A beach bonfire is a perfect addition to your Destin, Miramar Beach, or 30a vacation which is why so many visitors have a beach bonfire on their Emerald Coast Bucket List.
There’s something magical about watching a beautiful sunset with family and friends by the flickering warmth of a beach bonfire accented with the sound of crashing waves. This post will cover everything you need to know about how to have a beach bonfire in Walton county, Florida.
This post contains detailed information about how to host your own beach bonfire, the rules and regulations for having a fire on the beach, approved fire pits, how to get a permit, and permitted beach locations.
Details about recommended beaches for a bonfire are also here, including a new location option in Miramar Beach where you can escape the more popular and well-known bonfire spots. This will help you decide on the best place for your beach bonfire.
If you prefer to leave the setup and details to professionals so you can just enjoy the fire, I’ve included a list of companies at the end up this post who provide beach bonfire services in the Destin, Miramar Beach and 30a area. Details about a free public beach bonfire option are in that section as well.
Where can I have a Beach Bonfire?
Fires are not allowed on the beach in Destin, Okaloosa Island, or anywhere in Okaloosa County. However, just to the east of Destin is Miramar Beach in Walton County, which is the only county in Northwest Florida allowing beach bonfires.
In fact, Walton county is one of the few counties in Florida that allows beach bonfires, so that makes this experience even more special!
Beach bonfires are allowed on most public beaches in Walton County or at private gulf-front residences with written permission from the homeowner. All fires require a permit (details for obtaining a bonfire permit are further down in this post).
Walton County contains 26 miles of beaches starting in Miramar Beach and stretching east the entire length of Scenic Highway 30a to Inlet Beach.
Below is a map of Destin and Miramar Beach so you can see where Walton county starts in relation to Destin and Okaloosa county. The shaded red area is Walton county.
How do I get a Beach Bonfire Permit?
A permit is required for a beach bonfire to be legal in Walton County but don’t let the thought of getting a permit intimidate you—it’s easy!
You can get your temporary beach bonfire permit by filling out an online application on the South Walton Fire District website. The cost of the permit is $100 (plus $5 for processing fees if you pay by credit card). It used to be $50, but the price went up in 2021.
You must choose a day for your beach bonfire when filling out the application, so don’t apply until you are certain about the date. Bonfire permits are non-refundable and you can’t change the date for any reason, including inclement weather.
Beach bonfire permits are valid starting at 4pm on the approved date and ending at 1am that night. The permit holder must be present at all times with proof available to show if requested.
Beach bonfires must be 100-feet away from habitable structures, 200-feet away from sea turtle nests and 50-feet away from vehicles, public roads, plants, and vegetation. It’s your responsibility to clean up after your bonfire and return the beach to the same condition as you found it. Burying of ashes is not permitted.
Apply for your beach bonfire here by first reading the rules and then clicking on the “Bonfire Permit Requests” link: South Walton Bonfire Permits
The application will ask which beach you plan to have your bonfire at so you must have that information before applying for the permit. I make some recommendations below if you are unsure.
Best Beaches in Miramar Beach for a Bonfire
The closest place to Destin that allows beach bonfires is Miramar Beach. There are two public beaches I would recommend in Miramar Beach that have parking and restrooms. One is a popular and well-known spot for beach bonfires, while the other is newer so you might even be the only ones out there.
I will make some recommendations for the best 30a beaches to have a bonfire further down in this post
Miramar Beach Public #49 at Pompano Joes
The closest public beach to Destin that allows beach bonfires is Public Beach Access #49 at Pompano Joe’s Restaurant at 2375 Scenic Gulf Drive in Miramar Beach.
This public beach access has a large parking lot with public restrooms and it’s a short walk down to the beach from your car.
Miramar Beach public access #49 is a well-known spot for beach bonfires. There’s also a popular beachfront restaurant here so there will probably be a lot of other people here also having bonfires.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing to be surrounded by other people on your beach bonfire night. It’s actually pretty fun seeing families out enjoying the beach at night and kids running and playing. You might even enjoy having the restaurant nearby in case you want something.
Choose “Miramar Beach RBA (Pompano Joes)” on your beach bonfire permit application for this location. You will have to pick east, west or center on the form as well, indicating which side of the beach you plan to use. Choose “west” to be furthest from Pompano Joes, “east” to be closest to it, and “center” to be in the middle.
Miramar Beach Scenic Gulf Drive Public Beach
Consider choosing the newest Miramar Beach public access at 907 Scenic Gulf Drive if you want a quieter spot for your beach bonfire. This public beach spot opened in November 2022 (so not many people even know about it yet) and it also has parking and public restrooms.
Scenic Gulf Drive Public Beach Access has parking spaces for 20 vehicles and 9 golf carts. That’s not a huge lot, but it should be enough to get a parking spot here most evenings, since this beach will be more of a daytime attraction, unlike the Pompano Joes beach.
It’s a steeper trek down from the parking lot to the beach at this location, so keep that in mind if you are carrying a lot of supplies. There is a ramp down, but it’s longer than the Pompano Joes one, so having a bonfire at this beach will require more effort. Still, it’s worth it if you want to be more secluded.
Choose “Scenic Gulf Dr – 907 Scenic Dr” on your beach bonfire permit application for this location.
Approved Fire Pit
A contained fire pit is required for your beach bonfire. It must be no larger than 4 feet in diameter and must have an attached bottom. You cannot build your fire directly on the sand.
I use a Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit for beach bonfires. My solo stove is in the image above at a recent bonfire some of my friends organized. It’s also in the picture below in my backyard.
The Solo Stove fire pits are great because they have a nice big flame with little to no smoke as a result of their innovative design. It’s a very enjoyable fire experience and I highly recommend it.
I get a lot of use out of my Solo Stove, but if you are here on vacation and just need something while you are in town, there are some much cheaper options on Amazon.
The good thing about buying your fire pit on Amazon is you can have it shipped ahead to your vacation rental if you are flying or don’t have room in the car.
Below is a less expensive fire pit I also own. In some ways, it’s even better than my Solo Stove because it has a lower and wider design for an even larger fire. It also folds up making it easier to transport.
Any fire pit with an attached metal bottom meets the requirements for an approved fire pit in Walton county. You could stop at Walmart or Home Depot in Destin and probably find something that works, but sometimes it’s hard to find them here, especially in the summer.
Other Beach Bonfire Supplies
Below is a list of essential and optional supplies to consider bringing for your perfect beach bonfire.
Firewood
Firewood is essential for your beach bonfire so make sure you have plenty. It can sometimes be tough to find firewood in the Destin area, especially in summer, but the Walmarts usually have it.
The Walmart in Destin pretty much always has firewood because they are directly across from the campground at Henderson Beach State Park, but you might have luck at area grocery stores too.
Food
You can bring anything you would normally grill on a fire to eat at your beach bonfire. I’ve seen people do anything from hot dogs to more elaborate picnic dinners set up on folding tables. Don’t forget your s’mores supplies!
Drinks
Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed on the beach as long as it’s not in glass containers.
Chairs
Chairs are a nice comfortable way to enjoy a beach bonfire but remember that you have to carry them when choosing. Camping chairs or backpack chairs are usually the easiest. Blankets and pillows work fine too.
Tiki Torches
Tiki torches are cheap and add extra ambiance and soft lighting around your beach bonfire.
Best Beaches on 30a for a Bonfire
Highway 30a is a beautiful stretch of coastline with over 20 miles of beaches to enjoy. Some of these are more ideal than others for a beach bonfire so I made a list of the best ones below. My criteria for the best beaches to have a bonfire is that they have public parking and restrooms available.
Dune Allen Public Beach Access
Dune Allen public beach access is located at 5999 W County Hwy 30a in Santa Rosa Beach, near the start of Scenic 30a on the western side.
Dune Allen beach is a good spot for a beach bonfire because it has a large parking lot, public restrooms, and it’s a short ramp to the beach from the parking lot.
Ed Walline Public Beach Access
Ed Walline Regional Beach Access is located at 4447 W County Hwy 30a in Santa Rosa Beach. It’s at the 393 intersection across the street from Gulf Place.
This spot also has parking, public restrooms, and a short ramp to the beach from the parking lot along with picnic shelters and a lookout tower with beautiful views.
Santa Clara Public Beach Access
Santa Clara Beach Public Beach Access is located at 3468 Scenic 30a East in Seagrove Beach.
The ramp down to the beach is slightly longer at this spot, but there is public parking and restrooms available.
Inlet Public Beach Access
The Inlet Beach public access is located at 438 S Orange St in Inlet Beach. It is just a few blocks off of Highway 98, between the eastern start of 30a and Panama City Beach. This is the furthest point east to have your beach bonfire since Walton County ends just past here and Bay County begins.
Inlet Beach has a large parking lot, public restrooms and it’s one of the longer ramps to the beach. This is one of the spots (like Pompano Joes) where you have to choose east, west, or center on your beach bonfire permit application, but there’s not much difference between them for this spot.
Using a Beach Bonfire Company
Deciding between having your own beach bonfire and hiring a company will mostly come down to what items you have on hand, what you want to buy, and how much effort you want to put into your beach bonfire.
When you use a beach bonfire company for your fire, they will do all the work for you so you and your group can just relax and enjoy the experience.
Most companies have several packages available with the basic one including the permit, firewood, chairs, set-up, clean-up and an attendant on-site. Add-ons might include food, drinks, s’mores, extra chairs, games, sparklers, bluetooth speakers, and more.
Often these start in the range of $300-400 depending how many people are in your group and how long your event will last. Prices vary depending on a lot of factors so call around and compare options.
Below is a list of some local companies who offer beach bonfires. I have not used any of these services personally so research and read reviews before deciding.
- The Bonfire Guy
- Light me up Bonfires
- The Rental Shop 30a
- Jongal Beach Services
- Vacayzen
Miramar Beach Public Beach Bonfire
Another option is to attend the public beach bonfire at Royal Palm Beach Bar in Miramar Beach. Royal Palm Grill is a cute beach bar with a full menu and spectacular water and sunset views.
The Royal Palm public beach bonfire takes place year-round on Monday and Friday nights, starting at sunset. Chairs are provided for free. They even set up two big bonfires in busy season to make sure there’s space for everyone.
Outside food and drinks are not allowed at the Royal Palm beach bonfire but you can order anything from the full restaurant menu including drinks, snacks, and entrees. The fire attendant will take your order and bring it out to you. They also sell s’mores kits.
I hope this post helps you plan the perfect beach bonfire on the Emerald Coast!
Be sure to comment below if you have any questions or feedback. I love hearing from you and prefer to answer questions on here so my answers can help others as well. Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list so you don’t miss any posts!
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Hi, I’m Sarah–the creator, writer and photographer behind this site. I sell prints, books, journals, and calendars all made from my Emerald Coast photography and I also manage a few vacation rentals on beautiful Holiday Isle in Destin if you want me to be your helpful, knowledgeable host when you visit.
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I love all of the great advice you have posted. My large family will be vacationing early June of 2020 and I am looking forward to checking out some of these places.
I’m glad you found it helpful. Enjoy your trip and let me know if you have any questions when planning. Thank you for reading and commenting!
Thank you for all great tips! I’m vacationing in Florida for the first time this May with my family and want to do this right. I will have three little grandchildren with me so any tips to please two families with children and one younger adventurous couple would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Diane, I’m glad you have enjoyed the tips. I recently published a book on amazon called “The Ultimate Destin Bucket List” which you might find helpful in planning your visit. If you have any other questions, please let me know!
Hi,
Heading down next week for first time and plan to bring my solo stove for a fire. How do you put the fire out in yours? I would rather not pour a bucket of salt water in it. Just use sand?
Thanks for the help
Yes, sand is a good way to smother it. I would be afraid to pour water in my solo stove. I hope it worked out for you and you had a nice fire!
Do you know if there are restaurants close to the Santa Clara access that would deliver a meal to a beach bonfire?
I am not sure if a restaurant would deliver to a bonfire or not. In peak season it is tough to get takeout/delivery at all because they are so busy.
I heard the Miramar Public Beach access was currently closed. Is this correct?
I was there the other day and it was open and I know some people who had a bonfire there last week
I’m looking for a place close to The Silver Shells beach resort to have a bonfire. Do you know of a place or a company that could accommodate this?
You would have to cross the county line out of Okaloosa county to have a bonfire. The beach at Pompano Joes would be the closest one to Silver Shells
Other than the rial palm is there anywhere else that does free bonfires?
No that’s the only place who does public ones
We are coming down from ohio for a wedding, we want to make sure we set up in the right spot we want to be near pompano joes so we can order food and eat is that allowed? And are we able to set up our own tables?
Yes, Pompano Joes is fine and you can usually order take out from Pompano Joes but call ahead and ask them because in the super busy times sometimes they can’t accommodate take out orders. Yes, you can set up tables. Enjoy!