beside the Destin Bridge across from Crab Island. Destin Marina Website |
Adventure Marina Boat Ramp (formerly Brooks Bridge Bait & Tackle) 1201 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE Fort Walton Beach, FL (850) 243-5721 GPS: N 30 23.58 W 086 36.01 Fee: $ 7.42 day, includes parking $25.00 overnight parking Single lane concrete boat ramp on Santa Rosa Sound in Ft Walton Beach, at the southwest foot of the Brooks Bridge. Marina has gas, bait/tackle, loading dock, boat rentals, bathrooms. Parking for about 10-15 vehicles with trailers. |
Ft Benning Recreation Area Boat Ramp 557 Calhoun Avenue Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-6423 GPS: N 30 24.640 W 086 30.008 Fee: $ 8.00/day. Military only |
Quality Inn Ramp 322 Miracle Strip Parkway Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 (850) 275-0300 GPS: N 30 24.293 W 086 38.042 Fee: None, for use by registed motel guests only. Private, single lane concrete boat ramp on Santa Rosa Sound. Located behind the Quality Inn motel. Shallow water, will have to watch the tides. Separate dock for use also. Ample parking. |
Lincoln Park Boat Ramp Corner Washington St & N Bayshore Dr Valparaiso, FL (850) 729-5402 GPS: N 30 30.27 W 086 29.15 Fee: None Two paved boat ramps with boarding docks. Located on Boggy Bayou on the north side of Choctawhatchee Bay, about 9 miles to the Destin Bridge. City of Valparaiso park with bathrooms, playgrounds, beach and a covered picnic area. |
Lion's Park Boat Ramp 910 Bayshore Drive Niceville, FL 32578 (850) 729-4062 GPS: N 30 30.653 W 86 28.871 Fee: None Two single lane paved boat ramps with boarding dock. Located on Boggy Bayou on the north side of Choctawhatchee Bay, about 9 miles to the Destin Bridge. Paved parking for 10+ vehicles with trailers. Park has covered picnic areas, bathroom. City of Niceville operated park and boat ramp. |
Liza Jackson Park Boat Ramp 350 Hwy 98 W (850) 833-9576 GPS: N 30 24.20 W 086 38.17 Fee: Free for registered Ft Walton Beach residents, all others pay $ 5.00, honor system. Ramps a little steeper than normal. Water around ramp is deep, but shallow across Santa Rosa sound to the intercoastal waterway, be careful. Park has picnic area, covered pavilions, bathrooms, a separate fishing dock, and playground. City of Fort Walton Beach park and boat ramps. |
Rocky Bayou State Park Boat Ramp 4281 Hwy 20 Niceville, FL 32578 (850) 833-9144 GPS: N 30 39.06 W 086 26.14 Fee: State Park entrance fee: $ 5.00 (single person) $ 6.00 (More than one person) Additional Boat Launch Fee: $ 5.00 This is an excellent two lane paved boat ramp with boarding docks. There are about 20 designated vehicle/boat trailer parking spaces. Rocky Bayou State Park has a camping area, picnic grounds, showers, bathrooms. You will need to go under the Rocky Bayou/SR20 bridge to get to the East Pass. |
Seaway Boat Ramp (Cinco Bayou Bridge) 254 Seaway St Cinco Bayou, FL 32548 (850) 833-3405 GPS: N 30 25.515 W 86 36.556 Fee: None Two lane concrete boat ramp with loading dock. Paved parking for 15 vehicles with trailers. You will have to go under the Cinco Bayou/Eglin Parkway bridge to get to Destin, about 6 miles away. No bathroom or other facilities but there is a Whataburger located next to the parking area. Town of Cinco Bayou operated boat ramp. |
Sandpiper Cove Boat Ramp 775 Gulfshore Drive Destin, FL 32541 850-837-9121 or 800-874-0448 GPS: N 30 23.186 W 86 29.065 For private use of owners and guest staying at one of the Sandpiper Cove units. |
Bluewater Bay Marina Boat Ramp 290 Yacht Club Drive Niceville, FL 32578 850-897-2821 GPS: N 30 29.653 W 086 26.707 Fee: $ 8.00 + tax, pay at marina. Two single lane concrete boat ramps at the Bluewater Bay Marina. Paved parking for over 20 vehicles with trailers, full service marina nearby with bathrooms, fuel docks, trash receptacles. |
Water St Boat Ramp 99 Water St Ft Walton Beach, FL 32547 (850) 689-5772 GPS: N 30 25.52 W 086 28.12 No fee Single lane boat ramp at the end of Water Street on Cinco Bayou. The pavement stops at the water's edge.There is parking for maybe 3-5 vehicles. Private property on both sides of the ramp. An Okaloosa County operated boat ramp. |
Destin Area Saltwater Boat Ramps West of the Mid-Bay Bridge |
DESTIN PRIMARY RAMPS There are two boat ramps that most people in Destin use to get to the East Pass: 1) Joes Bayou, run by the city of Destin, and 2) Destin Marina Boat Ramp. Both have ample parking and can launch most trailerable boats. |
Other PRIMARY RAMPS West of the Mid Bay Bridge There are other good boat ramps within a few miles of the east pass that can be used to launch most trailerable boat. |
Secondary boat ramps in Destin These ramps have restrictions and are not commonly used by the public. |
Secondary boat ramps west of the Mid Bay bridge These ramps have restrictions and may not be suitable to all boats |
Ft Walton Beach Landing Boat Ramp 139 Brooks Street SE Ft Walton Beach, FL 32547 (850) 833-9576 GPS: N 30 24.119 W 86 36.393 Fee: None City of Fort Walton Beach Park. Single concrete boat ramp on the Santa Rosa Sound in downtown Ft Walton Beach. Ramp ends at the water's edge and only suitable for launching of small shallow draft boats. Water is shallow around ramp. Ample paved parking. Site of the annual Billy Bowlegs Festival. Park has bathrooms, playground, two docks with slips, pump out station, trash cans, lighting. |
Garnier's Beach Park Boat Ramp 257 Beachview Drive, NE Ft Walton Beach, FL 32547 (850) 833-9576 GPS: N 30 25.76 W 086 36.01 Fee: None Single concrete boat ramp on 240 feet of Choctawhatchee Bay. Park operated by the city of Ft Walton Beach. No designated parking for vehicles with trailers, but park has paved parking lot. Bathroom facilities, covered picnic area, and playground available. Sign states closes 7:30 PM winter, 8:30 PM in June, July, August. City of Fort Walton Beach operated boat ramp and park. |
(Misty Water) Pier Park Boat Ramp South end of Misty Water Lane off of Hwy 98 Mary Esther, FL 32569 (850) 243-3566 GPS: Boat ramp open 24hr. Single lane concrete boat ramp on Santa Rosa Sound. Parking for maybe 3-4 vehicles with trailers. No Fee. |
Walkedge Drive Boat Ramp Ft Walton Beach, Fl 32547 (850) 833-9576 GPS: N 30 24.19 W 086 35.57 No Fee Single lane concrete boat ramp located on the south end of Walkedge Drive off Brooks St in Ft Walton designated parking for 3 vehicles with trailers & 2 single vehicles. Maximum vehicle/trailer length: 35'. City of Fort Walton Beach operated boat ramp. |
This web site is updated as I have time from other things going on. As there are a 1000 + different ways to do things, this is only my way of fishing, nothing else, and it is not the last word in fishing the area. I am by no means an expert but if you would like my opinion on something related to fishing the area, please email me at FishingDestinGuide@cox.net. It may take a few days before I get to it, so be patient. Thanks..... © Copyright 2014 Fishing Destin Guide All rights reserved |
For ramps on Choctawhatchee Bay east of the mid-bay bridge, please go HERE. |