On the water
Destin’s legendary emerald-water sandbar — part swimming hole, part floating festival, and the one day on the water every Emerald Coast trip deserves.
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The essential Destin day
Just north of the Destin Bridge, the Choctawhatchee Bay shallows into a sprawling sandbar where the water turns glassy and green. Boats raft up by the dozen, kids cannonball off pontoons, and floating vendors sell everything from ice cream to fresh ceviche. You can’t drive here — which is exactly the point. Below are the verified ways to get out on the water, from shared dolphin cruises to private pontoons with their own bar.
Featured Experience
Destin: Public 3-Hour Crab Island and Harbor Tour
Book your spot
Most listings offer free cancellation; check each listing for its policy.
Prices and ratings last checked: October 2026
Family favoriteCruise the Emerald Coast with a marine-life expert, spot dolphins, then anchor at the sandbar for in-water time with shaded seating and restrooms on board.
$56
Most time on the waterThe longest day on the sandbar: a yacht cruise from Sandestin with floats and water toys included, so you can drift the shallows in comfort.
$79
Top ratedCaptain your own two-seat jet ski from Fort Walton Beach, ride alongside bottlenose dolphins, and stop for a swim at Crab Island.
$269 per jet ski (up to 2 people per ski)
PrivateA private pontoon with a shaded bar, hammock, and upper-deck views — plus paddleboards, floats, and games. Bring your own drinks and snacks.
$399 per group
Top rated$65 per person
$79 per person
$99 per person
Before you go
Crab Island isn’t an island at all — it’s a submerged sandbar just north of the Destin Bridge, where the Choctawhatchee Bay meets the Gulf. At low tide the water over the bar runs waist-deep and glows an almost unreal shade of emerald. On any given summer day, hundreds of boats raft up here, floating food vendors drift past, and the whole scene becomes Destin’s famous on-the-water gathering place.
There’s no road and no beach access — Crab Island is reachable only by water. Most visitors book a guided cruise or captained pontoon from Destin Harbor, HarborWalk Village, or nearby Fort Walton Beach. Confident boaters can rent a pontoon for the day, and the adventurous can arrive by jet ski or even paddleboard on calm mornings. If it’s your first visit, a guided tour is the easiest way in: the captain handles anchoring, tides, and navigation while you focus on the water.
Peak season runs May through September, when the water is warmest and the sandbar is liveliest — weekends in June and July are the busiest. For thinner crowds and glassy water, aim for a weekday morning in May, late September, or early October. Midday high sun shows off the emerald color best, while late-afternoon trips trade the party atmosphere for golden light and a calmer ride back.
Reef-safe sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, and a hat are non-negotiable — the sun reflects off the sandbar from below. Bring cash or a card for floating vendors, a waterproof phone pouch, and plenty of water. Most tours provide floats and life jackets, but check your listing; glass containers are not allowed, and children’s life jackets often need to be brought along for the smallest swimmers.
Make it a weekend
Most Crab Island departures leave from Destin Harbor and HarborWalk Village. Book a condo or hotel nearby and you can walk to your morning cruise — no parking, no rush.
Coastal encounters
Head out beyond the shoreline.
Cast off
Find your next day on the Gulf.
ABOVE & BELOW
Fly, snorkel and ride the Gulf.
Evening sails
Dusk light, dinner tables, live music.
Stay by the sea
Your Emerald Coast home base.
Find your coast
Two coastal escapes. Your kind of getaway.