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NAS Pensacola Is Now Open To The Public Seven Days. Here’s What You Need To Know.
May 18, 2023
Wednesday, Naval Air Station Pensacola reopened to the public seven days a week for the first time in over three years.
While on the base, the public will be able to visit the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Barrancas and the National Naval Aviation Museum. Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available through the Visitor Control Center at the main gate to anyone with family interred at the cemetery.
Public access to NAS Pensacola will be available from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. through the west gate only on Blue Angel Parkway. The museum is open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
All U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals 18 and older must have a Real ID or passport.
“We cannot express how excited and grateful we are to welcome everyone back to their museum,” said Ret. Adm. Kyle Cozad, President and CEO of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. “We’d like to take this opportunity to remind all visitors of these simple ‘Know Before You Go’ tips to help make their experience that much smoother.”
Real ID Required
The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Navy require any identification card used for base access to be compliant with the Real ID Act of 2005. Real ID-compliant identification cards are marked by a star on the upper right of the card. If you do not have a Real ID compliant identification, you must present an original or certified true copy of a birth certificate bearing a raised seal, social security card, and driver’s license issued by a state, territory, possession or District of Columbia that is not Real ID-compliant. All three documents must bear the same name, or a former name as documented on acceptable name change documentation such as a court order, marriage certificate or divorce decree.
Access Depends On Parking
Air station access will be dependent 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.
There Are Restrictions
The following restrictions will apply to visitors during public access:
- 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
- No visitors with boats and boat trailers
- All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background checks
Foreign National Access
Foreign nationals are authorized access but must be escorted by a U.S. citizen in the same vehicle. The U.S. citizen will have a background check conducted upon arrival. Foreign national visitors who have not been processed through the Foreign Visits System Confirmation Module (FVSCM) must be in possession and present a permanent resident card, alien registration receipt card (Form 1-551) or a foreign passport which contains a temporary 1-551 stamp or a temporary 1-551 printed notification on a machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV).
Comments
11 Responses to “NAS Pensacola Is Now Open To The Public Seven Days. Here’s What You Need To Know.”
Will my son and his family be able to access the Blue Angels practice facility if I am in the car with them? They do not have Real-ID licenses and the children are 16 and 12.
Louise
I’m glad they did this. As a retiree, I was going to donate to the chapel a few years ago for my daughter’s wedding until I was told that every single person without a military ID would have to be vetted with a background check. I know the importance of that, but it wasn’t worth the expense and hassle of asking all our guests to do such a thing. The groom was active duty, also.
Glad its open. Find it kinda ironic that all these new safty features are in place…especially since the biggest threat came from a foreign country invited in by the government.
Does this mean I still have to go in and get a pass to go to the cemetery?
Are “these visitors” allowed on to the flight line for the Blues practices Tuesdays and Wednesdays?
I am glad to hear that the Air Satation museum and lighthouse will be open to the public. I have wanted to go and check out the fort and lighthouse ever since I moved here. I have been to the other two forts and the battleship park in Alabama now I’m looking forward to visiting this historic site with my grandson. Thanks
Good news. My grandchildren live here and have never seen it.
This story mentions that any family can visit the cemetery and they just have to use the main front entrance. Does not mention anything about the once required background check at the visitor center for the special pass that is only good for a few months then you gotta do it all over again. Has this requirement expired now that the base is opened up to Johnny Public? I sure hope so.
I’m glad they don’t accept Felons!
What type of felony and degree of such? Well this should keep visitation low because even a fraud charge is a felony. . If gate keepers letting you in with valid ID gonna check court records of each individual online prior to allowing access? Can’t wait to find out how this works.
I think not right that someone with a felony, can’t bring their kids there! If they have paid their fines and have repaid their debt to society! They should be allowed to come and see the museum and light house and whatever else everyone else is allowed to see! They pay taxes too!