PERDIDO KEY

Where

Stretched for 16 miles along the Gulf of America, Perdido Key promises four public beach accesses: Access 1, Access 2Access 3, and Access 4. In addition, almost 60 percent of the island is in federal or state parks, including glorious Perdido Key State Park. Amid this bounty of white sand beaches, Johnson Beach at Gulf Islands National Seashore is a fine choice, and is sited at 133333 Johnson Beach Rd, Pensacola, FL 32507.

Vibe

An unblemished stretch of wilderness on the Gulf of America with comfortable amenities.

Perdido Key’s name translates to ‘Lost Island’ in Spanish, and it lives up to the moniker at secluded Johnson Beach. A slender thread of sand hugged between Big Lagoon and the Gulf of America, here, you’ll see kids body surfing; pelicans, gulls and blue herons plying the waters for a meal; and, if you venture down the shoreline away from the restrooms and pavilions, often, no one else at all.

See, feel

Wide, heaped with champagne-colored sand, and offering miles of pristine shoreline, Johnson Beach is soothing to the eye and the soul. The water changes color from jade to emerald to the palest blue, depending on the Gulf’s mood. After a storm, the shelling is often excellent. While the surf is usually minimal, due to winds, tides and offshore systems, conditions can occasionally be rough.

On or near the beach

Johnson Beach invites you to relax by the shore and let the salt air work its magic; swim in its lifeguard protected waters; and picnic under the shade of a pavilion. Fishing isn’t permitted within the flagged swim beach. Just down the road, hike the park’s Discovery Nature Trail, a half-mile-long, ADA accessible, raised boardwalk that curves through dunes, pine trees and salt marsh outlooks.

Accessibility

Johnson Beach is wheelchair accessible, including the Discovery Nature Trail.

Facilities

Amenities at Johnson Beach include picnic pavilions; restrooms and beach showers; water fountains; and beach rentals.

Lifeguards

Lifeguards protect the beach seasonally, from May to September.

Parking

Two large parking lots provide convenient access to the beach and facilities, and is included with the park’s entry fee, which is payable only by credit card. Overnight parking is not permitted.

Places to Remember