page_title: Navarre, Florida
section_title: Attractions
hierarchical_section_title: Navarre, Florida / Attractions
caption_attribution_description: English: The Navarre Beach sign with spring flowers.
context_page_description: Navarre is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Santa Rosa County in the northwest Florida Panhandle. It is a major bedroom community for mostly U.S. military personnel, federal civil servants, local population, retirees and defense contractors. Due to Navarre Beach and the four miles of beach front on the Gulf of Mexico thereof, as well as several miles of beaches within the Navarre Beach Marine Park and the Gulf Islands National Seashore, it has a small, but rapidly growing community of nature enthusiasts and tourists. Navarre has quickly grown from being a small town of around 1,500 in 1970 to a town with a population of 44,876, as of a 2020 estimate.
  Navarre is about 25 miles east of Pensacola and about 15 miles west of Fort Walton Beach. The community is roughly centered on the junction of U.S. Route 98 and State Road 87. It is part of the Pensacola–Ferry Pass–Brent Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the second largest community in the metropolitan area, according to a 2014 study.
  Navarre is also part of the Fort Walton Beach-Navarre-Wright Urbanized Area. It is known for the natural environment, swimming, picnic spots, and its beach.
context_section_description: Navarre is centered near the junction of U.S. Highway 98, the primary east-west route between Pensacola and the Fort Walton Beach area, and State Road 87. It is located near several large military facilities: Naval Air Station Pensacola to the west; Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base to the east; and Naval Air Station Whiting Field to the North.
  Tourism has increased in the Navarre area since 2010, being declared "Florida's Best Kept Secret" by the local hospitality business.  Navarre has a park on the mainland next to Navarre Beach bridge and the Intracoastal Waterway that contains a visitor information center; water splash pad, duck pond, butterfly house, playground, gazebos; pier and small beach area. Boating, Surfing, jet skiing, paddle boarding, fishing, bird watching, exploring scenic trails, and walking/jogging are popular among the residents and visitors. Navarre's fourth hotel became the first beachfront hotel to operate since 2004 when it opened in 2017.
  In 2010 the Navarre Beach fishing pier was rebuilt after repeated damage from hurricanes.  At 1,545 feet (471 m), it is currently the longest fishing pier on the Gulf of Mexico and in the state of Florida.
  The Panhandle Butterfly House on Navarre Parkway opened in 1997.  Around 14,000 visitors stop by each year to see butterflies up close, learn about their life cycle, and find out how to attract butterflies to their own gardens. A highlight each year is the monarch migration; the orange and black butterflies are seen in the thousands as they travel to and from Mexico to breed. Due to miscommunication on the fault of the Santa Rosa County Commission, the Butterfly House closed its Navarre Park location for the 2019 season and is expected to reopen in 2021 in a new location in Milton, a few miles north of Navarre.
  Navarre Park provides a play area for children, basketball courts, picnic pavilions, and restroom facilities. The park hosts several large community events each year. Renovation plans for the improved 7-acre park include a new playground, splash pad, restrooms, parking, shade areas, pavilions and a new seawall; slated to be finished in 2021.
caption: The old Navarre Beach sign in the spring time
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