Introduction
What to do
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Fort Walton Beach travel guide

Fort Walton Beach Tourism | Fort Walton Beach Guide

You're Going to Love Fort Walton Beach

With a population of 19,507, Fort Walton Beach is a must-see destination in Florida, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Fort Walton Beach has to offer.

Activities & attractions in Fort Walton Beach

Crab Island Watersports + Dolphin Tour
Tours•Boat Tour

When to visit Fort Walton Beach

Fort Walton Beach in January
Estimated hotel price
$120
1 night at 3-star hotel
Fort Walton Beach in January
Estimated hotel price
$120
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Fort Walton Beach in July, when the average temperature is 80.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 87.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 41 °F, with an average temperature of 50 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in August, when precipitation is around 7.1″. In contrast, May is usually the driest month of the year in Fort Walton Beach, with an average rainfall of 3.1″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Fort Walton Beach

Plane

When flying to Fort Walton Beach, you’ll arrive at Valparaiso Destin-Ft Walton Beach (VPS), which is located 6 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Fort Walton Beach include American Airlines, Delta and WestJet. The shortest domestic flight to Fort Walton Beach departs from Knoxville and takes around 1h 18m.

Car

Another option to get to Fort Walton Beach is to pick up a car rental from Pensacola, which is about 36 miles from Fort Walton Beach. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Budget, among others, in Pensacola.

Plane

When flying to Fort Walton Beach, you’ll arrive at Valparaiso Destin-Ft Walton Beach (VPS), which is located 6 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Fort Walton Beach include American Airlines, Delta and WestJet. The shortest domestic flight to Fort Walton Beach departs from Knoxville and takes around 1h 18m.

Car

Another option to get to Fort Walton Beach is to pick up a car rental from Pensacola, which is about 36 miles from Fort Walton Beach. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Budget, among others, in Pensacola.

Airports near Fort Walton Beach

ECPPanama City NW Florida Beaches
PNSPensacola
VPSValparaiso Destin-Ft Walton Beach

Airlines serving Fort Walton Beach

KLM
Good (1,460 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,809 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,764 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,237 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,125 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,345 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,538 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,742 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,534 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,699 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,745 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,369 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,949 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,897 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (3,041 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,195 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,714 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (1,100 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,918 reviews)
Spirit Airlines
Good (8,490 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Fort Walton Beach

Where to stay in Fort Walton Beach

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Comfort Inn & Suites Fort Walton Beach - Destin West and Extended Stay America Select Suites - Fort Walton Beach.

Where to stay in popular areas of Fort Walton Beach

Most booked hotels in Fort Walton Beach

See all
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Niceville - Eglin Area By IHG
2 stars
Excellent (9.2, 246 reviews)
$94+
View
Comfort Suites Niceville Near Eglin Air Force Base
3 stars
Excellent (9.1, 779 reviews)
$76+
View
Hampton Inn and Suites Mary Esther-Fort Walton Beach
2 stars
Excellent (9.1, 246 reviews)
$91+
View
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Niceville Eglin AFB Area
3 stars
Excellent (9, 78 reviews)
$105+
View
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Fort Walton Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1284 reviews)
$72+
View
Hilton Garden Inn Ft. Walton Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 764 reviews)
$134+
View

Renting a car in Fort Walton Beach

Renting a car in Fort Walton Beach costs $52 per day, on average, or $156 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 10% cheaper than airport locations in Fort Walton Beach.

Expect to pay $3.26 per gallon in Fort Walton Beach (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $39.07 and $52.09. The most frequently booked car type in Fort Walton Beach is Premium (Class Premium SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Jeep Wrangler or similar) are, on average, 55% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Fort Walton Beach costs $52 per day, on average, or $156 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 10% cheaper than airport locations in Fort Walton Beach.

Expect to pay $3.26 per gallon in Fort Walton Beach (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $39.07 and $52.09. The most frequently booked car type in Fort Walton Beach is Premium (Class Premium SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Jeep Wrangler or similar) are, on average, 55% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Fort Walton Beach

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$42/day

Supplier choice

Luxury

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$58/day

Luxury
Find car rentals in Fort Walton Beach