Fort Pickens Campground

1400 FORT PICKENS ROAD
Pensacola Beach, FL 32561

Overview

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 are drawn to the Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Come explore with us today!

Each camp site offers a fire pit, picnic table, and a paved pad to park on. There are heated showers and flush toilets. We offer electric and non-electric sites. Many of our sites have restrictions from low limbs or bushes so be sure you will fit.

Limited overflow parking is available but not guaranteed. Choose a site that will accommodate all of your equipment.

You must be 18 yrs old to reserve a campsite.

Campers may not stay in the campground more than 14 consecutive days. This policy is strictly enforced.

Entrance fees are required for the Fort Pickens area and are good for seven consecutive days from purchase.

Pets are NOT allowed on ferries, piers, in forts, batteries, pavilions, or inside any of the facilities.

Cancellation fees and Modification fees are non-refundable.

Pets are not allowed on any beach within Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Cutting of trees, limbs, or branches will result in a fine and a non-refundable cancelation of all reservations.

A fire may be ignited and maintained only by using fuel sources designed and commonly used for warmth or the preparation of food, such as charcoal briquettes or natural firewood. Lighting or maintaining a fire with other materials including, but not limited to, flammable liquids, garbage, fireworks, plastics, aerosol canisters, batteries, or other manufactured or synthetic materials, is prohibited.

Recreation

Many visitors young and old come to Fort Pickens to enjoy its scenic location on the beach. The white sands of Gulf Islands National Seashore are the perfect place for a long walk or an afternoon on the beach. The warm ocean waters are great for swimming and snorkeling. You will find a fishing pier just a short distance from Fort Pickens and can be used by visitors without a Florida fishing license. Hiking trails 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.

Pets are not allowed on the beach, ferries, piers, in forts, batteries, pavilions, or inside any of the facilities.

Facilities

This campground is open for reservations year-round. It contains 137 family sites with electricity (20, 30 & 50 amp) and water hookups, as well as 40 non-electric tent sites, one non-electric tent only group site with water hookup is also available. Fort Pickens also has 6 wheelchair accessible sites with electricity and 2 wheelchair accessible sites without electricity. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station in each campground . There are no boat ramps in the Fort Pickens area. All Fort Pickens campsites are available for reservations up to 6 months in advance. Fort Pickens does not have a wait list. You can set up alerts with your rec.gov account to be notified when a site opens.

Natural Features

The campground is located on a barrier island between the Gulf of America 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.

Pets are NOT allowed on beaches, ferries, piers, in forts, batteries, pavilions, or inside any of the facilities.

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.

Charges & Cancellations

Cancellation and modification fees are non-refundable.

Camp site features

Across 187 camp sites:

Electric hookups: 144 of 187 sites
Water hookups: 145 of 187 sites
Fire pit: 2 of 187 sites
Picnic table: all 187 sites
Pets allowed: all 187 sites
ADA accessible: 8 of 187 sites
Group sites: 1 of 187 sites
Longest RV: 49 ft
Largest party: 40 people
Power up to 50 amps
Equipment: CAR, CARAVAN/CAMPER VAN, FIFTH WHEEL, LARGE TENT OVER 9X12`, PICKUP CAMPER, POP UP, RV, SMALL TENT, Tent, Trailer

Fees

Cancellation and modification fees are non-refundable.

Directions

Physical Address (NO MAIL SERVICE): 1400 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 From I10W: 1. At Exit 12, head right on the ramp for I-110 South toward Pensacola Bch / Pensacola; 6.2 mi 2. Take the ramp on the left for FL-30 / E Chase St; 0.6 mi 3.Keep straight to get onto US-98 E Bus / FL-30 / E Chase St; 341 ft 4. Keep straight to get onto US-98 E / FL-30 / E Chase St; 5.5 mi 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. 4. 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.

Stay Limit

Check in from 1 PM, check out by 11 AM.

Reviews

4,670 reviews

5 stars

2,827

4 stars

1,138

3 stars

410

2 stars

174

1 stars

121

Keith L B

Loop:Loop A

Site:

Reviewed 8 days ago

Camping at Fort Pickens is a beautiful place with history along with viewing the Blue Angels during their practice season. That's not forget to mention the amazing sunrises and sunsets and never have to leave the same spot on the beach. Watching dolphins Pelicans seabirds and swimming in the clear Emerald Waters of the Gulf. Hard to beat the beauty and the peaceful surroundings. I have camped there several times over the past two years and will continue to do so is it is one of my most favorite places to camp. The upgraded restrooms was long overdue and are wonderful!

Jared H

Loop:Loop D

Site:

Reviewed 8 days ago

Great campground close to the beach with plenty of amenities. Site 5 has plenty of space and is tucked away. Highly recommend this campground. Access to the beaches was a big plus

scott g

Loop:Loop E

Site:

Reviewed 8 days ago

Campground in great shape after a hurricane, usually I’m camping off the grid so it feels like glamping with modern bathroom and shower facilities

Bruce L

Loop:Loop A

Site:

Reviewed 9 days ago

Well maintained, beautiful location

Shawn H

Loop:Loop B

Site:

Reviewed 10 days ago

The campgrounds and beaches here are amazing. Everything out there is beautiful. Anyone who enjoys being outside near the gulf, couldn't do much better than to camp here and spend some quality time at Fort Pickens and the national seashore!

David S

Loop:Loop A

Site:

Reviewed 11 days ago

Very expensive just for tent camping! You pay 25 bux just to get into ft pickens, its for a week pass but thats not what we needed, we obly camped barely one night, camping 1 night is 40 bux! There is nothing but a small trail to walk , nithing else to do at the campground, we left that night and did not even stay, other campers small dogs kept barking all night, next time we are going back to big lagoon! Way better time there and way more affordable , more to do as well, not going back to ft pickens.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve

Popularity: Very quiet

Busiest in November, when about 13% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 4 years of reservations.