With large crowds and heavy traffic expected on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key for Memorial Day weekend, Escambia County offers beachgoers a few simple tips for a safe, fun weekend:
Traffic
- Be patient and leave early. Traffic will be heavy, and parking will be limited.
- Please note that the Bob Sikes Bridge Toll Plaza entering Pensacola Beach upgrades to improve traffic flow will be complete for the busy weekend. The two far left lanes will accept both cash and SunPass/Annual Pass, and the far two right lanes will become the dedicated SunPass/Annual Pass lanes, with no cash accepted. To get in the fast lane to the beach with SunPass® and the $20 Pensacola Beach Annual Pass, watch this video for everything you need to know about SunPass, or visit MyEscambia.com/PensacolaBeachPass.
- If parking is full in the core areas of Pensacola Beach, take advantage of the free trolleys offered by the Santa Rosa Island Authority. Trolleys run from 4 p.m. to midnight and they service the areas of Portofino to Park West. For a map of trolley stops and a live trolley tracker, click here.
Water Safety
- Regardless of your swimming level, never swim alone, and always swim near a lifeguard. Lifeguards staff six Gulf-front towers and a tower at the Quietwater public use areas on Pensacola Beach, and towers at the Gulf Island National Seashore areas of Langdon Beach at Ft. Pickens, Opal Beach between Pensacola and Navarre Beaches and Johnson Beach in Perdido.
- If in doubt, don't go out.
- Remember that alcohol, sun and swimming do not mix.
- Know how to escape from a rip current. Watch our rip current video and learn how to break the grip of the rip, which can pull even the strongest swimmer out to sea.
Heat Safety
- A heat index of 100-105°F is expected both Saturday and Sunday.
- Be sure to wear and reapply sunscreen often.
- Avoid strenuous activities and wear light clothing.
- Check on elderly family members and neighbors.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
- Never leave people or pets in a closed car.
Leave No Trace
- Remember to "leave no trace" and keep Pensacola Beach sea turtle-friendly. Properly dispose of trash, fill in any holes in the sand and remove belongings from the beach at the end of the day. This includes not leaving any personal property unattended on the sandy gulf beach from sunset until sunrise like umbrellas, tents, beach toys and chairs.
- Glass containers are not allowed on the beach.
- Dogs other than service animals are not permitted on any of the beaches except in the two designated dog parks on Pensacola Beach. East: Lot E on Via De Luna Drive, beach walkover 28B. West: Lot B on Fort Pickens Road, beach walkover 21E.
