PENSACOLA FLORIDA DAY TRIPS

By  Mike Miller Updated October 28, 2025

The Pensacola Florida day trips and one tank trips described on Florida Back Roads Travel are all within 100 miles of Pensacola.  

Pensacola is on the far western edge of the Florida panhandle.  We figure that the average car can go at least 250 miles on one tank of gas. Smaller compact cars can go even further.

These round trips can be made from Pensacola with gallons remaining so that you can explore on your way there and back.  Here are some things to do and places to see within 100 miles of Pensacola.

Recommended Pensacola Day Trips

Flora-Bama Lounge and Oyster Bar is west of Pensacola on the beach at the Alabama state line.  Home of the annual mullet toss.

Bagdad Village Historic District is in Bagdad Village near Pensacola. It encompasses 143 buildings along the Blackwater River. The district preserves a 19th-century lumber mill town.

Big Lagoon State Park in Pensacola spans 705 acres along the Intracoastal Waterway. It sits on the northern shore of Big Lagoon, separating the mainland from Perdido Key. You can hike, kayak, camp, fish or birdwatch or explore trails, beaches, and marshes.

Blackwater River State Park in Holt, Florida, spans 590 acres centering around the Blackwater River. Visitors can canoe, kayak, tube, camp, and hike. 

Chautauqua Vineyards is in DeFuniak Springs. Both the vineyard, winery and the town are worth a visit. You will see how wine is made and be able to sample it. Then visit the old historic buildings in the town of DeFuniak Springs.

DeFuniak Springs is a quaint small town with many historic buildings not far off I-10. It was the southern headquarters of the famous Chautauqua Assembly of New York state.

The Destin History & Fishing Museum tells the story of a small fishing village that grew into a bustling tourist haven. It is in the building that housed the town's first library. 

Dorr House, also called the Clara Barkley Dorr House, faces Seville Square in the Historic Pensacola District. The two-story structure is in the Greek Revival style and dates to 1871. It now serves as a Victorian-era museum. The rooms are filled with period furnishings.

Florida Scenic Highway 30-A runs along the Gulf Coast through Seaside, Grayton Beach, Rosemary Beach and other quaint communities.  Among the best beaches in Florida.

Fort San Carlos de Barrancas is located within the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Pensacola Naval Air Station. This historic fort offers a fascinating glimpse into the region’s military past.

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park in Niceville 
covers 357 acres along Rocky Bayou. Visitors can hike, camp, fish, boat or view wildlife. There are three nature trails, a campground, and a boat ramp.

Grayton Beach State Park has one of the nicest beaches in the entire Florida panhandle. You will be close to all kinds of activities, and can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, surf fishing, canoeing and kayaking.

Gulf Islands National Seashore spans 160 miles along the Gulf. It covers barrier islands, beaches, and waters in Florida and Mississippi. The Florida section includes Santa Rosa Island, Fort Barrancas, Fort Pickens, Naval Live Oaks, Okaloosa, and Perdido Key.

Man in the Sea Museum, less than 90 miles away in Panama City Beach, is dedicated to the history and science of underwater exploration. See SEALAB I and other submersibles. 

Milton is a historic town on the Blackwater River that was incorporated one year before Florida became a state in 1845.

National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola has a huge display of vintage and modern aircraft. Exhibits and demonstrations show the history of naval aviation.

Navarre Beach Marine Park is in Navarre, Florida, along the Gulf. It features white sandy beaches and clear waters. It has the longest Florida fishing pier on the Gulf.

Northwest Florida Day Trips is a page on this website that has maps showing several day trip driving routes in the area around Pensacola and the western panhandle.

Panama City is an interesting larger town with access to some of the finest beaches in Northwest Florida. Panama City Beach has become spring break headquarters for college kids.

Pensacola itself is a fantastic spot to spend a few days. It is loaded with history and a lot of entertainment possibilities.

Pensacola Lighthouse offers a climb to the top that gives you a spectacular view of the entire Pensacola Bay ares.

The Pensacola Scenic Bluffs Highway is an 11-mile drive along U.S. Highway 90 in Pensacola, Florida. It stretches from the Bayou Texar Bridge to the Escambia River Bridge. It was designated as Florida’s first scenic highway in 1998.

Ponce de Leon Springs State Park, in the quiet town of Ponce de Leon, is centered around a stunning freshwater spring. The 386-acre park offers a crystal-clear swimming hole where the water remains a constant 68°F year-round.

Seaside is a relatively new town that has become the model for "new urbanism", the use of people sized spaces, parks, walking paths and limited access to cars. It is on a beautiful beach, and can be a highlight of your Pensacola Florida day trips.

The SS Tarpon Underwater Archaeological Preserve, located off the coast of Panama City Beach, is a captivating dive site and one of Florida’s 12 underwater archaeological preserves.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is another full service Florida State park with a fantastic beach, camping and all of the amenities you will enjoy with your family. Preservation efforts have saved some of the tallest sand dunes in Florida.

USS Massachusetts shipwreck lies off the coast of Pensacola Pass about a mile and a half offshore. It’s accessible year-round, free, via dive charters. The site is in Fort Pickens State Aquatic Preserve.

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THEME BASED FLORIDA DAY TRIPS

If you are interested in particular themes, there are many places to  enjoy in and out of the 100 mile radius.  Examples of themes are "beaches", "seashells", "zoos" "historic buildings", "rockets", "lighthouses", and at least 20 others.  Click below to learn more.

250 FLORIDA DAY TRIPS BY THEME

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