Indian Pass Campground Apalachicola Bay, FL
Tucked away in the far west corner of Apalachicola Bay, on Florida’s Forgotten Coast, sits Indian Pass Campground. It is about an hour east of Panama City, where the bay opens into the Gulf of Mexico. Indian Pass Campground is a laid-back Old Florida sandy, salty, edge-of-the-world escape that is hiding in a “Tarzan-seque” jungle landscape. It feels a little bit like you’ve been dropped off at summer camp, sans camp counselors and dining hall. This is the kind of place where you breathe slower, watch egrets and dolphins cruise along the shoreline, and make it a daily habit for the sunrises and sunsets. Man oh man! The show of color in the skies stretches for miles, in shades of fire red, magenta, bright orange and lavender - so magnificent and surreal. There are no high rises, no tourist traps — just wide sandy beaches, bracing Gulf breezes, and a small and simple campground.
Sites D7a & D7b
The campground has a mix of sites for both RV’s and for tents. There are seven sites that sit right on the water, giving you breathtaking looks over the bay and out toward St. Vincent Island. The other 22 sites thread through shady trees and lots of foliar growth for leafy privacy. The tent sites are located at the back of the campground and have a really nice view of the bay side of the island. There is also an oyster farm operation back there, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Gail or members of her crew, you can purchase fresh oysters of the day and have them delivered to your campsite. We did and our camp chef, Tom, constructed an oyster-roasting campsite grill from blocks and a grate he found nearby and we had us one heck of an oyster roast.
The layout isn’t ultra-modern, there are some quirky angles, the bushy growth is a bit unkempt and the whole place, honestly, looks a bit worn. But, hey, they don’t call it “Old Florida” for nothing! It’s a vibe - relaxed and unpolished and the more relaxed and unpolished you can be, the better time you will have. It’s all about adventure and letting the scenery do the talking. We did hear from several people that it can be pretty “buggy” in the warm months, so bring your pest control. There is a quite lovely bath house that was clean and toasty warm on the chilly days we were there. I showered in our camper because we signed up for the pump out - which I have to say felt like a luxury since we are usually in State Parks and are accustomed to using the bath house exclusively. Attached to the Bath House is the laundry room with nice, new machines. On the day I went to do some laundry, whoever did laundry before me must’ve had pocketfuls of dog food and plucked the hair from their Sasquatch and wrapped it in a towel. Needless to say, I stuffed my dirty laundry back in the laundry bag and packed it for our next stop. 9
All of the sites have electric and water. No septic but there is a dump station at the entrance that is free for campers and they also offer a pump-out service at your site for $15. The campground is also dog-friendly and as a bonus, the beach is too, which is a rarity it seems these days. The disappointing thing is there was a significant amount of dog turds in the public areas but also in the campground. It annoys me to see people not picking up after their dogs. That is why dogs are banned from most beaches because people don’t want to go to relax and swim and have their children play in sand with DOG TURDS. Please, if you have a dog, do your doodie-duty and clean up after your dog!
Adventures & Everyday Magic:
🎣 Fishing: Cast right off the beach or launch a boat for some of the area’s famous fishing.
🌊 Beachcombing: Shells, sand dollars, and gentle waves make walking the shore a daily ritual.
🐬 Wildlife Watching: Dolphins and pelicans are regular visitors, especially at sunrise and sunset.
🍹 Local Flavor: A short drive down the road sits the lively Indian Pass Raw Bar — famous for oysters and cold drinks after a day on the water.
Tips for Your Stay
• Book ahead, especially on holiday weekends — there’s a 3-night minimum then.
• Bring long hoses and cables — some sites are deep or oddly angled.
• Look for Gail. Buy the oysters.
. Walk to the water to see the sunrises and sunsets
. Go to Indian Pass Raw Bar -at least once during your stay
