Pensacola, located in the panhandle of Florida, offers a rich history that dates back 450 years. Its 18 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordered by the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico have lured visitors from all parts of the globe annually to its pristine shores.
The white sandy beach in Pensacola, Florida. Photo by Tobin on Flickr
Santa Rosa Island, Pensacola, Florida by Tobin is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Where to stay in Pensacola
For RVers visiting the area, the family owned and operated Pensacola RV Park is a great choice. This pet-friendly facility offers 67 sites with 23 large pull-through spaces and full hookups.
Amenities include 30/50 amp electrical, sewer, water, showers, a laundromat, kitchen facilities, Wi-Fi throughout the park, cable TV at each site, and a peaceful park setting with no road noise. In addition to nearby beaches, a quality golf course is just down the road.
Pensacola RV Park
Golfing in Pensacola
Dubbed by many as the best golf course in the Florida Panhandle, A.C. Read Golf Club is also a member of the Florida Historic Golf Trail. Located at the Naval Air Station Pensacola in Escambia County, this venerable course offers terrific views along Bayou Grande.
Naval Air Station Pensacola is known as the “Cradle of Naval Aviation” and occupies more than 5,000 acres. In 1942, NAS Pensacola constructed an 18-hole golf course to provide recreational activity for the soldiers stationed there.
The golf course is named in honor of Albert Cushing Read, an avid golfer and graduate of the first aviator class at Naval Air Station Pensacola in 1915.
Today, the A.C. Read Golf Club is still a challenging golf course in a beautiful setting. The public 27-hole golf complex features three 9-hole tracks—Bayou, Lakeview, and Bayview, which are played in 18-hole combinations.
A. C. Read Golf Club
Each 9-hole course features three sets of tees playing from 2,600 to 3,200 yards and the 18-hole combinations play from 5,400 to 6,600 yards.
The A.C. Read Golf Club also includes an 18-hole, par-60 executive golf course featuring three sets of tees playing from 4,000 to 4,300 yards. The original 18-hole golf course has been incorporated into portions of the entire golf complex.
Attractions in Pensacola
After a round of golf or walk on the beach, explore the National Naval Aviation Museum, also on the grounds of the NAS Pensacola. Set on 37-acres, the National Naval Aviation Museum is the world’s largest naval aviation museum.
You can experience hands-on history, and see more than 4,000 artifacts and 150 beautifully-restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviation. Visitors can experience the thrill that pilots do by strapping into a flight simulator.
The Giant Screen Digital Theater provides amazing life-like thrills. The National Naval Aviation Museum also offers a café and Flight Deck Store for souvenirs.
National Naval Aviation Museum.
Admission is free to the museum, which offers 350,000 square feet of indoor exhibition space. For civilians wishing to visit the museum, proper identification is required to gain access. Details are available on the National Naval Aviation Museum website.
Adjacent to the museum is the historic Pensacola Lighthouse, which was built in 1859. Take all 177 steps to the top for one of the Gulf Coast’s most dramatic views.
Also located on the Naval Air Station Pensacola is Fort Barrancas. Part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Fort Barrancas is a beautifully preserved brick fort that overlooks Florida’s Pensacola Bay.
Naval Live Oaks is also part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore This reservation is the first and only federal tree farm designed to reserve the valuable live oaks desired by shipbuilders in the 1800s.
Annual activities
If visiting Pensacola in July or November, be sure to look skyward as the famous Blue Angles will be practicing and performing.
Blue Angels performing
An estimated 15 million spectators view the squadron during air shows each year as the F/A-18 fighter jets reach speeds of nearly Mach 2, almost twice the speed of sound, or about 1,400 mph. The Blue Angels’ official title is the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron.
During spring and summer, minor league baseball can be experienced at the Blue Wahoos Ballpark, home of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Santa Rosa Island is a must-visit any time of year. This stretch of sugary, white sand beach is peaceful beyond comprehension. You will feel yourself relaxing with every step in the warm sand. This uncrowded sliver of an island stretches 35 miles along the Gulf of Mexico, and it’s waiting for you!
For a comprehensive overview of the greater Pensacola area, check out www.visitpensacola.com.
Rick Stedman is an avid golfer, RVer, and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. Rick writes a weekly golf blog, The 19th Hole, for RV LIFE. You can reach him at rstedman@gmail.com.
See also: 15 Scenic Places To Camp Along The Gulf Coast
Rick Stedman is an avid golfer, RVer, and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. Rick writes a golf column, “The RV Golfer,” which is published every month in rvlife.com. He can be reached at rstedman@gmail.com.
Great overview of a beautiful place to RV.
Minor point: no soldiers just sailors and Marines.
For those active/retired service members, there two great RV parks available: Ocean Grove RV Park (50 yards of Pebsacola Bay) and Blue Angel’s RV Park.
Retired Sailor
Can’t leave this without putting in a plug for the great seafood found all over Pensacola. I’m not talking the big stores, but the Mom and Pop Shops. Also spend some time touring ‘Old Pensacola” The history of Pensacola in the Old Museum is a worthwhile stop.
Yes to the seafood, tried fried mullet for the first time, yum yum!
Totally agree with your comment. Visiting downtown is a must and our seafood is the best. I’ll add a visit to Joe Patti’s Seafood is an adventure worth experiencing.
The Navel Air Museum is a must see. There are many retired military personnel to answer any questions you may have. God Bless America and especially our active duty service men and women!
Ironically we just passed through Pensacola 2 days ago. We were headed home from the Florida Keys to Houston. I would like to add a lovely restaurant we happened upon using Yelp. https://georgebistroandbar.com/
George Bistro and Bar was just what we were looking for passing through Pensacola. Not far off I10, dog-friendly and absolutely delicious menu. Great porch to enjoy the weather, yummy Cappuccino to give us a boost and wonderful hearty salads. We ordered two of their four salads to eat their and ended up ordering the other two on the menu to take to go to eat later for dinner!