Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area - Sand Beach Recreation Area Kayak Launch is a saltwater boat ramp on Apalachicola Bay - East Bay, and it earns its spot in Franklin County thanks to easy access and quick water. Boaters here tend to be a friendly, early-rising bunch — get there at first light and you'll see why. As of the last FWC inventory update, launching is free here.
Share your photo of Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area - Sand Beach Recreation Area Kayak Launch
Been to this ramp? Add a photo to help other Florida boaters know what to expect.
Photos are reviewed before appearing on the site. JPG/PNG/HEIC, up to 15 MB.
At a glance
- County
- Franklin
- City
- Eastpoint
- Waterbody
- Apalachicola Bay - East Bay
- Water type
- Salt or Brackish Water
- Ramp type
- Hand Launch Only
- Ramp surface
- Wooden Platform
- Dock
- Launch Dock
- Parking surface
- Not Paved - Grass/Loose Soil/Sand
- Fee required
- No
- Managed by
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Status
- Open for Business
- Hours
- Daytime Use Only
Address: Sand Beach Road Off State Road 65, Eastpoint, FL, 32328 · Coordinates: 29.78367, -84.910879
Get directions on Google Maps →
Where it is
Live NEXRAD radar from Iowa State Mesonet — past ~65 minutes animated. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Ramp location from the FWC boat ramp inventory. Not for navigation.
On-water restrictions nearby
No mapped state manatee-protection or boating-safety zones were found within 500 m of this ramp in the current FWC dataset. This does not mean the area is unrestricted — posted signs and other local, state, or federal rules may still apply.
Restriction zones: For general awareness only — not for navigation or legal determination. Florida Administrative Code and posted on-water signs prevail. Other local, state, or federal restricted zones may exist that are not shown here. Source: FWC manatee protection & boating-safety GIS layers. Zone data as of .
What to know before you launch
- Rinse your trailer and engine with fresh water after launching in salt — corrosion is the enemy on Florida's coast.
- Parking and lane space can be tight on weekends; have your gear staged and your plug in before you back down.
- Always check current tides, wind, and marine forecasts before you launch — Florida afternoons can turn stormy fast.
Tides at the nearest station
The closest NOAA tide station is Apalachicola, about 6 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):
Boater discussion
Been to Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area - Sand Beach Recreation Area Kayak Launch? Share tide tips, parking notes, or what you caught. Sign in with Google, Facebook, Twitter, or Disqus — comments are reviewed before appearing. See our privacy notes on Disqus for what's shared.