One of the Emerald Coast’s most beautiful and underrated attractions, Opal Beach Florida offers gorgeous scenery on the Santa Rosa Island between Navarre Beach and Pensacola, Florida. This beautiful beach sits on the northern point of Santa Rosa Island, a barrier island along the Gulf Coast of Florida.
This little known beach was created in 1995 when Hurricane Opal flattened the dunes to create a smooth, pristine paradise of sugar-sand beach. What makes it more unusual is that this secluded beach offers flush toilets, drinking water, outdoor showers, picnic shelters and great fishing. if you thought Navarre Beach was pleasantly uncrowded your are going to be amazed by Opal Beach.
This stunning stretch of beach, which is the longest continuous stretch of protected beach in Northwest Florida, has a length of approximately 8 miles. With its sparkling white quartz sand, which frequently squeaks underfoot, Opal Beach is an excellent choice for long strolls or, if swimming is more your style, for splashing around in the warm waters that lap against its shores.
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How Do You Get To Opal Beach?
You may need a car, scooter or bicycle to get there. Highway 399 hugs the beach between Pensacola and Navarre Beach as you go West to East.
The entrance to the beach is located along Highway 399 on both the Gulf side and Santa Rosa Sound side. the drive down to Opal Beach is scenic and a fantastic experience on its own.
Opal Beach Fees
According to the National Park Service website:
An entrance pass is good for one to seven days at all locations. Interagency passes waive all entrance fees. Frequent visitors may be interested in the park’s annual pass which provides access to the national seashore during normal operating hours for twelve months from the date of purchase. Educational groups should visit our Educational Programs page for educational fee waivers.
Park Annual Pass………………………………………………….$45
Per person (pedestrian, cyclist, etc.)……………………….$15
Motorcycle…………………………………………………………..$20
Private vehicle (capacity <15)…………………………………$25
Private vehicle (capacity >15)……$7 per person; up to $25
Commercial Groups
Per vehicle (capacity 6 or less)….$25 plus; $10 per person
Per vehicle (capacity 7 to 25)………………………………….$40
Commercial Bus (capacity 26 or more)…………………..$100
Free Entrance Days
Fees are waived at Gulf Islands National Seashore including Opal Beach Florida on the following days:
- Apr 17, 2021: First Day of National Park Week/National Junior Ranger Day
- Aug 4, 2021: Great American Outdoors Act Signing Day
- Aug 25, 2021: National Park Service Birthday
- Sep 25, 2021: National Public Lands Day
- Nov 11, 2021: Veterans Day
- Jan 18, 2022: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
For an up to date list of fees to Opal Beach, visit the National Park Service Fees page. You can buy a digital pass here.
Opal Beach Hours
Parking Lots along Hwy. 399 are closed from sunset to sunrise.
Opal Beach Facilities: 8:00 a.m. to sunset
Facilities
Opal Beach has flush toilets, drinking water, outdoor showers, picnic shelters, great fishing – and plenty of opportunities to observe nature.
- 24 Pavilions
- 5 Restrooms
- Toll Booth during Season
- 10 Pavilions Available for Rent
- Restroom & Concessions
- Unlimited Parking
Beach access at 32A, 33A, and 36A do not have restrooms, changing stations, or pavilions.
Parking
Parking should be straightforward and several lots are available within walking distance of the beach. Keep in mind that the lots along Highway 399 are closed between sunset and sunrise. Beach access at 32A, 33A, and 36A have limited parking.
Opal Beach Campground
There is no overnight camping specifically on Opal Beach. Going back towards Pensacola there are a couple of RV and campgrounds listed below:
Pensacola Beach RV Resort
17 Via De Luna DrivePensacola Beach , FL 32561USA
Fort Pickens Campground
Fort Pickens Campground is situated on Santa Rosa Island, a part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore south of Pensacola and Gulf Breeze, Florida. Visitors enjoy the site for its recreational activities, historic sites and unique white sand beaches. They do offer online booking.
For campground and pavilion information and reservations call 850-934-2622.
Opal Beach Weddings
Opal Beach is available to be reserved for weddings. Gulf Beach Weddings has an excellent resource with up to date information.
Permits are required at a flat $125 rate (*Please note $25/car is not included in the cost of the Permit for ‘Opal Beach – Main Gate’ location). The fee includes includes sites PL1, PL7, and PL8 (Beach Access 36A, 33A, and 32A). It costs an additional $225 for ‘Pavilion A’ inside Opal Beach’s main gate which includes pavilion rental & parking from 8am to sundown. Beach access at 32A, 33A, and 36A have limited parking and do not have Restrooms, Changing Stations, or Pavilions.
Receptions
There are 24 Large Pavilions organized in 5 groups and labeled A through E. Each group has one restroom and four picnic pavilions with four to six tables in each. They are not bolted down and and can be shuffled for your specific setup. Only two of the Four pavilions in each group can be reserved. Or move your reception down to Juana’s Pagoda’s in Navarre Beach. They have several spaces that can accommodate large groups.
Opal Beach Rentals
You may be looking to rent one of the pavilions for a party or you may be looking to rent a vacation rental close to Opal Beach. We will cover each category below.
Vacation Rentals
You won’t find condo or single family home vacation rentals close to Opal Beach. That is the beauty of it. There is almost no development on that beach. We have written an exhaustive piece covering Navarre Beach VRBO and other vacation rental listings. Obviously Pensacola and Navarre Beach have hundreds of rentals. If you want to get really close then a beach home on the most western edge of Navarre Beach may be your best bet. These homes are not cheap and are beachfront to their own beautiful, sparsely populated beaches so you may not even want to leave.
Sundunes condos at 7979 Gulf Blvd, Navarre, Florida is the last condo complex as you go West on Highway 399 out of Navarre Beach. You want to find house numbers that are less than 7979. That means you are getting closer and closer to Opal Beach.
Pavillion Rentals
24 pavilions are available but only 10 pavilions available for rent. The rest are on first come first serve basis. Your best bet is to call for pavilion information and reservations at 850-934-2622.
Hotels Near Opal Beach Florida
Obviously, there are lots of hotels in Pensacola Beach, but if you want to get really close your choices are little more limited. The Springhill Suites By Marriott Navarre Beach is likely the closest but you will pay up during peak seasons. If you are looking for less expensive options and will have a car to get to the beach there are more options. See our Navarre Beach hotels guide for all of the options.
Springhill Suites By Marriott Navarre Beach
Address: 8375 Gulf Blvd, Navarre, FL 32566
Phone: (850) 939-0010
Summerwind Resort
Address: 8577 Gulf Blvd, Navarre, FL 32566
Phone: (855) 421-0234
Opal Beach Reviews
We thought these were some good representative review off of TripAdvisor
Opal Beach has covered pavilions where you can cook on grills (bring your own supplies and make reservations), let the kids frolic on the sand and in the water and enjoy the beauty and majesty of mother nature.
Laurence S via TripAdvisor.com
Opal Beach is a gorgeous piece of white sand and clear water. The complex has pavillions, bathrooms, outside showers for rinsing off and daily lifeguards. There are no concessions or vendors. It’s part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and there’s a $25 entrance fee which is good for 7 days. It’s our favorite beach in Florida.
MoldenMusic via TripAdvisor.com
we have been going to opal beach since it opened. it’s a national park so there is an entrance fee – we have lifetime passes – there are showers and bathrooms and pavilions and a lifeguard during the summer season. the rangers are always friendly – but ranger renay has retired – we really enjoy the fact that we can sit under the pavilion so we don’t have to drag a beach umbrella. the sand is beautiful and white. there may be one thing to complain about… for some reason there are very little shells on opal beach 😉
Joe_the_beau via TripAdvisor.com
Summary
Opal Beach Florida is one of the many wonderful beaches that comprise the Gulf Islands National Seashore. As is true of the other beaches that make up this preserve, it is known for its pristine appearance and wonderful natural beauty. The sands of Opal Beach are as white as the clouds, and they contrast wonderfully with the azure waters of the shoreline.
Enjoy Opal Beach’s large dunes that line the shoreline, with a hiking and biking trail on the other side and take advantage of the public restrooms and showers, as well as the picnic pavilions. Make sure you have your supplies for waterside picnicking, there are no food outlets anywhere nearby!