Car Rental Pensacola Airport (PNS)

Pensacola Airport is only a few kilometres northeast of downtown, so once you’ve collected your rental car you’ll be well placed to start exploring the city and its attractions.

Pensacola lies just off Interstate 10 (I-10), which leads west to Mobile Bay and other destinations in Alabama, as well as east to Jacksonville on Florida’s Atlantic coast. I-10 connects to the I-110, which runs all the way through Pensacola from north to south.

Pensacola is the county seat and largest city of Escambia County, so as you’d expect it enjoys excellent road connections with the surrounding area. US Route 29 begins near downtown and heads along the west side of the city, before running all the way northeast through several states before reaching Baltimore, Maryland.

Other major routes running through Pensacola include US Route 90, which begins in Jacksonville and leads west to Texas.

If you’re driving around Florida, be aware that the state has several toll roads, including Florida’s Turnpike. The cost depends on which road you are using and how far you’re travelling.

Like the rest of the US, drivers in Florida use the right-hand side of the road. You are allowed to make a right turn at a red light after stopping your car, unless there is a sign telling you otherwise. Florida law states that headlights must be turned on when driving in rain or conditions that reduce visibility.

Pensacola may be home to beautiful beaches but it’s also a historic city, being one of the earliest European settlements in the US. With car rental at Pensacola Airport you’ll have the chance to explore it all and even head further afield to other destinations in Florida.

Sun, sand and sea

There are so many options for beach lovers in Pensacola that it’s difficult to know which one to pick. Head to Pensacola Beach on the barrier island of Santa Rosa and you can enjoy clear shallow waters with gentle waves, making it the perfect destination for swimming and water-sports. When you need a break from the sun, you’ll find plenty of stores and seafood restaurants within easy reach along the waterfront.

Pensacola Beach and the nearby Perdido Key are both part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a long stretch of coastline that runs all the way from Cat Island, Mississippi to Santa Rosa Island. Florida’s section of this protected area of shoreline is home to several hiking trails and three 19^th-century forts, as well as scenic picnic areas where you can relax with great views of the ocean. Look out for osprey and great blue herons, as well as the dolphins and sea turtles that can sometimes be spotted swimming near the shore.

Historic sights

Founded by Spanish sailors in 1559, the Pensacola Bay Area was the first European settlement in the New World. Head to Historic Pensacola Village and you can visit properties that were located within the area of the early Spanish and British forts.

This part of the city is home to museums including the TT Wentworth Jr Florida State Museum, housed in the Mediterranean Revival-style building that served as the City Hall from 1908. Here you can learn all about the City of Five Flags through exhibitions spanning 450 years of history.

Other highlights include a reconstructed section of Fort George, built by the British when they occupied the city in the 18^th century. There’s also the Julee Cottage, built around 1805 and the only surviving example of urban Creole architecture in Pensacola. It’s been fitted out to show what it would have looked like during the Reconstruction era, complete with a furnished parlour, bedroom and kitchen.

Natural beauty

Just a short drive from downtown Pensacola lies Perdido Key, home to some beautiful natural scenery of sand dunes and pines. Head to Johnson Beach for some great hiking routes, including the Discovery Nature Trail where you can enjoy excellent views of the surrounding coastline.

Across the water you’ll find Tarkiln Bayou Preserve, a 4,000-acre park that’s home to many rare and endangered plant species, including the carnivorous white-top pitcher plant, unique to the Gulf Coast.

Head to the elevated boardwalk to enjoy outstanding views, take a picnic or enjoy a hike on the nature trails and see if you can spot some of the rare animals and plants that thrive here.

All this and much more is within easy reach when you rent a car at Pensacola Airport.