It's no secret that Florida's Gulf Coast is a great place to plan a memorable vacation.
Fort Pickens Campground in Gulf Island National Seashore allows you to go camping within walking distance to the beach.
Campers here have 24-hour beach access to these gorgeous white sand beaches along the breathtaking Emerald Coast!
Fort Pickens Campground - Gulf Islands National Seashore
I found the Fort Pickens Campground to be a great spot to get re-centered on a long camping trip.
We eagerly welcomed having clean bathrooms, taking hot showers, and washing clothes as they have laundry service.
The campground also has several campsites with shade from the groves of Live Oak Trees
Gulf Islands National Seashore Entrance Fee
You will need to pay an entrance fee to camp at Fort Pickens Campground on the Florida side of Gulf Islands National Seashore, however, you do not need to pay an entrance fee at the Davis Bayou Campground in the Mississippi portion of Gulf Islands National Seashore.
You must first pay to enter portions of the Gulf Islands National Seashore including the Fort Pickens Area, Opal Beach Complex Area, and Johnson Beach Area in Florida.
It does not matter if you have a campground reservation, you still have to pay the entrance fee to get into the park. Here is the cost to enter Gulf Islands National Seashore:
Private Vehicle: $25
Motorcycle: $20
Per Person: $15
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Fort Pickens Campground Camping Fees
Campsite Cost: $25.00
In addition to the entrance fee, there is a year-round nightly fee for each of the campsites with water and power hookups at the Fort Pickens Campground.
Gulf Islands National Seashore Fort Pickens area in Florida charges an entrance fee of $25/private vehicle or $20/private motorcycle, good for 1-7 days; An annual pass can be purchased for $45. Fee is not included in the cost of your reservation.
Senior/Access Camping Fee: Senior and Access pass holders are eligible for a 50% discount on nightly fees.
Campground Reservations
Are campground Reservations Available? Yes
Phone Number? reservation hotline 1-877-444-6777.
Online? www.recreation.gov
How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? Individual sites at this campground operate on a 6-month rolling basis
Campground Information
Season:
Number of Sites: 200, , as well as 40 non-electric tent sites, one non-electric tent-only group site with water hookup is also available.
Location in the park: The campground is located on a barrier island between the Gulf of Mexico and Pensacola Bay.
Campground Address: 1400 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
Latitude/Longitude: 30.3235° N, 87.2745° W
Campground Address: 1400 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
Accessible Sites: 6 wheelchair-accessible sites with electricity and 2 wheelchair-accessible sites without electricity. The campground features accessible restrooms and showers. All roads are paved and each campsite features a paved pad.
Sites D025, B009, A036, C027, E058, E059, A016 and C014 are ADA sites
Pets Allowed: Pets are not allowed on the Florida beaches, the Fort Pickens ferry and fishing piers, the Mississippi islands, the Ship Island pier, in forts, batteries, pavilions, or other facilities.
Campground Amenities
Flush Toilets: Yes
Showers:
Payphone:
Is wifi available? Free WIFI is available at the Fort Pickens Discovery Center.
Is cellular Phone Service Available? Yes, Year-Round
Is camp host available on site? Yes
Is firewood available for purchase? No, Fort Pickens does not sell firewood. Please feel free to bring your own.
Amenities at Each Campsite
Fire ring/ fire pit in the site? Yes
Picnic Table in the site? Yes
Potable Water? Yes
Bear Boxes/Food Storage lockers: No
RV Camping at Fort Pickens Campground
Most sites have height, length, and slide restrictions, please consult the recreation.gov listing for details.
When choosing a site through recreation.gov, your total length is the vehicle plus trailer or RV plus tow vehicle. Only one RV unit is allowed per site. If you choose a site that does not fit your total length, the Park reserves the right to cancel your reservation upon arrival, so be sure to read ALL restrictions posted on each site. All wheels, including trucks or cars, must fit back in on the pavement provided at the site. ALL campers are limited to ONE RV (motorhome or trailer), one tent, and ONE vehicle, or TWO vehicles and TWO tents. Please do not bring more as the CG cannot hold additional vehicles
143 sites with electric hookups (30 & 50 amp)
146 sites have water hookups
RV Length: Most sites have height, length, and slide restrictions, please consult the recreation.gov listing for details.
Generators: Generators are allowed ONLY in the D Loop. Run time hours are 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. with a 60-decibel limit.
Dump Station: Yes, Year-Round
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
How to get to Campground
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 ¼ mile of the beaches of the Emerald Coast of the Gulf of Mexico and Pensacola Bay.
From Pensacola to Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach:
1. Travel north on I-110 to I-10 eastbound.
2. Take I-10 eastbound to Exit 22 (Avalon Boulevard/State Road 281).
3. Travel south on S.R. 281, cross the Garcon Point Bridge, and continue to U.S. 98.
4. Travel west on U.S. 98 to Gulf Breeze or Pensacola Beach.
From I-10 East of Navarre to U.S. 98, using State Road 87:
1. Take I-10, Exit 31 (State Road 87) south.
2. Continue to south on State Road 87 to U.S. 98 in Navarre.
3. Travel west on U.S. 98 to Gulf Breeze or Pensacola Beach.
Turn right onto FL Highway 399 to Pensacola Beach. A (Sunpass) toll booth is on entering Pensacola Beach. Proceed to first light; turn right onto Fort Pickens Road. It is about 3 miles to the park entrance station where you pay to enter, then go 4 miles to the campground registration office.
Campground Regulations
The maximum number of people in a campsite:
The number of cars per campsite: No more than two vehicles can be parked at a campsite at once this includes trailers, passenger vehicles, and RVs. Additional vehicles must be parked in overflow parking area.
Check-In Time: 2:00 PM
Checkout time: Check out by 11 a.m.
Quiet Hours: Quiet times are observed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Length of Stay: Campers can stay a maximum of 14 nights from March 1 through Labor Day, and no more than 14 consecutive nights at any time of the year. A minimum two-night absence is required between camping stays during the off-season, and the stay limits apply to all occupants. Campers are limited to 42 nights in a calendar year
Gates close at sunset; for registered campers arriving after this time, your registration confirmation email has the entrance/combo lock code for the gate; non-registered campers must arrive before sunset.
Golf Carts, hot tubs, and other non-camping equipment are not allowed
Fort Pickens Activities
There are plenty of great recreational activities at Gulf Islands National Seashore. Here is a list of a few of the most popular attractions
Visit the Park Store and Ft Pickens Discovery Center.
Take a self-guided tour on the app or take a ranger-led tour of the Civil War Era Fort Pickens and learn about America's coastal defenses.
Spend time enjoying the beach, Langdon Beach has great beach access for everyone and has restrooms and a picnic shelter too.
Park Ranger John Pro Tip:
NAS Pensacola is the home to the famous Blue Angels. If you happen to be in the park for the Blue Angels Weekend Airshow or a planned practice, be prepared for large crowds and jets thundering over! It is not uncommon for the Fort Pickens Parking Area to get full and Park Staff to block off access to is area until the crowds clear. You can also see the Blue Angels from the Battery Worth Picnic Area or plan a scenic cruise.
Gulf Islands National Seashore Resources
Gulf Islands National Seashore - Your complete guide to visiting Gulf Islands National Seashore
Davis Bayou Campground - Everything you need to know about planning a camping trip to Gulf Islands National Seashore at Davis Bayou Campground in Mississippi.
Where to stay when visiting the Florida portion of Gulf Islands National Seashore
There are no lodges on Gulf Islands National Seashore and the only camping in Florida portion of Gulf Islands National Seashore is Fort Pickens Campground. Here is a list and map of places to stay in the nearby towns of Pensacola Beach, and Pensacola, Florida.
National Park Sites near Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site - Complete guide to plan your trip to Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Park plus history!
Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site - Complete guide to plan your trip to Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site plus history!
Freedom Riders National Monument - Complete Guide to planning a trip to Freedom Riders National Monument
Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail - Complete guide to visiting the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument - Complete guide to visiting and learning about the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement
Vicksburg National Military Park - Complete guide to exploring Vicksburg
Natchez National Historical Park - Guide to planning and exploring Natchez National Historical Park in Mississippi. Includes history, park information, places to visit, and more.
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
Poverty Point National Monument - Complete Guide to Exploring Poverty Point National Monument
Cane River Creole National Historical Park - Complete guide to plan a perfect trip to Cane River Creole National Historical Par
Check out all of the National Parks in Florida along with neighboring Georgia National Parks, National Parks in Mississippi, and Alabama National Parks.
Check out all of the US National Seashores that can be visited.
Photos of Campground
Each loop of the Fort Pickens Campground offers a different experience. Be sure to look into the details of each loop to learn about amenities, rules, and regulations for each.
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