Gulf Breeze gives campers a taste of beach living and seashore adventures.
Gulf Breeze, a coastal suburb of Pensacola, offers campers four seasons of sunshine. Activities like sailing, snorkeling, paddle boarding, jet skiing, beachcombing, and strolling the Gulf Breeze pier are daily parts of life for those visiting the city. Book a fishing charter to catch swordfish, wahoo, mahi mahi, sailfish, and tuna. Back on land, explore nearby Blackwater River State Park to hike, kayak, and swim, or attend wildlife observation points at Naval Live Oaks Reservation. Then, take a trip to Santa Rosa Island to relax on secluded white-sand beaches. Many of the area’s top-rated RV parks and campgrounds can be found near these popular attractions. Year-round campsites near Gulf Breeze also feature convenient amenities like electric and water hookups and full restrooms.
Blackwater River State Park is just 45 minutes away from Gulf Breeze. It features nature trails and interpretive exhibits as well as kayaking, paddling, birding, fishing, tubing, and bicycling. The area’s contiguous longleaf pine and wiregrass ecosystem is rare—even compared to tropical rainforests. Camping is allowed in the area in one on-site campground with 30 available spacious gravel campsites. There are also full hookups, and the campground can accommodate tents or RVs up to 35 feet.
A barrier island set within the emerald waters of Pensacola Bay, Choctawhatchee Sound, and Santa Rosa Sound, Santa Rosa Island features white sandy beaches that are popular for swimming and shore fishing. Pensacola Beach is the most popular beach on the island, and its restaurants and beach bars contribute to a fun day trip. While camping on the island isn’t permitted, nearby campsites, cabin rentals, and RV parks offer convenient amenities like full restrooms and nearby supply shops.
Explore the saltwater tidal marshes and pine flatwoods of Big Lagoon State Park. Hike along the park’s lands to see wood warblers and sandpipers trails as it’s one of the stops on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Or take a kayak out and paddle along the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Trail that also passes along the park’s shores. Camping is permitted on-site at RV and tent campsites—reservations are required. Most spots can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet. There are also ADA accessible campgrounds in the park.
Temperatures in Gulf Breeze range from the mid 80s during summer to the 50s in wintertime, making for a year-round climate that is great for camping during any season. The gulf breeze helps dispel humidity in summer, but bugs are prevalent in the area during warmer seasons. The area is also known for short rain showers, so bring rain gear.