NAS Pensacola Reopening To The Public Seven Days A Week

May 3, 2023

NAS Pensacola is scheduled to open to the public seven days a week beginning May 17.

As part of a phased reopening, previously scheduled public visitation will remain May 4-7 and May 11-14.

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

“We’re excited to have the public come back and visit our great air station,” said Capt. Terrence Shashaty, NAS Pensacola commanding officer. “We understand it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to open the base to the community, and we thank you for your patience.”

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. All U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals 18 and older must have a Real ID  or passport.

Foreign nationals will not be allowed access. Non-DoD cardholders operating vehicles with trailers will not be allowed to enter. 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.

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
  • All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background checks
  • No visitors with boats or boat trailers.

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.

Comments

6 Responses to “NAS Pensacola Reopening To The Public Seven Days A Week”

  1. Deana Soriano on May 5th, 2023 9:33 am

    Will civilians hv access to the golf courses?

  2. ID#256 on May 4th, 2023 10:41 pm

    Thank you to those in charge of making the decision to reopen to the public. Only those that have something to hide or a extensive criminal past will complain about the rules. Anyone else will simply comply, go to the VCC, have their documentation and security check verified and get on base with NO PROBLEMS. Military families know what the SOP’s are for getting other family members on base. Nothing new or changed about that. Some people just like to stir the pot with political propaganda and cause as much confusion and chaos as possible and ruin things for the rest of us. Stand up for the flag, be thankful there is someone willing to protect you freedoms, honor and respect those that died trying to keep us all free with their bravery. It’s not a perfect world, but following the rules makes things a little safer. Where do I sign?

  3. Gmh on May 4th, 2023 3:04 pm

    Foreign nationals are allowed on base if they are accompanied by a US citizen. There are some documents they need to have. It is all spelled out on the NAS Pensacola FB page.

  4. Tired of the complaining on May 4th, 2023 8:27 am

    @Susan
    If by chance your daughter in law is married to a military member she would have a dependants ID and therefore have base access. And if not I do believe that as a family member she would be allowed with escort by your family’s military member.
    Also you make the comment of it being a political stunt. Exactly how is base security a political stunt? This was approved by the SECNAV and not some politician even though Gaetz interjected.

  5. Not You on May 3rd, 2023 3:09 pm

    @Susan: if she has a resident alien card and drivers license from your home state she should get onboard.

  6. Susan on May 3rd, 2023 10:17 am

    We are a career military family with a Japanese daughter in law. It would be nice if when they visit, she could visit the base where our kids grew up. Not allowing foreign nationals is puzzling since the only terrorists on our bases were the foreign students already attached to those bases. Closing off access to the east side of the base should have been done years ago, But the museum and lighthouse should be open to the public including international visitors. Barring them seems like another Florida political stunt. The enemy is already on the base.