West Pensacola · Near Perdido Key · Florida state park
Big Lagoon State Park
Climb the observation tower for views over Big Lagoon to Perdido Key, walk the marsh boardwalks and swim from quiet lagoon beaches, all for $6 a carload.
Opens the Florida State Parks hours and fees page. Florida annual entrance passes are accepted.
Details checked October 2026
Type
State park
Lagoon beaches, boardwalks and trails
Admission
$6 per vehicle
$4 single occupant; $2 on foot or bike
Hours
8 am–sunset
Every day of the year
Time needed
2–3 hours
Our estimate; half a day with a paddle
Parking
Day-use lots
Boat-trailer parking at the ramp
Acreage
704 acres
Upland acres, per Florida State Parks
What you’ll see
A tower, boardwalks and lagoon beaches
Drive the park road to East Beach at the end, then work your way back past the trails, Long Pond and West Beach.
Photo: Ebyabe on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Start here
East Beach and the observation tower
At the end of the park road, a boardwalk crosses the salt marsh to a three-story observation tower with views over Big Lagoon to Perdido Key and Gulf Islands National Seashore. The tower and boardwalks were rebuilt after Hurricane Sally, and the park fully reopened in July 2023. East Beach also has restrooms, a covered pavilion and a kayak launch.
RV tip: dogs aren’t allowed on the boardwalks or the tower, so plan a dog walk on the trails instead.
More to see
- TrailsThe 3.5-mile Sand Pine Loop and the 2-mile Estuary Trail wind through pine flatwoods and marsh. The park is a gateway site on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.
- Long PondA freshwater pond with alligators, with footbridge overlooks.
- Swimming and fishingSmall lagoon beaches with no lifeguards, plus redfish, flounder and sea trout, and crabbing from shore.
- Paddling and the boat rampA kayak launch on the Intracoastal Waterway and a two-lane boat ramp, though only one lane and one dock have been usable since Hurricane Sally.
Why go
A quiet, big-sky park next to Perdido Key
Big Lagoon State Park sits on the north shore of Big Lagoon, part of the Intracoastal Waterway, about 10 miles southwest of downtown Pensacola. It opened in 1978 and protects about 700 acres of pine flatwoods, scrub and salt marsh.
It’s also where paddlers start the 1,515-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, and the tower looks straight across the lagoon to Perdido Key.
For RVers it’s cheap and easy: $6 gets a carload in, the day-use areas have paved lots, and the park’s own campground has 75 water-and-electric sites if you want to stay. The Pensacola Lighthouse is about 15 minutes away.
Photo: Ebyabe on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Why it made our list
- A three-story tower over the lagoon
- Boardwalks across the salt marsh
- $6 per carload
- Lagoon beaches for a swim
- A 75-site campground in the park
For RVers
Taking the rig to Big Lagoon
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Easy access on Gulf Beach Highway
The entrance is on Gulf Beach Highway (County Road 292A) southwest of Pensacola. The park road is paved, and the day-use areas at West Beach, East Beach, the boat ramp and the pavilions all have parking.
Parking a big rig for the day
Florida State Parks doesn’t post motorhome rules for the day-use lots, though Visit Pensacola lists bus parking. Call the ranger station at (850) 492-1595 before bringing a long rig, or come in the tow vehicle.
Pets on the trails, not the beach
Dogs on a 6-foot leash are welcome on the trails, the park drive, picnic areas and in the campground, but not on beaches, boardwalks, playgrounds or in buildings.
Camping in the park
The campground has 75 sites with water and 30/50-amp electric, a dump station and no sewer, for rigs up to 40 feet. Sites are $20 a night plus a $7 utility fee and a $6.70 reservation fee, and reviewers say the loop is tight for big rigs.
What visitors say about Big Lagoon State Park
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 28, 2026; Tripadvisor’s comes from its listing page.
Think of Big Lagoon State Park as a gateway.
Florida State Parks · floridastateparks.org
What visitors often mention
Recurring themes in Google’s review topics
The boat rampBoardwalksThe observation tower
Google’s review topics point to the boat ramp (57 reviews), the boardwalks (49) and the observation tower (36). Checked October 28, 2026.
Entrance fees
Fees from the Florida State Parks hours and fees page, checked October 28, 2026. With a boat, a single occupant pays $10.
Good to know
Vehicle, 2–8 people$6 per day
Single occupant$4 per vehicle
Campsite$20 plus $7 utility fee
Day-use highlightsObservation towerBoardwalksLagoon beachesTrails
Fees from Florida State Parks, checked October 28, 2026. The Governor’s Pavilion and the amphitheater rent for $150 a day plus tax.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Big Lagoon State Park
- Address12301 Gulf Beach Hwy., Pensacola, FL 32507
- Hours8 am–sunset
Every day of the year - Phone(850) 492-1595
- Fees$6 per vehicle (2–8 people), $4 single occupant, $2 pedestrians and cyclists. Hours & fees
- Getting thereThe park is on Gulf Beach Highway (County Road 292A), about 10 miles southwest of downtown Pensacola.
- ParkingDay-use lots at West Beach, East Beach, the pavilions and the boat ramp, with boat-trailer parking at the ramp.
Gates open at 8 am and close at sunset. Campers arriving after sunset should call (850) 492-1595 before closing for the gate code.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Big Lagoon State Park
Big Lagoon has its own campground, and two of the Perdido Key parks we’ve written up are just down the road. Drive times are estimates for a normal day.
Big Lagoon State Park
Camp right here, with water and 30/50-amp power for rigs up to 40 ft, a dump station and three bathhouses.
Perdido Key RV Resort & Marina
56 full-hookup sites on the Intracoastal near Perdido Key, with boat slips and a pool.
Playa del Rio RV Resort
A small Perdido Key resort with private Gulf beach access and a river marina.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Daily 8 am–sunset
Ready to climb the tower?
Bring $6 and a camera, head straight to East Beach for the tower, and finish with a walk on the Sand Pine Loop.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: Ebyabe (boardwalk over the marsh, the view from the tower, East Beach, West Beach, the park drive, East Beach from the tower; CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons; the images were resized. Video: Off Our Couch on YouTube (A Walk, Drive, and Climb at Big Lagoon State Park). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Big Lagoon State Park unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including Florida State Parks’ published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details are set by Florida State Parks and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Big Lagoon State Park at floridastateparks.org or (850) 492-1595. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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