Pensacola Dog Beach West

Located on Santa Rosa Island, Pensacola Dog Beach West is a popular white-sand beach with sparse vegetation. This large beach is situated in the community of Pensacola Beach. 

Pensacola Dog Beach West does not have lifeguards or any other amenities except a boardwalk and trash cans, so plan accordingly. Dogs on leash are allowed in Pensacola Dog Beach West. 

Pensacola Dog Beach West offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, fishing, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodyboarding, skim boarding, kayaking, canoeing, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, waterskiing, and boating. If you are planning to go into the water near Pensacola Dog Beach West, we recommend being careful as it is known to have unpredictable rip currents. Depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of animals in the water near Pensacola Dog Beach West including manatees, dolphins (especially during winters) and sea turtles. Sea turtles also use this beach as a nesting spot between May and October. This beach is popular among pet lovers as it is one of the few beaches in Pensacola Beach that allow dogs. If you are planning to fish in the water near Pensacola Dog Beach West, please ensure compliance with the local fishing regulations.

Getting to Pensacola Dog Beach West is easy - the entrance for this beach is present along Fort Pickens Road, which is easily accessible from Florida State Road 399. A free parking lot is present near the beach entrance. While the beach is usually open from sunrise to sunset, the beach is open from 7 am to sunset during the sea turtle nesting season (between May 1 and October 31).

There are many attractions near Pensacola Dog Beach West within a 20-minute drive. Fort Pickens is a pentagonal-shaped fort that was completed during the early 19th century and named after 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. The Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the North Floridian shoreline and the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, this pier is a great fishing spot - you can catch many kinds of fish in the water near the pier during summers including sea trouts, redfish, bluefish, and pompano. On rare occasions, you can even catch a flounder or cobia here. If you are looking for another attraction near Pensacola Dog Beach West, the Sunset Children’s Park and Splash Pad is popular among children as it has a playground and a splash pad with animal sculptures that shoot water. The park also has a picnic area.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Pensacola Dog Beach West. 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. Peg Leg Pete’s offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience. In addition, the restaurant also serves amazing steaks, seafood, salads, sandwiches, burgers, poultry dishes, Cajun dishes, and pastas. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Pensacola Dog Beach West, Tacos Rock Gulf Breeze offers amazing Mexican dishes including quesabirria and tacos.

If you are looking for a hotel near Pensacola Dog Beach West, 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. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, an IHG Hotel that offers many amenities including two pools (including a lazy river pool), a restaurant, two hot tubs, and a private beach area with a bar. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Pensacola Dog Beach West, the 2-Star Hampton Inn & Suites Pensacola/Gulf Breeze offers many amenities including a snack shop, a pool, a fitness center, complimentary breakfast, and breakfast bags on weekdays.