Vacation rentals in Inlet Beach, Walton County

Inlet Beach is a laid-back Florida seaside community around 25 miles northwest of Panama City on the Gulf of Mexico. The area was once known as Soldiers Beach, after many World War II veterans and their families moved here as part of a government homestead program. Wooden beach cottages and A-frame houses line the streets, intermingling with modern buildings and 21st-century amenities such as 30Avenue, an outdoor shopping and entertainment complex with restaurants and bars. The town’s name comes from the Phillips Inlet, which connects the Gulf of Mexico to Lake Powell. Throughout the year, the coastal dune lake flows into the ocean, creating a fantastic collage of colors. It is one of the area’s most popular locations for water sports because of its calm water.

With warm weather year-round in northwestern Florida, there’s never a bad time to book an Inlet Beach rental. Things get busier during the spring, especially around spring break, when the area hosts outdoor events. In February or early March, the nearby beach town of Sandestin holds its Gumbo Festival. Many of the nearby towns host parades and special celebrations for the Fourth of July, which is the busiest time of the year. August to November is hurricane season, so be sure to check local forecasts if you’re traveling then. In December, Inlet Beach is all dressed up in twinkling lights for the holidays. In January, the three-day 30A Songwriters Festival takes place at dozens of venues, where you can hear music from nationally known names alongside emerging new talent.

Lake Powell

As Florida’s largest coastal dune lake, with a shoreline stretching a whopping 800 acres, Lake Powell is fed by upland freshwater that mixes with the Gulf of Mexico, creating a unique ecosystem that is only found in a few coastal areas scattered around the world. The lake sits just behind the sand dunes of Inlet Beach and is a top spot for paddleboarding, kayaking, and bass fishing.

Inlet Beach

The beach that gave the town its name is known for its cerulean water, powder-white sand, and wide-open space, perfect for relaxing and spreading out. It is a popular spot for swimming, kayaking, and fishing for flounder. Because it’s within easy walking distance, you can spend a lazy day hopping back and forth between the beach and the town’s many restaurants and bars.

Camp Helen State Park

Camp Helen was created as a vacation area for employees of an Alabama-based textile company, and the park’s mid-20th-century buildings feel a bit like summer camp meets a Hollywood movie set. Now listed on the National Register for Historic Places, the park, about 10 minutes’ drive from Inlet Beach, serves as a gateway for Lake Powell and offers great hiking and wildlife spotting. You might see white-tailed deer, opossums, squirrels, and even black bears.