Gulf Islands National Seashore-Davis Bayou Area

Best place for a quiet run. Generous bug spray in evening or bugs will swamp you. Practically my second home. Go and discover the beauty.

This is a lovely oasis in the middle of Ocean Springs! Just the drive through the tree-​line area is very peaceful, with a «share the road» for biking. Though we have never camped there, our friends love the campground which is near a fishing area. There are activities each weekend and during the summer for kids and adults, and there is a nice visitors center with literature and videos about the Davis Bayou and surrounding area. There is no beach at this section of Gulf Island National Seashore, but Front Beach in Ocean Springs is a short drive away and had a boardwalk and is dog-​friendly. Many locals walk the bridge at (not quite 2 miles long) which joins Ocean Springs and Biloxi, which is excellent exercise.

We camped for one night in the Davis Bayou campground, spot #14. For RV campers, this is a 5 star campground. For tent campers like us, it’s not ideal, but it’s not bad. It’s just a short drive from the beach and Ocean Springs, so it’s great for a short and easy stay.
The sites are quite close together, and none are designated specifically for tent camping only, so you might get stuck with two huge RVs on either side of your tent. Fortunately for us, we picked a spot on the back loop by the bayou, and we only had one other tent nearby. Because this is more of a RV-​targeted campground, there were no tent pads, and we had limited flat ground to choose from. The bathrooms appear to be recently renovated and are kept very clean. The showers have good water pressure and lots of hot water. The campground allows pets, and each site has electricity and water. All sites are $ 22/​night and reservations are easy to make on
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There is no entry fee to the park itself. There are a few short trails and nice overlooks on the swamp. We saw a garter snake, an alligator, salamanders, and many birds. The roads and day use areas were all well maintained, and the visitor center staff was friendly and helpful.

Free family friendly any weather activity. The visitor center is well staffed with knowledgeable rangers and/​or volunteers. There are a variety of trails for wanderers to hikers. It’s also bike friendly and I saw some kayaks on the bayou.