Transportation

Visitors often tell us, “Getting here was easy. Leaving is so hard.” We couldn’t agree more!

Get the most out of your stay with these tips on everything transportation-related.

Get Here by Car

From the North: Take I-65 south through Alabama to Exit 69 to Pensacola. Turn left onto Hwy. 113, a four-lane expressway, and follow for 13 miles. When it dead-ends, turn right for a mile onto Hwy. 29. Turn left onto Hwy. 29 south and drive for 45 minutes until you reach Pensacola.

From the East or West: Take I-10 and choose from one of several Pensacola exits.

To access Perdido Key

From the west. Follow I-10 E to FL-297 S. Pine Forest Rd in Escambia County. Take exit 7A for FL-297 S/Pine Forest Rd toward Pensacola N.A.S. Turn right onto FL-173 S/N Blue Angel Pkwy. Turn right onto FL-292 W.

To access Pensacola Beach

Take I-10 W and I-110 S to E Chase St in Pensacola. Take exit 1A-1B from I-110 S
Use any lane to take exit 1A-1B toward Gregory St/US-98/Beaches/Gulf Breeze/Gulf Islands National Seashore
Keep right at the fork to continue on Exit 1B, follow signs for Gulf Breeze/Gregory Street East and merge onto E Chase St
Take US-98 E to FL-399 S/Pensacola Beach Rd in Pensacola Beach

The Three Mile Bridge that connects Pensacola to Gulf Breeze is now open.

Visit 3MileBridge.com to see the fastest option.

Get Here by Air

Pensacola International Airport is your gateway to the Gulf Coast and the Pensacola Bay Area! Our airport’s convenient location offers easy access to the vibrant downtown historic area and our award-winning sugar-white beaches. A true gem, our airport is known for making flying easy and takes great pride in welcoming you with world-famous southern hospitality and the best travel experience. For more information, call (850) 436-5000 or visit flypensacola.com.

Airlines Serving Pensacola

Private Air Service

Pensacola Aviation Center: Our award-winning Avfuel Customer Service Representatives and Line Service Techs are highly trained and dedicated to ensuring our customers' air-to-ground transitions are safe, prompt and courteous. Open 24 / 7.

Aero Air Charter

Get Here by Boat

Looking to boat up, sail up or just tie-up? Pensacola is home to over 20 Marina’s along our coastal waters. Perdido Key, Pensacola Bay or Pensacola Beach you will find a slip that has the amenities to fit your boat’s needs.

Get Around While You're Here

While walking is a key form of transportation around the beach and downtown, you can get from one to the other in a variety of ways. Of course, you can always use services like zTrip, Lucky Cab, Uber, Lyft, or other taxi services. These options let you relax in the passenger seat and take away the trouble of parking. During peak season, it’s important to leave early and allow adequate time to get to your destination. Be cautious of pedestrians (and marine life) that may be crossing roads.

Pensacola Beach Toll Bridge

Electronic tolling is now here. SunPass, an annual pass can also be used. If you choose to go through a SunPass/annual pass lane and do not have a pass, you will be charged using Toll-by-Plate and a bill will be sent to you in the mail. This will include a $2.50 administration fee for each billing cycle. Click HERE for more information on ways to get your pass to the Pensacola Beach Ball.

Pay the $1 toll for the Bob Sikes Bridge with Toll-by-Plate or Sun Pass®. Make your trip quicker by using SunPass or Toll-by-Plate in ANY LANE of the toll plaza. Simply drive through without stopping. With your SunPass, the $1 toll gets automatically deducted from your prepaid account.

Not using SunPass? The Toll-by-Plate system also lets you drive through the toll plaza without stopping. You'll receive a bill in the mail. The toll is still $1 each time you pass through the toll plaza, plus a monthly $2.50 administrative fee. No matter how many trips you take to the beach, you will only be charged the administration fee once per month of use.

If you're here for an extended period of time, the Pensacola Beach Annual Pass may be a good option for you. To learn more about all these options contact Escambia County's customer service office at 850-916-5421 or visit myescambia.com/sunpass.

Pensacola Bay Cruises

Currently not operating due to damage from Hurricane Sally.

Pensacola Bay Cruises features two double-decker boats that connect Downtown Pensacola to Pensacola Beach and the Gulf Islands National Seashore – Fort Pickens. The two boats, named Turtle Runner and Pelican Perch, hold 150 passengers and make each leg of the trip in 35-45 minutes. This is a unique way to enjoy the waterways of Pensacola and get to where you’re going.

Pensacola Beach Island Trolley

Travel island style and discover all the fun things to see and do on Pensacola Beach. During peak season, the Santa Rosa Island Authority operates a free trolley service to nearly three dozen stops along the beach from the east to the west end of the island. The service is ADA compliant and has bike racks. Trolleys run seven days a week from 4 p.m. to midnight, May 25 – September 3.

VIEW TROLLEY ROUTE

Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT)

ECAT provides citizens with safe, convenient, and affordable public transportation. The majority of ECAT routes run service Monday – Friday with some routes also running service on Saturday and Sunday.

ECAT spans routes throughout the entire county making it simple for residents and travelers alike to get to their destination. All transportation is ADA accessible and includes wheelchair accessibility and includes bike racks (two bikes).

GETTING ON BASE - DIRECTIONS AND THINGS TO KNOW

Following a security incident in December of 2019, access to NAS Pensacola has changed. Here's what you need to know about what identification and credentials you need to get onto the base. NAS Pensacola is limited to Department of Defense (DoD) ID card holders (active duty service members, retirees, and their families). For Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) holders please visit cnrse.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAS-Pensacola/ for base access information. DoD ID card holders can escort up to 15 guests but must remain with them at all times.

To visit Barrancas National Cemetery or A.C. Reed Golf Course, you can gain access by coming through the main access gate and filling out a background check form at the Visitor Control Center for a day pass. Call 850-452-4153 for more information. For the Naval Aviation Museum, a special visitor information line has been established at 850-452-8450 for answers about visiting the museum.

To visit the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, multiple tours are available that include shuttles onto the base. Additionally, the lighthouse shuttles a limited amount of people to the flight line for U.S. Navy Blue Angel practices. For tour details, click here. GoRetro Tours offers a private tour of the National Naval Aviation Museum and the Pensacola Lighthouse that includes a background check. For more information and to book tours, click here.

Parking

Before parking in Downtown Pensacola click here for a complete parking guide. When parking on Pensacola Beach, you'll find several public access lots. Casino Beach is the main beach and will be the first parking lot in view. It has one entry and one exit so be alert and watch for signs. Click here for a full map of the island showing public access parking lots and trolley stop information.

Perdido Key has three numbered Public Beach Access Points. Perdido Key State Park is open 8 a.m. – sunset. The Gulf Islands National Seashore is located both on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. It is $25 per carload and the pass is good for seven days. When parking along any of the beaches be cautious of sand. Many cars find themselves stuck when they're on the sand and off the pavement.

Remember the motto, "Leave Only Your Footprints Behind." If you follow that advice, you will help to preserve the natural beauty of the beaches and help to ensure all residents and guests can have an enjoyable experience.