Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach drive: Best stops, distance & time
The distance from Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach is 41 miles, with a one hour driving time. The best road trip stops on the Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach drive are the Naval Live Oaks Nature Preserve, the Gulf Breeze Zoo and Navarre Beach.
Finding the best things to do between Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach
The Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach drive connects two of the most attractive spots on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The westernmost city on the Florida Panhandle, Pensacola is home to a major US Naval Station. But for most visitors, interest will lie in the white sand beaches and barrier islands.
Top Pensacola activities include nighttime kayaking with colourful LEDs lighting up the kayaks, and dolphin-watching cruises around the bay.
Other ways of exploring include downtown food tours, ghost and graveyard tours, guided pub crawls, Segway tours and sunset cruises.
For beachside Pensacola accommodation with great guest reviews, take a look at the Pensacola Beach Resort and the SpringHill Suites Pensacola Beach.
Fort Walton Beach is largely about the sand, sea and sun. That sand is usually sparkling white, and the sea usually an alluring emerald.
Top experiences in Fort Walton Beach include pontoon boat rentals, stand-up paddleboarding, jet ski rentals and night kayaking tours in clear-bottomed kayaks that glow in the dark.
Great beachside accommodation options in Fort Walton Beach include Beal House and the Island Resort.
Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach is 41 miles. That makes for a driving time of about an hour. The quickest route is along the US-98.
The best stops to add to a Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach road trip are the Naval Live Oaks Nature Preserve, the Gulf Breeze Zoo and Navarre Beach.
Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach drive: Naval Live Oaks Nature Preserve
Sandwiched between Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Sound, the Naval Live Oaks Nature Preserve is a bit of greenery among the white sands. There’s a picnic area with grills and bay views, plus seven miles of walking trails. The live oaks growing in the area have a prestigious history of being used for naval shipbuilding.
Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach road trip attractions: Gulf Breeze Zoo
The Gulf Breeze Zoo is spread over 50 acres and is home to more than 800 animals. These include rhinos, gorillas and orangutans. The zoo also offers a series of special encounters. These include the giraffe encounter, which starts with a behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo.
Best stops between Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach: Navarre Beach
Much quieter than nearby Pensacola, Destin and Fort Walton Beach, Navarre Beach on Santa Rosa Island is where you come if you want to relax with little distraction. There’s still the striking white sand and clear Gulf waters, but a lot less of the hubbub.
More Pensacola road trips
Atlanta to Pensacola | Biloxi to Pensacola | Birmingham AL to Pensacola | Dallas to Pensacola | Pensacola to Destin | Pensacola to Fort Lauderdale | Pensacola to Gulf Shores | Houston to Pensacola | Jacksonville to Pensacola | Memphis to Pensacola | Pensacola to Miami | Mobile to Pensacola | Nashville to Pensacola | Pensacola to New Orleans | Pensacola to Orange Beach | Pensacola to Panama City | Pensacola to Orlando | Tallahassee to Pensacola.
More Fort Walton Beach road trips
Orlando to Fort Walton Beach | Panama City to Fort Walton Beach | Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach.