St. Teresa
A quiet line of beach houses on US 98 east of Carrabelle, beside the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab. There are no stores here, and that is the point.
You walk the beach at sunrise, paddle Alligator Harbor before the wind comes up and drive to Carrabelle when the groceries run out.
The scorecard
Tap any score for the local's take.
Nightlife1
None in St. Teresa. The nearest bar is at the Crooked River Grill, at the golf resort a few miles west. For live music you drive about 20 minutes to Carrabelle, where Fathom's stays open until 11 Thursday through Saturday.
Meet people1
The marine lab is the gathering place. It gives free guided tours on Fridays, holds free evening lectures and runs volunteer restoration programs. Beyond that the calendar is in Carrabelle and Sopchoppy, each about 20 minutes away, including the Sopchoppy Opry on the last Saturday of the month.
Peace and quiet5
Very quiet. It is a single line of beach houses along US 98 with forest behind it. SummerCamp Beach next door is a planned community on more than 750 acres, with over half of that set aside as conservation land.
Walkability1
There is nothing to walk to but the beach. We found no store or restaurant in the community. The nearest full grocery is in Carrabelle, about 20 minutes west, so every errand is a drive.
On the water3
Leonard's Landing is a small county ramp on Alligator Harbor with one lane and six parking spaces, good for skiffs and kayaks. A bigger public ramp and a marina are at Alligator Point, about 15 minutes away, and Carrabelle has full service marinas.
Beaches3
The Gulf is out the front door for the houses here, but we found no public beach access listed in St. Teresa itself. For a public beach day, Bald Point State Park has two beaches about 20 minutes east, and Carrabelle's beach park to the west has restrooms, showers and pavilions.
Dining and arts1
Nothing in St. Teresa. The Crooked River Grill is a few miles west, Carrabelle has a handful of seafood and breakfast spots, and Panacea is about 18 minutes east. Plan on cooking.
Outdoors and wellness4
This is the strength. Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve protects more than 14,000 acres of water out the back door, Tate's Hell State Forest has the 8.9 mile High Bluff Coastal Trail, and Bald Point and Ochlockonee River state parks are each about 20 minutes away.
Affordability3
Hard to pin down, because so few homes sell. At SummerCamp Beach, St. Joe markets homesites from about $62,000, and a three bedroom house built in 2022 was listed near $500,000. Much of this coast sits in a flood zone, so get insurance quotes before anything else.
Airport access2
Tallahassee (TLH) is about 42 miles and roughly an hour away, which makes this one of the closest Gulf beaches to the capital.
Scores last checked October 2026. Scores rate what the town offers, never who lives there. How we score
Community and social scene
A night out here is the porch and the stars. If you want dinner and a drink, the Crooked River Grill is a few miles west and Carrabelle's harbor is about 20 minutes.
Community at a glance
Tap any row for places and times.
PickleballOn the map
See pickleball courts near St. Teresa on the mapTennisOn the map
See tennis courts near St. Teresa on the mapGolfGolf resort nearby
Golf resort nearby. A golf resort with a restaurant, the Crooked River Grill, is a few miles west.See golf courses near St. Teresa on the mapLive musicSopchoppy Opry +1
Sopchoppy Opry. A music show on the last Saturday of each month, about 20 minutes away.Carrabelle Riverfront Festival. A free day of music and food on Marine Street each April.See live music near St. Teresa on the mapTrivia nightsOn the map
See trivia nights near St. Teresa on the mapPro sportsOn the map
No major league team within 50 miles. The closest is the Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL) in Jacksonville, about 170 miles away.Miles are in a straight line, so the drive is longer.Places of worshipOn the map
See places of worship near St. Teresa on the mapWe don't list or rate congregations. The map shows what is in and around town.More ways to meet people
Marine lab tours
Free guided tours of the FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory on Fridays from 11 to 4.Marine lab lectures
Free public talks at 7pm, in person or online.Marine lab volunteers
Volunteer restoration programs run through the lab's outreach office.We write about places and events, never about who lives there. Times and dates change, so confirm before you go.
Things to do
The honest details
- Home prices
- Too few sales for a median. Homesites at SummerCamp Beach are marketed from about $62K (St. Joe, Oct 2026)
- Nearest hospital
- George E. Weems Memorial Hospital, about 35 miles. Nearest trauma center: Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (Level II), about 38 miles. Straight line distance, so the drive is longer.
- Airport
- Tallahassee (TLH), about 1 hour
- Season
- Quiet year round
- Heads up
- Storm surge. Hurricane Michael pushed about 12 feet of water into the marine lab next door in 2018. No stores or medical care close by
- Insurance
- Florida averages about $10,384 a year for $250K of coverage (MoneyGeek, 2026). Get a quote and check the flood zone for any address. Read more
- Why people love it
- About as quiet as the Gulf gets. Tallahassee is about an hour away. Wild land and water on every side.
- Know before you go
- No store or restaurant in the community. Few homes come up for sale. Storm surge exposure.
- Schools
- See official grades and district info on the Florida Department of Education site.
Common questions about St. Teresa
Is St. Teresa walkable?
No. Plan on driving for almost everything. There is nothing to walk to but the beach. We found no store or restaurant in the community. The nearest full grocery is in Carrabelle, about 20 minutes west, so every errand is a drive.
Does St. Teresa have a good beach?
Yes, a decent one. The Gulf is out the front door for the houses here, but we found no public beach access listed in St. Teresa itself. For a public beach day, Bald Point State Park has two beaches about 20 minutes east, and Carrabelle's beach park to the west has restrooms, showers and pavilions.
Is St. Teresa affordable?
It sits around the middle for the Florida coast. Home prices: Too few sales for a median. Homesites at SummerCamp Beach are marketed from about $62K (St. Joe, Oct 2026). Hard to pin down, because so few homes sell. At SummerCamp Beach, St. Joe markets homesites from about $62,000, and a three bedroom house built in 2022 was listed near $500,000. Much of this coast sits in a flood zone, so get insurance quotes before anything else.
What is the nightlife like in St. Teresa?
Very quiet. Most of town is dark early. A night out here is the porch and the stars. If you want dinner and a drink, the Crooked River Grill is a few miles west and Carrabelle's harbor is about 20 minutes.
How busy does St. Teresa get?
It is one of the quietest places on the Florida coast. Very quiet. It is a single line of beach houses along US 98 with forest behind it. SummerCamp Beach next door is a planned community on more than 750 acres, with over half of that set aside as conservation land.
Is St. Teresa good for boating and fishing?
Yes, with decent access to ramps and marinas. Leonard's Landing is a small county ramp on Alligator Harbor with one lane and six parking spaces, good for skiffs and kayaks. A bigger public ramp and a marina are at Alligator Point, about 15 minutes away, and Carrabelle has full service marinas.
Which airport is closest to St. Teresa?
Tallahassee (TLH) is about 42 miles and roughly an hour away, which makes this one of the closest Gulf beaches to the capital.
What should I know before moving to St. Teresa?
The main things to plan for: Storm surge. Hurricane Michael pushed about 12 feet of water into the marine lab next door in 2018. No stores or medical care close by. Florida homeowners insurance averages about $10,384 a year for $250K of dwelling coverage (MoneyGeek, 2026). Get a quote and check the flood zone for any address before you commit.
The closest matches to St. Teresa across our ten scores.
Carrabelle
Also strong on peace and quiet and the outdoorsA small fishing town on the Forgotten Coast with a working harbor and a slow, friendly pace.
CompareBeverly Beach
Also strong on peace and quiet and the outdoorsOne of Florida's tiniest towns, a few blocks wide between the ocean and the Intracoastal just north of Flagler Beach, with an RV resort, beach cottages and homes on canals.
Mexico Beach
Also strong on peace and quiet and the outdoorsA small, quiet Gulf town on the Forgotten Coast that was nearly wiped out by Hurricane Michael and has steadily rebuilt around its wide, uncrowded beach.
CompareAripeka
Also strong on peace and quiet and the outdoorsA tiny old fishing village on Hammock Creek, straddling the Pasco and Hernando line, with stilt homes, marsh views and no stoplights.