The 2026 Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show flies Friday November 6 and Saturday November 7 at Sherman Field on Naval Air Station Pensacola, and admission is free. It’s the Blues’ final show of the season on their home field, and it turns the first weekend of November into the busiest stretch of the year around Pensacola. Lodging fills months out, so if you’re bringing an RV or want a cottage close by, book as early as you can. Splash RV Resort in Milton, a short drive up I-10, keeps you out of the downtown crush.
When Is the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show 2026?
The Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is Friday November 6 and Saturday November 7, 2026 at Sherman Field aboard NAS Pensacola. Gates open at 8:00 a.m., the flying demonstrations get going by mid-morning, and the Blue Angels typically headline in the early afternoon, close to 2:00 p.m. each day. Admission, parking, and general blanket seating are free, according to the official NAS Pensacola Air Show site.
That same first weekend of November is stacked with events, which is why the whole area books up. The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival runs November 6 to 8 at Seville Square in downtown Pensacola, and it lands inside the city’s 12-day Foo Foo Fest arts season (October 29 to November 9). With three big draws landing on the same days, where you sleep matters as much as where you sit.
Where to Stay Near Pensacola for the Air Show Weekend
For a weekend this busy, staying just outside the crowds with a clear interstate route to the base beats fighting for a room downtown. Splash RV Resort near Pensacola puts full-hookup RV sites, luxury cottages, and Conestoga-style glamping wagons on one Milton property just off I-10, so you can skip the base-area gridlock and still reach the flight line in under an hour.
The pads are all-concrete and roomy enough for a big rig, and after a long day watching the jets there’s a lazy river and heated pools waiting back at camp. Stay right beside the base and you’re stuck with packed lots and nowhere to unwind once the show ends.
How Many Minutes From the Resort to Sherman Field?
Splash RV Resort sits about 45 minutes and roughly 30 miles up I-10 from Sherman Field at NAS Pensacola. Give yourself extra time on show mornings, because base traffic backs up and gates close once the lots fill. Downtown Pensacola and the arts festival are even closer, at about 27 minutes. The table below lays out the weekend’s key stops from the resort.
All times are approximate and depend on traffic, so it’s worth checking your route the morning of the show.
RV Sites, Cottages and Glamping That Book Fast
You’ve got three ways to stay here, and on a weekend this popular each one goes fast. The resort has more than 280 full-hookup RV sites with 50-amp service on all-concrete roads and pads, including pull-thru spots that welcome big rigs up to 111 feet. Flying in without an RV? The resort also has 34 luxury cottages that sleep four to six, plus eight Conestoga-style glamping wagons that each sleep up to four.
Between show days, you don’t have to leave the property to have a good time. There’s a year-round lazy river, heated family and adults-only pools, mini golf, pickleball courts, an arcade, a camp store, a dog park, and a tiki bar. If you’d rather stretch the trip into a longer getaway, ask about the winter monthly stays for snowbirds and check the current specials.
What Else to Do in Pensacola That Weekend
The air show is the headliner, but you could fill the whole weekend near Pensacola. Early November is a great time for it, with an average high around 71 degrees, per Weatherspark climate data, so it’s comfortable for being outdoors. These stops pair well with a day at the show.
- Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival (about 27 minutes away): a free, juried festival at Seville Square featuring, in the organizers’ words, “over two hundred of the country’s finest artists.” It runs 9 to 5 Friday and Saturday and 9 to 4 Sunday. Details at ggaf.org.
- National Naval Aviation Museum (about 45 minutes away): among the world’s biggest aviation museums, and it’s free to walk in. Open 9 to 4 daily. Getting on base means bringing a REAL ID-compliant license or passport if you’re 18 or older, so check navalaviationmuseum.org before you go.
- Historic downtown Pensacola and Palafox Street: a walkable district of shops, galleries, and restaurants, with the Saturday-morning Palafox Market and marina views at Plaza de Luna.
- Fort Pickens and the Gulf Islands National Seashore: white sand and Gulf views a bit farther out near Pensacola Beach. A per-vehicle entrance fee applies, so check the current rate before you drive over.
Tips for the Air Show (Parking, Crowds, What to Bring)
Security is tight on base and the lots fill early, so the weekend goes better when you arrive ahead of the crowd, carry a valid photo ID, and travel light. A few specifics worth knowing before you drive over.
- Get there early. Gates open at 8:00 a.m. and traffic builds long before the Blue Angels fly. Free parking with a shuttle to the flight line fills up, and gates close at capacity.
- Bring the right ID. For base entry, adults generally need either a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or a passport. Access rules can change, so confirm the latest requirements on the official air show FAQ before you head out.
- Pack smart. Coolers, outside food and drinks, and backpacks are not allowed. Small purses and diaper bags are okay and subject to search. Bring sunscreen, a hat, ear protection for little ones, and refillable water.
- Leave pets at camp. Pets aren’t permitted at the show, only service animals, so plan to leave the dog back at the resort’s dog park for the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show free?
Yes. Admission, parking, and general blanket seating for the 2026 Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show at NAS Pensacola are free, per the official air show site. Paid reserved and VIP seating is available if you want a guaranteed spot.
Where should you stay for the Pensacola air show?
Stay just outside the crowds at a full-service resort with an easy interstate route in. Splash RV Resort in Milton is roughly 30 miles from Sherman Field and gathers RV sites, cottages, and glamping wagons on one property, so you skip the downtown parking crush.
How far is the resort from downtown Pensacola?
It’s about a 27-minute drive, roughly 23 miles, from the resort to downtown Pensacola and Seville Square. That makes it easy to catch the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival the same weekend as the show.
Can you bring coolers or pets to the air show?
No. Coolers, outside food and drinks, and backpacks are prohibited, and pets aren’t allowed on base for the show, only service animals. Small purses and diaper bags are permitted and subject to search.
Does the resort have full-hookup RV sites near Pensacola?
Yes. There are more than 280 full-hookup sites with 50-amp service on all-concrete roads and pads, including pull-thru options that fit rigs as long as 111 feet. That makes Splash one of the roomier RV parks near Pensacola for a busy air-show weekend.
Is there heated swimming in November?
Yes. The family and adults-only pools are heated and open year-round, and the seasonal hot tub runs through the cooler months, so you can warm up after a long day in the stands. The lazy river runs all year as well, though that one isn’t heated.
Book Your Air-Show Basecamp Near Pensacola
The resort sits roughly 30 miles up I-10 from the NAS Pensacola flight line, plus a 25-minute hop to Navarre Beach if you want sand in the mix. Homecoming weekend books up fast, so check your dates and reserve now, and start planning things to do around Milton, Navarre, and Pensacola while you’re at it.
