Perdido Key

[Boondocker]

I saw today on the National Park Service web site that Gulf Islands National Sea Shore has primitive camping on Perdido Key south west of Pensacola. There wasnt anything in the way of other information. Does anyone have knowledge of the camping area? Thanks.

[JackMac]

Happy New Year----

I don't have any experience with the Nat. Park at Perdido, but have stayed at Gulf State Park just a few miles west at Gulf Shores, AL. They have full hookups, paved roads and parking spots, and it's close to seafood. I plan on going back as soon as the weather warms a little.

[63Silver]

I camped at Perdido Key about 18 years ago. It was very nice, clean, electric and water but no sewer (this may have changed). It had beautiful quiet beaches and nice walkways through the wetlands. It has been a while so maybe someone else has been there more recently.

63silver

[Jim & Susan]

We haven't been there either, but here's a couple of additional ideas nearby. OK, Susan is originally from Ft. Walton, so maybe she's been there, but she's not at home right now, so I can't ask her.

Henderson State Park is quite literally on the beach at Destin. My avatar picture was taken from one of the campsites a couple of Thanksgivings ago. Prices are around $25 a night with electric and water. Further to the east of Destin is Topsail State Park. A beautiful park just off the beach with full hookups (IIRC). One of the nicest state parks I've ever seen. Prices are around $35 a night. In Niceville, just north of Destin/Ft.Walton is Fred Ganon Rocky Bayou State Park. Nice park without a lot of amenities (water and electric hookups). We stayed there Thanksgiving week of this year for the first time. We will definitely stay there again. Price is around $16 a night.

All of the prices I mentioned are probably a bit higher than I remember. Fred Ganon had a price increase after we made our reservations in August, but still reasonable. The other two have probably had increases since I last checked.

No matter where you stay in this area, there's lots of stuff to see and do. The beaches around Ft. Walton are sugar white (tho cool to cold this time of year). The Naval Aviation museum in Pensacola is a must see, if you're into that kind of stuff. Same with the Air Force Ordinance museum in Ft. Walton.

Let me know if you want more info. As I said, Susan is from that area so we can ask around.

Good luck, and if you make as far norther as Atlanta, we got 30 amp hookup.

Jim

[HiHoAgRV]

They do offer 'walk in' overnight passes on the very eastern tip of Perdido Key (Johnson Beach area). We frequent the area and are not aware of any primitive camping in the area other than Ft Pickens campground. The only reason it's primitive is because they dont have the water and power restored but they went ahead and opened the campground

[Jim & Susan]

Also meant to mention that there is a WBCCI campground in the area someplace, but since we're not members I have no info for you other than I've seen folks here on the Forums post about it. Seems like they suffered a lot of damage from the hurricanes during the middle part of the decade, IIRC.

Jim

[Birdwell57]

Been there, done that, no t-shirts available at the camp site. The primitive camping area starts about a 1/2 mile from the end of the road. Pretty much light weight tents, and whatever else you can carry across the sand. Gulf State park in Alabama (bay side 1 hr. west of Pensacola) and Henderson Beach state park in Florida (beach side 1.5 hrs. east of Pensacola) are both good.

[ibgl6]

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

Also meant to mention that there is a WBCCI campground in the area someplace, but since we're not members I have no info for you other than I've seen folks here on the Forums post about it. Seems like they suffered a lot of damage from the hurricanes during the middle part of the decade, IIRC.

Jim

The campground name is Mistic Springs it is on Hwy 29 north of P'cola never been there supposed to be real nice...

[pmclemore]

We enjoyed Big Lagoon State Park which is just west of Pensacola. Lots of trails and salt water bayous. Easy access to Gulf Islands National Seashore.

But we're not helping you with boondocking information, are we?

Happy New Year anyway.

Pat

[Boondocker]

Originally Posted by pmclemore

But we're not helping you with boondocking information, are we?

Happy New Year anyway.

Pat

Its all good, a closer reading of the NPS page suggests that the primitive camping is walk in only anyway. Why they cant just make it clear is beyond me, but then again the NPS website isnt famous for being all that great. Its starting to look like I may just skip visiting that area and work west toward where the boondocking is.