Santa Rosa Sound
Santa Rosa Sound is a protected saltwater sound on the Florida Panhandle that connects Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay, lying between the barrier islands and the mainland in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. It suits visitors and locals who want calm, sheltered water inside the barrier islands, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway runs through it. The sources do not report current wind or tide conditions, so check a current forecast before you go.
Should you go to Santa Rosa Sound today?
Better pick another day
- NWS Small Craft Advisory in effect.
- Wind up to 20 mph on the water.
- Little incoming tide in daylight (murkier water).
- Dry daytime forecast.
- Up to 70°F.
- Mon 19Breezy, up to 15 mph
- Tue 20Breezy, up to 15 mph
- Wed 21Light wind, up to 10 mph
- Thu 22Light wind, up to 10 mph
- Fri 23Light wind, up to 10 mph
Weather at Santa Rosa Sound, today
| Time | Sky | Temp | Wind | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 am | Sunny | 58°F | NE 20 mph | 0% |
| 9 am | Sunny | 60°F | NE 20 mph | 0% |
| 11 am | Sunny | 65°F | NE 20 mph | 0% |
| 1 pm | Sunny | 67°F | NE 20 mph | 0% |
| 3 pm | Sunny | 69°F | NE 20 mph | 0% |
| 5 pm | Sunny | 68°F | NE 20 mph | 0% |
Tides
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High | Sun 4:07 am | 1.7 ft |
| Low | Sun 4:18 pm | 0.3 ft |
| High | Mon 5:03 am | 1.6 ft |
| Low | Mon 4:46 pm | 0.4 ft |
Daylight
| Sunrise | 6:51 am |
|---|---|
| Sunset | 6:13 pm |
| Question visitors ask | Is Santa Rosa Sound calm enough for paddleboarding today? |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Rosa County |
Where is Santa Rosa Sound and which towns sit on it?
Santa Rosa Sound is a sound that connects Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay. Its northern shore includes the Fairpoint Peninsula and parts of the mainland in Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County. Its southern edge is Santa Rosa Island, which is called Okaloosa Island in the easternmost part of the sound, and that island separates the sound from the Gulf of Mexico.
The communities along Santa Rosa Sound are Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Mary Esther and Fort Walton Beach.
How do the bridges over Santa Rosa Sound affect boats?
Three bridges carry pedestrian and car traffic from the mainland to the barrier islands across Santa Rosa Sound. From west to east, they are the Bob Sikes Bridge (CR 399, often called the Pensacola Beach Bridge), with 65 feet of center-span clearance above mean sea level; the Navarre Beach Causeway (CR 399), with 55 feet; and the Brooks Bridge (US 98), with 50 feet.
The first two bridges have the lowest clearance of any span over the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The article says many sailboats with masts taller than 50 feet must go outside and use the open Gulf of Mexico instead of the protected sound. That statement carries a citation-needed tag in the article.
Santa Rosa Sound: questions visitors ask
Is Santa Rosa Sound calm enough for paddleboarding today?
The Wikipedia article does not report current wind, tide or water conditions for Santa Rosa Sound, so it cannot say whether the water is calm today. Check a current weather or marine forecast for the Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach area before you go.
Which bodies of water does Santa Rosa Sound connect?
Santa Rosa Sound connects Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay in the Florida Panhandle. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is routed through the sound between Pensacola Beach and Fort Walton Beach.
Which bridges cross Santa Rosa Sound and how high are they?
Three bridges cross Santa Rosa Sound: the Bob Sikes Bridge (CR 399) with 65 feet of center-span clearance, the Navarre Beach Causeway (CR 399) with 55 feet, and the Brooks Bridge (US 98) with 50 feet. The clearances are measured above mean sea level.
Can sailboats taller than 50 feet pass under the bridges on Santa Rosa Sound?
The Wikipedia article says many sailboats with masts taller than 50 feet must go outside through the Gulf of Mexico because the lowest bridges block the protected sound. The article marks this statement as needing a citation, so confirm clearances with the bridge operator before you plan a trip.
Which towns are on Santa Rosa Sound?
The article lists Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Mary Esther and Fort Walton Beach as communities along Santa Rosa Sound.
News about Santa Rosa Sound
No articles yet. New stories from Santa Rosa Sound appear here as soon as they are published.