Absolutely recommend! I'm unsure why people would not. We took a ferry to the location and got off at the bay side. Barges and boats will dock here and there is frequently a concession boat since the island has no amenities. A little walk towards the gulf will bring you midway to a "kiddie pool" safe for kids to swim and play in or adults to relax. The water is truly great in both those spots. The gulf here is absolutely beautiful. There are small intact and crushed shells on the beach line and in the water about knee deep there are medium shells if you dig around. Waist deep are where the large shells are. There are plenty of these but you have to work for them. Bring goggles, flippers, etc. and it will be easy. We went on a day when the jelly larva were swarming so we stayed knee deep and still enjoyed ourselves and got a few good shells. If there had been no jellies we could have found A LOT more and bigger ones for sure. The further you walk down the gulf side the more secluded you will be. Get there on first boat out! read more

Shell Island White Sand Beach - Shells from shell island - Beaches Near Me - Panama City, Florida

Cool beach in Florida! Will come again next year. Very nice weather year round, highly recommend getting jet skis. read more

Shell Island White Sand Beach - Beaches Near Me - Panama City, Florida

This pristine barrier island is a slice of paradise, offering an unforgettable escape to sit in crystal clear warm water all day! The crystal-clear emerald waters, soft white sands, and abundance of seashells make it feel like you've discovered your own private paradise. One of the highlights of our visit was spotting playful dolphins on the way to the island. The island is perfect for snorkeling, with vibrant marine life and no waves. I am always combing for unique shells. Accessing the island is an adventure in itself. We rent a pontoon boat and dock it all day with a few floaties in the water. A few tips: Pack plenty of water, sunscreen, and snacks, as there are no amenities on the island. Bring a bag for your trash to keep this paradise clean for everyone to enjoy. Shell Island is a place where you can disconnect from the world and reconnect with nature. Whether you're traveling solo, as a couple, or with family, it's the kind of spot that will leave you feeling refreshed and inspired. I can't wait to visit again! read more

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**this is a review of the shell island ferry from st Andrews state park. I appreciate nature. I appreciate the wilderness. I love interesting places and have an appreciation for the untouched. I'm not speaking as someone who can't recognize beauty. This place is basically an extension of St Andrews park with an expensive boat ride. Don't waste your money. Sure, there are a bit fewer people, but not enough to make it feel secluded. And yes, there are miles of beaches... but nothing really to explore. The dunes are protected. There are no trails. There was a boardwalk from the bayside dock to the gulf side beaches tho. Don't step off the boardwalk. It's a habitat for wildlife. The jetties are quite a hike away so if you wanna snorkel there and still make it back in time to catch the ferry out, you need to get there early...very early. It's a hike. The point: They got us. Don't let them get you. If you have your own boat, it's worth it. If not, there are better places and experiences to spend your money on - unless you just want the right to say you've been, stay on the PCB. read more

Shell Island White Sand Beach - We earned the sticker. - Beaches Near Me - Panama City, Florida

Shell island was not what I was expecting at all . We were bitten by flies really bad, the beach had a lot of trash and no rest rooms . I would not recommend at all , we didn't stay a full hour with all the biting flies . Not a good experience at all read more

It was such a fun discovery we made about 3 years ago. Who knew PCB had such a beautiful little private island. It's away from the crowds and the sand is like white powder and the water is this beautiful crystal blue. Such a relaxing time for the entire family away from the crowded beaches along the strip. We look forward to hanging out here whenever we're in PCB. read more

Beautiful white sand, great fun looking for seashells, beautifully clear emerald waters.

Beautiful and calm. We loved snorkeling and hiking around the island. Lots of ants, but didn't really find any shells other than live hermit crabs. Very beautiful and the catamaran tour was a blast! read more

Beautiful beach on a beautiful day. Great relaxing time. I saw a turtle, sting ray,, a bunch of fish swimming together and a dolphin in about a 10 min span. We also saw 2 baby dolphins on the way here playing in the water read more

Shell Island White Sand Beach - Beaches Near Me - Panama City, Florida

The captain and co-captain were amazing. We had an amazing day. Seen a sting ray, jellyfish, lots of seashells (small), lots of schools of fishys! Definitely enjoyed our experience. Lots of walking but worth it. read more

Beautiful beach! The water and the white sand... beautiful! I took Capt Andersons Shell Island Express to the island. Not a lot of people there when I went so I was able to walk the beach for hrs picking up shells. Loved it! Be sure to come prepared...water, snacks, sun screen. Enjoy! read more

We rented a pontoon (through Adventures at Sea) and drove it over to Shell Island. The island itself is quite similar to the beaches near Panama City like Laguna and Rosemary, although it's uninhabited. I especially liked the ability to snorkel on the bay-side of the island, where I picked up crown conchs, sea urchins, and striped hermit crabs, among other species. Of course, all specimens were kept in water but for a second for a photo, and all specimens were returned to the ocean where I found them. This was a beautiful place (bay-side) for calm ocean diving! read more

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It cost $8 to get in, exact change or card only. It was very confusing trying to find parking for the boat shuttle. There was little to no signage but we were able to park in front of this little gift shop since the other two parking lots were a nightmare and full. The boat shuttle was about 10 minutes and was pretty rocky so definitely take something if you get nauseous. Once you arrive, you have to take a 5-7 minute walk to find your perfect spot. Walking on the sand is quite difficult so it's a pain when you're hauling your own beach chairs and canopy. There was no bathrooms or restaurants. So pack some water and snacks. It was full of shells along the beach. It was a bit painful walking on them since there was so much. read more

This place is a waste of time and money. If you're planning on picking up shells, you need to go elsewhere. They might've had shells here 50 years ago, but not now. If you go here, plan on it being just a beach trip but don't forget your umbrellas and your chairs. They don't bother to tell you that there's a red flag alert and you can't swim. Very disappointing! read more

If you're expecting a sparsely populated beach and an abundance of shells you'll be very disappointed. The shuttles drop everyone off in roughly the same area and it's quite a haul to walk to the gulf side where the shells supposedly are. We went over there and nada. We brought our own snorkel gear and there's a shallow area behind the rock jetty that my 10 and 11 yo boys had fun snorkeling around. I don't think they saw anything exciting but they found a hermit crab and that was a highlight. It's fine but nothing spectacular and not worth the $85 shuttle ride for a family of 4. Didn't really seem that much different than all the other PCB beaches. read more

Shell Island White Sand Beach - Drop off area. Lots of boats pull up and park too. - Beaches Near Me - Panama City, Florida

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Online...shell island is marketed to have beaches covered in shells. NOT THE CASE. NOT COVERED IN SHELLS. What it does have is a REALLY nice white sand beach with nice water. You can dig and find some nice shells. The con...if you come via the shuttle it cost you $20 Its a premium for a less crowded beach. Well one that is less crowded in the am. By noon it's full The fees go to the state park so thats cool. But man...they shuttle 600 -1000 people a day....what a racquet. The park and island are beautiful. Just not much to do on the island that you can't do anywhere else. Definitely not worth 20/head. read more

This beautiful white sand beach is a wonderful place to spend the day with the family. We parked at the jetty and walked along the long wood walkway to the beach. It was very clean. The water was clear enough to see schools of fish swimming by. The gentle waves were perfect for the kids to play in. The bathrooms were clean, there are showers for washing up before getting in the car, and a convenience store for anything you may have forgotten. It was well worth the entrance fee of $8 per carload that we paid to enter the park. read more

Shell Island White Sand Beach - Beaches Near Me - Panama City, Florida

No shells to be found -- we found the same and much larger shells on the regular beaches in Panama. I would recommend saving your money if you already have a place on the beach. We immediately went to the Gulf side of Shell Island where all the shells are supposed to be. As soon as we got in the water, a shark was swimming with us. We waited and tried to get back in the water -- shark returned. We went back to the bay side of the island where there are calm waters and no shells. It's almost like a kiddie pool so would be ideal for small children (bay side). There is not a bit of shade on this island so you will need to bring an umbrella if you plan to stay the full day. Also, no restrooms so basically have to go in the water or end your time at the island and return back to the mainland. We wished we would have saved the $23 per person for the shuttle ride and stayed at our resort for the day. read more

Shell Island White Sand Beach - Day at Shell Island - Beaches Near Me - Panama City, Florida

So where to start with this place.... Ugh... So sad at how much it has changed since my childhood. First of all it cost $18.95 to get to the island, I get that. Bus driver was friendly, guys on the boat too. But as soon as we get to the island, the experience pretty much came to a screeching halt. Other than the beauty of the beach, the view and the fact that the island is unsettled; the rest of it is pretty standard. I would not spend the money for this place. Over run by jet skis and personal boats and people that don't care about the people around them. Disappointed. read more

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First have to PAY to get INTO St. Andrews Park, then PAY for shuttle to pontoon, Then tip the drivers of the bus (two ways) and tip the drivers of the boats (two ways). Long hot waiting line for bus, long drive for bus to port, long ride from port to Island, THEN you have to walk what seems like 1/2 mile to beach in the hot sand. Almost $75 for 2 people! Money racket. Now the DRIVERS are excellent, knowledgeable and funny. Other staff dry/rude. (gate attendant, ticket sales) Bring your umbrella AND sunscreen, NO shade what so ever on the island!!!!!!!!!!! Bring your snorkels and masks. Beautiful little CALM area for snorkeling, other than that, open sea and we had battering waves. Pretty much bounced me and my husband off the coast. Horrible that day. There are a bazillion crushed/smashed shells! Good luck finding anything intact. I do NOT recommend this for anyone! read more

The view is beautiful once you arrive the gulf side beautiful view but the trip isn't worth going if you are not prepared in carrying your beach gear or small children. There are not any shades and there is no restrooms available. The pain of walking long ways through sand to set up and coming back to shuttle is dreadful. This trip maybe perfect for young adults without young children. read more

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Gorgeous..... White sands, clear water, empty, boat only access!! read more

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Boat only access. Can take the shuttle from St Andrews Park. We didn't find many whole shells (which was our main purpose for going). Lots of big pieces. Great beach for body boarding. Kids loved it. If you don't have a boat, you can use the Shell Island Shuttle in St Andrews State Park. Be prepared to pay $8 entry fee and $16/$11 for the shuttle for adults/children. read more

Beautiful day! The water was so clear. We could see dolphins going after fish. The beach was very clean, white sand. Make sure to take water & any other supplies you might need. There is nothing on this island but beautiful nature. read more

Shell Island White Sand Beach - Shell Island - Beaches Near Me - Panama City, Florida

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Amazing beach. I can't say enough just how beautiful this is. Ride out is beautiful we seen several dolphins so was very excited.

We went on the first boat so it wasn't crowded. We found a few shells but we saw several different kinds of crabs. You will definitely get your exercise here. read more

Shell Island White Sand Beach - Beaches Near Me - Panama City, Florida

I have a new name for this beach- the Devil's Armpit beach. Can't swim, water full of gross weeds. Ocean floor is slippery and feels like quicksand. Gross AF. No shade at all. Water urine-yellow and grotesque. Bunch of boats unloading super red tourists to snorkel although it's unclear how or why you would snorkel there. Stay away! This place is the Pits. read more

Best beaches and clearest water in the panhandle! Just remember ... 0% shade. Bring sunscreen.

We visited Shell Island today and were not impressed. There were TONS of people, but what bothered me the most were all of the boats and jet ski/waverunners that were constantly zipping by the shore. Not only did this make for awful waves, but I didn't want to let my kids get too far from shore. I can imagine swimmers and snorkelers getting hit by these vessels on occasion. I can't believe the boats are allowed to get so close to the shore :( Very dangerous and they were everywhere! Also, no shells! I found dozens of sand dollars off the shore where we have rented a beach house, but nothing on "shell" island. The water is beautiful and we did enjoy the little cove near the rocks and were able to snorkel and see some fish, but it got pretty crowded as people got tired of the craziness on the ocean side of the island. The price for adults to shuttle out to shell island is $17 and the price for kids is $9. Plus the bus driver who takes you to the shuttle wants tips as do the "captain" and "mate" of the shuttle. They said that they took 1,000 folks out yesterday!! Seems like with that type of cash flowing in, they could have some trash receptacles or something on the island. We stepped off the shuttle to a dirty diaper thrown in the sand. A lot of folks that were leaving seemed disappointed as well. Definitely would not spend the money to return. read more

We visited Shell Island this past Sunday (the weekend following Labor Day.) We went out on the first or second boat and found the island to be such a lovely change of pace from the beach at our resort. It is true that the walk from the boat to the gulf side is quite difficult (the 8yo was able to walk it herself, the 3yo needed to be carried most of the way) Once we arrived on the gulf side it was a gorgeous and peaceful day at the beach. An uninhabited island that isn't trying to sell you anything once you arrive (which certainly would have distracted the kids.) I've seen a lot of the reviews stating that the island was too crowded - that wasn't our situation at all. While we weren't the only ones on the beach, there were so few people there and everyone was so spread out that we had a huge part of beach to ourselves. We spent nearly 4 hours on the island and towards the end of our time there were some boats that began arriving - so perhaps the secret is to get there early. Snorkeling was so much fun and even though the water was pretty murky and we didn't see any turtles or dolphins we did see a LOT of fish and several crabs. We also didn't walk down the beach very far, but the kids were still THRILLED with their shell finds (Nothing large or impressive, but they had a great time digging for shells. The 3yo was thrilled for anything she pulled out.) I recommend this island if you're wanting to disconnect for a few hours - eat before you go, take plenty of sunscreen, toys for the kids, snorkeling equipment, and just relax. read more

Took a pontoon in from Tyndall AFB. This was one of the most beautiful peaceful beaches I've been to. We got there at 10am and practically had the place to ourselves. The water was crystal clear and the sand was like cake mix. Soft and powder. My kids love watching the crabs. And we spotted Dolphins. We planned in advance and knew there would be no bathroom or food there so we had a picnic. It was a great experience. read more

Beautiful place, water is crystal clear. Bad part is the boats come up right on the beach were you are swimming. And as far as shells, zero. The price to get to this place is outrageous for what it is. 18.00 plus tax for the shuttle and boat to take you there(not including tips), then you have to pay 8.00 to get in the park. no bathrooms or garbage cans on the island. Not sure how many kids or people for that matter would hold it all day. Also we noticed some men in a tent sleeping and laying in the water in there clothes. They had a cook stove, looked like they lived there. Kinda creepy I think. I would probably not recommend this place for the price it is. read more

cheap way to get out of the condo and spend a day but not really anything special

Boat only access. You have shuttle options and you can also rent boats. We took the St. Andrews shuttle, which was expensive. It's a beautiful beach. Shallow, clear waters. But... Where are the shells?! I had no luck finding shells whatsoever. I enjoyed the few hours I spent there, but in my opinion, it wasn't worth the money you spend getting there and the beaches everywhere else are just as beautiful. You also have better luck finding shells on public access beaches. read more

Very disappointed with our visit. Not sure if it was a bad time of year or what but we saw no wildlife excepted for a couple birds that had passed away & one lonesome crab. I would say if you are staying in a place on the beach I wouldn't bother visiting. The sand and views are beautiful just not worth the money. read more

beautiful but shold be cheaper to go here on the boat ride me my fiancé and our daughter took, was her first boat ride which was cool to experience with her when she was only about 15 months old she loved eery min of it, but the shells were all broken, we found bigger shells over in the park and in panama city beach that were unbroken. but since we had each other it was the best time ever ,was our 2nd time in pcb and blast like always my fiancé knows how to make me and Madison happy always that's why he treats us so good cuz we love each other so much read more

Shell Island White Sand Beach - Me n my fiance and 15 n half month old daughter went there today.used the St Andrew shuttle. - Beaches Near Me - Panama City, Florida

After all the hype I was seriously disappointed. We spent $8/person to get into St.Andrews Park (which is a rip off because they have nothing to offer compared to other state parks) then $18/person to ride the shuttles (bus then pontoon) to shell island. Then the tips for the shuttle driver to and from and tips for the Captain and Mate to and from. Total we spent more than $100 to see ZERO shells that were any different than our resort beach. (If not less shells) They had a few tiny shells not even enough to bend over and pick up. Then you count the amount of stuff you have to carry for the day at Shell Island...you will need garbage bags for your trash as there is not one garbage can on the island. You will need beach shoes or flip flops to walk around all the diapers, baby wipes, chip bags, water & beer bottles, broken Styrofoam cooler pieces, cigarette butts, broken beach chairs, broken flip flops, boogie boards, empty sunblock bottles, broken umbrellas, and the remains of a boat cushions and all etc..because people are to lazy to clean up after themselves. Yes the coves are pretty (not worth $100 pretty)... But very crowded with people, boats, and jet skis. WATCH YOUR KIDS!! Take your cooler with water and food as they do not have anything on the island except a small concession stand on the end of a pontoon that sells water and a few things. Take SUN BLOCK there is not one spot of shade on the island not one tree. It is a long walk, thru the sugary sand dragging your cooler, umbrella, chairs, towels, beach bag, etc and it is HOT so you expect amazing when you get there right? Nope The gulf side of the island is exactly like the beach at your resort so in my opinion it isn't worth the walk down the long path in the sand to get to it. So would I spend the money again? Nope. Do I regret spending the money? Yes my family was ready to go after about 30 mins of being there. If you go PLEASE do not litter. It is just not right. read more

This is a very beautiful place to take the family. We didn't see any shells but I guess that's hit or miss. there are two parts to this island, there is the Bay side and the Gulf side. The Bay side is very shallow and calm hardly any wave unless you were near the end of the rocks, the wave that did come in were very calm & water was warm. the water is pretty clear and perfect to snorkel near the rocks. The waves are not very strong and excellent for children. The Gulf side is just a nice but there wasn't any shells or rocks. I would walk the length of the Bay and get to the Gulf that way as it seems easier because of the sand can be difficult to walk in. You can take coolers and I highly suggest that you do so you can refresh with something cold to drink. We didn't take food with us because we figured it would somehow get sand in it & then our lunch would be ruined. We did how ever take some cut up fruit because we could eat that and refresh so there would be no reason to move too much to stir up the sand. When we were arrived there was a man selling drinks and later by boat came an ice cream man. Don't forget your sunscreen. It isn't as packed as most beaches. read more