Casino Beach, Pensacola Beach

Casino Beach is Pensacola Beach's main Gulf beach, just past the Bob Sikes Bridge toll plaza under the beach-ball water tower, with free parking and lifeguards beside the Gulf Pier. The guards are on the stand daily from late February, adding towers by Memorial Day. When the Gulf is rough, cross the island to Quietwater Beach on Santa Rosa Sound, home of DeLuna's Open Water Swim.

Directions

Photo: Jackmendolla · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Latest reading · SwimScore 86/100 (Get in) for a typical swimmer: air 29°C, wind 12 km/h, waves 0.3 m, UV 5. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Getting in: Cross the Bob Sikes Bridge (toll plaza) onto Santa Rosa Island, drive about 3/4 mile and bear right at the light; the lot sits under the beach-ball water tower.
Parking & transport: Free Casino Beach lot; it fills fast in high season and during events.
Lifeguards: Pensacola Beach Lifeguards (Escambia County) staff Casino Beach seven days a week from late February (Feb. 28 in 2026), 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., then 9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. after the daylight saving change; coverage grows to up to eight towers from Memorial Day weekend.
Water quality: Florida Department of Health Healthy Beaches Program samples the 'Casino Beach' site for enterococci bacteria every 1–2 weeks depending on county (Good 0–35, Moderate 36–70, Poor 71+ per 100 mL); an advisory is issued when a sample and its resample both exceed 70.
Season: Lifeguarded from late February, with peak staffing from Memorial Day weekend through summer.
Who swims here: DeLuna's Open Water Swim (0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 miles; a Speedo SALT Series stop) is held each April in Santa Rosa Sound, entering behind Flounder's at Quietwater Beach on the sound side of the island.
Watch for: Surf and rip currents — Escambia County says only strong swimmers should enter the Gulf
Surf warning flags are posted next to the Casino Beach Pavilion, on the Gulf Pier and at all lifeguard towers
Facilities: Gulfside Pavilion restrooms, showers and dressing rooms · Concessions · Wheelchair-accessible pavilion · Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier ($2.25 walking fee) · Family zone with no alcohol west of the pier