Julie’s Guidebook

Sunday's year-round 9am-1pm Thursday's May 28-July 30, 9am-1pm Parking may be limited so arrive early.

Camp Helen is a place where visitors can explore an environment rich in natural and cultural resources. This 180-acre park is for day use only. Activities include swimming, beachcombing, nature study, hiking, and both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Prehistoric middens and mounds indicate that humans inhabited the area more than 4,000 years ago. From 1945 until 1987, Camp Helen was a company resort for the employees of an Alabama textile mill, known as Avondale Mills. Some of those buildings have now been restored.

Tibidabo Beach House is 5 blocks to the Gulf of Mexico and Beach Access 86 and 87 are the closest public access points on Front Beach Road. Heading to the Beach on Riviera Drive, turn right on Front Beach Road to see both public access points 86 & 87. Turning left you will see sand dunes with access points that say Private, however, we see a lot of tourist parking there and heading to the water at their own risk.

With the Gulf of Mexico on one side and St. Andrews Bay on the other, visitors who crave swimming, snorkeling or surfing will be more than satisfied. The park is a popular migratory stopover for numerous bird and butterfly species. Besides boasting a mile-and-a-half of pristine beaches for fishing and swimming, St. Andrews also offers the chance for visitors to stroll through pines and along dunes and coastal plant communities or stay overnight in the campground.