Government

Walton County Tourism (WCT) rebranded the free Beach Tram program, along with its website and two county paid parking lots to make beach access information easier for visitors to find. Formerly known as Walton County Transportation, the service is now operating as Walton County Beach Park and Ride. The updated name better reflects the program's purpose: helping visitors park their car, ride the tram and reach the beach with less stress.  

Living on the beautiful Northwest Florida coast comes with a familiar trade-off: our stunning South Walton beaches are paired with the annual reality of Atlantic hurricane season. When it comes to tropical weather, protecting your property isn’t a matter of if a storm will threaten the coast—it’s a matter of when.

Planning and Construction has taken years, but now we have an official opening date of June 15th for The Grayton Beach Community Center, a new building, tram stop, and boardwalks in "downtown" Grayton Beach just west of the Red Bar.

Read more about the Grayton Beach Community Center on the SoWal Forum Post & Discussion.

Walton County will expand the existing Beach Tram service connecting visitors to Grayton Beach State Park and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, beginning Friday, May 22.

Walton County Tourism is expanding its free Beach Tram service on March 1, with routes running to and from regional beach accesses from the new 393 Municipal Parking Facility, which is 4 blocks north of 30A on Hwy 393 at Gulf Place,  and Grayton Beach Municipal Parking Facility, which is 4 blocks north of 30A on Hwy 283.

Note that these large public parking lots have covered waiting areas with seating and restrooms, as well as inside air-conditioned waiting areas with local art.

The heart of Seagrove has gotten a whole lot more accessible. Construction is complete and the Seagrove Regional Beach Access is open! 

Art Month presented by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA), is a month-long celebration of the arts held each May in Walton County, Florida.

Walton County is officially shifting gears on its beach-access strategy with the launch of its first paid parking program. Set to take effect on April 3, 2026, the initiative aims to fund public services and maintain infrastructure while encouraging a "park once" approach through an expanded tram system.

Beginning March 1, 2025, Walton County opted to go with one main chair and umbrella rental vendor across South Walton Beaches. For 2026 the singular company is Coastal Beach Service, which has served the area for decades.

The service offers more than just chairs and umbrellas - see their website for locations and options, or call 850-233-0914.