Area Information

The Emerald Coast is famous for its sugar white sand beaches, numerous golf courses, deep sea, fishing, boating, windsurfing and an unlimited number of additional water reaction activities. A subtropical climate with mild southern winds and few weather extremes make the greater Destin, FL area ideal for year round living or visiting. Winters are mild with January and February cooler. There are 343 days of sunshine per year, with summer temperatures averaging 70 - 92 degrees and the Gulf of Mexico waters averaging 80 degrees.

Air Travel

Air travel to the area is provided by the Northwest Florida Regional Airport (*VPS), a commercial airport located on State Road 85 between Fort Walton Beach and Niceville. Additional regional service is available at the Pensacola Regional Airport (*PNS) and the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (*EPC), located in Panama City.

Northwest Florida Regional Airport *VPS
Main airport for the Destin/Fort Walton Beach area.
Situated on Eglin Air Force Base in Valparaiso Florida.
850.651.7160

Air Service Carriers

• American Eagle
  Provides non-stop service to Dallas, TX (DFW).
• Continental Airline
  Express Jet provides nonstop service to Houston TX (IAH).
• Delta
  Service may be provided by Delta or a Delta Connection carrier. Provides nonstop service daily to Atlanta, GA (ATL) and seasonal service to Cincinnati, OH (CVG).
• US Airways
  Provides non-stop daily service to Charlotte, NC (CLT).
• Vision Airlines
  Provides non-stop service to Asheville, NC (AVL) Atlanta, GA (ATL) Baton Rouge, LA (BTR) Chattanooga, TN (CHA) Columbia, SC (CAE) Greenville-Spartanburg, SC, (GSP) Knoxville, TN (TYS) Huntsville, AL (HSV) Little Rock, AK (LIT) Louisville, KY (SDF) Miami FL (MIA) Niagara Falls, NY (IAG) Orlando-Sanford, FL (SFB) Ft Myers/Punta Gorda, FL (PGD) Savannah, GA, (SAV) Shreveport, LA, (SHV) Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (PIE).

USO

Going TDY or deploying from the NW Florida Regional Airport (VPS)? The USO Freedom Lounge, located across from the ticketing area, serves military members and their families (with military IDs). The USO has snacks, drinks, comfortable seating, books, HDTVs, laptops, a secure WiFi network, and even a kids' play area. Start your next trip or wait for arriving passengers in a comfortable environment. Your USO is there to serve you.
850.609.4738

Flying time to the Destin, Pensacola and Panama City Beach area.

• 1 hour and 15 minutes from Atlanta
• 1 hour and 30 minutes from Nashville
• 2 hours and 30 minutes from Dallas/Ft. Worth

Climate

The Emerald Coast's balmy subtropical climate is one of the area's most valued assets. An average annual climate of 67.2 degrees provides just enough of a change in the temperature to mark the passing of four mild seasons. High temperatures in the summer range from 80 to 91 degrees, and winter highs range from 50 to 75. Rainfall averages between 50 and 60 days per year, so few days are without sunshine for year-round outdoor activities.

Average of 343 Sunny Days Per Year

• Summer Average Temp | High 88° 31C | Low 62° 17C
• Spring Average Temp | High 82° 28C | Low 56° 3C
• Winter Average Temp | High 70° 21C | Low 48° 9C
• Fall Average Temp | High 84° 29C | Low 54° 2C

Central Time Zone

Unlike the majority of the state, the northwest panhandle of Florida resides in the central time zone!
The Intracoastal Waterway allows commercial and recreational passage from Brownsville, Texas to the west and Apalachicola to the east. The intracoastal route passes through Fort Walton Beach along the shores of Santa Rosa Sound and onto Choctawhatchee Bay.