Healthy Travel & Safety Information
Visit Pensacola, Inc. is actively monitoring the COVID-19 situation and remains in close communication and coordination with Escambia County, City of Pensacola, Visit Florida and state officials. We are committed to keeping our visitors, partners and stakeholders informed of the latest updates and to follow the guidelines from these agencies and local departments.
Area tourism partners, residents, and visitors are encouraged to take any appropriate preventative measures. The federal government has not recommended limiting domestic travel.
Escambia County Beaches
Beaches are now open. The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday, April 28, to reopen county public beaches to allow citizens access to all beach activities beginning Friday, May 1. Public county beaches in Pensacola are open regular hours including the sound side, Gulf side and Pensacola Beach. Perdido Key beaches will open 30 minutes before sunrise and close 30 minutes after sunset, daily.
Dog parks are open and permitted in designated areas.
Beachgoers are asked to limit groups to 10 people or fewer and to adhere to CDC social distancing measures by keeping a 6-foot distance between others who are not in their immediate household.
The county would like to remind residents that the toll on the Bob Sikes Bridge to Pensacola Beach is all-electronic. The new tolling system on the bridge went live on March 20, which was earlier than anticipated to adhere to social distancing for toll booth workers.
The toll remains $1, and cash and change are no longer accepted at this location. Motorists can use either SunPass®, another interoperable transponder or be billed utilizing the TOLL-BY-PLATE system. TOLL-BY-PLATE customers will be charged a $1 toll, plus a monthly $2.50 administrative fee and will receive a bill by mail. Cash can be used at SunPass kiosks to replenish and pay TOLL-BY-PLATE invoices.
Several restaurants on the beaches are serving food for pick-up or delivery.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
- The Fort Pickens Area
- Regular operating hours
- Restrooms will be limited to Langdon Beach and the restrooms outside of the Discovery Center
- Lifeguards will be on duty at Langdon Beach
- The Perdido Key Area
- Regular operating hours resume
- Lifeguards will be on duty at Johnson Beach
- The following services are now available:
- Free tram service at the Fort Pickens Area
- Pensacola Bay Cruises will drop-off and pick-up passengers at the Fort Pickens Area
- With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed at this time:
- The Fort Barrancas Area
- The Fort Pickens Campground, Discovery Center, and bookstore
- The headquarters indoor exhibits at the Naval Live Oaks Area
- Parking lots 33A & 36A along Highway 399 (closed for the season)
- Parking lots 34A & 34E at the Opal Beach Complex
Florida State Parks
- On Friday, May 1, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that beginning May 4, Florida State Parks will re-open access to trails, and some day-use areas, including some beach access with limited facilities. Visitors will be asked to practice proper social distancing and to limit group size to 10 or less and to stay six feet apart.
- The selected reopened state parks will have limited facilities. Reopened beach areas allow visitors access to active recreation only. This includes walking, jogging, swimming and fishing. No sunbathing, chairs, canopies or coolers are allowed in beach areas at this time.
- Reopened parks will resume normal operating hours of 8 a.m. to sunset, with the exception of beach areas. Access to beach areas will have reduced daily hours that may vary locally along with reductions in visitor capacity to ensure social distancing. Visitors should check the Department’s website at www.floridastateparks.org for the latest information.
- Compliance with social distancing requirements and approved activities will be enforced and failure to comply with proper social distancing or approved activities may result in law enforcement action or park closure.
- For a complete list of open parks and available amenities, please visit www.floridastateparks.org.
Face Coverings Required at Businesses within City Limit starting June 26
Mayor Grover Robinson issued Declaration of State of Emergency 20-03 effective at 5 p.m. Friday, June 26, requiring face coverings to be worn by employees and patrons inside businesses within City of Pensacola limits.
This order applies to City of Pensacola limits and includes the following:
- An individual in a business must wear a face covering while in a business establishment.
- All persons who own, manage, or are employed by a business located in the city must wear a face covering while on-duty and having direct or indirect customer contact, including persons working in a kitchen or otherwise preparing or serving food or beverages to customers.
- Each business must post signage notifying individuals of the requirement to wear a face covering as provided by this order. Printable PDF signs are available online, or businesses are welcome to create their own signage:
Restaurants & Retail
Following phase one of Florida's Recovery Plan, restaurants may offer outdoor seating with six-foot space between tables and indoor seating at 50% capacity. Click here for additional information.
- Retail establishments may operate at full capacity with responsible social distancing and sanitization protocols,
Bars & Nightclubs
Effective June 26, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) issued Emergency Order 2020-09, which closes bars for on-site alcohol consumption EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
Here’s what it says:
Establishments that derive more than 50% of their gross revenue from the sales of alcohol beverages must suspend sales of alcohol for consumption on the premises. These establishments can continue to sell beverages in sealed containers for consumption off premises (package sales).
Establishments that are also licensed as public food service establishments or restaurants under Chapter 509 can continue to operate for on-premises consumption of food and alcoholic beverages at tables consistent with the requirements of Executive Order 20-139, so long as they derive 50% or less of gross revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption.
Visitor Information Centers
The Visitor Information Centers are now open. Masks are required at the Pensacola location and recommended at the Perdido Key location. With the safety of our staff and our guests in mind, we have installed plexiglass guards at all of our front desks, and have increased cleaning protocols in our lobbies and guest facilities. We ask that if guests do not feel well that they refrain from entering. Our team is dedicated to serving as resources for all questions visitors, partners and stakeholders may have regarding the Pensacola Experience.
The visitor information centers will operate at the following hours:
Visit Pensacola Visitor Information Center
1401 E. Gregory St.
Pensacola, FL 32502
850-434-1234
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Weekends
Perdido Key Visitor Information Center
15500 Perdido Key Dr.
Perdido Key, FL 32507
850-602-9279
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 7 days a week
Pensacola Beach Visitor Information Center
7 Casino Beach Boardwalk
Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
850-932-1500
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Weekends
Additional Requirements of Certain Individuals Traveling to Florida
To limit the spread of COVID-19, Governor DeSantis has issued Executive Order 20-86 which states that individuals traveling to Florida from highly affected areas including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut must self-quarantine for 14 days following arrival. For full enforcement details from the Florida Department of Transportation, click here.
Lodging in the Pensacola Bay Area
Vacation Rental Suspension
Escambia County updated its short-term vacation rental plan effective Friday, June 5, at 12:01 a.m. This plan was adjusted to name the states that are currently still excluded from travel to Florida based on Executive Orders 20-80 and 20-82. Reservations are not allowed from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut with exceptions for persons involved in commercial activity and students traveling for the purpose of academic work, internships, sports training and any other activity or program approved by the educational institution. Previously, visitors from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana and Michigan, as well as Washington D.C. were not allowed to rent short-term vacation rentals in Escambia County.
Resources
For more detailed information, we recommend contacting the Florida Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), or the Escambia County Health Department at 850-595-6500.
- Plan for Florida's Recovery
- Virtual Pensacola Fact Sheet
- CDC
- Florida Health Department
- My Escambia Be Ready
- US Travel Association
- Escambia Tax Collector
- Florida's COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard
- Florida Department of Economic Opportunity COVID-19 Resources for Employers and Individuals
- Benefits.gov
- Careers.org
- United Way COVID-19 Assistance
Resources for Businesses
Showcase Pensacola / COVID-19-related Industry Research
Visit Pensacola's marketing partner, Showcase Pensacola, prepared a report based on COVID-19-related industry research. We want to share this with our stakeholders to help you understand what's happening in the travel space. More importantly, having this information helps us work together as we move forward. Click here to download the report.
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