Established Camping
Fort Pickens Campground — Gulf Islands National Seashore
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
All Fort Pickens campsites are available to book up to 6 months in advance with 24 hour booking window. First-come, first-served sites may occasionally be available for visitors who arrive at the campground before 5:00 pm.
About
National Park Service
Gulf Islands National Seashore
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 & 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 & Cancellations
Cancellation and modification fees are non-refundable.
Reservation Info
Fort Pickens Campground facility is open during the following season(s):
-September 03, 2019 – December 31, 2019 (Non-Peak Season)
-January 01, 2020 – February 29, 2020 (Non-Peak Season)
-March 01, 2020 – September 07, 2020 (Peak Season)
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Stay Connected
- WiFiPoor
- VerizonGood
- AT&TGood
- T-MobileGood
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Cabins
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Market
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- WiFi
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Nice Location w Some Nice sites
Fort Pickens CG: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 3.5. Most of the campsites do not offer much privacy. Bathrooms and showers look to be poorly cleaned.
Price 2023: $ 20 w interagency pass
Security: Gate w code.
Usage during visit: 90% over the weekend.
Site Privacy: Open sites
Site Spacing: Close
Site surface: Blacktop
Reservations: Required
Campground Noise: Not bad
Road Noise: None
Through Traffic in campground: There can be a little traffic for bayside beach access.
Electric Hookup: Yes
Sewer Hookup: No
Dump Station: Yes. There is one in A Loop . There is also one at the entrance to B,C,D,E Loops
Potable Water Available: At sites
Bathroom: Flush toilets. Unfortunately, the men’s bathrooms have very small seats. Bathrooms seem sanitary, but there is a lot of grime.
Showers: Private. Not all doors lock. They need to be more thoroughly clean.
Cell Service (AT&T): 1-2 bas.
Setting: Open surrounded by dense forest and saw grass prairie.
Recent Weather: Cloudy and dreary w a front moving in.
Host: Yes
Rig Size: Large rigs
Sites: In my opinion A Loop is the best of loops. It is smaller and sits by itself.
Outside sites which have a little extra to offer: C35,C39,C45,A4,A27,A29,A30,A34,A37,
Nicer inside sites: E 14, E 13, E11 E9, E7,
C24, C 22, C 21 , C20, A 24, A26,
Nice Park
Level pavement sites. Stayed in C loop. Site are well spaced. Water and electricity at site. Dump station at entrance.
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Location
Fort Pickens Campground — Gulf Islands National Seashore is located in Florida
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.
Address
1400 FORT PICKENS ROAD
Pensacola beach, FL 32561
Coordinates
30.3227778 N
87.2741667 W