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!!