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  • 30a is a 24-mile landscape corridor in Florida, which offers beaches, state parks and charming cities.
  • Rosemary Beach, Seaside and Alys Beach are some of the popular cities known for their unique architecture and attractions.
  • The best time for a visit is May to October for warm weather, but winter offers fewer crowds and lower prices.

While the holidaymakers go from the east to the 30a Scenic Highway in Florida, they will soon approach the Scrub Oak trees and the architecture in the European style of Rosemary Beach.

The community in the northwest of Floridas Panhandle was founded in 1995, but has the feeling of a much older beach town, the colonial buildings in the Dutch West Indies, St. Augustine and New Orleans. “It usually captivates the people as soon as they drive to 30a and they say:” Wow, Rosemary, “said Coco Gilliam, an independent travel agency with magic on main travel that lives in the area.

There are cobblestone streets, shops and restaurants in which they are from the white beach. According to a press release, the city was one of VRBO's hottest holiday destinations for 2025 for 2025.

Rosemary is only one of many coastal communities on 30a, each with its own appearance and feeling. Travelers from the southeast may be familiar with the popular goal, but here is what new visitors should know.

What is 30a?

30a is a 24-mile corridor between Panama City Beach and Destin. The area houses State Parks, coastal lakes and more than 10 different communities. “You can go to the beach, but it is the cities that just bring it onto a full vacation for me,” said Gilliam.

Most offer holiday homes, but some also have hotels. Visitors can easily drive bicycles between them; Some houses and resorts provide them, but according to Gilliam, visitors can also find rental rental in every city.

What other beach cities are on 30a?

Together with Rosemary Beach, the municipalities of the region include:

  • sea: “This is usually the first city to go to people because they” recognize the “The Truman Show”, “said Gilliam. Seaside's Cottages and Main Square served as a backdrop for most of the 1998 film with Jim Carrey. The area is very accessible and child-friendly, added it, with beloved restaurants like Bud & Alley's that overlook the Golf, and activities of live music in the amphitheater to farmers markets.
  • Seagrove: Gilliam described Seagrove as a “quieter place” next to Seaside. While the region's location is still close enough to walk between the two, it offers “somewhat” more affordable prices, she added.
  • Alys Beach: Alys' 158 Tomorrow has white houses, including villas and inner houses that rely on the architecture of islands such as Bermuda and Antigua. Visitors will find a 20 hectare nature reserve as well as shops and restaurants, including The Citizen, a coastal tank. The community also organizes activities such as the digital graffiti festival, in which works of art are projected onto the white walls.
  • Grayton Beach: Grayton Beach is “more of an artistic field,” said Gilliam. Tourists can watch local institutions such as the Red Bar, which is located in an old general store and organizes live jazz and other music, and explore the Grayton Beach State Park. The guests find hiking, fishing, campsites and more on the park's almost 2,000 acres.
  • Blue Mountain Beach: Blue Mountain is less known to tourists than some other nearby communities, said Gilliam. It is closer to the western entrance of 30a and noted that the area is more affordable and the more relaxed atmosphere has its advantages. “The beaches will be less crowded there because they have not built up as many houses in this area,” said Gilliam.

Travelers find a complete map of 30a by clicking here.

When is the best time to visit 30a?

Gilliam said the area “will be a year -round goal”, but the most popular season runs from May to October when the water is warm. However, the winter months can mean fewer crowds.

“If they are fine not to get into the water and swim, but to enjoy what there are in all beach cities, the low season is a great time to come,” she said.

How do you get 30a?

According to Gilliam, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) in Panama City is the most convenient airport. The airport is about half an hour of 30a.

Travelers can also fly Destin-Fort Walton Beach (VPS) or the International Airport Pensacola (PNS), but they are about an hour and an hour and a half away. Gilliam recommended renting a car to explore the area more easily.

Driving is another option. 30a is less than a day -long road trip from many cities, including Birmingham, Alabama (about four and a half hours); Atlanta, Georgia (just over five hours); And even Nashville, Tennessee. (about seven hours).

How expensive is 30A?

There is no price for the region because the prices can vary, depending on where the guests spend the night, and the type of accommodation they choose.

For example, the night prices in Lodge 30a – as a “affordable stay” begin at 176 US dollars in early September. The Pearl Hotel, a luxury mobile in Rosemary Beach, starts at 555 US dollars per night for the same data. However, if travelers rent a house with six bedrooms, they will watch “Way more”, said Gilliam.

“In particular, depending on the season you visit, the price range can also vary,” she added.

Nathan Diller is a consumer traveler reporter for USA Today based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.