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Submission
Gulf Islands National Seashore's Davis Bayou Campground offers tent and recreational vehicle camping experiences in a wooded area next to Davis Bayou in Mississippi.
In developed campgrounds fires may be built in permanent grills (charcoal only) or fire rings at designated sites. Exception: Portable grills may be used at designated campsites by registered campers. Portable grills are not allowed on the beaches unless in an area where authorized beach fires are allowed.
3500 Park Road
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
From Interstate 10: Take Exit 50 or 57 toward Ocean Springs. The area entrance is located at the intersection of U.S. 90 and Park Road, three miles east of downtown Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
A beautiful campground right in the bayou. Small but newly paved throughout, including the site pads. Utilities well placed (no sewer), but our site (#10) was a bit awkward to back into because it was on the passenger side. Rangers and camp hosts were friendly and helpful, and patrolled frequently. Bathrooms/showers clean and centrally located. As a birder, it was active, even in December; a pair of calling Clapper Rails was in the marsh behind us, and a Great Horned Owl spent a day roosting in a tree about 50 feet behind our trailer! The visitor center was informative and the ranger was friendly. We watched an adult Bald Eagle chase an Osprey to make it give up its fish, at the boat ramp. Hope to return, as a week wasn't long enough. Very close to lots of shopping, gas, restaurants, etc.
This campground is beautiful!!! Only 51 sites, but large enough that you don't feel on top of your camping neighbors. Lots of trails to walk, lots of nature to see. I like that the campground hosts check on you. Friendly, social, and just nice! I walked to the fishing pier and saw Deer Island. So beautiful!
We stayed four nights in October, 2023. This was our third time at Davis Bayou and will not be the last. We've stayed in sites 23, 35, and 36, all on the outside of the loop on the south side of the campground. The campground and facilities are quiet and well maintained. Everything there is kept clean. The grounds, roads, dump station, bathrooms, and showers are well maintained. The utilities at the site are well placed. Water pressure at the campsites is excellent and the power connection boxes are modern. The showers have good water pressure and plenty of hot water. The NPS staff that takes care of the campground does good work and are all good folks to deal with. We didn't get a chance to interact with the camp hosts.
The sites in the middle of the loop are very open without much privacy. The sites outside the loop all back up to heavy woods and are more private, but still close together.
The boat launch is close to the campground and is similarly well maintained. There is ample parking there and it never seems to be too congested. The area is good for walking. The campground is connected by walking path to a quiet residential area that actually has sidewalks!
Verizon cell and data service was minimal with about 2-3 bars of 4G. Data service worked reasonably well with a booster but would not support streaming.
There are a few minor negatives. One, the sites are tightly spaced and don't offer a lot of buffer between sites. Two, the site driveways are short. Of the three we stayed in, #36 was the only one that was really big enough to accommodate our 22' trailer and tow vehicle. That seems to be the norm in the campground. The folks with bigger rigs really had to get creative with parking. The dump station is oddly located inside the campground on the inbound loop near the entrance. That results in quite a traffic jam when a lot of people are checking out at the same time. It also means making an extra trip around the campground to get to and exit the dump station.
Great place, beautiful and lots to do !
However it says big rig friendly it is not really friendly 😅. Hopefully we had help from the neighbours to park our 44ft toy hauler! A lot of work, it is worth it if you are staying for more than one night. Which is what we plan to do.
Everyone was really nice and friendly. Toilets and showers are clean !
There is no better spot to visit the National Park.
