Pensacola Florida beaches are among the most amazing pieces of paradise in the country. If you want some time alone to soak up the sun and enjoy the pristine and emerald green waters of the gulf coast, you can find it there.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for fun activities to keep you and your family busy, Pensacola Florida beaches offer both the laid-back style that some beachgoers seek and the entertainment that most families want in their vacation.
Here are 15 stunning beaches around Pensacola Florida:
- Pensacola Beach
- Gulf Islands National Seashore
- Opal Beach
- Dog Park West
- Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier
- Perdido Key Beach
- Navarre Beach
- Big Lagoon State Park
- Casino Beach Park
- Langdon Beach
- Quietwater Beach
- Johnson Beach
- Fort Pickens
- Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier Observation Post
- Naval Live Oaks
15 Best Pensacola Florida Beaches
1. Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach is a treasured beach community on the Gulf Coast. It is home to powdery sugar-white sand with waters that transform from emerald green to royal blue as you go farther out.
There is something for everyone here. You can sunbathe on its calm and peaceful shores, go swimming in its clear waters, or you can ride with the waves and go surfing. You can also try snorkeling and explore its rich marine life. The highlight of any Pensacola is fishing. So make sure to try to catch a fish when you’re there!
If you stray away from the beach, you can visit the shops or dine at the restaurants.
Is it safe to swim in Pensacola Beach? It depends on the season of the year. Pensacola Beach Lifeguards have a Flag System to make it easy for beachgoers to check if it’s safe to venture out:
- Green Flag – No Hazard
- Yellow Flag – Medium Hazard
- Red Flag – High Hazard (No Swimming)
- Double Red Flag – Water Closed
- Purple Flag – Dangerous Marine Life
Watch out for those flags the next time you visit Pensacola.
2. Gulf Islands National Seashore
The Seashore is a 160-mile well-preserved stretch of sand that spans through the states of Mississippi and Florida. It’s a serene and safe wildlife habitat where people can go and explore.
There are plenty of exciting things that you can do there. Among them are exploring its maritime forests or taking a shot at wildlife photography, birdwatching, fishing, and going to the beach.
Access hours change by season, so make sure to check their schedule when you plan your trip. They have restroom facilities but don’t have nearby refreshment concessions in the area.
3. Opal Beach
If you drive for a few miles past the Gulf Islands National Seashore, you’ll be in for a lovely treat! Opal Beach is a relatively new beach that was created by Hurricane Opal in 1995.
It’s made of sugar smooth white sand surrounded by emerald green water. It has clean bathrooms, outdoor showers, picnic shelters, and drinking water. Its wild, untamed shores are perfect for reconnecting with Mother Nature.
Lifeguards patrol the beach during the Summer. There are no vendors nearby, so you better stock up on your supplies before you go there.
4. Dog Park West
Dog Park West is a beach to enjoy with your furry friends! Clean beach, white sand, clear blue waters – it’s a doggie beach heaven!
If you’re looking to get some exercise, though, this is not the place to get it. The beach is only about as small as a football field. Not an ideal space for taking long walks for you and your dogs.
Dogs must be leashed while in the area. While small, it doesn’t get crowded but expect some barking!
Doggie bags, trash bins, and wipes are available.
While you may not get the tranquility you’re looking for on a beach, your furry friends will enjoy their stay there and love you more for it!
5. Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier
The Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier is a beauty to behold. The views from the pier are fascinating, and the overall vibe will charm its way to your heart. You simply can’t stay away from it.
Watch the blue ocean waves advance to the shores as the storms roll through. Bask in the sun while you go fishing, surfing, or strolling on the beach.
They have sugary white sand, clean bathrooms, and restaurants right off the beach.
Be sure to stay until sundown and catch the phenomenal sunset!
6. Perdido Key Beach
Perdido Key is a Spanish term that translates to “lost island” in English, and it lives up to its name.
It’s the perfect island destination for those looking to escape the tourist traps on the beaches in Pensacola Florida.
Perdido Key is adorned by sea oats, beach grass, remarkable soft white sand, and aquamarine waters. The sand is perfect for taking a stroll and for playing.
Among the activities that you and your family can enjoy are fishing, swimming, shelling, snorkeling, boating, and hiking.
7. Navarre Beach
Located 25 miles east of Pensacola and away from crowded beaches is Navarre Beach. If all you want to do is relax at the beach and nothing else, you are welcome there!
There are also many fun things to suit the outdoor adventurers in your family. Watersports, fishing, a quick visit to the equestrian trail, and wander along its gorgeous beach and clean and crystal-clear waters are among the activities you get to experience.
Navarre Beach offers free parking spots and public restrooms. The beach is almost hugging the road so that you can pull over, and you’re just a short walk to your place of zen.
8. Big Lagoon State Park
Hurricane Sally did a lot of damage to the park in the fall of 2020. The repairs are still underway and should be completed by 2022.
Pre-Sally, the Big Lagoon State Park was a favorite campsite for outdoor enthusiasts. They offer private and peaceful campground sites with clean bathrooms.
The park is perfect for entertaining activities like paddleboarding, kayaking, and biking.
It has several hiking trails, leading to a tower where catching the sunrise and sunset is a must. The other leads to excellent beach access points.
The bugs are nasty in May and June, so don’t forget to bring lots of bug spray.
9. Casino Beach
Previously known as The Casino Resort, Casino Beach put Pensacola on the map. It opened amid the great depression in 1931 as a high-end hotel resort offering luxuries to those who can afford it.
Fast forward to the present; its doors are wide open to people from all walks of life. Enjoy strolling along its white sand beach or on the pier, where you get a fantastic vantage point of the ocean and the entire resort! You can go fishing or go swimming with a school of stingrays.
They offer free parking, which is a bonus. They provide a public shower room for swimmers to rinse off after swimming.
10. Langdon Beach
Langdon Beach is in the Fort Pickens section of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Because it’s a national park, there’s a $25 entrance fee.
People come to enjoy the peace, the white sand, and the clear Gulf water. It’s a fantastic beach with well-maintained facilities and has parking, restrooms, an outside shower, and shaded picnic areas. Lifeguards patrol the area so you and your family can go swimming knowing you’re safe.
Vendors are not allowed in the area, so make sure to bring your food and refreshments. If you’re not in a rush, stay for the sunset. It’s amazing!
11. Quietwater Beach
Quietwater Beach is far from quiet! But it is the perfect place for families with small kids to spend that much-needed day at the beach.
Your kids can splash and play in its safe and shallow water. Unlike the other beaches in Pensacola, Quietwater Beach does not slope down deep. Even the waves crash very calmly there.
It is close to the Portofino Boardwalk, where you can visit and explore its local shops and restaurants serving delicious meals.
You can do many fun things in the area, such as parasailing, paddleboarding, sunset sailing, snorkeling, family cruises, and dolphin tours.
12. Johnson Beach
Johnson Beach is on the Gulf Islands National Seashore. You need to pay a steep entrance fee to enter the area, but it’s worth it!
They have a large parking lot, so there’s plenty of room for everyone. If you want a slice of the beach with less crowd, go ahead and take your bike or walk past the pavilion, cross the boardwalk and claim your paradise!
They offer recreational water activities, but we highly recommend you take a stroll in the sand and take in all its 4 miles of natural beauty. The longer you walk, the more you appreciate the lovely Johnson Beach.
Among the facilities are picnic tables and clean bathrooms. They also staff lifeguards to patrol the beach.
There’s a section of the beach where people can go nude sunbathing and skinning dipping. Watch out for that sign if this is not your thing.
13. Fort Pickens
Located on Pensacola Beach, Fort Pickens was built in the 1800s to protect Pensacola. You can visit and explore its rich history, but you need to pay entrance fees to enter the park.
Fort Pickens has one of the best and well-kept campgrounds in the state. They’re remote, peaceful, and delightful! It’s also just a short 10-minute walk from the beach.
Among the recreational activities enjoyed by its visitors are fishing (pier and shore), birdwatching, camping, hiking, swimming, strolling on its white sand beach, watching its splendid sunsets, and a guided tour the Fort.
14. Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier and Observation Post
Stretching 1,471 feet long, the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier sits comfortably on the Casino Beach.
The pier opens at 6:00 am, and they collect $1.50 per person to enter. It is clean and well-maintained and a lovely place to take a stroll no matter what time of the day. Watching the sunrise from the pier is strongly suggested by those who had the chance to visit!
Want to go fishing? They have fishing equipment for rent. Pompano, Bluefish, Redfish, Spanish Mackeral, and Spotted Seatrout are among the day’s catches, especially in the Summer season.
Beachgoers come here not only to fish but to get a good vantage point of the Gulf Coast.
15. Naval Live Oaks Area
Naval Live Oaks is a federally protected forest. It’s open to the public from 8:00 am to sunset. Fees are collected for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles upon admittance.
There are three access points to the area with parking provided. The main parking area is on the south side of Gulf Breeze Parkway.
If you’re looking for a quick hike and to enjoy nature, take the Brackenridge Trail, and you’ll end up at the beach.
Which Beach is Better, Destin or Pensacola?
Pensacola has a smaller area than Destin. But what it lacks in landmass, it more than makes up for its laid-back vibe and unblemished beauty that captivates every visitor.
If you’re searching for a more secluded beach with an authentic Mother Nature feel, definitely visit Pensacola Beach.
If, however, you don’t mind the crowd and you’re looking for a touristy place where your family can enjoy, Destin has water parks, amusement parks, arcades, and lots of shopping and dining options.
Whichever one you go with, one thing is for sure, the beaches there are marvelously beautiful!
Conclusion – 15 Best Pensacola Florida Beaches
To summarize, here are the 15 beautiful Pensacola Florida beaches for your next vacation:
- Pensacola Beach
- Gulf Islands National Seashore
- Opal Beach
- Dog Park West
- Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier
- Perdido Key Beach
- Navarre Beach
- Big Lagoon State Park
- Casino Beach Park
- Langdon Beach
- Quietwater Beach
- Johnson Beach
- Fort Pickens
- Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier Observation Post
- Naval Live Oaks