Pensacola Parks and Gardens

(Pensacola, Florida - FL, USA)

Pensacola is surrounded by beautiful protected coastal parklands, scenic gardens and lagoons, providing visitors with easy access to nature. Particularly noteworthy are Pensacola's Perdido Key State Park and Fort Pickens National Park, which are both well-known for their long stretches of white sandy beaches, as well as for offering a great selection of outdoor and water-based activities.

Inland you will find Big Lagoon State Recreation Area, offering camping facilities in Pensacola, while Hawkshaw Lagoon Memorial Park is uniquely dedicated to missing children and boasts a pleasant tranquil atmosphere.

Big Lagoon State Recreation Area

Address: 12301 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola, Florida FL, 32507-9050, USA
Tel: +1 850 492 1595
This beautiful 712-acre / 288-hectare park is full of wildlife and stunning flora and fauna, and is a popular spot for Pensacola residents to come on weekends. The waters here are ideal for swimming, canoeing and boating, while facilities include a boat ramp, dock and camping sites. Concerts and events are held here throughout the year at the 500-seater amphitheatre.
Open hours: daily - 07:00 to 22:00
Admission: free

Fort Pickens National Park

Address: 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, Florida FL, 32563-5008, USA
Tel: +1 850 934 2622
Pensacola's Fort Pickens National Park contains a number of different features and provides much more than simply a green area in which to relax. Encompassing an early 19th-century coastal fortification and a museum on naval history, campsites and a wilderness area, the park is perfect for nature lovers who are looking to enjoy the great outdoors.
Open hours: daily - 06:00 to 22:00
Admission: free

Florida State Park

Address: 22738 Azalea Drive, Florala, Alabama AL, 36442, USA
Tel: +1 334 858 6425
With a coastline stretching along the Gulf of Mexico, the 6,150 acres / 2,490 hectares of parkland make an ideal base from where to launch yourself on a boat or fishing trip. On-land activities in nearby Florida State Park include hiking and golf, while there is also a campsite and resort hotel for those who choose to stay overnight.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Hawkshaw Lagoon Memorial Park

Address: Adjacent to Bayfront Parkway, Pensacola, Florida FL, 32501, USA
Tel: +1 850 438 1178
Hawkshaw Lagoon Memorial Park is unique it that it is the only park in the whole if the US that is dedicated as a memorial to missing children. The park is bursting with natural beauty and provides an abundance of beautiful greenery, while also being home to a plethora of Pensacola wildlife. If you are looking for a serene place to reflect or relax, the lagoon's shoreline offers captivating water reflections, while The Sanctuary is an inspiring sculpture garden not to be missed.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to sunset
Admission: free

Perdido Key State Park

Address: 12301 Gulf Beach Highway Pensacola, Florida FL, 32507, USA
Tel: +1 850 492 1595
Situated on Perdido Key, the 247-acre / 100-hectare barrier sand island in the Gulf of Mexico offers scenic coastal boardwalks and an abundance of wildlife. Visitors to Pensacola's Perdido Key State Park can enjoy shorebirds and other coastal animals as they explore the delights of this state park. Landscapes include rolling sand dunes, rugged beach vegetation and deserted white sandy beaches, while the island is a popular place to enjoy sunbathing, fishing, swimming and picnicking.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to sunset
Admission: charge