BeachesWith
Park West On-Leash Dog Beach: sandy beach at sunset with footprints and calm ocean waves6 photos
Photo: Om777om, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (source)

Park West On-Leash Dog Beach

Pensacola, Florida

Ocean beach in Pensacola, facing south, with parking, bathrooms, and restaurants within walking distance.

  • Dogs allowed
  • Pier
  • Restaurants and bars
  • Free parking
  • HoursNot on file
  • ParkingFree, 27 lots within 1,310 ft
  • DirectionsGoogle Maps
5.2/ 10Fair
How we score beaches
Calm water
5.7 of 10
Water
87 Ftoday
Sunset
7:00 pmover land
Parking
Free27 within 1,310 ft
Rip risk
Moderatetoday
Families
Fair
85of 100

Today, Thursday, Sep 10

Good beach day

Calm water · very warm water. Watch: 24% rain chance, wind, moderate rip current risk.

81 Fmostly clear
High
84 F
Sea temperature
87 F
Waves
1.5 ftup to 1.7 ft
Wind
5 mphup to 13 mph
Rain chance
24%
UV index
8high
Sun
6:30 am to 7:00 pm
Surf zoneNWS Mobile forecast for Escambia Coastal, issued 3:02 pm CDT, Wed Sep 9
  • Rip current riskModeratetoday
  • Surf2 to 3 ft
  • Rip risk tonightModerate
Tidesnext high at 9:45 am
  1. High9:45 am1.6 ft
  2. Low5:18 pm0.7 ft
  3. High11:18 pm0.9 ft
  1. 8:00 am78 Fshowers, 19% rain, 10 mph
  2. 11:00 am82 Fovercast, 13% rain, 11 mph
  3. 2:00 pm83 Fovercast, 16% rain, 7 mph
  4. 5:00 pm · best82 Fovercast, 11% rain, 13 mph

Forecast for Thursday, Sep 10, local time (GMT-5). Weather data by Open-Meteo.com, refreshed hourly. Sea temperature and waves are model values for the nearest offshore point. Tides from NOAA CO-OPS station Pensacola Beach Pier (8729807), 2.2 mi from the beach, heights above MLLW. Rip current risk and surf from the National Weather Service Surf Zone Forecast for the zone; a low risk still means rip currents near piers, jetties, and inlets.The rating rule is on the methodology page. Planning a future date? See typical weather by month.

Great for

  • FamiliesFairCalm water 5.7, bathrooms nearby
  • SwimmingGoodWaves around 2.7 ft, sea 75 F on average
  • SunsetsLimitedsets over land
  • ConvenienceVery good27 parking lots, 2 places to eat
How the Beach Score is calculated: 5.2 of 10

The score is the sum of the components below. Clear water counts only where a clarity source exists. Rankings never take revenue as an input.

ComponentPointsFact
Facilities2.5 of 3Within walking distance: parking, bathrooms, restaurants.
Calm water1.1 of 2Mean daily maximum wave 2.7 ft.
Warm water0.6 of 1Mean sea temperature 75 F.
Sunset over water0.0 of 1The shore faces away from the sunset all year.

Ranks #4 of 18 for boardwalk in Florida, #6 of 12 for dogs allowed in Florida, #23 of 37 for beachfront hotels in Florida, #27 of 38 for free parking in Florida, #30 of 67 for pier in Florida. All beaches in Florida.

Verdicts on the cards come from the same facts. Sources: OpenStreetMap (Sep 10, 2026), Open-Meteo (Sep 10, 2026), Operator official pages (hours, fees, rules) (Sep 6, 2026). The formula is on the methodology page.

Aerial view of Park West On-Leash Dog Beach in Pensacola, Florida, shoreline and surroundings, USDA NAIP imagery from May 2023
Park West On-Leash Dog Beach: sandy beach at sunset with ocean, sky, and distant dunes visible
Park West On-Leash Dog Beach: beach shoreline with waves, overcast sky, and aircraft flying overhead

Aerial imagery: USDA NAIP 2023 via USGS National Map, public domain (source) · Photo: Om777om, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (source) · Photo: Om777om, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (source)View all 6 photos

Amenities

  • Parking27 nearby
  • Free parking6 nearby
  • Bathrooms3 nearby
  • ShowersNo
  • Restaurants and bars2 nearby
  • Beachfront hotels1 nearby
  • Hotels nearby1 nearby
  • Dogs allowedYes
  • Beachfront campingNo
  • Camping nearbyNo
  • Pier4 nearby
  • Boardwalk5 nearby

Water, sand, and nature

  • Calm water5.7 of 10
  • Warm water5.5 of 10

Nearby means within walking distance of the beach centre (980 ft to 1,640 ft, by kind), from OpenStreetMap. Scores are 0 to 10. Sources: OpenStreetMap (Sep 10, 2026), Open-Meteo (Sep 10, 2026), Operator official pages (hours, fees, rules) (Sep 6, 2026); the method for each is on the methodology page.

Hours, fees, and rules

Hours and fees are not on file yet. Managed by Run by Santa Rosa Island Authority. No operator page found yet.

Dogs
Dogs on a leash
Operator
Run by Santa Rosa Island Authority
Address
Fort Pickens Road, Escambia County, FL 32562

From Santa Rosa Island Authority, checked Sep 6, 2026. Hours and fees change; the official page is the final word. Address from OpenStreetMap (nearest road, approximate).

Sunset and sunrise

The shore faces south (172 degrees). The sun sets over land all year.

Computed from the OpenStreetMap coastline and the sunset azimuth for each month.

Planning a trip

Early October is usually warm, with warm water and some rainy days.

Water
80 FWarm
High
80 FWarm
Rainy day
21%Some rain
Waves
2.6 ftModerate

What to expect

  • Warm swimming water, around 80 F
  • Moderate waves, around 2.6 ft
  • Some rainy days in October (5 a month)
  • October is within Atlantic hurricane season, at its peak
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, peak from mid-August to late October. Storm history near this beach

2 October storms within 62.1 mi since 1980, about one every 23 years, 1 at hurricane strength. Most recent in any month: Hurricane Sally, September 2020, 27.8 mi away. Source: NOAA HURDAT2 best tracks, counted at tropical storm strength or stronger. Season dates from the NOAA National Hurricane Center.

Park West On-Leash Dog Beach through the year

Warm water
Low rain
Calm water

Darker is better: warmer water, fewer rainy days, calmer water. Monthly means, 2023-2025, from Open-Meteo. Values for a date blend the nearest two months; the bands and the rule are on the methodology page.

When to go

  • Best overallJuly to Octoberwarm water · fewer rainy days · warm days
  • Warmest waterJuly to September86 F average
  • DriestOctober5 rainy days a month
All monthly averages, 2023-2025Park West On-Leash Dog Beach: sea and air temperature by monthMonthly mean sea surface temperature and daily maximum air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.5060708090100JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecSea temperature (F)Air, daily max
MonthSea tempAir maxRain daysWave height
Jan62 F (17 C)60 F (16 C)103.6 ft
Feb64 F (18 C)66 F (19 C)93.0 ft
Mar67 F (19 C)69 F (21 C)123.2 ft
Apr71 F (22 C)75 F (24 C)93.1 ft
May77 F (25 C)81 F (27 C)152.4 ft
Jun82 F (28 C)86 F (30 C)182.5 ft
Jul85 F (29 C)89 F (32 C)211.7 ft
Aug86 F (30 C)90 F (32 C)151.9 ft
Sep85 F (29 C)86 F (30 C)122.1 ft
Oct79 F (26 C)79 F (26 C)52.7 ft
Nov72 F (22 C)71 F (22 C)82.8 ft
Dec66 F (19 C)63 F (17 C)93.0 ft

Monthly means, 2023-2025. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com. Wave height is the mean of daily maximum significant wave height.

Explore Park West On-Leash Dog Beach

Parking, food, stays, and facilities around the beach, mapped in OpenStreetMap within 0.7 mi.

All places near Park West On-Leash Dog Beach as a list (49)

Beach access Main access and 7 more · Nearest parking at the beach · Nearest food and drinks at the beach · Nearest restrooms at the beach

Distances are straight-line to the nearest point of the beach as mapped in OpenStreetMap; walking times assume 80 m a minute. Access points are where OpenStreetMap paths, steps, and boardwalks meet the beach. Coordinates 30.3252, -87.1794. Open this spot in OpenStreetMap or Google Maps. Missing or wrong? Fix it in OpenStreetMap and it appears here after the next weekly update.

Nearby beaches

Questions about Park West On-Leash Dog Beach

Is there parking at Park West On-Leash Dog Beach?

Yes. 27 mapped parking areas within 1,310 ft. Source: OpenStreetMap.

Are dogs allowed at Park West On-Leash Dog Beach?

Yes, tagged "leashed" in OpenStreetMap. Check local leash rules.

How warm is the water at Park West On-Leash Dog Beach?

Sea surface temperature averages 85 F (29 C) in July and 62 F (17 C) in January. Source: Open-Meteo marine model, monthly means.

Is the water calm at Park West On-Leash Dog Beach?

Calm water scores 5.7 of 10. Mean daily maximum wave height is 2.7 ft. Source: Open-Meteo marine model.

Can you see the sunset over the water at Park West On-Leash Dog Beach?

No. The shore faces away from the sunset all year.

When is hurricane season at Park West On-Leash Dog Beach?

Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the peak from mid-August to late October, per the NOAA National Hurricane Center. Since 1980, 16 named storms passed within 62.1 mi of the beach, 7 at hurricane strength, most in July, August and September. Source: NOAA HURDAT2 best tracks.

Sources

  • © OpenStreetMap contributors (data as of Sep 10, 2026)
  • Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (data as of Sep 10, 2026)
  • [operator], checked [date] (data as of Sep 6, 2026)
  • Storm tracks from the NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 archive, public domain (data as of Sep 10, 2026)
  • Tide predictions from NOAA CO-OPS station Pensacola Beach Pier (8729807), public domain
  • Rip current risk, surf, and alerts from the National Weather Service MOB office for Escambia Coastal (FLZ202), public domain

Licenses and refresh dates for every dataset are on the data page. Something wrong? Every beach page has a report button; corrections are logged with a date.

© OpenStreetMap contributors. Beach location, shoreline, and amenity positions are from OpenStreetMap under the ODbL. Data updated Sep 10, 2026.