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Grayton Beach Central Parking: Catch The Trolley To The Beach Or Walk To Dining & Shopping
July 7, 2025 by SoWal Staff

Just north of Grayton Beach and Scenic 30A is a large parking lot with trolleys that runs every 15 minutes back and forth to the beach and "Downtown Grayton" by the Red Bar.
What is the difference between a tram and a trolley? It usually depends on where you are in the world. Walton County calls their covered beach trucks "trams". Typically, trolleys serving the 30A area have been larger enclosed busses. Many South Walton communities have their own private trolleys & trams of varying types and sizes - from 6-seater golf carts to large air-conditioned trolleys. Sandestin has busses, as does Seaside, WaterColor and Seacrest Beach have smaller trams.
Related: Seaside Park & Ride On The Free Shuttle
The grand opening of the Grayton Beach Municipal Parking Facility in July 2025 was attended by members of the public, Walton County Board of County Commissioners and Walton County Tourism and Beach Operations departments.
Keep cool inside while you wait for the tram - enjoy local art!
Across the street from Grayton Beach Parking are dozens of shops, restaurants and offices. Also within walking distance is the beach itself, Grayton Beach State Park, "downtown" Grayton Beach with The Red Bar, Zoo Gallery and many more shops and restaurants. coffee shops, bars, live music and more entertainment can be found at AJ's Grayton Beach, Borago Italian Restaurant and Chanticleer Eatery.
The completed $12.9 million Grayton Beach Municipal Parking Facility — also known as Grayton Central — features a 1,700-square-foot, multi-level transit facility with 204 parking spaces, including dedicated areas for ADA-accessible vehicles, electric cars, low-speed vehicles and bicycles.
“This property was bought in August of 2016,” said District Five County Commissioner Tony Anderson. “We finally got everything together to finish it, and it’s turned out great. This is the future of South Walton.”
The facility also includes restrooms, connections to the multi-use path and a complimentary beach tram service. Beginning at Grayton Central, the Grayton Beach Tram transports residents and visitors to a drop-off point that will soon be the Grayton Community Center/Restroom Facility at 44 Hotz Ave.
SoWal Insider Tip: At the north end of the parking lot is a boardwalk nature trail though a beautiful wetlands area that borders Grayton Beach State Park. Across the street, Chanticleer Eatery has excellent food and a full bar - enjoy indoor or outdoor seating or get takeout for the beach!
Once completed, the 1,600-square-foot community center will house a local information station, restrooms, an observation deck, a boardwalk to the beach and access to the beach tram. Construction is expected to take about 12 months, with a total cost of $6.3 million.
“The neighborhood] sat down and talked about what the vision of the Grayton Beach community is,” Brian Kellenberger, director of beach operations and interim county administrator, said. “We’ve completely connected the beach through this community center/restroom building and the entertainment district of Grayton Beach.”
These projects are funded by the Tourist Development Tax, a 5-percent tax collected on short-term rentals six months or less in south Walton County. Residents do not pay the bed tax unless they are taking a “staycation” in a local rental property or accommodation.
For more information and project updates, please visit www.waltoncountyfltourism.com/projects, or contact Beach Operations at (850) 267-4578.