Gulf Islands National Seashore
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Gulf Islands National Seashore
5
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This 150-mile stretch of seashore, which runs from Cat Island in Mississippi to Santa Rosa Island in Florida, offers sparkling blue water and many beautiful beaches along the way.
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- DIane216 contributionsBeautiful treasure, so glad this area is preserved! Pack a cooler and chairs and spend the day!We had no idea what a beautiful drive we were in store for, stunning views, beautiful roads, otherworldly area really! The white wind swept dunes are on either side of you as you drive down to Ft. Perkins. W we got out and walked to the water, many pull outs, large expanses of sand and everywhere you look it is beautiful! Encountered quite a few bicyclist in the bicycle lanes, the speed limit is like 35 and winding, so plan for a good several hours, not a place to pass through quickly, oh, one way in and one way out! Worth your time. We were in the Santa Rosa section. Ft. Perkins at the end is definitely worth it, we used our national Park pass otherwise it is $25.Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 8 February 2024
- LAW64Tonbridge, United Kingdom1,780 contributionsStunning drive through beautiful sceneryThe whole coastline is very beautiful but this part of the national seashore is particularly stunning. This is a very beautiful drive especially as the sun is going down. The white sands and dunes look like a moonscape. There are a few parking spaces along the way but it is a really lovely place just to drive through and appreciate. Highly recommended.Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 February 2024
- Sheepdog1125Spokane, Washington205 contributionsA very nice beach with white sand.This is a beautiful seashore to walk down the beach. The waves were quite spectacular the day we were there. I don't know if I would go swimming here because they had a rip tide warning the day we were there. The ranger at the entrance to the Santa Rosa Area was not very helpful. We were disappointed that the visitor center at headquarters was shut down. But it's still worth going to.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 4 March 2024
- Heather JohnsonSterling, Illinois51 contributionsNational Parks Do Beaches BestNational Parks do beaches best. The sands were gorgeous and squeaky, the facilities adequate, and the water as emerald green as you'd expect! Johnson Beach, near Perdido Key, was our absolute favorite! A must visit if you're in the area and don't want the crowds or the spring breakers!Visited April 2023Travelled with familyWritten 7 March 2024
- jwdontenEnglewood, Florida325 contributionsPristine and NaturalWe drove through the Santa Rosa Area of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The weather was not really a beach day but it was nice to get to see the pristine beaches of national park. When you enter the park, you leave civilization behind and encounter white sands, dunes and water as far as you can see. Nice to leave the commercialization behind and experience a natural Gulf Coast.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 23 June 2024
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5.0
1,294 reviews
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137
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26
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1
Terrible
3
maldenmusic
Malden, MO2,465 contributions
June 2020 • Friends
Gulf Islands includes several locations in FL and MS. This visit took us to some of the Florida sections. The beaches are pristine and most have lifeguards and bathrooms. There's an entrance fee but it lets you explore any of the locations for 7 days. Bring everything you need to the beach with you as there are no vendors allowed. If you're lucky, you might get to see a few protected sea turtles or dolphins and stingrays
Written 27 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
F4981JCmichaels
Vancouver, WA2,924 contributions
June 2021
Unique beach. Long, long strip of blinding white sand. Bring your sunglasses. The sand is a fine powder.
Many Florida beaches we saw in Florida on our road trip were filled with people, but because this is a national seashore, there is a fee, so there are fewer people present. Plus it is away from populated areas along highway 399 east of Pensacola Beach.
The place has restrooms too and picnic areas, more than one location.
If you are over 62, you can get a free lifetime pass for national parks, monuments, etc. Pays off if you go to a lot of national parks.
Many Florida beaches we saw in Florida on our road trip were filled with people, but because this is a national seashore, there is a fee, so there are fewer people present. Plus it is away from populated areas along highway 399 east of Pensacola Beach.
The place has restrooms too and picnic areas, more than one location.
If you are over 62, you can get a free lifetime pass for national parks, monuments, etc. Pays off if you go to a lot of national parks.
Written 27 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2RetiredHatchlings
Kansas59 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Some areas are public no fee. Other areas have fees for Day Use with Covered Picnic Tables and Restrooms facilities. The beaches and dunes are naturally beautiful. Seniors can use their National Park Pass if they have one. Everyone who visits here cleans up after theirselves very well. Always a joy to spend Beach Time on Santa Rosa Island here when we are in the Navarre/ Pensacola area.
Written 20 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ClevelandBeachBoy
Greater Cleveland531 contributions
Dec 2019
I visited several different areas of the park. All areas technically require payment, but I doubt most people pay in most areas since only Fort Pickens had a gate that required payment.
I found it strange how little staff was available in the park. There was a visitor center at Naval Live Oaks that was open with no staff. There was no staff in the Fort Pickens visitor center. The only staff I saw at all areas were the Fort Pickens Area gate person, the gift shop cashier, and a ranger that came at night to tell everyone to leave.
Fort Pickens Area
This is a large fort you can basically do whatever you want in. You're supposed to stay off of the cannons, but many people go on them because there is no staff to enforce. This was educational and fun. I recommend watching the video in the visitor center. This area has a pay gate.
Okaloosa Island Area
Easily the worst area. Part of the parking lot was flooded, and I spent about 1 minute here. Not much to see, and small beach.
Santa Rosa Area
Beautiful drive. Better than the A1A. Nice long beach with many places to go and see.
Naval Live Oaks Area
This area has a few hiking trails. Some are unkempt, overgrown, and unmarked. I hiked the Beaver Pond Trail and never saw a beaver dam. We also did some of the Andrew Jackson Trail, the Boy Scout Trail, the North Bay Trail, the Borrow Pit Trail and the Fishing Trail. There are nice views of the ocean off some of the trails. The different landscapes some of the trails have are neat to see. After doing the Andrew Jackson and the Boy Scout Trail and going through the Fishing Trail, my wife had several deer ticks on her pants. This was in late December, when there were hardly any bugs around. Wear pants or lots of bug spray. We did not find deer ticks on myself or on my wife's skin anywhere, but they were for sure deer ticks.
Perdido Key Area
This is great for a walk on the beach with the white sand.
I found it strange how little staff was available in the park. There was a visitor center at Naval Live Oaks that was open with no staff. There was no staff in the Fort Pickens visitor center. The only staff I saw at all areas were the Fort Pickens Area gate person, the gift shop cashier, and a ranger that came at night to tell everyone to leave.
Fort Pickens Area
This is a large fort you can basically do whatever you want in. You're supposed to stay off of the cannons, but many people go on them because there is no staff to enforce. This was educational and fun. I recommend watching the video in the visitor center. This area has a pay gate.
Okaloosa Island Area
Easily the worst area. Part of the parking lot was flooded, and I spent about 1 minute here. Not much to see, and small beach.
Santa Rosa Area
Beautiful drive. Better than the A1A. Nice long beach with many places to go and see.
Naval Live Oaks Area
This area has a few hiking trails. Some are unkempt, overgrown, and unmarked. I hiked the Beaver Pond Trail and never saw a beaver dam. We also did some of the Andrew Jackson Trail, the Boy Scout Trail, the North Bay Trail, the Borrow Pit Trail and the Fishing Trail. There are nice views of the ocean off some of the trails. The different landscapes some of the trails have are neat to see. After doing the Andrew Jackson and the Boy Scout Trail and going through the Fishing Trail, my wife had several deer ticks on her pants. This was in late December, when there were hardly any bugs around. Wear pants or lots of bug spray. We did not find deer ticks on myself or on my wife's skin anywhere, but they were for sure deer ticks.
Perdido Key Area
This is great for a walk on the beach with the white sand.
Written 6 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lifetraveler1
Atlanta, GA1,389 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
The great thing I like about this beach, is it is isolated from the more popular beaches. You don't get large crowds here, because it's part of a national park. It's a little bit further from population centers. And there's a fee. Because of the lack of density of people, the beach itself is normally very pristine. The sand is blinding white when there's a sun out, and the water is pretty clear. Only one thing, the times I have been there there were no guards, I mean lifeguards, and the water currents was strong.
Written 20 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dudpa
Grand Junction, Colorado378 contributions
July 2020
lovely area that is a protected area for wildlife, but people are still able to enjoy the ocean - swimming, surfing, sun tanning, etc. I knew it was going to cost $25 just to get in the place, if I was going to be staying for a week it would have been a great deal. Just getting away from the crowds on the public beaches and having to walk a long ways, pay for parking, etc would one of the reasons I wanted to go to the National Seashore. I was able to park very close and carry my lawn chair/tote bag and sit very close to the water with plenty of distance/privacy between other beach goers. I appreciated having a public restroom and shaded area with picnic tables was also available. The museum for the fort was not open. The rangers at the entrance were very nice and gave me some killer magnets for my car!!!
Written 31 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven D
Spring Hill, TN2,765 contributions
July 2023 • Family
While staying in Perdido Key (Pensacola) Florida we researched good places to access the beach for ourselves and extended family members including younger grandchildren.
We discovered Johnson’s Beach / Gulf Islands National Seashore managed by the National Park Service. Modest $25 entry fee per vehicle that can be reused for seven days — perfect for our four day weekend.
The managed section of the park includes a large covered picnic area, restrooms, outdoor showers, lifeguard station with rescue vehicles and surf condition flag alerts. The beach itself is very nice and well groomed and clean. Adequate parking for hundreds of vehicles.
We discovered Johnson’s Beach / Gulf Islands National Seashore managed by the National Park Service. Modest $25 entry fee per vehicle that can be reused for seven days — perfect for our four day weekend.
The managed section of the park includes a large covered picnic area, restrooms, outdoor showers, lifeguard station with rescue vehicles and surf condition flag alerts. The beach itself is very nice and well groomed and clean. Adequate parking for hundreds of vehicles.
Written 16 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve K.
Bartlesville, OK46 contributions
Dec 2019
We stopped at a small part of the Seashore to look for seashells. There was an abundance of good, intact seashells. This time of the year (Christmas) it was cool with a cool wind off the Gulf. The area was kept very clean and provided a great place to just walk along the beach.
Written 7 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deb C
Milton, DE255 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
The seashore itself was absolutely stunning with the pure white sand. At times it was so white that it looked like snow. And it went on for miles and miles We stopped at the visitor center at Gulf Breeze called Gulf Island National Seashore Headquarters. It looked nice with a replica sea turtle out front. However … it was closed and there were no restrooms that we could find. Upon walking around back there was a water fountain up against the building with the metal cover ripped off. The center actually looked abandoned. Now, I may be wrong but aren’t these National Parks ours ? How disgraceful the neglect we saw. There was a very small boardwalk that also could use a little attention
Written 20 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DIane
WIsconsin216 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
We had no idea what a beautiful drive we were in store for, stunning views, beautiful roads, otherworldly area really! The white wind swept dunes are on either side of you as you drive down to Ft. Perkins. W we got out and walked to the water, many pull outs, large expanses of sand and everywhere you look it is beautiful! Encountered quite a few bicyclist in the bicycle lanes, the speed limit is like 35 and winding, so plan for a good several hours, not a place to pass through quickly, oh, one way in and one way out! Worth your time. We were in the Santa Rosa section. Ft. Perkins at the end is definitely worth it, we used our national Park pass otherwise it is $25.
Written 8 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eadgyth_the_Swan
Louisiana
Regarding the Florida islands in the GINS:
1. Are pop-up canopies or sun tents (for day use only) allowed? If so, is there a size limitation?
2. Are alcoholic beverages allowed or prohibited? (Naturally would be used responsibility by adults and with no glass containers.)
3. Is the use of a wagon or beach cart allowed to transport gear from the parking lots to the beach area?
Thanks.
Written 6 July 2021
Are there any Ranger programs happening since COVID started? We are coming in July and it looks like there is nothing on the calendar. I can’t get a hold of anyone on the phone and they aren’t responding to my phone message.
Written 17 June 2021
They were closed when we got there a few weeks ago with no ranger programs available. We were able to tour the park on our own but the only ranger we saw was the one letting people into the park itself at the gate.
Written 18 June 2021
Daydream52919
Largo, Florida
I'm planning a vacation in the panhandle and destin beach area wheres the best place to stay? Looking for beautiful beach, restaurants, entertainment? Hotels
Written 8 April 2021
I would like to have a small informal wedding among the dunes & sea grass. Is this allowed?
Written 24 November 2019
Probably not. There are STRICT laws/rules on Gulf Islands Seashore but......less so in the residential areas. I suggest you contact the Santa Rosa Island Authority for clarification. Money talks here, just like everywhere else.
Written 25 November 2019
We would like to come in March. What’s the best time to avoid spring break?
Written 24 September 2019
I love early May,its usually beautiful weather,have never been in March but Im sure it would be nice,the water will be cold then
Written 24 September 2019
Lisa
Cologne, Germany
Can we enter with the annual pass 'America the beautiful'?
Written 30 March 2019
If you mean the U.S. park pass, yes, you can use it! There are several areas to park. The ones that actually have restroom facilities and gazebos and such are the ones, where you either pay admission (a small fee) or use your park pass. Should a ranger not be on duty, I just hang my pass off of the mirror. in my car.
Written 3 April 2019
How do i acess the road for this seashore in perdito key?
Written 21 October 2018
One more thing...you can also access Johnson Beach which is part of the seashore easily from Perdido Key. The entrance to that portion is going back towards the Alabama line from Pensacola. Depending on where you are staying it could be east or west from you.
Written 21 October 2018
mhstockton
Tallahassee, Florida
Can I use the National Parks and Recreational land pass for entrance fee?
Written 25 September 2018
There is no entrance fee and there are multiple places to enter the beach.
Written 26 September 2018
Where is a good parking location?
What are some ways to protect a infant from sun if tent isn’t allowed and umbrella always seem to be blown away haha
Written 29 July 2018
I would choose the Langdon Beach Access Road Parking Area with a covered location and bath rooms.
Written 29 July 2018
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