Looking to go glamping near Jay and enjoy a rustic retreat into nature? The Dyrt lets you enjoy a unique, rustic Jay experience while glamping. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a site closer to all the action, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect glamping spot.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cancellation and modification fees are non-refundable.
$20 - $40 / night
Located right off I-10, a short drive from Pensacola and Navarre Beach, Splash RV Resort & Waterpark provides year-round family fun for locals, interstate travelers, and snowbirds alike. Luxury cottages, RV camping, covered wagons, lazy river, pools, and more - SPLASH combines the luxurious amenities of a top-tier resort with the fun & adventure of the best vacation spots in Florida!
Big Meadows Campground is near many of the major facilities and popular hiking trails in the Park, with three waterfalls and Big Meadows within walking distance.
Camping fee: $20 per night
Reservations: in early spring, Big Meadows Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis only. Beginning in early May, there are a combination of reserveable campsites and first-come, first-served sites available. Group sites are available and can be reserved up to one year in advance.
RV Information: features pull-through and deep back-in sites which can handle most RVs and a tow vehicle. No electric or water hookups. Campground has potable water spigots and a dump station.
Generators: use is limited to certain areas and times designated on campground map.
$20 / night
$15 - $24 / night
Adventures Unlimited Outdoor Center (AUOC) began with two canoes on top of a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass, then expanded to 30 canoes and a 1972 GMC three-quarter ton pickup (affectionately referred to as “Old Blue”). The Blackwater River State Park was the main point of debarkation and phones were answered from the Sanborn family residence in Bagdad, Florida. In 1978, the original Tomahawk Landing was purchased on the Santa Rosa County courthouse steps. It started out as one building and over the years developed into a complete lodging and water recreation resort. By 1982, Adventures Unlimited began adding lodging to further expand its services. Currently there are three rustic camping cabins, the School House Inn (with 8 separate rooms), 18 furnished cottages/cabins (which includes our unique tree house, the Lorax Loft, added in 2013 and Katie’s Kaboose, added in 2016). Two rustic camping cabins and six cottages are designated as “pet friendly.” In the summer of 1994, the Adventures Unlimited Low and High Challenge Courses were completed. Since then, Adventures Unlimited has been the site for retreats of all kinds – schools, military, churches, non-profits, sports teams, corporations, scouts and many others – utilizing the challenges presented by these courses, lead AUOC to become one of the premiere courses in the Southeastern United States. In 2010, we proudly unveiled the Zip Adventures Canopy Tour, where adventure seekers can soar through the glorious tree tops of Northwest Florida and over Coldwater Creek on nearly a mile of zip lines, some as high as 65′ in the air. These programs and activities complement our fleet of 250 canoes, 100 kayaks, 500 tubes and 10 stand-up paddle boards for aquatic enjoyment. Adventures Unlimited also has nearly 100 acres on its Wilderness Resort location campgrounds for groups and individuals, a catering facility, group retreat cabins (which holds up to 70 people), private cabins, a playground, a nature trail, sports fields and a volleyball court. Adventures Unlimited continues to expand to meet the needs of all of our guests – families, honeymooners, friends and many more! If there is anything Adventures Unlimited can do to meet your specific requests, please let us know! Your input is essential to the growth and development of Adventures Unlimited Outdoor Center, and has helped to make our resort what it is today.
$30 - $40 / night
Navarre Beach Camping Resort is Northwest Florida’s “best-kept vacation secret.” With beautiful unspoiled white sandy beaches and emerald-colored water. We are just 45 miles east of Perdido Key between Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach off Hwy 98. Enjoy our private beach on the Santa Rosa Sound or drive to the Gulf Beaches just 5 minutes away. We offer quality RVing at a highly rated 9/10/10 Good Sam park. We feature waterfront sites on Santa Rosa Sound, a pier, heated pool, hot tub, beach, spacious pull-thru sites with patios, 50-amp service, free cable TV, shaded paved roads, sparkling clean restrooms, and limited access gate.
Scout
Really expensive for anything other than an RV reservation. Facilities are nice, and there’s lots of amenities. Wouldn’t recommend if you’re actually trying to get away, but good for glamping.
Traveler
The retreat offers several amenities including showers, laundromat, and gas grills. There are even bouncy houses and playgrounds for the kids.
It's located on the river and they have a pet beach separate so even your dogs can enjoy the water.
The camp manager is nice and very helpful. They are definitely a great asset.
Full service hookups are currently limited as they work on an expansion, but they do have plenty of water/power hookups both off and on the river. There's also a cabin, glamping tents, and a tiny house. There are plenty of shaded spots.
There are a few long term residents who are friendly and welcoming.
I definitely recommend this campground for a fun, relaxing stay.
Guide
We enjoyed our stay here and will be back for future Florida stays. Great staff. Pool was nice! Great little putt putt area for kids. Spots are good sized, although we had a premium spot for the patio & grill.
GuideStayed here for one night. We were driving from California to Tampa Florida so we just used it as a stopping place but the lots are big and it was easy to get in and out of. We were a little over 70ft long and it was a breeze.
Traveler
This might be my favorite place to camp in all of florida. The campgrounds are clean , quiet and steps from the beach. Great hot showers that are cleaned daily. A visit to the fort is a must. We moved from campsite to campsite to extend our stay. No bugs and always a breeze.
LegendFort 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.
RangerThe 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 and follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram or on our YouTube Channel at Unnamed Adventures.
LegendGot 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.
Traveler
I’ll start out from the beginning of my experience in a nut shell. On the way to Florida from NE Alabama we experienced our first blow out. Sat on the interstate for 2 hours. Get to our first camp ground and can’t get to an open restaurant and there’s no stores with groceries due to panic buying during hurricane sally. Made do with meatless spaghetti. Woke up the next morning to the camp ground flooded and mostly evacuation. Pulled out of there and ended up staying at a hotel. On our way home we had a second blow out less than 30 minutes after getting on the road. My husband decides that we are going to find somewhere to stay and replace all tires before trying to continue home. I called the lovely folks at oaks family campground and they kindly took us in with no more than a 10 minute notice. They made a point to come speak to us while we set up. Didn’t worry us with payment and check in until we were settled. Gave us directions to the near by Walmart and tire stores. The grounds themselves are simply perfect. Not a piece of grass out of place. It is very quiet and off the main road but close enough to town. Clean well functioning amenities. The concrete pads and wide sites make for an easy set up for any level camper. 10/10 recommend this campground and would give it more stars if possible. Happy camping!
GuideWe 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!
GuideThis 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!!
LegendCampground Review:
Fort Pickens Campground 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 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, the Pensacola Bay Brewery, and the Naval Aviation Museum (which is free), the Pensacola Lighthouse, 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 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 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:
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 for my video review.
Legend
Nice for a romantic getaway or for families. Lots to do. Little farm area with chickens and trials to hike. Stuff on-site is amazing. They even have a tree house you can rent out!
ScoutParked in a clearing with 2 5th wheel renters on it...walked back into the woods along a trail and chose one of several camp clearings. Level ground, dry, lots of deer. We will return!!
Scout
This camp ground is a must consider for those seeking adventure...as the name implies!
GuideI have been going here since I was a little boy and was finally able to take my wife to camp here. I love this place. The road to the damp grounds are very sandy and iffy when it rains. The camp site itself is nice and private. The bath house needs cleaning from the roaches and spiders. It also has a small playground. The canoe trip is a must!!
Legend
Ashley here with The Dyrt It was so good to get to know Sarah while we added her listing to our platform. The thoughtfulness put into the amenities offered shows that Sarah wants you to enjoy your stay. Offering a fire-pit and porta-toilet, as well as linens and minimal kitchen equipment, you don't need much. Close to the city but situated in a forest. Give them some love, book your stay, and leave a review!
GuideAmenities you would expect from KOA. Wifi better than avg. Bathrooms private and clean. Good pressure and hot water. Att signal good. Con: Close to interstate and road noise loud, even inside RV. Staff great. Large sites. Didn't feel like I was packed in like a sardine.
ScoutLarge lots, bingo , karaoke, free coffee,
ScoutNice campground right off I-10.
TravelerA basic, safe campground. The staff was very, very friendly, which is a plus. Nice touches of art around the space.
From our perspective, perhaps not worth what they were charging on the day we stayed-- in the $80 range. Lots of road noise off of the 10, because of the trucks passing through, which made it hard to sleep.
Next door, there were some friendly goats.
TravelerEasy on/off of I-10. Friendly, helpful staff. Plenty of pull throughs. Some pads are dirt, some gravel, some concrete. They appear to be adding gravel to un-occupied sites. The camp rules (cloth lines, pet pens) are clearly not enforced
ScoutWe camped here over Memorial weekend and we had a great time. Staff was very helpful and friendly. The campground store came in handy on more than one occasion.We had a lot of fun playing putt putt and swimming in the pool.
ScoutMy 2 sons and I stayed one night....staff is very friendly....large lots make it easy for any size....we were on our motorcycles and were wanting to hammock camp....the staff was very helpful in finding us a suitable site....very large pool to cool off....only drawback was a dirt track a few miles away that was racing....we will be back :)
ScoutVery friendly staff in this KOA campground about 30 minutes from Navarre Beach. Nice large pool and clean bathhouses. Entire campground was very clean and kept up well. Sites are pretty close together and some of the amenities like the mini golf course need to be updated. I would also suggest that, being a KOA affiliated camp, there should be more organized activities for the kids. When we stayed, I was told that many of the campers were military waiting on base housing to open so not as many kids as normal and we were in the second stage of reopening after the virus so that may have been a part of the lack of activities. Close enough to Milton and Pace to allow for some extra activities, though. Overall, it was a good place for us to try out our new camper and we had a good week.
ScoutVery nice quiet campgrounds! Quiet and well kept!
GuideDid an overnight pit stop only. Conveniently located of the freeway, yet quiet. Fenced in dog yard. The staff is super helpful and friendly!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Jay, FL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Jay, FL is Fort Pickens Campground — Gulf Islands National Seashore with a 4.6-star rating from 95 reviews.
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