Fort Pickens Campground (Gulf Islands National Seashore)
(850) 934-2622
Park Features & Amenities
Camp Basics
Park Type:
Sites:
Pull Through Sites:
Pets Allowed:
Age Restrictions:
Extended Stay:
Shaded Sites:
Big Rigs:
Credit Cards Accepted: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover
Utilities & Amenities
Power: 50 Amps
Restrooms:
Showers:
Dumping:
Recreation
Fishing:
Additional Pet Information:
Traveler Tips
Traveler Reviews
Great but could have gone bad
Great campground, fantastic location, interesting historical sites. A couple of minor nits: Many of the sites with hookups have low-hanging tree branches. Great for tents or maybe popups but nothing bigger. I don?t believe this is annotated on the map or park guidance anywhere. I was operating off of a smartphone so some things are harder to see. Second nit was about access. I made the reservation late in the day. When I received the confirmation, there was a note to call before 3:30 PM to get the gate code. Oops. Nobody there when I called and left a message. We arrived at the gate around 6:30 PM and sat there about 15 minutes thinking through our options (including the stupid ones) when another camper arrived and let us in. This could have been a real problem for a very late arrival! We used Senior Pass and camped in a small motorhome.
Don't want to leave.
Road in campground tight in some places. Some sites are close together but not all. 33 foot travel trailer, + Tundra. Arrived October 29, leaving Nov 1. Would love to come back for longer stay.
Questionable in January
The beach at Fort Pickins is that gorgeous blue water with white soft sand. We stayed in loop A in our fifth wheel. The sites are very short, and most people need to park their truck in the overflow parking because it won't fit in their spot. The sites are close together, especially in the center of loop A. The camp hosts were very nice
We didn't have good weather while we were there. It was cool and rainy, and on the third day a severe storm threat. The camp host came around and told everyone about the coming storm, and that there is the possibility of the road off the island becoming flooded and trapping us on the island. He said himself that he had been stranded on the island before without water and electricity! So most people loaded up quickly and headed out right before sunset.
Also, it seems like you'd feel like you were out in nature way out at Fort Pickins, and while the island lends to that feeling, the air traffic noise overhead from the nearby air base really detracts from that! I counted one hour from 7-8 am, and there were more than 10 loud planes! Between that, the poor winter weather, and the threat of being stranded there, it's not our favorite spot. We prefer Gulf State Park, AL just an hour west of there, but the water isn't near as blue.
Stunningly beautiful area!
As described, the area is exquisite!! A photographer's dream. Pure white sand that actually crunches when walked upon! The camp is very nice, but rustic. Sites are well spaced with water and electric. Showers are working well but a bit old. There's a modern, well stocked 'Camp Store' a mile away. Given the beauty of the area and the Fort NP nearby, it was well worth the money.
Ft Pickens National Seashore
Wonderful place to park your RV or tent. Loop A is a short walk to the Gulf white sand beach which is never crowded
Beach campground
I have camped here since the mid 60's when I was a kid. I love this park for a lot of reasons, the beach, the pre civil war fort, the coastal defence batteries,the white sand and most of all my history with the place.
But, it all changed since the huricane season of 2004. The trees are mostly gone as are the dunes. Campground A is more intact and more like "old Florida" than B. A still has trees and some dunes and is a smaller cg. Both cg's have fresh blacktop but shallow drives. The bathhouses are small and outdated and there is no sewer on any sites.
CG A has closer access to the beach than B though both are a walk from the CG.s.
