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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. For the beach, take the I-110 exit south, and watch for signs that say "Beaches" or "Downtown."

  Get Here by Air

With more than 100 daily flights and non-stop service to 17 major cities, Pensacola International Airport is your gateway to the Pensacola Bay Area! The airport’s convenient location offers easy access to our vibrant downtown historic area and award-winning sugar-white beaches.

Airlines Serving Pensacola

  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, 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  

    Pay the $1 toll for the Bob Sikes Bridge with cash, Sun Pass® or Toll-by-Plate. Make your trip quicker by using SunPass or Toll-by-Plate in ANY LANE of the toll plaza, even the left two cash lanes. 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  

    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.
  • Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT)  
    From its humble beginnings using mule-drawn cars in 1884 to a thriving county-wide system, ECAT continues to meet the needs of residents and visitors alike. ECAT spans routes throughout the entire county making it simple for any traveler to get where they’re going. All transportation is ADA accessible and includes bike racks.
  • 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 and is $3 per car per day. The Gulf Islands National Seashore is located both on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. It is $20 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.

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