Navarre Beach Campground or Gulf Shores/Pensacola West KOA

[Minnie&Mickey]

We are planning a very short (3 night trip) to the Fort Walton Beach area in two weeks. I currently have reservations to stay at Navarre Beach Campground, but I am getting a little nervous about staying there. Originally the reviews sounded okay, and we were willing to give it a try since it was such a short trip and nothing else was available. Now I've read more reviews and they don't seem very positive. I just found availability for the Gulf Shores/Pensacola West KOA and they are offering a 15% discount since the Blue Angels are performing. Does anyone know anything about either of these campgrounds? Should I change my reservation? Is the KOA a better place? We've been trying for months to get something at Topsail Reserve, Henderson Beach, and Camping on the Beach, but there just isn't anything. Advice???

 

[clkelley]

My parents recently stayed at a campground on Navarre Beach and loved it!!

http://emeraldbeachrvpark.com/

Hope this helps!!

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

My parents recently stayed at a campground on Navarre Beach and loved it!!

http://emeraldbeachrvpark.com/

Hope this helps!!

I tried them too and couldn't get the days I wanted. I should probably call back and see if anyone has canceled.

 

[chiefcop]

We've stayed several times on our way down to WDW. The only complainant we have had was some of the spots are tight and hard to get into.

Try www.rvparkreviews.com for other opinions.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

Holly,
I maybe able to help you I go by there all the time. What are your concerns? It looks like one of the better campgrounds in the area. Compared to Emerald Coast there is more shade. I'll go check it out on my way to Fort Walton today. I'm sure it's a decent campground because it won some awards. It's close to Wally World about a 20min drive to FWB. Less then 5min to Navarre Beach. I will say tho that Navarre is a pretty quite place.
I'll go give it my TCR investigation and report back later. I've always thought that this campground was the better of the 2 in Navarre it looks like they keep it clean and like I say it's shaded and I think its gated as well.

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Holly,
I maybe able to help you I go by there all the time. What are your concerns? It looks like one of the better campgrounds in the area. Compared to Emerald Coast there is more shade. I'll go check it out on my way to Fort Walton today. I'm sure it's a decent campground because it won some awards. It's close to Wally World about a 20min drive to FWB. Less then 5min to Navarre Beach. I will say tho that Navarre is a pretty quite place.
I'll go give it my TCR investigation and report back later. I've always thought that this campground was the better of the 2 in Navarre it looks like they keep it clean and like I say it's shaded and I think its gated as well.

Thank you so much, Cindy! That would really help if you could take a look at it. The complaints that I've read are that the sites are super close and that there is little room to manuever around. We've only had our motorhome a few months and I'm worried that DH will have trouble getting it into the site. Also I've heard that the beach area is tiny and that the beach doesn't go into the water. There is a 8 foot wall and you have to walk down to the water. To be honest, I'm not that concerned about that part, I'm more concerned about the tightness of the sites.

I'm also okay with it being quiet. We have to go to FWB one day (the photography studio that I work for in the summer is taking family pictures there) and we also want to go to Pensacola to see the Blue Angels. As long as it is clean and we can get our MH into a site, I'll be okay with it.

Please let me know what you think. Thanks so much for doing this!

 

[OK GRUMPY]

OK what I found out is the sites are close I do think that the way they are set up you can get your MH in easily. When I went there this afternoon they were busy. I asked this guy if he had been there before and he said yes and he liked it! Down by the beach they have lawn chairs and those tiki umbrellas. You have some pretty white sand on the beach, but I think there is a seawall is in place then it drop down to the water. So you may not be able to get into the water. There's also a pier. I do like this campground it's just not Fort Wilderness. Do you get to pick your site when you make a reservation? This campground is on 98 so I would think the father back you are the less traffic you would here. I think if you any problem putting your MH in a spot that there would be people that could help. Usually when the Blue Angels Fly the fly over Navarre Beach as well. You might be able to see them from your campsite. You might ask when you check in. I will warn you if you go to Navarre Beach or Pensacola Beach that you need to be prepared to stay put because traffic will be a nightmare getting off the beach.
I really could not believe how busy that place was.
If I can help or check out anything else just let me know. I work right off 98 and I go to Fort Walton often, so theres no problem swing in there.
Know you have reminded me that I WANT to make a reservation for Topsail for Fourth of July next year!

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Thank you so much for checking this out for me, Cindy!!! I really appreciate it. It sounds like it will work out just fine for our trip! I will definitely see if we can pick a spot in advance (I think I'll call them tomorrow). It would be great if we could watch the Blue Angels from the campground! I'll ask about that too. It would save us a lot of time on the road if we didn't have to go to Pensacola Beach for the show since that is the same day that we have to go to FWB for the pictures. How much time do you think we should give ourselves to drive from the campground to FWB? I was thinking that 30 minutes would be good, but I didn't take traffic into consideration.

Thanks again for going over there for me! I always tell my husband that the people on the Camping Boards are the best, and now he believes me!

 

[OK GRUMPY]

Holly,
I would allow 30 to 45 minutes to FWB. Depending on what time of day. You may want to call them to see if the assign sites prior and let them know you want an easy site to get into, I'm sure if you have a problem you will be able to get someone to help. I think it's do able!
I hope you guys have a great time!

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Thanks for all of your help, Cindy! I can't wait to get down there! Only a week and a half to go!