Can you taste summer yet? One turn off U.S. 98 and East Bay Orchards hands you a warm, fragrant peach—still dripping from the branch—before the kids can ask, “Are we there?” In just 15 minutes from Navarre Beach Camping Resort, you can swap sand for shade, teach little ones (or grandkids) where fruit really comes from, and snag sunset-ready snacks for the beach all in one breezy outing.
Key Takeaways
• East Bay Orchards is a 15-minute drive from Navarre Beach Camping Resort
• Peach season runs mid-May to early July; always call or check online first
• Open 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday, but gates close when rows are empty
• U-pick price is $3.25 per pound; cash and major cards both work
• Bring sunscreen, hats, water, and a towel-lined bucket; strollers and leashed dogs welcome
• Twist a sweet-smelling peach to pick it; don’t tug
• Lay peaches in one layer, let firm ones soften in shade, then move to the fridge
• On-site perks: shaded picnic tables, cold drinks, port-a-johns, and parking for cars or RVs up to 28 ft
• Quick campsite eats: grilled peach halves, Dutch-oven cobbler, fresh salsa, and freezer pops
• Follow farm rules—stay in marked rows, pack out trash, and respect the trees.
Skip the guesswork; we’ve packed this guide with everything you’ll need:
• Best morning hours for crowd-free picking
• Cost per pound, senior deals, and cash vs. card tips
• Stroller, pet-on-leash, and RV parking checkpoints
• Quick-fire recipes—think grilled peach halves and make-ahead freezer pops
• Storage hacks so your haul stays juicy until happy hour
Ready to twist, not tug, your first GulfPrince off the tree? Let’s dive in.
Quick-Glance Cheat Sheet
One look at the basics can shave minutes off your planning time, so you spend more of the morning inhaling peach perfume and less of it scrolling through feeds. East Bay Orchards keeps information current on a friendly chalkboard at the shed, yet a refresher before you buckle the seatbelts never hurts. Think of this cheat sheet as your pre-trip pit stop—three sentences of pure efficiency.
Knowing drive times, gate hours, and payment options in advance frees you to focus on fun, not logistics. Cross-referencing the details below with your own schedule lets you decide whether a weekday dawn patrol or a leisurely weekend stroll fits best. Even seasoned campers find that a quick glance here prevents surprises like closed gates or full lots.
• Season Window: Mid-May through early July; confirm weekly
• Drive Time: 15 min from Navarre Beach Camping Resort; gravel lot fits cars, trucks, and smaller RVs
• Hours: 8 a.m.–2 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, but gate closes when rows empty
• U-Pick Price: $3.25 per lb; pre-picked $4 per lb; cash and major cards accepted when signal cooperates
• Amenities: Shaded picnic tables, port-a-johns, cold drinks, hand-wash station
• Pet Policy: Leashed dogs welcome in outer rows; bring waste bags
Why Peach Season Shines on the Panhandle
Florida’s Panhandle peaches arrive fashionably late, ripening two to three weeks after their Central Florida cousins. That lag means East Bay Orchards still hums with color when many other farms have already closed, giving Navarre visitors a rare June treat. Low-chill cultivars like GulfPrince, GulfKing, and TropicBeauty relish the maritime breezes floating off East Bay River, growing firm enough for the ride back to camp yet juicy enough to drip down your wrist.
The rush is short, though. A fragrant six-week window keeps flavors concentrated, so every bite tastes like a limited-edition release. For campers who crave seasonal bragging rights—or foodie photos that set the algorithm on fire—late May through June is the gold-standard sweet spot.
Map Your Picking Adventure
East Bay Orchards sits just north of the East Bay River, marked by hand-painted arrows at the corner of East Bay Boulevard and Edgewood Drive. Most GPS apps land you within sight of the gate; if yours gets stubborn, punch in those two street names and watch for the white fence. Crowds stay lightest on weekday mornings, when locals are at work and Snowbirds sip coffee back at the RV. Shade benches beside the pecan trees offer a cool breather between row laps.
Sometimes the Panhandle heat or an early sell-out nudges travelers to look farther afield. Families willing to make a day of it can detour to Sand Hill Peach Farm in Pierson, renowned for its sustainable rows and tree-ripened fruit (farm details). A two-hour drive east lands you at Graham’s U-Pick Farms in Umatilla, where four generations of growers showcase University of Florida varieties (century-old orchard). Mother’s Day weekend usually signals peak color at Florida Peach Farms & Nurseries in Citra, which also sells saplings for green-thumbed visitors (nursery info). Before committing to extra mileage, always double-check crop status; ripe fruit waits for no one.
Pack, Pick, Picnic – Tailored Playbooks
Local Family Foodies roll up at 8 a.m., snagging the shadiest parking strip before the thermometer spikes. Stroller-friendly grass lanes keep toddlers within view, and five pounds of peaches costs roughly sixteen dollars—enough for snack time plus a crumble. Afterward, a free picnic beneath live oaks lets everyone cool down before naptime back at the cabin.
Snowbird & Retiree Produce Lovers lean toward Tuesday or Wednesday around 9 a.m., timing their visit for emptier rows and a friendly twenty-five-cent-per-pound senior discount. Folding chairs stationed under pecan limbs invite a leisurely breather, and a soft-sided cooling bag protects freshly sliced quarters destined for the freezer. Mobility aids roll smoothly over the orchard’s packed-sand rows, but lightweight trekking poles add confidence on uneven spots.
Weekend Warrior Couples zip in by bike along East Bay Boulevard’s shoulder, locking frames at the check-out shed. Golden hour photo ops open after 5 p.m. when staff allows post-pick roaming—just leave the drone in the pannier. Post-orchard, Gulf Coast Brewery pours a seasonal peach wheat less than ten minutes away, turning the haul into a farm-to-pint victory lap.
Active Outdoor & Farm-to-Table Enthusiasts often cycle the six-mile paved path from the resort, panniers lined with micro-fiber towels to cushion fruit on the return ride. They’ll chat up the grower about beneficial insects and minimal sprays, then reward leashed pups with a water break outside the drip line to protect fragile roots. Sustainability points skyrocket when those same visitors compost pits back at camp.
Pick Like a Pro
Rely on your nose first; a fragrant peach nearly always signals peak sugar. Color can trick you, but a deep golden background beneath the blush offers a truer clue. Once the aroma wins you over, cradle the fruit in your palm and give a gentle quarter-turn. If it releases with the stem intact, you’ve earned a longer shelf life and fewer bruises for the ride home.
Line buckets with a clean towel to cushion delicate shoulders, especially on the jolty gravel lot. Keep piles no deeper than two layers, and walk between flagged rows to avoid stepping on buried drip lines. Young pickers love the twist-and-lift motion, and teaching them orchard etiquette turns a simple outing into a flavor-packed science lesson.
Fast Post-Harvest Care at the Resort
Back at Navarre Beach Camping Resort, slide the cardboard flat onto the cabin floor—still the coolest indoor spot outside the fridge. Separate firmer fruit from anything already soft, allowing firm peaches to finish ripening in a single layer. Once each one yields to gentle thumb pressure, move it to the refrigerator; chilling early risks a mealy bite later.
A lightly damp cloth draped over the box keeps moisture in during the afternoon lull. If a thunderstorm pushes everyone indoors, the same setup buys time until cobbler hour. For RVers without spare counter space, a covered shelf near the A/C vent mimics a cellar better than any cramped fridge bin.
Easy Camp-Side Peach Recipes
Grilled Peach Halves make the simplest showstopper: brush cut sides with melted butter, place over medium coals, and wait three minutes for smoky grill marks. A drizzle of local honey or a dusting of cinnamon finishes the dish, pairing perfectly with chilled white wine on the pier. Dutch-Oven Peach Cobbler takes just as little effort—layer sugared slices under biscuit disks in a greased pot, tuck it among glowing coals, and let thirty minutes of campfire magic reward everyone with bubbling goodness.
For something bright and savory, Fresh Peach Salsa sings over pier-caught fish. Dice two peaches, half a red onion, and a quarter jalapeño, then fold in cilantro, lime juice, and sea salt for a sweet-heat snap. When temperatures soar, purée overripe fruit with coconut water, pour into molds, and wake up the next morning to beach-proof freezer pops that survive even the longest paddleboard trek.
Orchard & Environmental Etiquette
Orchards are living partners, so staying within flagged rows prevents accidentally damaging unripe blocks or young transplants. Bees buzzing by the white boxes along the perimeter are busy workers, not foes; moving calmly teaches kids (and sometimes adults) the art of coexistence. A respectful pace keeps both visitors and pollinators happy throughout the season.
Every peel, pit, and paper cup deserves respectful disposal. Pack out what you pack in, or use the farm’s clearly marked bins. Back at camp, rinsing sticky picnic tables deters raccoons and showcases eco-minded manners that future pickers will appreciate.
Call to Adventure
Grab a basket, twist off the juiciest GulfPrince you can find, then rinse away the stickiness in our resort’s sparkling pool before grilling those golden halves under a sherbet-painted sky. Only Navarre Beach Camping Resort puts you this close to both orchard rows and rolling surf—plus hot showers, pet-friendly sites, and a private pier that begs for a sunset snack. Peach season slips by in a blink, and so do our prime RV pads, cabins, and tent spots. Book your stay today and savor the sweetest 15-minute detour summer has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When are the peaches usually ripe this season?
A: The farm’s low-chill GulfKing starts coloring up around mid-May, peaks with GulfPrince in early June, and wraps with TropicBeauty by the first week of July, but a quick check of East Bay Orchards’ Facebook post the night before your trip is the safest way to make sure a heat wave or rainstorm hasn’t nudged the dates.
Q: What is the current price per pound and are there any discounts?
A: U-pick fruit is running $3.25 a pound, pre-picked peaches are $4, and guests 60 and older save twenty-five cents a pound on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when they mention the senior rate at checkout.
Q: Is the orchard stroller-friendly for families with young kids?
A: Yes, the main grass lanes are wide and reasonably smooth, so umbrella strollers and wagons roll fine, and parents often park them under the live oaks while little ones help twist fruit within arm’s reach of the ground-level branches.
Q: Can we bring our dog and, if so, where can it go?
A: Leashed dogs are welcome in the outer rows and the shaded picnic patch as long as owners carry waste bags, keep paws off irrigation lines, and offer pups a quick drink at the communal water bowl near the shed before heading back to the Resort’s pet stations.
Q: Is there space for RVs or trailers to park safely?
A: The gravel lot handles rigs up to about twenty-eight feet, and anything longer can angle along the wide shoulder out front, leaving enough turning room so drivers don’t have to back out into East Bay Boulevard traffic.
Q: Which time of day is quietest for Snowbirds who prefer lighter crowds?
A: Late-morning on a weekday, especially Tuesday or Wednesday about 9 a.m., tends to be calm because local school and work schedules thin the rows before weekend families arrive.
Q: Do peaches from East Bay Orchards freeze or can well?
A: Absolutely; peel and slice firm, ripe fruit, dip it in a lemon-water bath to hold color, spread pieces on a tray to pre-freeze, then bag for smoothies, pies, or winter cobbler, and they’ll keep their flavor for up to eight months.
Q: May we picnic at the farm or should we head back to Navarre Beach Camping Resort?
A: You can do either; the orchard keeps a handful of shaded tables under pecan trees for quick sandwiches, but many guests grab their haul and finish lunch on the Resort’s waterfront deck so kids can dash to the splash pad afterward.
Q: Is there a safe cycling route from the Resort, and can bikes be parked at the orchard?
A: A six-mile paved shoulder parallels East Bay Boulevard almost the entire way, making an easy forty-minute cruise, and riders lock bikes to the rail beside the checkout shed where staff can keep an eye on gear.
Q: What is the farm’s policy on photos and social media posts?
A: Handheld cameras and phones are fine anywhere in the public rows as long as you stay on the ground, tag the farm if you share, and leave drones or commercial shoots for after-hours appointments cleared with the owner.
Q: Are the peaches grown organically or with sustainable practices?
A: While the orchard isn’t certified organic, the grower follows an integrated pest-management program that favors beneficial insects and minimal, targeted spraying so fruit meets quality standards without blanket chemical use.
Q: Does the farm offer guided tours or talks with the grower?
A: On most weekday mornings the owner strolls the first few rows and happily answers questions about varieties, pruning, or soil care, and larger groups can book a short behind-the-shed talk by calling ahead.
Q: Can I ship peaches home or buy a gift box on site?
A: Yes, the shed stocks foam-lined cartons and cold-packs; staff can weigh, pad, and tape your fruit so it’s ready for UPS drop-off or a long car ride without bruising.
Q: Are any local breweries or restaurants using these peaches right now?
A: Gulf Coast Brewery just down the road releases a seasonal peach wheat every June made with East Bay fruit, and several Navarre eateries post weekly specials—ask the grower for an updated list before you leave.
Q: What happens if rain starts while we are picking?
A: Because you pay only after weighing, you can dash to the car without any charge, wait out a brief shower under the pecans, or return later the same day if rows reopen, knowing unpicked fruit simply holds its spot on the tree.
Q: How do I keep peaches fresh in the RV until I’m back at camp?
A: Lay them in a single layer on a towel in a cool, shaded corner, crack a window for airflow, and move only the softest fruit into the fridge once you plug in, saving firmer peaches for later in the week so nothing turns mealy.