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Johnson Beach, Perdido Key

Gulf Islands National Seashore — Perdido Key Area · 13333 Johnson Beach Road, Perdido Key, FL 32507

Johnson Beach is the main public beach on Perdido Key and the closest National Park Service beach to our rentals. It is part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, a National Park Service area protecting barrier islands along the northern Gulf Coast. That means it is a natural, undeveloped beach — no high-rises, no beachfront shops — with pavilions, restrooms, and showers, and an entrance fee that helps maintain the park.

How close is Johnson Beach to Fuzzy Pineapple and Fuzzy Crab?

• Distance to the Johnson Beach entrance: about 1 mile from both homes.
• Drive time: about a 2-minute drive from either home to the entrance at 13333 Johnson Beach Road.
• Distance to the beach itself: the beach is about 1,600 feet from both homes — a 5–10 minute walk to the nearest beach access.
• Can you walk to Johnson Beach? You can walk to the beach in 5–10 minutes. The Johnson Beach entrance and its parking areas are about a mile away, so most guests drive to the entrance, park, and walk the boardwalk to the sand.
• Straight-line vs. road distance: the 1,600-foot figure is the distance to the beach; the 1-mile figure is the road distance to the Johnson Beach entrance.

Both homes are not gulf-front or beachfront, and there is no beach access out the door — but the sand is a short walk away.

What is Gulf Islands National Seashore?

Gulf Islands National Seashore is a National Park Service site made up of barrier islands and mainland areas along the Gulf Coast of Florida and Mississippi. The Perdido Key Area — Johnson Beach — is its Florida section on Perdido Key. Because it is a national seashore, the beach is protected and undeveloped: dunes, sea oats, and wildlife habitat instead of condos and commercial strips. Yes — Johnson Beach is part of Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Johnson Beach vs. other Perdido Key beaches

Perdido Key has several beach options. Johnson Beach is the National Park beach: natural and quiet, with an entrance fee and ranger presence. Perdido Key State Park is another public beach option on the island. Other stretches of Perdido Key beach are accessed from public access points near condos and homes. The nearest beach access to our rentals is about 1,600 feet away — a 5–10 minute walk. Johnson Beach is the most developed for a day at the beach, with pavilions, restrooms, showers, and designated parking; the trade-off is the entrance fee and the fact that it can fill up and close on busy days.

Entrance fees and passes

• Entrance fee: required. At last check, $25 per private vehicle for 7 consecutive days.
• Payment: credit card only.
• Passes: bring a National Park pass if you have one — America the Beautiful and other National Park passes are accepted at National Park Service sites. Check the NPS site for which passes apply.

Hours

• March 1 – October 31: 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM
• November 1 – February 28: 5:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Hours can change seasonally; verify on the National Park Service website before your visit.

Parking

• Three parking lots, first-come, first-served.
• Park only in designated spaces — no overnight parking, no RV parking, and no roadside parking.
• The lots can fill up and the beach can close to new arrivals from April through September, so arrive early on busy days, especially weekends and holidays.

Facilities and accessibility

• Pavilions, restrooms, and showers.
• Perdido Key Discovery Trail — an accessible boardwalk.
• A beach wheelchair is available from the rangers — ask at the park.
• Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Activities at Johnson Beach

• Swimming in the Gulf of Mexico (lifeguarded in summer)
• Sunbathing on white-sand beach
• Walking the beach and the Perdido Key Discovery Trail boardwalk
• Wildlife and bird watching in the dunes and along the shore
• Picnicking at the pavilions
• Fishing (follow National Park Service rules; check the NPS site for current regulations)

Fee, hours, and facility details above are from National Park Service information for Gulf Islands National Seashore. Verify current details on the NPS website before your visit.