NPS · Gulf Islands National Seashore · Pensacola Beach, FL

Fort Pickens Campground

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.

The group site has its own page: Fort Pickens Group Campground.

More like this: electric hookups in Florida · reservable in Florida · big rigs in Florida · pets allowed in Florida · group sites in Florida

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Fort Pickens CampgroundLangdon BeachFort Pickens CrabGulf Islands National Seashore
Photos courtesy of NPS, Ranger Jessica · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric143
Standard, no hookups29
Tent-only13
tent only electric1
Group sites1
Host/management14
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 49 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

187 sites in 6 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
GRP1Group SiteGroupBack-in20GravelPartialNoNo / NoIsland40 / 12Yes
A001LOOP AElectricBack-in40PavedPartial20/30/50 ampYes / No8 / 2Yes
A002LOOP AElectricBack-in45PavedPartial20/30/50 ampYes / No8 / 2Yes
A003LOOP AElectricBack-in40Paved20/30/50 ampYes / No8 / 2Yes
A004LOOP ATent onlyBack-in37PavedPartialNoYes / No8 / 2Yes
A005LOOP AElectricBack-in30PavedPartial20/30/50 ampYes / No8 / 2Yes
A006LOOP AElectricBack-in46PavedPartial20/30/50 ampYes / No8 / 2Yes
A007LOOP AElectricBack-in44PavedPartial20/30/50 ampYes / No8 / 2Yes
A008LOOP AElectricBack-in47PavedPartial20/30/50 ampYes / No8 / 2Yes
A009LOOP AElectricBack-in42PavedPartial20/30/50 ampYes / No8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length49 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesCancellation and modification fees are non-refundable.
AccessibilitySites A013, A016, A036, B009 and 5 more are listed accessible

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.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Fort Pickens Campground50°60°70°80°90°January: 4.46 inches of precipitationFebruary: 4.04 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.85 inches of precipitationApril: 4.98 inches of precipitationMay: 3.21 inches of precipitationJune: 6.31 inches of precipitationJuly: 6.37 inches of precipitationAugust: 5.73 inches of precipitationSeptember: 6.77 inches of precipitationOctober: 4.26 inches of precipitationNovember: 3.82 inches of precipitationDecember: 3.85 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 51.6°F averageFebruary: 54.7°F averageMarch: 59.9°F averageApril: 66.0°F averageMay: 73.6°F averageJune: 79.6°F averageJuly: 81.6°F averageAugust: 81.2°F averageSeptember: 78.1°F averageOctober: 69.4°F averageNovember: 59.8°F averageDecember: 54.2°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Pensacola Forest Sherman Nas, 3 miles from the campground at 28 feet, station USW00003855 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 58 inches a year.

Getting there

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.

Nearest townPensacola Beach, Florida
Coordinates30.3228° N, 87.2742° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

Cancellation and modification fees are non-refundable.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗0.1 mi
RV sales & serviceCarpenter's Campers ↗13.5 mi
Outdoor gearMike's Gun Shop ↗13.8 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Fort Pickens Campground: Site by Site Tour and Review

Worth a stop

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.

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.

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.

Guidebooks for Florida

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Florida
    Johnny Molloy, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Florida
    Rick Sapp, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Florida Lighthouse Trail
    Thomas W. Taylor and Chris Belcher, 2020
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Fort Pickens Campground?

Sites at Fort Pickens Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Fort Pickens Campground?

Cancellation and modification fees are non-refundable.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Fort Pickens Campground?

Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Fort Pickens Campground have?

201 sites, including 143 standard sites with power, 29 standard sites without power, 13 tent-only sites, and 1 tent only electric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Fort Pickens Campground?

The longest site here provides 49 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Fort Pickens Campground have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Fort Pickens Campground?

Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station in each campground.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Fort Pickens Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Fort Pickens Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Fort Pickens Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Fort Pickens Campground?

Sites A013, A016, A036, and B009 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 9 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Fort Pickens Campground?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Fort Pickens Campground?

Many visitors young and old come to Fort Pickens to enjoy its scenic location on the beach. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation