Beachfront Condos · Stays
Gulf Winds
Some links on this page are booking links. If you book a tour, activity, or stay through them, The EC Guide earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations are our own. Learn more
About
Gulf Winds is a small, gated Gulf-front condominium building at 1199 Fort Pickens Road, on the west end of Pensacola Beach about two miles from the entrance to the Fort Pickens area of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. With only about 18 units in a four-story building, it is one of the lower density options on the island. Pensacola Beach is the developed center of Santa Rosa Island, and the Gulf Islands National Seashore protects long stretches of undeveloped dunes both east and west of town.
Units are two and three bedroom condos, and every unit faces the Gulf with a large balcony. Many main bedrooms face the water as well. Top floor units include a loft level, often reached by a spiral staircase, which adds sleeping space. Rental listings show two bedroom units sleeping about six and three bedroom units sleeping up to nine.
Shared amenities are kept simple: a swimming pool with a sundeck and restrooms, a boardwalk over the dunes to the beach, an elevator, gated entry and reserved covered parking. A paved bike and walking path runs along Fort Pickens Road in front of the property.
Gulf Winds condos are individually owned and rented through their owners and several rental companies. Pet rules, parking, bedding and beach chair service vary by unit, and some listings allow pets while others do not, so check the specific listing. Pensacola Beach has white quartz sand, and the Gulf here is often clear and green in calm weather. From May through October, sea turtles nest along this shore, so buildings keep beachfront lights low at night and guests are asked to take gear off the sand each evening.
Peg Leg Pete’s is within walking distance, and the Boardwalk, Casino Beach and the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier are about two miles east. Fort Pickens, with its historic fort, campground and quiet beaches, is a short drive west, and the Pensacola Bay ferry offers another way to reach downtown Pensacola. Gulf Winds suits couples and families who want a quiet, low-rise building with a direct Gulf view and easy access to the National Seashore.