## 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 of Mexico for 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. Choose a site that will accommodate all of your equipment.\_\_ 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 any beaches sound and gulf side, ferries, piers, in forts, batteries, pavilions, or inside facilities.\_\_ 
## 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 campground is open for reservations year-round. It contains 137 family sites with electricity (30 &amp; 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. There are no boat ramps in the Fort Pickens area. All Fort Pickens campsites are available to book up to 6 months in advance with 24 hour booking window. 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.\_\_Please feel free to bring your own firewood as the Park doesn\'t have any to sell. 
## 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.
## Charges &amp; Cancellations

 Cancellation and modification fees are non-refundable.

Fort Pickens Campground — Gulf Islands National Seashore

Got here late  in the afternoon after the campground reservation checkstation closed, so I found a host and made sure I could claim an empty site. All was good, so I found an empty site and paid up in the morning. I ended up in Loop D at site D26. All of the tent sites are in Loops B and D, and the RV sites are in Loops A, C, and E. It was really nice to have so much separation between the tents and RVs. My site was out in the open in the middle of the loop, not ideal. The better sites are on the outside edge of the loops as they back to shrubs and trees. The bathhouse was nice, modern, and clean (though the one in Loop C is even better as I think it is newer). 

There is a good trail to the beach across the road (about a 1/4 mile), and a really nice trail that leads all the way to the fort (about a mile away). The trail that goes to the fort is part of the Florida Trail, a 1,500 mile long trail from the panhandle to the tip of the peninsula. Definitely spend some time touring the fort! There is a pretty good self guided tour and there is a nice museum and gift shop. And it is fun to watch the fishermen and scuba divers on the seawall and on the piers.

Tight, but so close to the beaches

Beautiful campground! There are trails that take you to the sound side (Escambia Bay) where you can see dolphins and play in the sand and water. Eagles nest in the trees around the campground and at night, if the weather permits, the view of the stars in the sky is astounding!

Camped at Group Campground

I've always loved this one. If you are a local...buy the pass. Great water, but watch for sharks in Summer. The Osprey are everywhere. Great views sunsets, dolphins turtles shells! Campground is HOT! Very few trees! Bring your own shade. Showers and bathrooms are ok...but outdated. Sand spurs are on all the trails so be careful and bring your flops. Also bring the bug spray for sure! If you don't mind walking it's worth it to avoid the crowds.

Ft. Pickens- the old standby

Need fans & bug spray! But other than that the showers / bathrooms are close by & clean, you can take a short walk to watch the sunrise & sunset .. There is a camp store that provides basics that are usually forgotten, you can explore the old forts, bike down trails, kayak & paddle board or surf the waves! Dog friendly as well! You will love it!!

Paradise! 

 This was the first really vacation camping trip our family took and it was work but it was one of the best vacations we have every had. We were very new to camping on vacation so it was quite the learning experience. And Fort Pickens, FL was a great place for our 1st outing. The campgrounds were very clean and well kept. Our camping spot was very roomy, enough for 1 large tent, a small tent,  2 canopies, and we still had room to walk around. You did have a large concrete slab for your car or either your camper. Now one thing we wish we had had at our site was some trees for shade, because in July in Florida it gets HOT. But we did not have the shade so we just kept under the canopies with the fans blowing.  One thing we sis love about our site was we were right across from the bathrooms, Loop D site D22, and that was very convenient, esp in the morning when everyone was rushing for showers & getting ready for the day. Now the showers were on the older side, but they worked.  
 There was a store at the campgrounds for your basic needs if you ran out of anything, ice bread, sunscreen, etc. But I would recommend making sure to stock up because the prices are higher at the store. But its great to know its there if you need it. Outside the store that had laundry facilities, 4 washers and 4 dryers. I believe it was about $2 per machine, so make like i did to just wash once for the week. I waited until Wednesday & it got us thru the rest of our vacation. One tip, get to the washers very early or you will not get them til late that evening. I got up at 5:30 a.m. to get my washing started. Soon after I got there people started filing in. 
 What we really loved about Fort Pickens was the beach was just minutes away. You could ride your bike, walk or even drive to the areas you wanted to visit for the day. The beach and water was just beautiful. The water was crystal clear and very calm. Now a couple of days the water temp got a lil too warm but it was cooling than being in the sun on the beach. Another location we enjoyed visiting was the bay side just behind our campsite. We walked down a trail and had easy access to the bay, where the water was just as clear & everyone took their kayaks out. It was even calmer water than the ocean so it was a lot easier to paddle in this water. 
 There is so much to do in this area that it make the perfect vacation spot for just about everyone. You can explore the Fort at Fort Pickens, or stroll to the lighthouses, or visit the Pensacola Naval Air Station and Naval Aviation Museum. You also have a wide selections of restaurants and shopping to enjoy. A great family friendly campground!! 
 

Wonderful Family Friendly Campgrounds

Besides touring the spectacular fort. This campground has a lot to offer w the beautiful FL beach only a walk away.. Nice facilities and store also.

Beach Life

clean, nice campground. bathrooms were convenient and they were working on new ones. 

february 2017

I was a camp host there for 3 months and it is the most beautiful place. The barrier island between the Pensacola Sound and the Gulf of Mexico and it's incredible. I saw sea turtles daily, dolphins and so many other beautiful animals and the best part is that it's a protected island allowing all the animals to be free and safe. The Fort itself is really cool and The water is amazing and so is the campground. I highly recommend going it's absolutely amazing.

Fort Pickens-Gulf Islands National Seashore Florida

**Campground Review:**

[Fort Pickens Campground](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/fort-pickens-campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&amp;parkId=97219) sits on a peninsula of sandy land that lies between the Gulf of Mexico and Pensacola Bay so you know this place is bound to be beautiful. The campground is part of [Gulf Islands National Seashore](https://www.nps.gov/guis/index.htm) and has gorgeous white sandy beaches. There are lots of things to keep you busy in this park besides sitting on the beach or playing in the clear blue water. There are plenty of hiking/mountain biking trails which are part of the Florida National Scenic Trail. The shallow waters in the bay are great for surf fishing and kayaking and there are many access points. The park has a nice museum that describes the history of the fort and impacts of hurricanes (especially Ivan which destroyed the area). Ranger-led tours occur during the year and are very fun and informative. We went on a full moon night hike where the ranger talk focused on astrology and how moon phases impact some animals. Many parts of the fort and old batteries are open and available for exploring. Climbing on top of some of these areas offers spectacular views of the bay and gulf.

The campground is separated into two sections that make up five loops containing 180 sites. Campsites have paved driveways and grassy/sandy patios with 50/30/20 amp electric and water (but no sewer). There are picnic tables and fire pits at each site. Bathroom/shower buildings are scattered throughout the loops and were cleaned daily by volunteers. These buildings are heated which was much appreciated during the cold weather we experienced when camped here. Reservations can be made online (and should be made early if you plan on coming during the busy spring and summer seasons). It is best to check the park’s website before your visit because sometimes they have to close the road to the campground due to sand and water on the roads. We prefer to stay in Loop A because there are way fewer sites in that section and you don’t get the feeling of being crowded like in Loops B – E. There is also more shade in Loop A which is very welcomed in the summer. The campground is about 10 miles from the nearest convenient store or restaurant so it is best to stock up on groceries before you come. There is a camp store that has a wide selection of food items, souvenirs, baits, and beach supplies.

Campsites are a short ¼ mile from the gorgeous beaches. Just before entering the park is a great seafood restaurant called Peg Leg Pete’s. Venturing into Pensacola you will find an amazing seafood market called [Joe Patti’s](http://www.joepattis.com/), the [Pensacola Bay Brewery](https://pbbrew.com/), and the [Naval Aviation Museum](http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/) (which is free), the [Pensacola Lighthouse](http://www.pensacolalighthouse.org/), a minor league baseball team, and other interesting historic sites and attractions. If you are there at a time when the [Navy’s Blue Angels](http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/blue-angels/) are flying, you will see them directly overhead and it’s a great sight to see.

**Product Review:**

I tested the [Renogy E. Lumen Solar Powered Flashlight](https://www.renogy.com/renogy-e-lumen-multi-functional-flashlight/) out at Fort Pickens which can get pretty dark at night. The campground is far removed from any city lights as it is 10 miles out of town on a skinny peninsula of land and this item came in handy walking around the campground at night and in the early morning.

This is a super bright LED solar powered rechargeable flashlight that has a ton of features packed into this light device. There are five light settings on this flashlight – the 3-Watt LED headlight has a high beam, low beam, and strobe and if you hold down the on/off button it cycles over to a 2-Watt LED side white light which can be set on high or low. There is also a red strobe side light with two settings but both are strobes. It would be nice if there was a solid red light feature. The headlight is powerful providing light up to 200 meters away. While the flashlight can be charged by solar it also has a USB charging option. Here are some more of the features of this flashlight that is compact and also functions as a multi-tool:

*   2000mAh lithium-ion battery with charge level indicators. I left the flashlight in the direct sun for a couple of hours and it had ample charge when I used it later that night. They advertise that it will hold seven hours of charge.
*   Super strong side magnet so you can mount it where you want and it will remain in place. I put it on the side of my car and it held fine.
*   Heavy duty aluminum construction and water resistant which makes it great for taking with you in your canoe or kayak.
*   Multiple emergency features such as an alloy glass-shattering hammer and seatbelt cutter to help you escape from a vehicle. The seatbelt cutter is well protected so you won’t accidentally cut yourself.
*   Compass for helping you navigate. The compass is pretty small and is just divided into N, E, S, and W and does not have degrees so it will help in general navigation but not specific direction.
*   USB input/output cable is a great feature that allows you to charge the flashlight or small electronic devices like your phone or tablet. I used the USB cable to charge my phone and the flashlight had good charging power.
*   200 lumens for the high beam flashlight which provides a powerful light that illuminates up to 200 meters away. The side white light has 150 lumens and is great to put on a picnic table while setting up your campsite in the dark or for reading at night.
*   The lightweight, compact design (10.9 ounces and measures under 7 ½ inches long) is perfect for storing it in your car or stuffing it in your backpack but a little too long and heavy to keep in your jacket or pants pocket.

The light does come with an instruction manual but the print is very small and I had trouble reading it even with reading glasses on. This flashlight retails for around $25 and I think it is well worth the price. The fact that it is solar (and has a USB charging port) means no more having to buy batteries. I also like the USB port which will charge small electronic devices like phones and tablets. This would make a great gift for anyone who likes to camp or just needs a really good flashlight around their house or in their car.

Click [here](https://youtu.be/fomDHoXdxkU) for my video review.

Ranger Review: Renogy E. Lumen Solar Powered Flashlight at Fort Pickens Campground (Gulf Islands National Seashore), Florida

Rain rain and more rain.  7 inches in 36 hours.  Loop E was small short sites.  Could not park at site.  Bath house was nice.  

Check the Weather

An amazing piece of America. The barrier island full of wildlife. Hiking trails through out the sites. Short eall to the beach or bay.The water is perfect blue green. The sand is soft. Large RV camping areas, tents as well. Not a lot of trees so bring shade. You need to make reservations several months in advance.

Sunny gulf coast

Easy navigation around sites, some areas are mushy where water settles but it’s a barrier island so it’s expected. Best shower units I’ve ever used! There’s even a dishwashing station! So convenient! There’s a small visitors center of some sort by the dumpsters at the entrance/exit that sells ice during business hours. Good thing because civilization is about 6 or 7 miles away, so be prepared when you cross that bridge to get to the island and then traveling to the end will make you feel more isolated (in a great way) therefore please get everything you need in one trip! GREAT SAND ON THE BEACH! I can only explain it as “sugary”! No courseness to it at all, all beautiful and white. 

Great Facilities

We loved Fort Pickens for many reasons...BEACH...BEACH...BEACH! Not only that but there is an amazing Fort to explore!

Picture your campsite nestled among live oaks draped with Spanish moss...a short hike and you are either at the beach or at the Fort!

A few of the campsites were not ideal...our tent site had some type of water facility next to it. The sites are close together with little privacy. That being said...the campground is all together beautiful and we enjoyed our camping experience.

Our campground was across the street from a lovely boardwalk that takes you right to a beautiful sugar white beach that goes on for miles and miles with no restaurants, condos, etc. Just nature at its best!

The Fort is so cool and the park offers tours and there is also a great gift shop. You can also explore the bay near the fort and beach comb along the shore.

We were surprised to find that the beginning (or end) of the Florida Trail is near the Fort. We rode our bikes several miles on the trail.

The bathroom facilities at the park were fine and we had a nice campfire.

This is a AWESOME campsite for all ages...and especially for kids...so much to explore and learn. If you have kids, encourage them to join the Jr. Ranger Program and they will get a cool pin made from wood (they will need to fill out a booklet that is very informative).

We have camped here twice and totally plan to camp here in the future!

Camping with a Beach!

Well taken care of sites,and facilities. Beautiful beaches, bird sanctuary, and National Park. A must in the spring time!!

Beautiful sandy beaches, trails, and history.

Great spot to hang out for a few days. The campground is close to the beautiful beach and provides good access to the historical sites and trails. The campground was busy so make to reserve a spot in advance.

Great location

Campsites are close together but the beaches are nice and quiet. The historic fort provides an interesting educational experience... however, there are ants EVERYwhere.

Quiet beach camping 

We’ve only been here once but had an awesome experience. The sites were very nice and the staff wonderful. Great little place to bring kids. Close access to the beach. We also loved that there were more primitive camping than RV and Campers. We can’t wait to go back. 

lovely campsite


historical fort with a ton to do. fishing, swimming, camping, boating and beautiful beaches. wonderful place to see and experience. 

wonderful, beautiful and educational. excellent place.

We had a wonderful time tent camping. Great campsites and facilities with hot showers. Everything was kept very clean. Relaxing and friendly atmosphere. 

Best beach camping

Beautiful place to visit. Natural vegitation and dune system. 

Great place to visit historical forts

We went tent camping for two nights with our pups at Fort Pickens and we really did enjoy it. The campground was nice and clean. They had nice showers and potties as well. The showers in the RV section have better shower heads btw. The beaches are gorgeous! A tip for travelers with pets, FL does not allow dogs on their beaches accept in specific "dog park" locations. Our dogs are not.. eh, normal .. so we ended up driving down to a private beach so they could enjoy the ocean. There is a lot of night life but We decided to skip that this trip. We enjoyed the beaches in the park at night and i highly recommend it!  All in all we enjoyed our trip but we probably won't be back to Fort Pickens campground. The sites are very close together and we had a very nosey and drunk neighbor who really wanted to chat. We camp to get away from people, just saying. We were also bothered by RV and truck lights shining directly into our tent both nights from people driving through the campground.  Not the best but we enjoyed camping at the beach.

Good but not very private

Gorgeous white sand beaches a short walk from the campground. Clean, great hot showers, level asphalt pads, water and electric, dump station on site.  Campground IS dog friendly, although the beach is Not dog friendly. There’s a very small dog beach area (on leash only), a short drive away at Pensacola-west Beach ( clearly marked for dogs). 

Awesomeness !

My husband and I tent camped at fort Pickens campground in February, 2019. We were able to use our senior national park pass to get in for free and a discount on our site. This is a busy park due to beaches and the actual old fort Pickens buildings, but the campsites were fairly peaceful. We were less than a 10 minute walk from the beach and walked about 30 minutes to the old fort. The showers were separate from the bathrooms and what you might expect for a beach, the water was nice and hot. There is supposed to be a store, but it was closed when we were there. There is a book store in the old fort. The beach and water were just beautiful. 

Beautiful beaches

This was my third trip to Pickens and it was amazing as always. 

*The camping store is closed until they can find someone to run it. Wood and ice can be bought at the Tom Thumb just outside the park or at Walmart/Publix in Gulf Breeze. 

*Battery Cooper Rd was closed so those two batteries are inaccessible. 

*Loops B/D no longer have electric or dedicated water (there is a water spigot every few sites). Tent sites D24, D25, B6 have the best shade and space. 

*We stayed at A15 (right next to walking trail entrance) and my best friend on A14. Other good shaded sites on this loop are A4 (grass not level enough for tents), A6, A12, A19, A21, A24, A26, A35 (next to dumpsters though), A36 (okay but not great). 

*You can no longer hang anything from trees or power poles (hammocks, clotheslines etc). You also cannot having a shower looking tent (we have one for a changing tent only—no toilet or shower—and they made us take it down). Max two tents or camper and one tent per site (awnings/pop up shelter over picnic table don’t count towards the two). 

*I didn’t peek into the restrooms in loops B-E. A-loop restrooms were a little dated but clean and functional. The laundry/dish washing station was stellar. 

*The price for getting into Gulf Island National Seashore is now $20 and it’s a 7 day pass. 

*The campground now gives out two slips at check-in. One is for your car and one is to keep with you after 8pm so you don’t get kicked out of the area after dark. 

Everyone was very nice and helpful. 

Excellent as always

This was my third trip to Pickens and it was amazing as always. 

*The camping store is closed until they can find someone to run it. Wood and ice can be bought at the Tom Thumb just outside the park or at Walmart/Publix in Gulf Breeze. 

*Battery Cooper Rd was closed so those two batteries are inaccessible. 

*Loops B/D no longer have electric or dedicated water (there is a water spigot every few sites). Tent sites D24, D25, B6 have the best shade and space. 

*We stayed at A15 (right next to walking trail entrance) and my best friend on A14. Other good shaded sites on this loop are A4 (grass not level enough for tents), A6, A12, A19, A21, A24, A26, A35 (next to dumpsters though), A36 (okay but not great). 

*You can no longer hang anything from trees or power poles (hammocks, clotheslines etc). You also cannot having a shower looking tent (we have one for a changing tent only—no toilet or shower—and they made us take it down). Max two tents or camper and one tent per site (awnings/pop up shelter over picnic table don’t count towards the two). 

*I didn’t peek into the restrooms in loops B-E. A-loop restrooms were a little dated but clean and functional. The laundry/dish washing station was stellar. 

*There are dump stations (one in loop A and one for B-E) but no sewer hook ups per site. 

*The price for getting into Gulf Island National Seashore is now $20 and it’s a 7 day pass. 

*The campground now gives out two slips at check-in. One is for your car and one is to keep with you after 8pm so you don’t get kicked out of the area after dark. 

Everyone was very nice and helpful. 

This campground was beautiful! Lots of natural elements and wildlife. Plan ahead, they book up very fast especially for the summer months. We stayed in loop A. It was very sandy and had a lot of trees yet we weren't really shaded ever. Plenty of space but not all spots are easy to maneuver in to. Bring bug spray and sun screen. The beach is about a quarter of a mile walk each way but beautiful especially in the evening for sunset. If you like history the Fort Pickens site is worth it. Also, you can see the Blue Angels fly for free from the bay side of Fort Pickens but of it's something you really want to see I would suggest making the trip to the museum on the main land. Bring singles as there is a toll bridge. 

Beautiful Campground

Nice camping, wonderful Seashore, and awesome historic site. 

The most beautiful park in ALL of Florida 

What's not to like about this campground? Nothing that I could find. Ample space to maneuver my camper in to my site, level ground, plenty of space between sites so you're not hearing your neighbors but close enough to make friends. The waves from the Gulf can be heard as well as the "bugle" calls from NAS Pensacola across the sound. The site (E20) has both 30/50 amp electric and water hookups. Bathhouse was clean with adjoining single, private showers close by each site. Nearby trails either lead you to the Gulf beach or along the sound side where the Pensacola lighthouse can be seen. 
Both tent and campers are allowed. No Wi-Fi and my phone signal (Verizon) was intermittent with 2-3 bars. 

Sarge Slept By The Seashore

The location of the campground is great with awesome sounds and sights nearby. The campground itself was completely full and felt like we were packed in like sardines with many of the other campers not respecting our campground site or park rules in general. I saw numerous people strolling across other people's campsites along with ours. People also did not use appropriate firewood and collected it from the park(which they got talked to by the Park Rangers). Once everyone’s excitement settled down at night about 10:30 pm you could hear the sound of the waves crashing from the Gulf of Mexico and the bay. This made for an easy night sleep. We would recommend staying at this campground as the location had great history and things to do from touring Fort Pickens, walking the beach, fishing or taking a stroll on the Florida Trail.

  

Check out our blog at [www.unnamedadventures.com](http://www.unnamedadventures.com) and follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram or on our YouTube Channel at Unnamed Adventures. 

  

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Great location to hear waves crashing on both sides while you sleep

Four friends and I took a road trip for spring break and our first stop was the Fort Pickens Campground. We got there after dark but the campsite was easy to find.  There were two bathrooms that were not a far walk from our site. The campsites were only a short drive from the beach and we made a pit stop there on our way out. Great place.

Great campsite

Went here often for fishing with the kids! Had a great time walking the beaches and swimming. We would go down every Christmas and take pictures of the us on the white sand beaches for the family living in the north! Haha absolutely stunning year round!

Loved it!

This close-to-home Campground is an all time favorite for anyone who has been here.  We especially like to stay here in early November for the Blue Angels Homecoming airshow.  They have been working to update the restrooms here.  Many of the campsites are out of this world. Others are designed for RVers convenience and may seem a little bleak for many tenters. The road leading to the campground may be affected by flooding during extreme storms.  The beaches are A1 and the Fort is very well care for.  Overall this campground gets a 10!  

Beautiful beaches and biking trails 

Kinda don’t want to share this hidden gem. This by far is the best camping destination ever. 

Super private, security is tight so you feel safe. 

Ocean is crystal clear.

Fort Pickens National Park

We stayed in loop E on sites  4&amp;5. Theses sites are nice because they are on the side that backs up to the bay so you have fewer neighbors. We had a tiny popup so we maneuvered ok but it’s pretty tight if you have a bigger unit. There’s a nice walk to the bay right off of the site. There’s a small beach with a ton of tiny crabs. It was nice to go sit at night instead of making the longer trip to the gulf coast side. Our kids were in tents and they did get flooded on the first night when it rained. The fort itself is pretty nice, you can even visit at night with flashlights. You can walk to the beach but it’s kinda far , we packed up the truck with chairs and coolers and stayed all day. Awesome beach! Beautiful white sand and clear water. If you’ve never been, plan a day trip to the National Naval and Aviation Museum. So worth it!!! And it’s free! There’s also a lighthouse,but we stayed too long at the museum and it was closed. Just a slight annoyance with the campgrounds was that the bathrooms were surrounded by a sand pit, so when you’re nice and clean after a long day in the sand you have to walk through sand in wet flip flops 😂

A little cramped but the beach is beautiful 

Recently bought a rooftop tent and wanted to test it out. Rangers are wonderful and super helpful! Campers were great and we were able to bring our dog with us! The facility’s are super clean and well taken care of. Definitely going to make another trip! 

Beach camping

For those campers who enjoy a more basic less touristy campground, this one is great. Has rv hookup sights, bath houses and laundry facilities. But no facilities like crowded pools, game rooms, etc. Park rangers are great and always had very helpful camp hosts. Best step above primitive camping while allowing for close to nature setting. Short walk to water, good coastal fishing, Ft Pickens historical site to visit, etc. Not long drive to town. We love it especially in early winter.

Nice quiet basic campground

The camping for tent sites was nice expect they are hard to book at last minute. I was there during the last week of September 2021. During the week it was peaceful. However, on my last night there “
Friday” I had some very rude tent campers surrounding me. They were up all night ~extremely loud ~ hollering~until I couldn’t stand the noise any longer I got up around 3:00 am and started packing up since I was leaving that Saturday. They have some nice showers through the campground with hot water and there is also a laundry room at campground A . 

Awesome Beach 

Whether it be tent, camper, or full RV
*  Sights with power $40 per night 
          *  Fire Pits 🔥 
          *  Picnic table
          *  Power hook-up

*  Sights with NO power $26 per night (Standard) 
          *  Fire Pits 🔥
          *  Picnic table

Beach Camping

Fort Pickins is a large National Park campground on Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida.
There are 4 camping loops. Loop D is tents only. The others can accommodate small/medium RVs and travel trailers.
There are water and electric hookups snd a dump station in all but D loop.
Bathrooms and showers.
Every site is just a short walk to the beach.
Some sites have shade, bu those on the inside loop do not.
Also, because of the trees, there are hight, length, and slideout restrictions on some outside loop on sites. Be sure to check before making reservations.
Reservations can be made 
through the .gov website.

Lots of beach and great views

Amazing, quiet, great staff, spacious sites, and amazing fishing! We’ll definitely be back to this location!

Paridise 

The beaches cannot be beat. The campground is reached through an unavoidable toll and a park entrance fee ($25/week personal vehicle). The grounds are well maintained but the bathrooms are basic as basic can be. There is no market contrary to what is listed on here. Firewood can be purchased at Tom Thumb or back across the bridge at the Publix in Pensacola. The drive to the campground from Pensacola beach is a long and winding road where you can see the bay and gulf at the same time. Definitely go visit the fort, bunkers, and batteries. Langdon beach is beautiful and clean with flyovers from the naval base often. 

Beautiful beaches, Spartan accommodations 

Our recommendation would be to book early in order to avoid having to move from spot to spot. Be advised there is no sewer hook up so water conservation will be in necessity. Also they have a great bathroom/bath house facility as well as a dishwashing station which came in handy because there is only a dump station. 

The beaches were spectacular and we enjoyed great fishing as well as other ocean activities. ￼￼￼￼

10 days same spot

One of the nicest places to camp! Great facilities. The beaches and sunsets are breathtaking 

Gulf island seashore 

I stayed here one night to camp off my motorcycle. The national park is absolutely gorgeous. Very short walk to the beach from the loops. I wish I could have stayed longer, but will be making a special trip back just to enjoy it more than I could in one night. I highly suggest getting a site on the outside of a loop and near the end. Sites are kind of small and the ones in the middle are very close to each other. I was on the inside and super close to my neighbors who happened to be a very large group of college aged kids that were drinking. It was very loud and obnoxious. I just put in my noise canceling ear buds to tune them out.

Wow! Incredible location!

This campground is on a national seashore, which means you either need a national parks pass to get in, or you'll need to pay the entrance fee (in addition to the campground fee). We paid $40/night but seniors get half off. 

Water and power at sites, dump station with non potable water for sewer needs.

We rode our bikes to the fort one day, very interesting place. 

The beaches were so nice and warm and the sand was so soft and white when we were there in December. Not too buggy at all, and there are resident armadillos that roam around the campground, so cute.

Free hot showers. 

No privacy between sites at all, luckily we didn't have neighbors on both sides otherwise we would have felt really cramped as the sites are pretty close together. 

There are different loops, and one dedicated for tents only.

Recycling bins on site. There's also a take a book / leave a book at the ranger station where you check in. 

Really cool nice mellow campground, very peaceful.  


One Of Our Favorite Campgrounds

We were here 1/27/22 - 2/2/22 for stop 2 on our 3 month winter escape 
The campsites themselves are quite close together and not much for vegetation between them. Excellent clean bathrooms and locking individual shower rooms.  Several little trails for dog walking. Good recycling set up. Lots of wildlife and easy walking access to miles of gorgeous beaches 
IMO sites # 29-30 -31 would be great. We will definitely be back. Also we were able to make a reservation in 10/21 for this time in late January with no problem 

All about the beach

Nice to sleep when you can slightly hear the waves. Great facilities. Explore the Fort. Hang out at the beach. Kiting is great because it is not as crowded. Known for best shark fishing in the pass. 

Best of Beach Worlds! 

So many things to do here. You have several historic Forts to explore.  A discovery center to learn the history of the island and the wildlife.  A bookstore with wifi. Beaches to swim . Pier fishing and land fishing. 
Many trails to ride your bike or walk. And a gated group tent camping as well as tent camping in campground. And the Blue Angels practice and fly right over the campground and forts. 

Awesome campground 

For campers that like things closer to basic camping in unspoiled nature, this is great place to camp. The rates are great especially for national park pass holders. Loved $20 a night at discount. It has nice bath houses and most sites with electric and water. Also laundry available and dish washing station. There are also primitive tent sites available. Short walk to bay or ocean. Easy drive to Ft Pickens and numerous battery sites for site seeing. Easy drive over to Pensacola Beach when you wish to go for dining or shopping or other activities. We love it. Highly recommend for campers who wish to get away from high priced resort camping.

Great place to camp

This is located in the Gulf Islands National Sea Shore. It is on Santa Rosa Barrier Island just off the coast at Pensacola FL. They have left it as natural as possible. Paved roads and level paved sites. Water and electricity. Easy walk to the Gulf of Mexico or the bay. Park is exceptionally clean and well cared for. You will have to plan ahead to stay here it is always full   

Gulf Coast Paradise 

We love Fort Pickens! We’ve been here several times and enjoy the hiking trail to the fort and the beach is a short walk from campground A. The campground is well kept and host are always close.

Downside is campsites in A are tight and there isn’t much privacy.

The dump sites was closed during 3-4 days of freezing temps and apparently A campground had issues and remained closed for extended days. Campground visitors had to travel to the other campground for dumping.

We’ve stayed several times in Feb, June and Dec.



Hidden Gem

A wonderful park. Nice and quiet and plenty of exploring! The beach was on both sides as you drive in. The spots were definitely smaller than most other campsites I have seen. They do have struck policies on making sure your rig, vehicle and or boat all fit into the space provided. We booked through recreation.gov.

It was a great experience and I recommend exploring the fort. It’s all self exploration and it’s interesting to see how life and battles were back then. 

What an experience! 

Friendly staff.  Walking trail is great. There are historical sites to climb and explore with a building with educational information and a gift shop within the old fort.  

Fort Pickens 

We love the Fort Pickens A campground. It’s really hard to get a site so plan at least 6 months to get a site. We’ve been here in June and Dec but, Feb - March is the best time. 

The laundry room is small and only has 2 washers and dryers so come prepared. 

The beach is a quick walk and the trails are great for walking and biking. 

Fabulous and so close to the beach!

We enjoyed our stay at Ft Pickens campground very much. Everything was well maintained and clean.  There are walking trails you can access at the campground. The Pensacola Bay is on one side and the Gulf of Mexico is on the other. We went in December- a few days were cool and cloudy, and a few days were sunny and warm. The campground did close due to a flood warning, so we had to leave a day early. The attendants went site to site to make everyone aware. Make sure you have what you need, the nearest store is 12-15 miles away. We also toured the Fort while we were there. 

Beautiful

Clean sites, good bathrooms and hot showers. Nothing fancy here but it’s a solid campground. Dog friendly in the campground and on the trails/walkways, just not on the beach. Camp staff were friendly and helpful at check in. 

Good spot close to beaches

Our first time camping at the beach and it was amazing! The campground is crowded and lacks privacy, but we are only here to sleep! 

The camp hosts we out working all day and greeted us at both campsites we stayed at (had to move one night to extend our stay). 

The bathrooms stayed clean the whole time we were there. There is also a dish washing sink at the bathhouse.

I loved being able to ride my bike via the FCT to get to different beaches or to ride around the Fort extremely early in the morning. So peaceful! 

Camping at the beach! 

Camp ground In between Gulf of Mexico and  Pensacola Bay. White sand and clear waters. Had a blast! Blue Angels, dolphins, hermit crabs!

June 2024

Nice campground in a beautiful area on the Gulf Coast. However, if you don’t like the sound of fighter jets then this may not be for you as the campground is directly across from the Naval Air Station at Pensacola. The Blue Angels practice there most Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the air show season. This is a good spot to base out of to explore Pensacola Beach, Ft Pickens. Beautiful sand beaches. Showers, laundry, fire rings, tables, and trees for shade in the heat of the day.

Watch the Blue Angels!

I loved this place. The fort is so cool and the history of this place is fascinating. I like the campground, clean bathhouses, nice beaches and trails. The sites are a little bit close but not uncommon for national parks. Some are very short so check to make sure you are going to fit. They closely monitor the campsites to make sure that you are not extended past your site. 

Would definitely recommend and come back.  

History, Nature, Beautiful Beaches 

Level pavement sites. Stayed in C loop. Site are well spaced. Water and electricity at site. Dump station at entrance.