Pensacola Beach

Pensacola Beach is an unincorporated community in West Florida on Santa Rosa Island, a 40-mile barrier island. Anchored at the western tip of Florida, it stretches along the Gulf of Mexico. You can choose from busy lifeguarded beaches, or the quiet, secluded beaches of Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Understand
Pensacola Beach is an independent community from its neighbor, Pensacola. It is unincorporated and administered by Escambia County. The eight and one-quarter square miles of land that comprise Pensacola Beach used to be owned by the United States Department of the Interior, but was deeded to Escambia County in 1947, on the condition that the land would never be sold. As a result, there are no property owners in the community, only long-term leaseholders. There is some antipathy between mainland residents and Pensacola Beach leaseholders over tax issues related to the unique situation. During the city of Pensacola's early history, Native American attacks forced the fledgling settlement to relocate from the mainland to Pensacola Beach, near modern day Fort Pickens, in 1722. Although this protected the settlers from attack, it left them highly exposed to hurricanes, which eventually forced them back to the mainland in 1752.

Most of Pensacola Beach and Santa Rosa Island's modern history began with Fort Pickens, completed in 1834 and used continually until after World War II. In 1971, the coastal land east and west of the community, still owned by the United States government, was designated part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Climate
While generally cooler than most of peninsular Florida, Pensacola Beach maintains a more stable temperature year round than inland areas of Pensacola and Escambia County. As such, winter lows are several degrees warmer than Pensacola proper and summer highs are generally cooler as a result of the surrounding waters. As with many islands, Pensacola Beach enjoys sea breezes which begin around noon and end around sunset in the summer. The average temperature ranges from 48 °F (9 °C) in January to 89 °F (32 °C) in July.

Pensacola Beach is vulnerable to hurricanes. Landfalling storms have been known to drive storm surge over the island, damaging or destroying man-made structures and causing beach erosion.

By plane
Pensacola International Airport is 10 miles north of Pensacola Beach and is served by six airlines.

By car
From Pensacola, take the Pensacola Bay Bridge to Gulf Breeze, and turn right at the giant Pensacola Beach swordfish sign, seen in the photo above. There's a small toll of $1 to enter the community.

From Navarre Beach and points east, follow Hwy 98 to Gulf Breeze, then take the onramp to Pensacola Beach Rd.

J. Earle Bowden Way is a scenic beach road that connects Pensacola Beach with Navarre Beach. It's a backdoor route into Pensacola Beach, with no toll. The speed limit is restricted to 35 mph, and the road quality is poor.

By bicycle
Some hotels on the island offer bicycle rentals for their guests, but if you're not staying on the island, you'll have to bring your own bike. If you're taking the ECAT bus to the island, you can bring your bike on one of their bicycle racks. A bicycle is a great way to get around the island quickly while still taking time to see the sights and enjoy the sun. And if you get tired of cycling around, the free beach trolleys on the island are equipped with bike racks, so you can give your legs a rest. For visitors to Fort Pickens, a bicycle is the next-best option to renting a boat; you can ride most of the seven miles to the fort along the broken road, although there is a half-mile of sand you'll have to walk across.

By boat
Pensacola Beach is easy to explore by boat. Boat rentals are available on the island, or from Pensacola and Gulf Breeze, and you have a wide variety of craft to choose from. Kayaks, parasails, motorboats, sailboats, yachts, pontoon boats and waverunners are all available for rent. If you own your own boat, there are plenty of marinas and docks around the island, which offer short-term, overnight, and long-term mooring. Your hotel, if you're staying at the island, might even pick up the tab. From Pensacola Beach, it's just a short boat ride to the cities of Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, or Navarre. Just remember, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office does have police boats patrolling the water, and they won't hesitate to pull you over for unsafe boating. Drinking while boating is a big no-no here, and there is a zero tolerance policy for violators.

If you don't have the skill or the will to captain your own boat, you can charter a boat. This can be expensive, running up to $200 an hour, but it's a great way to deep sea fish or scuba dive. Due to the closing of Fort Pickens Road, many boat captains are offering reduced rates for visitors to Fort Pickens; these usually start around $25 a person. Some of the more expensive resorts on the island offer complimentary boat taxis, which will take you to the popular beaches, the boardwalk, or across Santa Rosa Sound to golf resorts in Gulf Breeze.

By car
Santa Rosa Island is a narrow, elongated island. The two main roads, which run along the island's length, are Fort Pickens Road and Via de Luna Drive.

Parking lots are available all over the island, and parking is free and plentiful. However, on exceptionally busy weekends, the main parking lot for the Portofino Boardwalk and Casino Beach may fill up. There's usually alternate parking available at the hotels or restaurants. Resist the urge to park along the side of the road; the fine sand on the beaches can easily ensnare cars. There is no vehicle access to Fort Pickens or Opal Beach. There's a parking lot just outside the entrance gates, but if you want to any further, you'll have to hoof it, or find another way.

By foot
Most of the attractions of Pensacola Beach can be visited by foot, and Casino Beach is conveniently close to all the major restaurants, shopping, hotels, and the Portofino Boardwalk. Sidewalks are available on most (but because of storm damage, not all) of the island.

By trolley
Although bus service to and from Pensacola Beach requires a $2.35 ticket, trolley service on Pensacola Beach is free! The service travels from the Portofino Boardwalk to all major hotels and resorts on the island. Just look for the brightly colored trolleys, which run from May 16 to Labor Day. F 5PM-midnight, Sa noon-midnight, Su 5PM-10PM, closed M-Th.

See

 * The Island Cross, on the south side of Fort Pickens Road, is probably the strangest site to see here. Built in 1959 by the Knights of Columbus to honor the quadricentennial of the discovery of Pensacola, the 10-foot concrete cross and the sand dune on which it stands have been batted repeatedly by hurricanes, all without even the slightest scratch! Perhaps it's the will of God?
 * The Island Cross, on the south side of Fort Pickens Road, is probably the strangest site to see here. Built in 1959 by the Knights of Columbus to honor the quadricentennial of the discovery of Pensacola, the 10-foot concrete cross and the sand dune on which it stands have been batted repeatedly by hurricanes, all without even the slightest scratch! Perhaps it's the will of God?

Beaches
In the community of Pensacola Beach, there are quite a few stretches of shoreline to choose from, depending on your tastes. Just a short drive takes you from a rowdy party beach, to a calm kid-friendly one, to sand-dune protected solitude. The most popular beaches are on the south side of the island, facing the Gulf of Mexico, usually called Gulfside; these beaches have powdery white sand, clean water, and moderate waves, but there is a danger of rip tides and marine life. The north side faces Santa Rosa Sound, and is called Soundside; there are few waves here, and no rip current, but the sand isn't as nice, and the water is more polluted due to boats and runoff.
 * Walking the shoreline further to the west will lead you into Gulf Islands National Seashore property. Beware of nesting bird areas and stay out of those areas. However, the shoreline is not otherwise closed to visitors.
 * Walking the shoreline further to the west will lead you into Gulf Islands National Seashore property. Beware of nesting bird areas and stay out of those areas. However, the shoreline is not otherwise closed to visitors.
 * Walking the shoreline further to the west will lead you into Gulf Islands National Seashore property. Beware of nesting bird areas and stay out of those areas. However, the shoreline is not otherwise closed to visitors.
 * Walking the shoreline further to the west will lead you into Gulf Islands National Seashore property. Beware of nesting bird areas and stay out of those areas. However, the shoreline is not otherwise closed to visitors.

Work
If you're a professional swimmer, and plan to be in or near Pensacola Beach for the summer, why not try being a lifeguard? The large numbers of families that visit, and a desire for the beach to have a safe reputation, mean that large numbers of lifeguards are needed to patrol the sand and surf. The lifeguards begin work in April and work through October; they're especially needed from mid-August onwards, when many lifeguards quit to return to school. Contact the Public Safety Department of the Santa Rosa Island Authority for more information, +1 850-554-4296.

Otherwise, there are numerous restaurants, bars, small shops, and hotels that need workers, especially during the busy tourist season. Not many young people live on the island, so they're often looking for help, which usually means college students from the mainland. The best time to find work is at August, when students go back to school.

Gulf Islands National Seashore, run by the National Park Service, is always looking for park volunteers. Volunteers can lead tours, watch birds, paint cannons, and guard sea turtle nests, or can have less glamorous jobs, like litter patrol and answering phones. The Park Service relies on volunteers, so if you have the will to help, try it!

Eat
Pensacola Beach has avoided the glut of fast food restaurants that most of northwest Florida is known for. Food on the island is more expensive than on the mainland, and since they cater to tourists, the food generally isn't authentic, but there are still some good eating options.

Sleep
Accommodations in Pensacola Beach come in two types: budget hotels/motels and luxury condominiums. Best of all, every place has a nice view of the beach.

Condominiums
Vacationing in a condominium is like renting a luxury apartment for a short period of time. The prices can be breathtakingly high, but if you have the money, there's no more luxurious way to visit Pensacola Beach. Condominiums can be rented for stays as short as three days, and with the realty market crashing in the United States, most condominium complexes have available rooms.



Stay safe
The beaches at Pensacola are a popular draw for visitors, but tragically, many swimmers get killed in drowning accidents. In the early 2000s, Pensacola Beach was notorious for being incredibly unsafe. Now that dozens more lifeguards have been hired, and new safety measures put in place, it's one of the safest beaches in the state. Still, following a few safety tips can keep you safe in case something goes wrong.

Lifeguards are the best way to stay safe on the island. Four beaches on the island are staffed with lifeguards: Casino Beach, Quietwater Beach, Park East, and Chickenbone Beach. Lifeguards are on duty seven days a week from 9:30AM to 6PM from June through August, and are on part-time duty from mid-April to mid-October. During part-time duty, Park East and Chickenbone Beach may not be guarded. If an emergency happens on the beach where there are no lifeguards, call 911 for help.

Rip tides are powerful currents that occur when water trapped near the shoreline escapes back into the ocean through a break in an underwater sandbar. They can drag even powerful swimmers out to sea for a very long distance. To escape a rip tide, do not panic! If you are near a lifeguard station, you can wave your arms and shout for help. Wait until the rip tide is no longer carrying you out further from land, then swim parallel to the shoreline to escape the current. Then, you can swim back towards shore. To avoid rip tides, don't swim between the shoreline and underwater sand bars, don't swim during low tide, and pay attention to the color-coded flags.

At all lifeguard stations, color-coded flags are flown that tell how safe the water is for swimming. If no flags are flying, then there are no lifeguards on that section of the beach.

Sunburn and dehydration are the most common ailments at the beach. Although it's tempting to skip the sunscreen, even if you have tanned skin, it's a bad idea in Florida summer. The white sand that draws visitors here also reflects the UV rays from the sun, and unprotected skin will burn quickly. Bring plenty of fresh water or hydrating beverages to the beach (no, Bushwhackers don't count) and a bottle of high-SPF, water-resistant sunscreen. If you really need a tan, try using a medium-SPF sunscreen that you reapply regularly; tanning low and slow is better than a quick pan-fry that leaves you looking like a lobster. UV-resistant sunglasses, hats with broad brims, umbrellas, and UV-protective clothing are also good to have.

Go next
Gulf Breeze is an upscale community located on the Fairpoint Peninsula, north of Pensacola Beach, home to the Naval Live Oaks Reservation. While driving through, beware the speed limit; the police here are notorious for targeting tourists, and will ticket you for driving even a single mile per hour over the speed limit.

Navarre is another beach city east of Pensacola Beach, on Santa Rosa Island.

Pensacola is a historic city, just across the bay from Pensacola Beach, with shopping, museums, restaurants, and traditional Southern hospitality.