Fort Pickens Campground
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Write a Review 1400 Fort Pickens Rd. Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 850-934-2622 Reservations: 877-444-6777 Official WebsiteGPS: 30.318, -87.2557
Overview of Fort Pickens Campground
Park entrance fee is not included in campsite fee. Most sites have height, length, and slide restrictions, please consult the recreation.gov listing for details of each site. Some campsites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 42 ft. max in length.
Last Price Paid: $40
Reported by Joe on 9/24/2024
Longest RV Reported: 39 feet (Class A)
Reported by davidlgood on 1/4/2018
Number of Sites 220
Pad Type asphalt
Reservations yes
Elevation 0 ft / 0 m
Max Stay 14
Max Length 32 ft
Tent Camping Yes
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Q&A - Ask the Community about Fort Pickens Campground
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 850-934-2622
a60dan asked on 3/29/2024
Dog’s aren’t allowed on either beach.
Ours can’t be left alone and we usually switch off with one person waiting ...
Duner733 asked on 12/30/2022
I see they have a dump station. Is there any mobile service that will come in and service the tanks for a fee? We w...
LDoone asked on 8/4/2022
$40 for a site PLUS $25 entrance fee means a 1 night site rental of $65, or did I misunderstand the website?
Zoocosmo asked on 12/26/2021
Are they allowing 41' 5th wheels to be dropped at camp sites? We stayed there last year with our 41' and the same sit...
Erin asked on 12/9/2021
Are there any road closures (Highway 399 or Fort Pickens road for example) that are currently closed? I'm seeing some...
Reviews of Fort Pickens Campground 76 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 41 Users
Last reported 4/20/2024
Confirmed by 29 Users
Last reported 9/24/2024
Confirmed by 6 Users
Last reported 4/20/2024
“Great park, C loop is clean and quiet. Just a little far off the mainland”
Reviewed 1/26/2020
| Nightly rate: | $20 |
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| Days stayed: | 4 |
| Site Number: | C36 |
Overall Rating
Great campground spots are mostly level and water and electric are safe. Loved riding my bike all over the place. Several places to pull-off your care to see the pristine Gulf with that wonderfully soft powdery-soft sand. I was in C loop, it was very quiet, close trash dumpsters and small laundry that took quarters. It was a nice stay... more
Great campground spots are mostly level and water and electric are safe. Loved riding my bike all over the place. Several places to pull-off your care to see the pristine Gulf with that wonderfully soft powdery-soft sand. I was in C loop, it was very quiet, close trash dumpsters and small laundry that took quarters. It was a nice stay. The grounds were well maintained and no low branches.
The campground is not too far from Pensacola Beach for necessities or just great seafood. My only complaint is that the park is just sooo far from the mainland (Pensacola Beach). At the posted speed limit it can take 15 minutes just to get out of the park.
I would stay here again.
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Verizon 4G
Lisa's RV Experience would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“I would stay at Fort Pickens again but only in Loop A and/or not go on a holiday weekend. ”
Reviewed 1/18/2020
| Nightly rate: | $24 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 4 |
| Site Number: | C041 and A002 |
| RV Length: | 22' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
We stayed at Fort Pickens 10/12-10/16 2019 over Columbus Day weekend. We had to split our reservation between loop C and A. It's an extremely popular campground with families. Loops B,C,D,E are like one big, busy, flat playground/party area which is great for families and groups. The sites are very close and provide no privacy whats... more
We stayed at Fort Pickens 10/12-10/16 2019 over Columbus Day weekend. We had to split our reservation between loop C and A. It's an extremely popular campground with families. Loops B,C,D,E are like one big, busy, flat playground/party area which is great for families and groups. The sites are very close and provide no privacy whatsoever. Loop A is quieter, the sites are spaced better and the beach boardwalk is directly across the street. The roads in all the loops are not big-rig friendly. On the other hand, the beach was beautiful and uncrowded! The boardwalks from the road to the sand are very nice, level and well-kept. The beach is clean and sandy.
LaurieJoP would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Energizing ”
Reviewed 1/17/2020
| Nightly rate: | $40 |
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| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | A10 |
Overall Rating
Loved this location. Lots of hiking and beach walks. Plan to come again.
Only down side is no sewer.
Had great cell coverage 4G LTE but trying to use as hotspot was extremely slow I guess with everyone in the campground trying to use was slow.
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BriansSong would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Loop A for the win! ”
Reviewed 1/6/2020
| Nightly rate: | $40 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 11 |
| Site Number: | A4 |
| RV Length: | 25' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
Campground Loop A is the most popular, and for good reason. The sites are nicely spaced out, and many are nestled between and under oak trees. The sites on the outer part of the loop are the most private, but even sites on the inside of the loop have better spacing and privacy than anything in loops B, D, C and E. That being said, thos... more
Campground Loop A is the most popular, and for good reason. The sites are nicely spaced out, and many are nestled between and under oak trees. The sites on the outer part of the loop are the most private, but even sites on the inside of the loop have better spacing and privacy than anything in loops B, D, C and E. That being said, those charming oak trees do overhang some of the sites, so pay attention to the notes about each site on recreation.gov. Our clearance is only 10 feet so we would have had no issue with any of the sites, but we saw several Class As and fifth wheels make futile attempts to get into some of the sites with trees, only to give up and ask the rangers for a different spot. Site lengths are also quite variable, so again pay attention when booking. There is a beach access directly across the main drive from Loop A and when the surf was up we could hear it inside our rig.
The RV sites in loops C and E are all much easier to get into, with no overhanging trees, but the sites are also close together with only sod in between and backins are situated back-to-back. The privacy situation is not good, and many sites are also fairly short in those loops. It seemed that a large percentage of campers with larger rigs had to park their tow vehicles in overflow parking. Loops B and D are dry camping and restricted to tents, popups, and small Class Cs, and while there are some more trees in that area the sites still lack privacy. I would rate Loop A as five star camping, and the other loops as no more than four stars because of the closeness of the sites and small sites.
That being said, any campsite in a national park with water and electric, and with access to a bathhouse with actual free hot showers, is an exceptional thing. We have camped in dozens of national parks and have found they typically have only dry camping and rarely have showers, and if showers exist they are a paid concession. There are even a few laundry machines here in the bathhouse, which is a nice touch. So the camping amenities are top notch for a national park.
Of course the main attraction here is the beach, and it does not disappoint. The white sugar sand and crystal clear water were just gorgeous, and we enjoyed seeing sunrises and sunsets over the beach and watching the wildlife. The inland part of the island features the northernmost section of the Florida National Scenic Trail, and it's an easy 2-mile hike from loop A to Fort Pickens at the western end of the island. The interpretive center in the white and green buildings at the fort is really well done and the fort is interesting to explore -- be sure to get the free brochure at the bookstore that explains the history of the fort and all the numbered signs on the walls.
The location of the park is at the end of a long barrier island, so heading into town for groceries or restaurants does take a while. The best shopping options for groceries and gas are in the town of Gulf Breezes which requires traveling over the toll bridge ($1) but it's easier than heading all the way into Pensacola across the long causeway.
There are numerous over the air TV stations including all the networks. Cell service in AT&T was only 1 bar LTE but the signal was strong enough to stream and FaceTime with no issues. Speeds on AT&T: Download 9.16 Mbps Upload 0.33 Mbps.
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Zamia Ventures would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great Place”
Reviewed 12/14/2019
| Nightly rate: | $20 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 14 |
| Site Number: | C35 |
| RV Length: | 28' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
We had an incredibly relaxing stay here. The site was fairly level and we had electric and water. The 30 amp electric did not work well. my plug kept slipping out. I had a 50 amp connector and that worked fine. The showers were a bit older but they were kept pretty clean. The water was hot. The beaches here are very nice. Fine sugary w... more
We had an incredibly relaxing stay here. The site was fairly level and we had electric and water. The 30 amp electric did not work well. my plug kept slipping out. I had a 50 amp connector and that worked fine. The showers were a bit older but they were kept pretty clean. The water was hot. The beaches here are very nice. Fine sugary white sand and at this time of year nobody on it. Plenty of places to fish. It was a great way to spend a few hours, sitting on the beach watching dolphins swim by and watching the Blue Angles fly overhead while fishing. We went on a few drives and explored the area from Perdido Key to Destin. There is an old fort just past the campground loop and it is worth checking out. We wanted to go to the Navy museum at NAS Pensacola but the base was shut down because of the shooting. We will definitely be back here and hope to explore more areas on the Panhandle
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Paul & Gin would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Good Campground Experience”
Reviewed 11/6/2019
| Nightly rate: | $20 |
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| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | A37 |
| RV Length: | 18' (Class B) |
Overall Rating
Was worth the $20/night rate with my Senior Pass. Loop A is a quarter mile boardwalk to the beach. Like all National Seashores beautiful well maintained beaches. Bathrooms were okay and asphalt site was pretty level. Do include a tour of Fort Pickens it's a short drive or bike ride from the campground. Only down side for me is that d... more
Was worth the $20/night rate with my Senior Pass. Loop A is a quarter mile boardwalk to the beach. Like all National Seashores beautiful well maintained beaches. Bathrooms were okay and asphalt site was pretty level. Do include a tour of Fort Pickens it's a short drive or bike ride from the campground. Only down side for me is that dogs are not allowed on the beach! We went to the Pensacola dog beach but wish the NPS would rescind this restriction.
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Gail would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great Beaches and hiking”
Reviewed 8/15/2019
| Nightly rate: | $40 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 3 |
| Site Number: | E20 |
Overall Rating
This time of the year (mid August) the temps are mid 80's to upper 90's. The area has daily sea breezes that make the temps comfortable. The campground has both electric/water and dry sites. The the bathroom/shower facilities are clean and there is also a dish/pot cleaning station. The campground has 137 electric/water sites and 41... more
This time of the year (mid August) the temps are mid 80's to upper 90's. The area has daily sea breezes that make the temps comfortable. The campground has both electric/water and dry sites. The the bathroom/shower facilities are clean and there is also a dish/pot cleaning station. The campground has 137 electric/water sites and 41 dry sites. It is also reservation only, no first come first serve. It is a short walk to the beach on Gulf of Mexico and to the beach on the bay side. The park entrance gates are closed at sunset so late arrive requires a phone call to campground office for gate code. Cell serive is very good.
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DCSeeds would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great beach walking, ok camping, ok facilities”
Reviewed 3/30/2019
| Nightly rate: | $40 |
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| Days stayed: | 3 |
| Site Number: | 47 |
Overall Rating
Have stayed here twice in last several years. The campground is a typical NPS campground, underfunded, barely kept up, well used, but decent overall. With a Annual pass its a good value. The best feature are the beaches, both the Gulf and bay side offer miles of clean beaches, with several areas for parking and toilets.
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Verizon 4G
Brimflop would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Excellent Gulf Beach Camping”
Reviewed 3/26/2019
| Nightly rate: | $20 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 14 |
| Site Number: | 12 |
| RV Length: | 36' (Fifth Wheel) |
Overall Rating
Biking, hiking, beach, history—a stay at Fort Pickens Campground has it all. AT&T cellular service clocked in at 4.50 Mbps download speed and 2.09 upload speed. Verizon cell service clocked in at 6.23 download speed and 4.45 Mbps upload speed.
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LivingOurDreamNow would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great beach access and fort. So, so campground.”
Reviewed 3/23/2019
| Nightly rate: | $20 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 3 |
| Site Number: | C048 |
| RV Length: | 32' (Class A) |
Overall Rating
This is a hard campground to rate, especially since we paid only $20/night with our national parks pass. First, the plusses: the campsites are walking/bike riding distance to the beach with its white sand and clear water. On the other side of the campground is Pensacola Bay where you can see the Naval Air Station and Fort Barrancas.... more
This is a hard campground to rate, especially since we paid only $20/night with our national parks pass. First, the plusses: the campsites are walking/bike riding distance to the beach with its white sand and clear water. On the other side of the campground is Pensacola Bay where you can see the Naval Air Station and Fort Barrancas. It is a short (1 mile or so) bike ride to the fort which had a lot to explore with it's mix of old and new. The 50 amp electricity and water were fine. There is a dump station as you exit the campground.
The negatives: The roads inside the campground are very narrow and many of the sites are quite short. Our site was listed as 33 feet and our 32 foot class A fit in it just fine. There wasn't much room for a tow car except in the close-by overflow parking. Some campers don't use the overflow parking and their vehicles encroach on the already narrow road.
There isn't much room between many of the sites and if there was a tent camper next to you, they were likely to be right under your window.
Verizon with a booster was fine for phone calls/email/etc., but not adequate for streaming video much of the time.
3 nights allowed us plenty of time to see everything around the fort/campground/beach area. At $20/night it was worth it, but if we had to pay full price, I would stay at Gulf Shores State Park and visit the fort for the day.
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tacksonthedeck would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Page 6 of 8
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Amenities
Hookups
- 50 Amp
- 30 Amp
- 20 Amp
- water
- dry camping
- Partial Hookups
Recreation
- fishing
- picnic area
- recreation trail
- swimming beach
- water access
Site Amenities
- big rig
- fire ring
- picnic table
Facilities
- dump station
- general store
- laundry
- recycle
- restrooms: flush
- showers
- trash
- water available
Discount Clubs
- Senior Discounts
Pets
- pets
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