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Fort Pickens Campground is situated on Santa Rosa Island, a part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore south of Pensacola and Gulf Breeze, Florida. Visitors (who might be looking for camping near New Orleans) enjoy the seashore for its great recreational activities, historic sites and unique white sand beaches. Recreation Many visitors young and old come to Fort Pickens to enjoy its scenic location on the beach. The white sands of Santa Rosa Island are the perfect place for a long walk or an afternoon of building sandcastles. The warm ocean waters are great for swimming and snorkeling. Fishermen will find a pier just a short distance from the picnic pavilions. It can be used by visitors without a Florida fishing license. Many hiking trails through the sand dunes provide beautiful views and hours of exploration. Historic Fort Pickens, a pentagonal fort built to defend Pensacola Bay in 1834, is just 1 mile from the campground. The structure was fortified after the War of 1812 and was one of four forts in the South never occupied by Confederates during the Civil War. Facilities This large campground is open for reservations year-round. It contains 137 family sites with electric and water hookups, as well as 41 non-electric tent sites. A group site with water hookup is also available. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. There are no boat ramps in the Fort Pickens area. Natural Features The campground is located on a barrier island between the Gulf of Mexico and Pensacola Bay. Groves of live oak trees are scattered across the island, providing shelter for resident and migrating bird populations, as well as shade for park visitors. The Gulf Islands National Seashore is home to sparkling blue waters, white beaches and coastal marshes. However, more than 80% of the national park is underwater, as it's a vital protective habitat to marine life. Nearby Attractions The campground is a short distance from restaurants and beach nightlife, downtown Pensacola, the Pensacola Naval Air Station and Naval Aviation Museum, the Pensacola Lighthouse and other historic sites. Campsites are within 1/4 mile of the beaches of the Emerald Coast of the Gulf of Mexico and Pensacola Bay. ADA Access: N
From I-10, take I-110 S to Pensacola. Take U.S. Highway 98S/FL Highway 30 over Pensacola Bay to Gulf Breeze. Follow 98 through Gulf Breeze, turn right onto FL Highway 399 to Pensacola Beach. Pay $1/vehicle at (Sunpass) toll booth entering Pensacola Beach, then turn right at the traffic light onto Fort Pickens Road. It is about 3 miles to the park entrance station, then 4 miles to the campground registration office.
Fort Pickens Campground facility is open during the following season(s):
-September 03, 2019 – December 31, 2019 (Non-Peak Season)
-January 01, 2020 – February 29, 2020 (Non-Peak Season)
-March 01, 2020 – September 07, 2020 (Peak Season)
Campground is nice. Bathrooms and showers were bad. Moldy curtains. No place to hang or place your stuff while showering. Limited range on shower head, but the Water was hot.
This is one of our favorite campgrounds. Uncrowded white sand beaches, paved pads. Road into park has a bike lane to make riding into Pensacola Beach easy. From there you can continue on to Navarre and back for a nice long ride. Four stars as no sewer hookup and showers are a bit dated.
Beautiful island, nice fort/ history. Campgrounds antiquated, our site wet while most others dry. All campers had to evacuate on short notice because of high seas and potential flooding, with 10 days left on our reservation. We chose to cancel our reservation because we had to drive too far away to find a place to stay. Evacuation lasted two days and they will only refund us two nights of the 10. Have tried multiple times for refund with the same result. There is no policy we can find stating this situation.
Pictures of the sites leave a bit to be desired, the spot we chose looked more private in the pictures then it was. But the location compared to the restroom was nice(E9).
Showers were okay, pressure wasn't amazing but acceptable. Water was hot.
A couple of the batteries were within easy walking distance, even for a 3 year old. Fort Pickens was pretty cool to explore, especially the tunnels and an informative ranger gae a thirty minute presentation that was interesting.
All in all, not a bad time.
This was my second experience at a National Lakeshore park and while the area is beautiful, the campground was nothing special. Close lots, limitations on how to park preventing your doors from facing your fire pit and picnic table, and clean but dated bathrooms with poor shower water pressure. Many of the parks buildings were closed while we were there. Nothing scenic from the campground but a short walk to the beaches and historical fort buildings. I would stay here again for the proximity to Pensacola and the beaches, but it’s just a spot to park for a couple days when passing through.
