What to do on 30A when it rains

Updated October 18, 2026

Good rainy-day options on and near 30A include a guided tour of the historic Wesley House at Eden Gardens State Park, the Walton County Coastal Branch Library in Santa Rosa Beach, Friday public hours at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center in Freeport, and nonprofit museums in Destin and Fort Walton Beach. If you hear thunder, leave the beach right away.

Headed to the beach? in30A puts today's flag, live parking and rider tram reports in one app.Get the free app

What is there to do indoors on 30A?

When rain rolls in, the easiest plan is usually something close by that fills a couple of hours. The picks below are public places, landmarks and nonprofits, roughly in order of distance from the middle of 30A. Hours change, so check the official site before you drive.

in30A matches rainy day picks to today's forecast and local events.Get the free app

Tour the Wesley House at Eden Gardens State Park

Why go: Local history under a roof. The Wesley House is an 1897 mansion with white columns and a wraparound porch, set among moss-draped live oaks in Point Washington, a short drive north of 30A (181 Eden Gardens Road, Santa Rosa Beach).

Guided tours run Thursday through Monday, hourly from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The house is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tours take about 30 to 45 minutes and are capped at 10 people, first come, first served.
Tour fees are $4 per adult and $2 per child under 12, on top of the $4 per vehicle park entry (honor box, correct change required).
Photos are not allowed inside, but you can shoot from the porches and gardens.
Inside you will see Lois Maxon's collection of antique furniture, dating from as early as 1790. She bought the house in 1963 and donated it to the Florida Park Service in 1968.

February through April is the busy season for tours, so arrive early.

Spend an hour at the Coastal Branch Library

Why go: Free, quiet, and right on the way to 30A. The Walton County Coastal Branch Library sits in the South Walton Government Annex at 437 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach, just south of the bay off US 331.

Hours: Monday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sunday.
The library system offers public computers, printing and scanning, plus checkout items that range from books and DVDs to STEAM kits and chess sets.
Library cards are free for Walton County residents and $35 a year for non-residents.

Check the library system's online calendar for programs during your stay.

Meet ambassador animals at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center

Why go: Hands-on nature exhibits when the beach is a washout. The center is in Freeport, inland from 30A, at 4956 State Highway 20 East.

Since September 4, 2026, it is open to the public every Friday, year-round, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Admission is $15 for ages 13 and up, $10 for ages 4 to 12, and free for ages 3 and under. No reservation needed.
Visits include indoor exhibits, ambassador animal habitats and trails through longleaf pine forest.

It is a Friday-only option, so plan around it.

Drive to a museum in Destin or Fort Walton Beach

If the rain looks like it will last all day, two nonprofit museums west of 30A are worth the drive:

Destin History & Fishing Museum (108 Stahlman Ave, Destin): more than 100 fish mounts, a 3-D reef tank and an exhibit on the long-running Destin Fishing Rodeo. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; general admission is $10.
Emerald Coast Science Center (31 SW Memorial Parkway, Fort Walton Beach): hands-on science exhibits and live animals for kids. General admission is $13 for ages 3 and up. Its fall schedule runs Wednesday through Saturday, so confirm hours before you go.

Stay safe in a 30A thunderstorm

The National Weather Service is blunt: there is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area, and if you can hear thunder, you are likely within striking distance. Its rule is "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors." On the beach, that means packing up at the first rumble, not when the rain starts. When the storm clears, check the beach flag before you head back into the water.

When the storm passes, in30A shows the beach flag before you head back out.Get the free app

Get rainy day picks matched to today's forecast, plus local events, in the in30A app.

in30A is coming soon, free on iPhone and Android.

Join the waitlist

FAQ

Is there anything free to do on 30A on a rainy day?

The Walton County Coastal Branch Library in Santa Rosa Beach is free to visit. Eden Gardens State Park has a small vehicle fee, and the Wesley House tour is a few dollars more.

What should we do on a rainy day on 30A with kids?

On Fridays, the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center in Freeport has ambassador animals and hands-on exhibits. On other days, try the Emerald Coast Science Center in Fort Walton Beach or the Wesley House tour, which takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

When is it safe to go back to the beach after a storm?

The National Weather Service says there is no safe place outside while a thunderstorm is in the area. Head in at the first rumble, stay inside while the storm is around, and check the beach flag before swimming again.