NAS Pensacola Is Open To The Public This Weekend

March 25, 2023

NAS Pensacola will open to the public this weekend, March 25-26, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Public access to NAS Pensacola will be available from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. through the West Gate only on Blue Angel Parkway. All guests 18 and older must have a valid state or federal picture ID such as driver’s license or passport. Access will be available depending on available parking at the National Naval Aviation Museum and Pensacola Lighthouse.

Once parking is full, public access will be halted until more parking becomes available. Temporary traffic control points will be located on base to prevent public access to other areas of the installation.

While on the installation, the public will be able to visit the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Barrancas and the museum. Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available to anyone with family interred at the cemetery through the Visitor Control Center at the Main Gate.

The following restrictions will apply:

  • No weapons (firearms/knives) allowed (to include concealed weapon permit holders)
  • No backpacks/coolers allowed (diaper bags or medically required bags are acceptable and subject to search)
  • No alcoholic beverages allowed
  • No drones allowed (countermeasures will be taken)
  • Persons with felony convictions are not authorized base access
  • All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background checks

Comments

13 Responses to “NAS Pensacola Is Open To The Public This Weekend”

  1. J.Larry Seale on March 26th, 2023 9:02 pm

    I for one am glad to see the museum. Back
    open if just for a weekend.
    If a certain congressman would worry about
    getting this open on a year round basic then
    the might be worth his salt……

  2. Peter Cullipher on March 26th, 2023 11:50 am

    I was born on a military base, grew up on military bases, served in the USAF and was honorably discharged. My Dad served in WWII and Vietnam and worked as a civil servant, dying at 61 from the effects of all that exposure to chemical’s including Agent Orange at the young age of 60. I have a clean driving record and no police record of any kind ever. I have been on over 50 military bases and countless government installations as a DOD Contractor. Guess what? I have to sit and wait at every pass office for at least an hour no matter if I was there the week before. This has to change.

  3. Me on March 26th, 2023 9:16 am

    One weekend a year is what we get for continuing to trust Saudi Arabia.

  4. Retired Navy Vet on March 26th, 2023 8:58 am

    @ Derek
    That would be the Sub Base in Kings Bay not Sun base. I hate autocorrect!

  5. Retired Navy Vet on March 26th, 2023 8:56 am

    @derek
    First of all the foreign students were just that, students not trainers. NCIS has nothing to do with performing the background checks that should’ve been done (if they weren’t) on them prior to coming for training. They also came from an “Allie” country. I do agree however that their social media should’ve been monitored.
    And just what incompetence are you alleging NAS to have had? Do you think they are the ones that did the “vetting”? Sounds like you’ve maybe watched a bit too much TV.
    Also Pensacola is lucky to have the museum and hopefully soon access to the base to visit it, Ft Barrancas, the Lighthouse and cemetery. But I challenge you to show me what other military installation allows unfettered access. Try to go get on the Sun base at Kings Bay Ga., go to Hurlburt Field and let me know how easy it was for ya…

  6. Kevinofcommonsense on March 26th, 2023 8:52 am

    I would say that I somewhat agree with some of you all but also disagree. Do I think it’s a good thing to open? Yes. Just for the weekend? No. It’s been nearly 3 and a half years since foreign military trainees that the Navy allowed on base to carry out an attack. But they continue to punish the average public citizens that enjoy the museum, lighthouse and Fort Barrancas. Should they block off certain areas to the public? That could be an administrative decision. But they’ve had 3 and a half years to establish that and set it up. It’s long past time that it be opened to the public completely. There has never been an issue before. I don’t believe there would be an issue now. Stop punishing those of us that just want to enjoy and have our kids enjoy out local military histories.

  7. Will smith on March 25th, 2023 6:30 pm

    Super cool they gave a weekend pass to the public. Just have to say that convicted felons arent allowed is just ridiculous. I am currently in the process of getting my pilots license and would absolutely love to visit the museum but dont have the opportunity. Everybody makes mistakes in life its what you do with those mistakes is truly what makes the difference.

  8. Bonnie Exner on March 25th, 2023 5:20 pm

    Citizen #1 very eloquently expressed my exact feelings…is there any hope for opening the museum, lighthouse and cemetery to civilians?

  9. Laura Chavers on March 25th, 2023 5:09 pm

    I’ve heard several people say today that they were denied entrance without a Real ID. Look at your driver’s license , and make sure you have a star in the upper right hand corner. It adds another level of ID. You might want to be sure you can get in before you go. Just a heads up!

  10. Asifwedont on March 25th, 2023 4:38 pm

    I’m not sure if it’s advisable to just let the public roam around the base. We know you go to museum or cemetery but still have access to drive around whenever you’re there. There are still citizens that are angry and upset about things so drive by with a weapon is possible if someone wants to injure a military person. Happens outside the base so can happen on base as well.
    Yes, foreign military should be closely monitored or not train here.
    I think the museum should be available to the public but in a way that limits access to areas they don’t belong.

  11. derek on March 25th, 2023 11:04 am

    The Navy and NCIS dropped the ball….all they had to do was monitor a
    all foreign trainers social media and this whole thing could have been avoided. Now we all pay for the commands incompetence. As usual there is no accountability.

  12. GARY P SICK on March 25th, 2023 9:17 am

    Finally, a break in the log jam. Let’s hope someone in the Navy hierarchy has awakened to the fact that unnecessary access restrictions are financially destroying the museum. I’m hoping the Navy is allowing this weekend access to “test” security and that folks behave themselves. Maybe we’ll see the museum open every weekend, then back to every day.

  13. Citizen on March 25th, 2023 4:32 am

    It’s nice that NAS is allowing limited access to the public for 1 weekend only. The Naval Aviation Museum is very educational and inspiring to so many young people considering a career in the US Navy. It’s really a shame the powers that be are only allowing the one weekend though. I remember the admiration and respect I felt going down to watch the Blue Angles practice and then meeting the pilots as they came off their jets and up toward the museum. I remember driving though the base grounds and seeing the sailors, enlisted and officers, in uniform walking smartly by. I used to be able to visit and honor some of my fallen veteran friends at the cemetery too. It’s a shame what this country has become that we, as citizens of a once great nation cannot visit and honor our elite sailors and pilots anymore. Truly a shame!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive