NAS Pensacola Will Open To The Public For One Weekend Only

March 16, 2023

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

Public access to NAS Pensacola March 25 and 26 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

20 Responses to “NAS Pensacola Will Open To The Public For One Weekend Only”

  1. Deana Soriano on March 18th, 2023 4:25 pm

    Why not move the gate just past the museum so it can be accessed by the public? Kinda like they do behind the exchange.

  2. Jim Summers on March 18th, 2023 10:29 am

    Are they still trying to make the main road through NAS Public?

    If the command can open the place up for a single weekend, they can do it every weekend IMO.

    The old pass system worked for how many years?

    Making that road public is asking for problems. If it becomes public, just wait…

  3. Susan Rezuke on March 18th, 2023 7:15 am

    I am an Uber driver. I keep getting messages from Uber that I can apply at the visitors center to drive people on base and I’ve gone down there three times, have been led to the visitor center only to see a sign on the door that says that Uber drivers cannot drive on the base. Tired of wasting my time and gas going down there. This was a while ago. Taxi drivers are less vetted than we are. Can we now apply to drive on base??

  4. Melissa Ward on March 17th, 2023 9:20 pm

    Why can’t they set up traffic control points on a regular bases so the public can go to the museum, light house and Fort Barrancas?

  5. Gary Whidby on March 17th, 2023 7:25 pm

    Why is the public being punished for mistakes made from not vetting the Saudi’s ? Oh , we did not learn enough after 9/11 .

  6. NavyB on March 17th, 2023 9:59 am

    The museum is not funded by tax dollars. It is funded by private donations. Look at the museum’s website.

  7. NavyB on March 17th, 2023 9:49 am

    For all of you complaining about “your tax dollars”, the museum is funded by donations made to the National Aviation Museum Foundation, Inc. Look at the museum’s website.

  8. rivecham on March 17th, 2023 9:10 am

    @NavyDave: Thank you for letting me know and pointing that out!

  9. Molino resident on March 16th, 2023 8:44 pm

    All the comments I have just read are spot on.
    I could not have said it any better.
    Open the museum up!!!
    Oh yeah, I forgot, it’s just our borders that are allowed to be open.

  10. NavyDave on March 16th, 2023 4:16 pm

    @rivecham: Just so you’re aware, it doesn’t have to be a family member with an active or retired ID that can get you aboard NAS and into the museum-it can be a friend, neighbor…anyone that’s willing to escort and vouch for you and your daughter.

  11. robert byrnes on March 16th, 2023 1:04 pm

    It’s about time!

  12. Tax Dollars on March 16th, 2023 12:59 pm

    Some are arguing that it should be open to the public because our tax dollars paid for it. So let’s open the following to the public for unrestricted access, since our tax dollars paid these too:

    1. The White House. Man I’d love some time in the Lincoln Bedroom. Pets OK?
    2. Area 51 — ET Phone home!
    3. Air Force One — I’ll take it to Area 51
    4. The Federal Reserve vaults — gonna need a truck
    5. The gold vault at Fort Knox — need bigger truck!
    6. Cheyenne Mountain. Gonna command me some nukes!
    7. ADX Florence prison in Colorado
    8. CIA Headquarters — Feel like someone will be watchin’
    9. The Pentagon (They got a war room?)
    10. You get the idea?

    You don’t have any right to visit a government facility just because your tax money paid for it.

  13. Lil man on March 16th, 2023 12:26 pm

    What a joke indeed!

  14. Amanda hutchinson on March 16th, 2023 12:11 pm

    Military bases all over the country are restricting civilian access, I’m sure there are good reasons.

  15. Josh Jones on March 16th, 2023 11:47 am

    Why isn’t Matt Gaetz, our Congressional representative, doing anything about restoring normal access to the base?

  16. rivecham on March 16th, 2023 10:52 am

    It really is such a sad shame this beautiful museum, as wonderful and historic as it is, is not opening up any more than this to the public. I grew up here and have been inside the museum as a kid on field trips, and we’d bring friends from out of town there because there was always so much to look at and learn. The real tragedy, as far as I’m concerned? My 11-year-old little girl has said for two years now that she wants to join the military and become a pilot. We (no one in my family is in the military/has proper ID to enter) cannot bring her to this museum, yet it would mean so much to her! I know she is not the only child who would be impacted and enlightened and inspired by visiting this place of rich military history and information. From what I can tell in this article she has to be at least 18 to visit said weekend! Please, NAS, I know at least one kid whose dreams would come to life if you guys opened up more to the public and children! Please, please consider doing so!

  17. Grandma on March 16th, 2023 10:44 am

    For those who don’t remember: The event that cause access to the base to be revoked, was NOT a terrorist from outside the gates. But rather terrorists that were inside, training by invitation of the base!!! Military did not vet them properly but its the law abiding public that is punished. Pass the buck politics.

  18. Travis Burke on March 16th, 2023 10:20 am

    Well this sucks because I’m a single father and made a big mistake and I now have a felony so I can’t take my children and teach them anything about our military!

  19. Steve Cohen on March 16th, 2023 9:36 am

    What a joke

  20. brianh on March 16th, 2023 6:31 am

    Wow, thank you USN for allowing us peasants ONE day to visit a site that WE the people paid for!!