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Located in the Florida panhandle, 30A is the perfect place for a girl’s trip! The picturesque coastal communities along Highway 30A in South Walton County make a wonderful backdrop for both photographs and memories. However, the location you choose to stay in can make or break your 30A girls trip. So, today, I want to share where I recommend you stay, along with some bonus tips for having the best girls trip to 30A possible!
New here? Hi, I’m Sarah! We live about 90 minutes from 30A and own several vacation rentals on 30A. I am not here to sell you our rentals, as they all only sleep a maximum of 2 adults (+ 2 kids). But I am a 30A expert and happy to help steer you in the right direction as you plan your trip to 30A Florida!
Planning a 30A Girls Trip
One of the best parts about planning a girl’s trip to 30A is that you can often stay in some beautiful vacation rentals. And, since each person is just paying their share, it can be much more affordable than traveling with your own family. Vacation rentals can easily go for $10,000+ a week on 30A!
Plus, the walkability in several of these charming coastal communities makes for an easy, laid-back vacation. Or, choose to rent bikes and cruise along the Timpoochee Trail that runs the entire length of 30A.
In the photo below, you can see the iconic Pearl Hotel in Rosemary Beach, Florida. I highly recommend booking a spa day there during your trip to 30A!
Beach Towns Along 30A
When planning a trip to 30A, it’s important to understand all of the 30A beach towns. 30A is around 25 miles long, so location really matters! I will say that price generally goes hand in hand with convenience. Often, the less expensive vacation rentals are in areas without beach access or that lack walkability.
For example, I cringe when I see people in the 30A Facebook groups asking for girl’s trip reccomendations stating they are staying in the Prominence community. No offense to Prominence, but it’s a very family-friendly community that often offers more affordable rentals. But it’s only really walkable to the Big Chill across the street. That’s a fun place for families but lacks the sophistication and experience that most people are looking for on a girl’s trip. Plus, it doesn’t have a deeded or dedicated beach access, and the nearest one at the state park doesn’t allow alcohol. These are all things to consider!
My point is that you really need to be strategic when planning your girl’s trip to 30A. The first step is to familiarize yourself with all of the communities along 30A. To do so, read my What Is 30A Florida? blog post!
We rented the house below for a girl’s trip to Rosemary Beach, Florida, a few years ago, and it was so beautiful! We came in early February, so we were able to snag a great rate and a short 3-night minimum in the off-season. You will find that during peak season, many homes have a 7-day minimum, but most are shorter during the off-season and shoulder seasons.
Click here to browse vacation rentals on 30A!
Where Should You Stay On Your 30A Girls Trip?
So, where should you stay on 30A? Well, assuming that you want to eat out, enjoy cocktails, hit the beach, do some shopping, and so on, you want to pick a more dense area with 100% walkability.
Rideshare can be harder to come by on 30A and if you have a larger group, it can make it even more difficult. So, I would prefer to stay in a walkable area and leave once or twice, rather than stay somewhere more isolated and have to rely on driving everywhere.
30A is a fairly broad area, and both vacation rental owners and visitors are fiercely loyal to their favorite community and 30A rentals. But this is my unbiased opinion and exactly what I would tell my friends and family. I have even had my friends fly in for a 30A girls’ trip on multiple occasions!
So, here is where I would book a vacation rental for a girl’s trip to 30A in Florida! #1 and #2 are really a tie as both have a similar experience when it comes to dining options, beach access, and walkability.
Also, I want to quickly point out that all 30A shares just two zip codes: Santa Rosa Beach (middle and west) and Inlet Beach (middle to east side). These encompass all of 30A, including all of the small towns are not indicative of where you are staying. You need to read the property description thoroughly, and if you still are unsure what community a rental is located in, just ask the host or rental management company for clarification!
#1 Rosemary Beach / Seacrest Beach / Alys Beach
My rentals are in Seacrest Beach, so I am super familiar with the entire east end of 30A. I personally think it is the best area for a girl’s trip to 30A. The East end of 30A includes Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach, with Seacrest Beach tucked between the two. Please do not confuse Seacrest Beach with Seacrest, which is located in a quieter area west of Alys Beach.
The east end of Rosemary Beach and the west end of Alys Beach are only a mile and a half apart. Within this area, you can easily walk to dozens of upscale and casual restaurants and lots of shops. There are multiple places to rent bikes (we recommend Peddler’s Pavillion).
The main differences between each community will be beach access and price print! Many of the communities along 30A have private beach access, while others require you to go to a nearby public beach. Read more about this in my blog post, “What’s Up With The Public vs. Private Beaches on 30A?“
Alys Beach, Florida
Alys Beach is stunning and will be the most exclusive and expensive. But, if you are all splitting the cost, maybe it’s a good opportunity to stay there. I know I couldn’t afford to stay there on my own or with my family! Vacation rentals in Alys Beach are only available through Alys Beach directly.
Rosemary Beach, Florida
Rosemary Beach will be in the middle, and depending on when you go, it can still be quite expensive. The benefit of staying in Rosemary Beach is access to its large beachfront (including 9 walkovers) and four community pools. We stayed in the most beautiful Rosemary Beach home on a 30A girls’ trip a few years back!
Seacrest Beach, Florida
Between the two is Seacrest Beach, which will be by far the most affordable and very walkable. However, the trade-off is a much smaller private beach access that can get very crowded over summer and Spring/Fall breaks (basically when kids are out of school).
The main Seacrest Beach Community that I am talking bout here is located on the north side of 30A and is filled with large rental homes. I own the Village of South Walton condo complex, but I really do not recommend staying in a condo when on a girl’s trip, as you have neighbors to be considerate of. Both share the beach access with the Sunset Beach community south of 30A.
You can click here to view the VRBO listing near Rosemary Beach and Seacrest Beach. As I mentioned before, you must zoom in and read the description to verify exactly what community is in and do not trust the VRBO location as it’s approximate based on zip code.
Other 30A East End Communities
There are also a couple of other small gated neighborhoods south of 30A with their private beaches, such as High Pointe condos.
Also, just east of 30A and Rosemary Beach is Inlet Beach. You can also find many very affordable rentals in this area, but it lacks the easy walkability and chic 30A vibes that you get in the other areas. Staying in a rental north of Highway 98 really takes away a lot of the charm. But it can be very affordable if you are on a tight budget!
#2 Seaside / Watercolor / Seagrove
In the same way, I used the above area as a “whole,” the communities in this section can be thought of in almost the same way. Seaside is located at the center of 30A, with Watercolor hugging it to the north and west. Seagrove is to the east of Seaside. Seagrove is more spread out, but if you stay on the western side of it, you can enjoy quite easy walkability to the shops and restaurants in Seaside!
Again, I will work my way from the most expensive to the least costly. However, it really does vary a lot depending on which home you choose.
Seaside, Florida
A girl’s trip to Seaside Florida is always a good idea! Seaside really is the crown jewel of 30A, with expansive private beach access and wonderful shops and restaurants. It’s fairly compact and convenient, with many beach access walkovers located at the end of the main streets. However, it comes with a higher price tag! But if you can afford to stay here on your 30A girls’ trip, do it! Just make SURE that the rental is in Seaside and not just a surrounding community before you book your Seaside FL girls trip or bachelorette party on 30A.
Click here to browse vacation rentals near Seaside, Florida!
Watercolor, Florida
Watercolor covers much more area! Some of the homes can be as pricey as Seaside. This area has a beautiful beachfront pool as well as Camp Watercolor with a lazy river and waterslides. The beachfront pool will give your group more of a resort experience, with drinks and food available on-site.
In Watercolor, you need to be cognizant of where exactly the rental is in relation to Seaside and the beach access. Some homes in the later phases are located fairly far back, which may add an extra 20 minutes to your walk to dinner and shopping.
Seagrove, Florida
Seagrove or Seagrove Beach (same thing) will be the most affordable option and will have a bit more of the Old Florida feel in areas. It is important to note that this part of 30A is fairly spread out, with Seagrove spanning 2+ miles. So, if you stay on the very west end, you can enjoy the easy walk to Seaside! However, if you are on the east end, you’ll be further away! When in doubt, ask the host or use Google Maps to check the distance.
Additionally, the general community of Seagrove / Seagrove Beach does not have a private beach unless you are in a beachfront home or condo with private beach access. However, it does have many smaller public beach accesses, some of which can be small and tucked between private beaches. So, consult this 30A beach access map to see what type of beach access is located near the rental before you book.
#3 Grayton Beach
I also think the Grayton Beach area is a wonderful place for a girls’ trip. I am specifically referring to Grayton Beach south of 30A, and the closer to Red Bar, the better. This area is nice because it has a large public beach and kitschy shops, galleries, and restaurants.
The Red Bar is iconic 30A and offers live music, and Chiringo is a great casual stop for food or drinks. Nearby is AJ Grayton Beach, which is one of the only places on 30A for nightlife, as most places in other areas close by 10 PM.
Click here to browse vacation rentals near Grayton Beach, Florida!
Other Options For Your Girls Trip To 30A
There are many other areas on 30A that I could give my opinions on, including Blue Mountain Beach, the Gulf Place area, Watersound, etc. However, I think the communities I’ve mentioned are far superior for a girl’s trip. That is assuming you prioritize walkability and are looking for that 30A charm along with lots to do.
If you are looking for a more isolated experience or plan to cook meals at home, you could really go anywhere. In that case, I actually would recommend taking advantage of deals in these other locations.
7 Tips For Planning Your 30A Girls Trip
I hope my best 30A beach towns for girls trip post will help guide you as you plan your trip. Before I wrap up, here are some additional tips and things to consider for your 30A girls trip itinerary!
TIP 1: Plan Ahead For Transportation
As I mentioned above, Rideshare can be harder to find while on 30A. It’s usually easy to find a ride from the airport, but schedule your airport ride in advance. There are also many car services that you can use to book a ride in advance if you have dinner reservations in another town.
TIP 2: Plan To Rent Bikes
That said, plan to ride bikes! Many houses include bikes, and there are many bike rental options in these areas. It’s just a really fun way to get around. I always recommend adding on a basket!
TIP 3: Skip The Golf Cart
I also don’t really recommend golf carts as some towns do not allow them (east end of 30A). Plus, they are actually LSVs (Low-Speed Vehicles), so they follow the same rules of the road. This means someone is the designated driver, and everyone must be in a seat, etc. Read more about 30A golf carts here.
TIP 4: Plan Your Visit During The Shoulder Seasons
What I love about the two girls’ trips I take with my friend groups each year is that we don’t have to work around a school schedule. In general, flights and accommodations are more expensive on school holidays. So, being able to travel during the shoulder seasons is a great way to save money! And it’s less busy then!
Read my blog post about the Best Time To Visit 30A, and you’ll see that I highly recommend coming between Easter and Memorial Day in the Spring or in September after Labor Day. These windows often give you warm, sunny weather, with fewer crowds as schools are in session.
TIP 5: Plan Meals In Advance
Many of the restaurants in these charming communities along 30A have smaller dining areas, making it harder to accommodate larger groups, especially on the weekend. So, make reservations when possible to help anchor your 30A itinerary. Or, get your name in for a table early, grab cocktails, and watch the sunset while you wait!
TIP 6: Plan Ahead For Beach Access
Earlier in the post, I hit on beach access multiple times. Just make sure to know how beach access works at a rental BEFORE booking it. The best way is to just ask the Airbnb host or rental management company. Also, I recommend booking beach chairs and umbrella rentals if you are a group of ladies truly looking to relax. If you are staying on a private beach, your host or property management company will be able to tell you how to book for that specific community.
TIP 7: Plan To Heat Your Pool In The Offseason
If you are planning to visit 30A in the Winter or Spring and your vacation rental has a private pool, I would splurge to heat it! The Florida panhandle gets much cooler in the Winter than in the southern parts of Florida.
More 30A Travel Tips
If you enjoyed this 30A travel guide about planning a 30A girls trip, check out my other 30A travel tips, experiences, and inspiration. Here are some specific posts about the Emerald Coast you may enjoy:
- 30A Packing List
- Things To Do On 30A
- List of 30A Hotels
- Guide to 30A Airports
- Free 30A Wordsearch
- Visiting 30A in Winter
- Day Trips From 30A
- Beach Flag Warning System
And my friends and I love pairing our girl’s trips with a Favorite Things Party! So, make sure to read my Favorite Things Party Guide for some fun ideas. And you may also enjoy my tips for making a girl’s getaway even better!
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