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Boating in Pensacola: Popular Spots to Launch, Docking & Dining Hotspots, & Hidden Nautical Gems

There’s a highway here where the traffic is always moving, and the drivers often wave at each other — using their entire arm! It’s called the Intracoastal Waterway — the ICW — and if you are visiting the Pensacola Bay Area by boat, it’s a mostly protected waterway that connects you to so many wonderful places to dine, swim and immerse yourself in Pensacola’s coastal delights. And yes, it’s true, burgers and bushwhackers seem to taste better when you get there by boat.

Here is everything you need to know to go boating in Pensacola and Perdido Key – from launch spots to island jaunts and everything in between.

WHERE TO LAUNCH?

There are numerous boat ramps dotting the coast from Pensacola to Perdido Key. You can find a directory on the Escambia County Waterway Access Map, but we’ve added a few of the popular ramps for boats and trailers below. Arrive early and pack your patience!

BOAT UP DINING: PENSACOLA BEACH

Heading to Pensacola Beach is a breeze when you’re going by boat, cruising past the frozen vehicle traffic that can sometimes occur during the busy periods. And there’s a bevy of venues where you can dock or anchor for a good time along the protected waterway of Santa Rosa Sound.

Tie up to the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk dock and you can stop, shop, wine and dine at our iconic venues. Try Felix’s Oyster House for some Cajun flair and oyster specialties, Bamboo Willie’s for an array of frozen daiquiris and Whiskey Joe’s or the sprawling Flounder’s Chowder House for signature drinks, seafood bites, and entertainment in the sand.

But wait, there’s more! Cruise east past the boardwalk and you’ll find the shallow-water beaches at Red Fish Blue Fish and Water Pig BBQ — full-service restaurants with great casual eats.

The Sneaky Tiki Bar is a popular anchorage for a beverage stop, and nearby, you can anchor and swim up or dock at the Paradise Bar and Grille. Great burgers and bushwhackers, with live music in the afternoon and evenings.

DOWNTOWN DINING AND MORE

Seville Harbor Marina houses The Fish House restaurant, or you can navigate around the pier to Palafox Pier & Harbor, where Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grille is waiting for stunning sunsets and dining. From there, you can easily access the rest of Downtown Pensacola and all the shops and eateries.

There’s a new free downtown mooring that recently opened: Pensacola Bay Pier at Community Maritime Park. Located in Downtown Pensacola, the marina will provide free public waterfront access points for boaters visiting Community Maritime Park, Historic Downtown Pensacola and its surrounding areas. The pier is open daily, with 48 boat slips available on a first come, first served basis. There’s plenty of space for visitors to enjoy the emerald waters at their leisure. Shallow draft boats up to 27 feet can dock in interior spaces, while boats longer than 27 feet are permitted to dock in exterior spaces. Kayak launch docks and storage racks are also available for the public’s use. No overnight or after-hours dockage is permitted.

Continue cruising west through Bayou Chico and stop in for some delicious seafood and tropical-inspired drinks at The Oar House. Bahia Mar Marina allows docking to dine at this casual spot.

PERDIDO & OLE RIVER DINING

Cruising west from Pensacola Bay, it narrows into the ICW. You don’t have to wait long to find dining. The Perdido Key Oyster Bar and Marina is located at the foot of the Theo Baars Bridge in Perdido Key. The dockside dining restaurant offers a great view of the ICW and Big Lagoon State Park.

Slide west a little more and there’s Holiday Harbor Marina and Sunset Grille restaurant, which offers casual dining and a spectacular sunset and view of the ICW. It’s across from Galvez Landing and the popular Hub Stacey’s on the Point.

The ICW splits as it heads west, so take the left fork and you’ll end up at the Flora-Bama Yacht Club and Ole River Grill. Great food and foot access to the famed Flora-Bama Lounge.

ISLAND HOPS, STOPS and WATER SLIDES

So now you know where to dine. But there’s some spots where you can only reach by boat — not-so-secret spots that boaters flock to and congregate for “rafting up” fun.

Fort McRee (pronounced and sometimes spelled “McRae”), was a former Union fortification built in 1820 on the western flank of Pensacola Pass – where the Gulf of Mexico and Pensacola Bay meet. The Union troops abandoned the fort and instead fortified Fort Pickens across the Pass. McRee was then pummeled into sand and brimstone when Confederate troops occupied it.

What remains is a spectacular dune that towers over the Pass. It’s a popular stop for boaters to anchor and enjoy the pristine beach. Some boaters have set up water slides on the dune. Located just outside the Naval Air Station Pensacola, this is a great location to watch the Blue Angels Homecoming Show in November or any of their frequent practices during the week when the Blues are in town. Be respectful of the No Wake Zones, sea grass and dune vegetation.

Another popular stop is White Island — a beautiful spit of sand at the mouth of Bayou Davenport, near Navy Point. Watch for kayakers and paddle-boarders — and beware the shallow areas! Farther west, just past Holiday Harbor Marina, a series of sand-oak dotted islands stand along the ICW. Naturally, boaters find these havens. We recommend anchoring in the shallows to enjoy the water without leaving a mark on the islands.

Sailboat

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO…. RESOURCES

Before you go, take a look at the Florida Fish and Wildlife’s boating rules and regulations here.

Navigationally-challenged? Of course, there’s an app for that. You can try the Savvy Navvy app - the self-titled “Google Maps for boaters.”

There is also the US Harbors site, which features charts on demand for the Pensacola Bay Area and more.

Sean Smith

Author

Sean Smith

Sean Smith is a native of Liverpool, England, but has been Gulf Coastified since he moved to Pensacola in 1992 after serving as a weather specialist in the Air Force. A journalist and writer for more than 20 years, he loves to share his affection for the natural beauty of Pensacola and the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast.

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