Ft Pickens NSS - Gulf Breeze, FL

FORT PICKENS

RUN BY: Gulf Island National Sea Shore (NPS)

LOCATION: Gulf Breeze, FL

UTILITIES: Water and Electricity (30-50A)

COST: $26  

OUR RATING (1-5): I-4

NOTES:  If you are looking for a great place to combine camping, beaches, and history, this is the place for you.  The park is on a long barrier island that has historically been a defensive position for the naval yards at Pensacola. The naval airfield is the home of the famous Blue Angels and you will likely see them practice if you are there on a Thursday morning. We had been snorkeling when they started and sat in the water watching them right over-head. The beaches are beautiful.  Ft Pickens was built around 1837 and was used through World War II.  There are historic guided tours as well as self-guided. Large gun emplacements are all along the island from WWI and II.  It is typical Florida weather, which is far from our favorite, but if you have to put up with the heat and humidity this is a lovely place to do it. You can ride bikes for miles and there is also a nice nature trail.  Kayaking and boating is good on the bay-side. Beaches are magnificent on the gulf-side.  Fishing is limited to a specific fishing dock unless you are a Florida resident. 

(I apologize for no pictures. I used a "real" camera when I was there and haven't transferred the pictures to this computer. I'll try to rectify that asap.)

Environment:  Very open. No shade. Sandy.  We were here in October and it was still hot and humid, but you are on a barrier island.  It has that rugged coastal appearance.  It also suffered a hurricane a few years ago which is why there are almost no trees in the campground. 

Amenities:  There is a camp store nearby.  There are bath-houses 

Phone Service:  Verizon was available 

Location: about 7-10 miles from Gulf Breeze, FL which is right by Pensacola. 

Camping Population:  NPS has a stay limit.  

Sites:  hard surface. Plenty of room - not too close to neighbors.  Sandy with no trees. 

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RATING KEY: category - score

Categories:
I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

II - boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

one might choose to stay for more than a night.

III - over-night areas

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service