Casino Beach(Pensacola Main Beach)

Located near the city of Pensacola, Casino Beach - also known as Pensacola Main Beach - is a large beach with white sand and sea grass. This beach is situated in an oceanfront resort city also named Pensacola Beach on an island named Santa Rosa Island. As an interesting fact, the beach received its name (Casino Beach) as a casino was originally present around the beach. Casino Beach also has a 1,471 feet long pier named Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier (also known as Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier). 

Casino Beach has many amenities including lifeguards, showers, a pavilion, restrooms, and picnic areas. However, it is important to note that the beach is currently facing a shortage of lifeguards between September and May, and lifeguard deployment on the beach might be limited during this period. Dogs on leash are allowed in special dog-friendly designated areas within Casino Beach. 

Casino Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, picnicking, wildlife watching, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodysurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, surf-skiing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, and paddleboarding. If you are planning to surf in the water near Casino Beach, we recommend visiting during winters as the water here offers strong yet thrilling surfing waves during this season. The water’s clarity also makes it ideal among snorkelers and divers who often enter the water near this beach to explore its vibrant underwater landscape and biodiversity - the water near this beach has reefs which are popular among divers and snorkelers. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near the beach including West Indian manatees, bottlenose dolphins, and sea turtles, along with many kinds of fish. However, if you are planning to go into the water near Casino Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have unpredictable and dangerous rip currents. A nature trail named "Footprints In The Sand Eco Trail" also passes through this beach - the eco trail has interesting interpretive exhibits which offer information about local biodiversity. Casino Beach and the area around it also host many fun events throughout the year including a concert series named "Bands on the Beach" which sees thrilling live musical performances being organized around the beach during summer evenings. In addition, the annual Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is also organized on the beach - aviators from the Blue Angels Squadron of the United States Navy perform amazing aviation acts in the skies above the beach during this event. The Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier present on this beach offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the North Floridian shoreline and the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, this pier is also a great fishing spot - you can catch many kinds of fish in the water near the pier during summers including sea trout, redfish, bluefish, and pompano. On rare occasions you can even catch a flounder or cobia here. However, if you are planning to fish in the water near Casino Beach, we recommend that you ensure compliance with the local fishing regulations.

Getting to Casino Beach is easy - the beach is situated at the southern end of Pensacola Beach Boulevard (which is a part of Florida State Road 399) and is easily accessible from United States Highway 98 (also known as the U.S. Route 98). Paid parking lots and metered street parking spaces are also available near this beach.

An important historic landmark present to the west of this beach is Fort Pickens, which is a pentagonal-shaped fort that was completed during the early 19th century and named after the renowned American Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens. As an interesting fact, Fort Pickens was one of the only four forts in the Southern United States that were under Union control throughout the American Civil War. This fort, which is currently managed by the National Park Service, offers an interesting insight into Florida’s and Southern United States’ military history. The fort’s premises also offer interesting exhibits about the local cultural and natural history. In addition, the fort also has a picnic area, a campground (which accommodates both tents and RVs), a fishing pier, and a bookstore. If you are planning to camp in Fort Pickens, you can visit the National Park Service’s website for more information regarding camping rules, charges, and amenities.

There are many attractions near Casino Beach within a 20-minute drive. The downtown area of the city of Pensacola has a variety of interesting shopping stores and restaurants. In addition, the downtown area has a variety of historical landmarks and museums which offer an interesting insight into Florida’s vibrant history. Gulf Breeze Zoo is a 50-acre zoo houses around 900 animals including mammals, birds, and reptiles. The zoo has many interesting sections including a giraffe-feeding area (where visitors can feed giraffes) and a walk-through parakeet enclosure. In addition, the zoo also has a free-roaming preserve area which visitors can explore through a train ride. This area has interesting herbivorous animals including rhinos, hippos, deer, and antelope. If you are looking for another attraction near Casino Beach, Plaza De Luna is a recreational park that is named after the Spanish conquistador Don Tirstan De Luna. The waterfront park has a children’s splash fountain, walking paths, a life-size statue of Tristan De Luna, and concession stands. In addition, the park also offers an amazing fishing experience.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Casino Beach.  The Grand Marlin of Pensacola Beach is an upscale restaurant that has a casual ambiance and offers a pleasant waterfront dining experience. In addition, this restaurant also serves fresh locally sourced seafood and is known for serving delicious oysters. The restaurant also serves amazing steaks and poultry dishes and hosts live music performances.  Shaggy’s Pensacola Beach offers an amazing waterfront dining experience. In addition, the restaurant offers amazing seafood, Mexican dishes, steaks, wraps, sandwiches, pastas, flatbreads, and salads. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Casino Beach, Cafe Bistro serves excellent breakfast dishes, salads, pizzas, desserts, sandwiches, and burgers.

If you are looking for a hotel near Casino Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Margaritaville Beach Hotel offers many amenities including an oceanfront pavilion, a 24-hour fitness center, a pool, multiple bars, and a cafe. In addition, the hotel also offers seasonal live entertainment. In addition, the hotel also offers complimentary local shuttle service. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Hampton Inn Hotel at Pensacola Beach that offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast, two pools, a tiki bar, and a fitness center which is open 24 hours a day. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Casino Beach, the 2-Star Holiday Inn Express Pensacola Beach offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast, a pool, and an exercise room.