Last Updated: July 4, 2026
Flagler Beach was only a 30-minute drive south from St. Augustine, Florida. We were looking forward to this destination for a very specific reason — our coach would face directly at the Atlantic Ocean, with that huge front window providing all-day tranquil views and the constant sound of waves breaking day and night. It turned out to be one of the most peaceful stretches of the entire trip.
Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort
Beverly Beach Camptown had full service, great satellite reception, and workable wifi. We chose a site next to the stairs down to the beach — better access, a larger footprint, and Jake had far more to look at. The park was quiet and about half full during our stay, with minimal campfire smoke and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. Visitor Info — Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort: 2815 N Oceanshore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136. Phone: (386) 439-3111. Website: beverlybeachcamptown.com.
Watching the shorebirds every day was a genuine birding pleasure. Willets, Snowy Egrets, and Sanderlings skirted the shore break from morning to evening, and with a telephoto lens the opportunities for close-up photography were exceptional.
Brown Pelicans flying in formation over the breaking waves were a constant and mesmerizing presence. We never tired of watching them glide effortlessly just above the surf, banking in perfect synchrony.
We got our exercise with long walks along the beach every morning. The seashelling was also exceptional — that irresistible pull to scan the sand with your eyes down is genuinely addictive. Flagler Beach has a natural, undeveloped feel that’s increasingly rare on the Florida coast.
The sunrise each morning, coffee in hand, was absolutely worth getting up for. The water presented a different mood every day — glassy calm, choppy with whitecaps, long smooth swells, or dramatic breaking waves. No two mornings were the same.
The sunsets, especially with a glass of wine from our front window, were equally magnificent.
A long exposure for the stars, with the street lights reflecting off the breaking waves, created a striking and unexpected effect — one of my favorite images from the entire trip.
Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park
Just a few miles west of Flagler Beach lies one of Florida’s most evocative historic sites. Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park preserves the remains of the largest plantation in east Florida, built in the early 1800s and destroyed during the Second Seminole War in 1836. The buildings were constructed from coquina — the same compressed shellstone used in St. Augustine’s Castillo de San Marcos — which has kept the ruins remarkably intact for nearly 200 years.
Bulow grew indigo, sugarcane, cotton, and rice. Walking among the ruined sugar mill walls, it’s easy to imagine the scale of the operation — and the weight of the history. The plantation was burned to the ground by Seminole warriors in January 1836, and the Bulow family never returned.
The old plantation wells are now home to banded water snakes and water lilies — a strangely beautiful transformation of what were once utilitarian structures into quiet little ecosystems.
Bulow Creek winds through the property, and manatees are known to frequent these waters — they weren’t present during our visit, but it’s always a possibility worth watching for.
Nearby we also explored the remnants of the Dummitt sugar and rum factory — another piece of the forgotten plantation history of this stretch of Florida coast.
Visitor Info — Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park: Near Flagler Beach, Flagler County, FL. Open Thursday–Monday, 9 AM–5 PM; closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Admission $4 per vehicle (honor box — exact change required). Note: portions of the Bulow Woods Trail are currently closed due to storm damage; check current conditions before visiting. Website: floridastateparks.org.
On our way back to camp we came across a large group of vultures making short work of last night’s roadkill — a very Florida moment.
Ospreys were a daily constant — hovering above the surf and then plunging feet-first to snatch fish from just below the surface. Flagler Beach is exceptional for raptors as well as shorebirds.
The Pickle Bar in Flagler Beach made an outstanding Cuban sandwich — the kind that makes you seriously consider ordering a second before you’ve finished the first.
Watching Brown Pelicans fish was endlessly entertaining. The full sequence — hover, tuck, plunge, splash, emerge — never got old, and capturing all three phases in a single afternoon was a highlight of the stay.
While we saw dolphins along the coastline every day, this particular afternoon was something special — they leaped completely clear of the water repeatedly, putting on a show that had us reaching for the camera every few seconds. The telephoto lens earned its place on this trip.
Practical Tips for Visiting Flagler Beach
Book an oceanfront site at Beverly Beach Camptown. The whole point of staying here is waking up to the Atlantic. Sites nearest the beach stairs offer the best access and views — book well in advance for winter months. Bring binoculars and a telephoto lens. Flagler Beach is outstanding for wildlife photography — shorebirds, pelicans, ospreys, and dolphins are visible daily from the beach. The best activity is early morning. Plan your Bulow visit carefully. Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park is closed Tuesday and Wednesday, open only Thursday through Monday, 9 AM–5 PM. Admission is $4 per vehicle — bring exact change for the honor box. Check trail conditions before going to Bulow. Portions of the Bulow Woods Trail are currently closed due to storm damage; confirm current status at floridastateparks.org. Watch for manatees in Bulow Creek, especially in cooler months when they seek warmer water in the upper reaches. Don’t miss the Pickle Bar for lunch — the Cuban sandwich is excellent and the vibe is classic old Florida beach town. Seashelling is good here — the beach feels natural and undeveloped, and the shells are plentiful in the morning before other walkers have been through.
Frequently Asked Questions About Flagler Beach, Florida
What is Flagler Beach known for? Flagler Beach is known for its natural, uncrowded Atlantic coastline, outstanding wildlife viewing, and an old Florida atmosphere largely untouched by the overdevelopment that has changed much of the state’s coast. Dolphins, pelicans, ospreys, and shorebirds are visible daily from shore, and the beach itself is excellent for walking and seashelling.
Is Flagler Beach good for wildlife watching? Exceptionally so. During a typical stay you can expect Brown Pelicans, Willets, Sanderlings, Snowy Egrets, and Ospreys daily. Bottlenose dolphins are seen along the shore almost every day. Manatees occasionally enter Bulow Creek just inland, and the area around Bulow Plantation adds vultures, Anhingas, and a variety of woodland birds.
What is Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park? A Florida State Park preserving the coquina stone ruins of the largest plantation in east Florida, built in the early 1800s and burned to the ground during the Second Seminole War of 1836. The park features the remains of the sugar mill, old plantation wells now inhabited by water snakes and water lilies, and trails along Bulow Creek where manatees occasionally appear. Open Thursday–Monday, 9 AM–5 PM; $4 per vehicle.
Is Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort truly oceanfront? Yes — many sites at Beverly Beach Camptown face directly onto the Atlantic, with beach access via a dedicated stairway. Full hookups, satellite reception, and wifi are available. It’s one of the few genuinely oceanfront RV resorts on Florida’s east coast, and the front-window ocean views are the main attraction.
What is the best time of year to visit Flagler Beach? Fall through early spring (October through April) is ideal. The weather is warm without being oppressive, humidity is manageable, and wildlife activity is excellent. We visited in December and found the conditions close to perfect — quiet beaches, cool mornings, and abundant wildlife.
