Fort Pickens Group Campground
Open year-round for reservations. As of May 2026, the Fort Pickens Visitor Center is closed for construction and exhibit renovations, but the campground operates normally. Reservations are not available through Recreation.gov; contact the park directly to arrange group camping.
Tropical Storm Warning issued July 21 at 10:08PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
* LOCATIONS AFFECTED - Pensacola - Pensacola Beach - Perdido Bay * WIND - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Below tropical storm force wind - Peak Wind Forecast: 20-30 mph with gusts to 35 mph - THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for wind 39 to 57 mph - The wind threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment. - PLAN: Plan for hazardous wind of equivalent tropical storm force. - PREPARE: Efforts to protect property should now be underway. Prepare for limited wind damage. - ACT: Act now to complete preparations before the wind becomes hazardous. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited - Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about. - Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over. - A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways. - Scattered power and communications outages. * STORM SURGE - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Localized storm surge possible - Peak Storm Surge Inundation: The potential for 1-3 feet above ground somewhere within surge prone areas - Window of concern: through Thursday morning - THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for storm surge flooding greater than 1 foot above ground - The storm surge threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment. - PLAN: Shelter against storm surge flooding greater than 1 foot above ground. - PREPARE: All flood preparations should be complete. Expect flooding of low-lying roads and property. - ACT: Stay away from storm surge prone areas. Continue to follow the instructions of local officials. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Unfolding - Potential impacts from the main surge event are unfolding. * FLOODING RAIN - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: - Peak Rainfall Amounts: Additional around 1 inch - THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for localized flooding rain - The flooding rain threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment. - PLAN: Emergency plans should include the potential for localized flooding from heavy rain. - PREPARE: Consider protective actions if you are in an area vulnerable to flooding. - ACT: Heed any flood watches and warnings. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited - Localized rainfall flooding may prompt a few evacuations. - Rivers and tributaries may quickly rise with swifter currents. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may become swollen and overflow in spots. - Flood waters can enter a few structures, especially in usually vulnerable spots. A few places where rapid ponding of water occurs at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Several storm drains and retention ponds become near-full and begin to overflow. Some brief road and bridge closures. * TORNADO - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: - Situation is unfavorable for tornadoes - THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Tornadoes not expected - The tornado threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment. - PLAN: Tornadoes are not expected. Showers and thunderstorms with gusty winds may still occur. - PREPARE: Little to no preparations needed to protect against tornadoes at this time. Keep informed of the latest tornado situation. - ACT: Listen for changes in the forecast. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Little to None - Little to no potential impacts from tornadoes. * FOR MORE INFORMATION: - For evacuation and shelter information, please refer to: - Escambia County EMA: 850-471-6400 or myescambia.com/beready - For storm surge threat graphics and other storm impacts: - NWS Mobile: www.weather.gov/mob
Tropical Cyclone Local Statement issued July 21 at 10:39PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
HLSMOB This product covers portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi. **TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BRING COASTAL AND OFFSHORE IMPACTS THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - None * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Baldwin Central, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal, Mobile Central, Mobile Coastal, Okaloosa Coastal, and Santa Rosa Coastal * STORM INFORMATION: - About 90 miles south-southeast of Mobile AL or about 80 miles south-southwest of Pensacola FL - 29.4N 87.7W - Storm Intensity 60 mph - Movement West or 270 degrees at 6 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ Tropical Storm Bertha continues to slowly move westward this evening. A general west-northwest to west motion is expected through tonight with the center of Bertha moving across our offshore gulf waters this evening into Wednesday morning. The storm will move further west and out of the local area during the day on Wednesday. Primary impacts from Bertha remain focused near the coastline and over the Gulf waters. Dangerous surf and beach conditions are expected. A high risk of deadly rip currents is in effect through much of the week. A High Surf Warning remains in effect due to surf building to 8 to 11 feet along the Gulf beaches, reaching peak heights late tonight into early Wednesday morning. These large breaking waves will result in minor beach erosion, along with flooding of vulnerable areas of the west end of Dauphin Island and the Ft. Pickens area of Gulf Islands National Seashore. A Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect for the Alabama and northwest Florida coasts for inundation of 1 to 3 feet during high tide Wednesday morning and possibly again Thursday morning. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * WIND: Potential impacts from the main wind event are now unfolding across coastal Alabama and coastal northwest Florida. Remain well sheltered from hazardous wind having limited impacts. If realized, these impacts include: - Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about. - Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over. - A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways. - Scattered power and communications outages. Elsewhere across portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi., little to no impact is anticipated. * SURGE: Potential impacts from the main surge event are now unfolding across coastal Alabama and coastal Florida. Remain well away from locally hazardous surge having limited impacts. If realized, these impacts include: - Localized inundation with storm surge flooding mainly along immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots, or in areas farther inland near where higher surge waters move ashore. - Sections of near-shore roads and parking lots become overspread with surge water. Driving conditions dangerous in places where surge water covers the road. - Moderate beach erosion. Heavy surf also breaching dunes, mainly in usually vulnerable locations. Strong rip currents. - Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings. Elsewhere across portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi., little to no impact is anticipated. * FLOODING RAIN: Potential impacts from the flooding rain are still unfolding across coastal Alabama and the western Florida panhandle. Remain well guarded against locally hazardous flood waters having limited impacts. If realized, these impacts include: - Localized rainfall flooding may prompt a few evacuations. - Rivers and tributaries may quickly rise with swifter currents. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may become swollen and overflow in spots. - Flood waters can enter a few structures, especially in usually vulnerable spots. A few places where rapid ponding of water occurs at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Several storm drains and retention ponds become near-full and begin to overflow. Some brief road and bridge closures. Elsewhere across portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi., little to no impact is anticipated. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * EVACUATIONS: Follow the advice of local officials. * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to complete preparations in accordance with your emergency plan. If you are a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city or town in which you are staying and the name of the county in which it resides. Listen for these locations in local news updates. Pay attention for instructions from local authorities. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings. * ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - For the latest detailed evacuation and shelter information...please refer to your local emergency management agency at the phone number or website listed below. - Coastal Alabama: - Baldwin County: 251-972-6807 or www.baldwincountyal.gov/departments/EMA - Mobile County: 251-460-8000 or mobilecountyema.gov - Northwest Florida: - Escambia County: 850-471-6400 or myescambia.com/beready - Santa Rosa County: 850-983-5360 www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency - Okaloosa County: 850-651-7150 or myokaloosa.com/emergency-management - For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov - For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org NEXT UPDATE ----------- The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Mobile AL around 4 AM CDT, or sooner if conditions warrant.
High Surf Warning issued July 21 at 10:25PM CDT until July 23 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
* WHAT...For the High Surf Warning, dangerously large breaking waves of 8 to 12 feet in the surf zone. For the Coastal Flood Advisory, minor coastal flooding. For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...In Alabama, Mobile Coastal and Baldwin Coastal Counties. In Florida, Escambia Coastal County. * WHEN...For the High Surf Warning, until 6 AM CDT Thursday. For the Coastal Flood Advisory, until 10 AM CDT Thursday. For the High Rip Current Risk, through late Thursday night. * IMPACTS...Flooding of lots, parks, and roads with only isolated road closures expected. Breaking waves can sweep people off jetties and docks, and into dangerous seas. Life- threatening swimming conditions and significant beach erosion can be expected. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.
About
Fort Pickens Group Campground offers a dedicated group camping experience on Santa Rosa Island at Gulf Islands National Seashore. Located west of Pensacola Beach, the site is designed exclusively for tent camping and requires a minimum of 10 and maximum of 40 occupants. The campground provides its own facilities separate from the main Fort Pickens Campground, including bathrooms with flush toilets, heated showers, potable water, and a large communal fire circle. The site is strictly tent-only with soft-side, on-the-ground tents required. Generators, trailers, pickup campers, RVs, and pop-up campers are not permitted. Groups are limited to 12 vehicles maximum, with carpooling recommended. Check-in occurs between 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM at the Campground Registration office with no fewer than 10 occupants present. The Fort Pickens Area offers excellent recreational opportunities including beach access, historic fort exploration, wildlife viewing, and trailheads. The entrance station gate operates seasonally with hours of 5 AM to 8 PM from March through October and 5 AM to 6 PM from November through February.
Directions
From Pensacola, head south on FL-399 toward Pensacola Beach. Continue west through Pensacola Beach on Fort Pickens Road. The campground registration office is approximately five miles past the Fort Pickens entrance station. Check-in is required at the registration office between 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | — |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | — |
| Price | $20 - $30 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (850) 934-2600 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | Yes |
Photos
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