News Release

Johnson Beach Road Reopens July 9

Image of where new temporary parking is available

NPS

News Release Date: July 9, 2021

Contact: Stephenie Wade, 850-393-7952

GULF BREEZE, Fla. -- Gulf Islands National Seashore will reopen Johnson Beach Road within the Perdido Key Area of the seashore July 9, after a 10-month closure for repairs.  

Perdido Key includes important nesting habitats and park infrastructure that was damaged by Hurricane Sally last year. Temporary repairs to Johnson Beach Road are complete while we await permanent repairs to begin in early September 2021.

Visitors can expect the following during their visit:

• New "ROADSIDE PARKING ALLOWED BEYOND THIS POINT" signs to indentify parking areas on both side of road between boardwalks H,I, and J.

• New “NO PARKING” signs and pavement markings between boardwalks A-H identifying non-parking areas.

• Increased enforcement of prohibited roadside parking outside of designated areas.   

• Oversized vehicles, to include RVs and vehicles towing trailers, are not allowed at Perdido Key to ensure a maximum amount of available parking.

Johnson Beach Road will be managed differently than in prior years. These new parking strategies are expected to protect vegetation and allow the natural rebuilding of dunes and coastal habitats. Vehicles are required to have all four tires parked in the sand or to the right of the white road line.

Maximum parking capacity protocols will still be upheld. Once parking is filled to maximum capacity, the area will be closed to entry. Additionally, vehicles will not be permitted to line up at the parking lot entrance or park alongside the entrance road from Perdido Key Drive to wait for parking to become available.

Visitors will be permitted to enter the Perdido Key Area as space becomes available. Information regarding capacity will be posted on the electronic message board at the park entrance. The current hours for Perdido Key Area/Johnson Beach are 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

www.nps.govAbout Gulf Islands National Seashore: Created in 1971, the national seashore stretches 160 miles along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and Mississippi, and includes barrier islands, maritime forests, historic forts, bayous, and marine habitat. Visit us at www.nps.gov/GulfIslands, on Facebook www.facebook.com/GulfIslandsNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/GulfIslandsNPS, and Instagram www.Instagram.com/GulfIslandsNPS.

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.