Fort Pickens
Fort Pickens things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Ok, story time, its worth it. I'm going to admit I never knew about this place and we actually stumbled upon it while checking out Pensacola Beach while staying in destin. We were driving through and I saw the road went further west from Pensacola Beach on this little strip of island so I said let's follow it to the end, I mean, that's what road trips are about right? So we keep driving and come up to the security gate for the national park, and we were about to turn around since it wasn't in our plans to visit and I had no idea what was there, but then I remembered I have a pass to all the national parks(worth looking into if you love hiking and forests) so we went on in. We didn't know what to expect and it's about a 5-10 minute drive to get all the way to the end where the fort is but man-o-man is it worth it! You can freely tour the fort and see just how intricately it was laid out, and no way could a ship see it from the gulf. They also do tours and I saw some guys dressed up in old uniforms so I think they do reenactments as well but you'll need to check. Like I said, we hadn't planned on being there, just stumbled upon it. Anyways, almost the entire fort is accessible except for a battery across the street that is in bad shape from the environment. Did I mention they had BIG cannons there? You darn tootin they do! We got to see them up close and read about them. It's really worth reading the signs they setup around the fort. There is a restroom(modern) on-site as well as water for sale in the gift shop. So after we finished checking out the main fort we circled around the edge where many people were fishing and headed back. There are 2 more battery's on the way back with limited parking in each but if you can, they are worth the stop. These were the front line guns and cannon. There are two bigger batterys on the way back near the camping area that are also worth checking out. Oh yeah, There is also plenty of beach where you can go out and find shells and swim if you want. The place is Beautiful and well worth a visit. Check out the pics for some more details and go see for yourself.
MED -XMED -X
00
Fort Pickens is the major attraction if you visit Pensacola. This 1854 Fort still has a lot to give! The best way to plan is to spend first half of the day in the beach, I chose Langdon beach as I have to anyway pay $25 for the park entrance which includes the beach and also it being much less crowded and glad my choice worked out so well! Its 10 min drive or less from Langdon beach to Ft Pickens welcome center and then few minutes to the fort entrance! MUST- see the sundown from the fort. Check out my photos to be amazed 😀!! Notes - - some parts of the fort gets limited exposure to day lights so explore the fort before sundown. There are some real spooky spots and narrow tunnels to explore! - The welcome center really doesn’t have anything interesting nor it house the gift shop. The gift shop is the book store at the right of the main entrance to the fort! - there is a restroom at a minute walk towards the fishing pier outside the fort! We explored the batteries the next day dask which is another adventure and check my review for the batteries if you wish so! Mostly ppl visit Fort and batteries on the same day but if your time permits do it on different days to see the sundown. I bet you won’t regret! Drive around by the pier at the dusk light and watch out the lighthouse over the water and fishing boats passing by the lighthouse!!
Sandip RaySandip Ray
20
This was our first time visiting Fort Pickens, and didn’t realize it was located within the National Park. It’s was $25/vehicle to get in, and the drive to the Fort was beautiful. There are places to camp, picnic, swim, and hike/walk all within the National Park. If I would have realized, we could have made a whole day or even weekend trip here. On to the Fort… We felt a little confused upon arrival, because we were uncertain where to start. This Fort is very spread out, but the main area that you will explore, is altogether in one section. There are restrooms readily available, but be warned, that you are required to wear masks when entering any of their buildings. This was a Union Fort, unlike others in the area, which was cool. It’s not as well preserved, as say Fort Morgan, but still has many cool areas to explore, including tunnels, and vantage points. I really like the fact that they had actual cannons in place where whey would have been. It really gave you a sense of understanding of what it would have been like. I would recommend and are glad we visited.
Kati A. FontenotKati A. Fontenot
100
2nd time visiting Fort Pickens and had a great time both visits! This time we downloaded the National Park Service app and took the available self guided tour. This is super convenient and more informative than just walking it. I will also say that there were several Park Rangers at the fort while we were there (didn't get their names, but they were amazingly informative and helpful!) and you should definitely chat it up with them about the fort. They are well informed and super helpful and a great asset to the park. The fort itself is in good shape and there are lots of rooms, hallways and areas to explore... several large cannons as well. It's really a beautiful area. Don't forget to check out the information center and the several battery areas on the way out too... Lots of really cool stuff! The toll to get in the park is $25 (or $20?...) but it's good for 1 weeks access. Also gives you access to several beaches that tend to not be crowded and are quite beautiful as well. It's an awesome deal and one that I take advantage of when I'm in town... Love it!
Dennis GarrettDennis Garrett
90
A must-see for history or beach buffs! As a newbie to Florida a friend took me here. For $20 it allowed us a weeks access. There’s a lot to see so it’s awesome to have more than one day to see everything. All the workers are awesome and knowledgable. Even the guy working the gate was super nice and helpful. There’s maps and guides to point out historical things, in case you didn’t want to take a guided tour. You’re basically allowed free roam! So many nooks to explore! Being inside a real fort is so cool. You also get some amazing views of the water and lighthouses! We were even lucky enough to see the Blue Angels perform above us! There’s also some super nice and less crowded beaches to lounge on. A fishing pier. Places to have picnics or just hang around. Gift shops that donate proceeds. Friendly staff. Camping access. Bike trails or walking trails. A really cool place to check out, highly recommended!
Stacey HancockStacey Hancock
00
We traveled to Fort Pickens to watch the Blue Angels practice. It cost $25 for a pass. If you have a 4th grader, you can enter into any National Park for free, you just have to complete a form online and print your ticket, which is what we did. We went on a Wednesday and there were several people there for the same reasons we were. It was fortunate that we arrived 30 minutes before the start of the show to park close and get a good spot on the Bayside to watch. My in laws arrived 15 minutes after us and had to park and walk a mile or more to meet us. The Blue Angels show was a wonderful experience. After the show, my family and I walked around, exploring the fort and visiting the gift shop. Then, we went to the beach on the grounds. The beach was very clean with white sand. In one area, there was also lifeguards. The water was exceptionally clear and blue! Our visit was certainly one to remember!
Beth BourgeoisBeth Bourgeois
00
Nearby Attractions Of Fort Pickens
Fort Pickens Jetty
Fort Pickens Fishing Pier
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
1400 Fort Pickens Rd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
Map
Phone
(850) 934-2622
Call
Website
nps.gov
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.8
(2.7K reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
outdoor
family friendly
Description
Fort Pickens is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on Santa Rosa Island in the Pensacola, Florida, area. It is named after American Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens.
attractions: Fort Pickens Jetty, Fort Pickens Fishing Pier, Florida Trail Northern Terminus, restaurants:
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