Niceville, FL

Niceville is a small city on Boggy Bayou, where it opens into Choctawhatchee Bay, on the north side of the bay from Destin. It is a residential, outdoorsy town with bayou paddling, state park trails and a quick bridge to the beach.

Where is Niceville?

Niceville is in Okaloosa County, next to Valparaiso and just northwest of Eglin Air Force Base, and it is on Central time. State Road 20 runs east through town, and the Mid-Bay Bridge, a toll bridge, crosses Choctawhatchee Bay to Destin and Miramar Beach. Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) sits beside Valparaiso, only about 10 minutes away, which makes Niceville one of the most convenient towns on the coast for flying in. The Gulf beaches of Destin are about 20 minutes south across the bridge.

Things to do in Niceville

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park has trails, a campground and boating on Rocky Bayou. The Turkey Creek Nature Trail is a short, shaded walk along the creek, and the bayous are good for paddling and fishing. The Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College hosts concerts and performances.

Valparaiso borders Niceville to the west, and Bluewater Bay, a planned community a few minutes southeast, has parks, golf and a marina. The town was founded as Boggy and renamed Niceville in 1910. Its longtime October mullet festival continues as Boggy Fest.

When to visit Niceville

Spring and fall are best for trails and paddling. Summer is hot and humid but the bayous stay pleasant in the morning. Expect slowdowns on the Mid-Bay Bridge during summer weekends. Fall brings cooler mornings that are ideal for the state park trails and for fishing the bayous.