Gulf Beach Stop-over Suggestions

[adear11]

Hi all,

My family of 4 is heading down for a WDW trip Sept 14 - 20. We're driving in from central MS. The trip is roughly 700 miles. On most of our trips, we usually stop in Crestview, FL on our way back home. As you'd expect, the trip back home is usually quite grueling after having been in Disney for a week, so we like to break it up into two sections.

For our trip this year, I'm thinking it would make a nice change to detour to the beach for a night, or maybe two if the price is right. I'm thinking somewhere in the Panama City Beach - Destin area. We don't go to the beach very often so I'm looking for recommendations for where might be a good place to stop for a night or two. We wouldn't need a hotel on the beach necessarily, though that would be a plus, but some where with a short walk/drive to the beach would be nice.

I'm just looking for any recommendations for an area to look at that won't be too crowded, or any specific hotel recommendations if you have them

Thanks!

 

[woody5]

Navarre Beach is wonderful. It is half way between Destin and Pensacola. It is much more quiet than Destin. The Springhill Suites is very nice right on the beach. You could also rent a condo or house.

 

[Shellyred8]

Panama City Beach is a great place to stop. There are tons of vacation rentals right on the beach (airbnb, vrbo, that kind of thing). During that time of the year, crowds shouldn't be an issue.

 

[zipuzee]

I second Navarre Beach, as well as Springhill Suites.