Dune Allen, Florida is at the western end of Florida’s famous Scenic Highway 30A. Vacation rentals, homes for rent, and condos line the beachfront and the shores of three lakes. Kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and fishing are favorite ways to enjoy the rare coastal dune lakes that dot the landscape. Many vacation rentals include golf carts and bikes, and you can also rent bikes to ride the highway’s famous Timpoochee Trail. Access the trail from your cottage rental and stop on the picturesque Oyster Lake bridge for a group photo. Nearby, explore five miles of biking and walking trails in Topsail Hill State Preserve. Enjoy peaceful white sand beaches and swim in the Gulf’s turquoise water right at the door of your beachfront rental. If you’re looking for nightlife, you’ll find live music at many venues along Florida’s famous beachfront highway.
Vacation Rentals in Dune Allen Beach
Until recently, Scenic Highway 30A at Dune Allen was a sleepy spot with a charming mix of old and new vacation rentals. Small concrete-block houses with vintage style are mixed in with modern stucco buildings. Many homeowners have renovated old, weathered wood homes for rent, and new vacation homes match the classic beach house style.
Homes for Rent
Nowadays, old beach vacation rentals are mixed in with planned developments with houses for rent. You’ll also find a few cottage rentals and condos for rent. Dune Allen Beach has a vacation rental for almost every budget. Enjoy the natural surroundings at upscale Cypress Dunes. Nearby Oyster Lake offers an exclusive lifestyle that includes lake and gulf views, private docks, and large lots with luxury vacation homes. Colorful Calypso Point is a quiet, gated community with cottage-style architecture.
Built as vacation rentals, most homes in these neighborhoods have both king- and queen-sized beds, and larger houses include bunk beds for more guests. With gourmet kitchens and large dining rooms, many beachfront homes are perfect for reunions and extended family. Large vacation rentals can sleep as many as 15 guests. Need more space? Add this renovated Carriage House for the romantics in the group. Many vacation homes for rent have porches that are ideal for relaxing and dining outside.
The 30A Birdhouse is a unique home with fantastic views of the Gulf of Mexico, located on beautiful Oyster Lake. The house is right across the street from the ocean, so you can also paddleboard or kayak in Oyster Lake or directly to the beach!
Dune Allen, FL Hotels and Condos for Rent
Unlike in many beach vacation spots, condos in Dune Allen aren’t plentiful. For a beachfront rental with plenty of privacy, book at Palms of Dune Allen, a gated condo complex with a pool and elevators, that sits right on the sand. If you have a large group and a limited budget, this roomy Dune Allen Condo sleeps 10 and is attractive and well-priced. While there isn’t a full-service hotel in Dune Allen, FL you’ll find 30A Suites is a convenient condotel in Topsail Hill, where you can book a condo or suite for a short stay. There are plenty of hotels in the Destin/Sandestin area also, just a short drive west.
Best Things to Do in Dune Allen, FL
The white sand beaches and warm weather are the main draws in Dune Allen, and there are plenty of water-based activities here. Rent scuba gear or book a tour guide, and dive with marine life at Turtle Reef. Get everyone out of your vacation rental and hit the Gulf on hydro bikes. Try stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking in one of the Coastal Dune Lakes. Cast your line into the surf or book a fishing charter.
Rent a bike and ride the smoothly-paved Timpoochee Trail which runs along Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A. (You can also avoid traffic by biking around town.) If you like to hike or bike off-road, don’t miss Grayton Beach State Park ‘s four miles of coastal forest trails on over 2,000 acres of land. More trails are open to exploring at Topsail Preserve State Park, including the paved Campbell Lake Nature Trail. Eastward near Grayton Beach, don’t miss Point Washington State Forest.
Dune Allen may be a quiet beach town of vacation homes and condos for rent, but galleries, boutiques, restaurants and music venues aren’t far away. A short drive to Miramar Beach gives you world-class shopping for designer discounts at Silver Sands. Shop and dine in the style of the New Orleans French Quarter at the family-friendly The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin.
Dune Allen Beach may be small, but it’s centrally located to some of the best activities in South Walton, FL.
The Best Restaurants in Dune Allen, FL
Dune Allen is a small beach town, but it’s worth checking out local hangouts Elmo’s Grill and Stinky’s Fish Camp. Both are known for their fresh seafood, live music, and come-as-you-are dress code. Stinky’s Fish Camp was recently listed in Top 10 Places to Eat Like a Local by USA Today. For breakfast, don’t miss La Playa or The Perfect Pig just down the road. They’re both open for lunch and dinner too.
When it’s time for fresh seafood, Goatfeathers Restaurant on Santa Rosa Beach offers both great dining and a seafood market – pick up some local catch to cook on the grill. If your gang wants pizza, fans vote Pizza by the Sea as the “Best Pizza on 30A” year after year.
Soak up the sunset on the beach at Vue on 30A, named “Best Waterfront Dining” by Florida Travel + Life Magazine. This popular wedding venue is open for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. Dune Allen Beach indeed is the perfect vacation spot from which to explore all the unique dining options Highway 30A offers.
Dune Allen, FL Annual Events
The South Walton, FL area has a full calendar of cultural events that are easy to get to from Dune Allen. Catch the 30A Songwriters Festival each February, when bars and venues welcome performances by over two hundred musicians and songwriters. Each May, Artsquest Arts & Music Festival spans Grayton Beach, Eden State Gardens, Sandestin, Seaside, WaterColor, and Grand Boulevard. Nearby towns come alive in the Fall and Winter, with displays of lights, outdoor concerts, and festivals.