Davis Bayou Campground: Everything You Need to Know

Located in the salt marshes of Mississippi, Davis Bayou Campground is a hidden gem that is not only affordable, but also a great little campground.  Each site has water and electric and you’re within minutes of some great Mississippi beaches and towns.  

The Davis Bayou Campground (on the Mississippi side) and Fort Pickens Campground (on the Florida side) are the 2 developed campgrounds within the confines of Gulf Islands National Seashore.  While the Florida side is arguably prettier, the Mississippi side is definitely worth visiting.  

Here is everything you need to know about Davis Bayou Campground, let’s get you started with some important links!

Important Links

Gulf Islands National Seashore website

Camping Journal – Never Forget Your Favorite Camping Details Again!

Davis Bayou Campground – Make Reservations Here

Davis Bayou Area Map

Fort Pickens Campground – More Camping in Gulf Islands

Location

If you are looking to go camping at Davis Bayou Campground, you’re in luck!  This campground is near several major cities of the south and you’ll love how quickly you can get there.  The campground is just 1 hour from Mobile, AL, a little over 2 hours from New Orleans, LA and is 3.5 hours from Jackson, MS.  

Davis Bayou Campground is located on the Mississippi side of Gulf Islands National Seashore, which protects the coastal islands of the gulf.  The official address of the campground is below.  

Address: 3500 Park Road Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Fees

Now that you know where to go, let’s discuss the fee to enter this National Seashore.  And here is where I have good news for you…there is no fee to enter this area!

Unlike over on the Florida side of the National Seashore, you do not have to have a pass to access this area.  So save your pennies and come camp on the Mississippi side of the Gulf Island National Seashore!

Know Before You Go 

So what else should you know before you arrive?  After all, each campground is slightly different.  

• Check-in is 1pm
• Check out is 11am
• Reservations can be made 6 months in advance
• 14 day maximum stay
• 2 vehicles per site max
• 8 people per site max
• DO NOT park with your tires on the grass/sand or this could result in a fine
• Fires must be kept in the provided fire ring
• For late check-in, you will be provided with a gate code to enter
• The gate code is required for any after-hours entry into the campground
• Nothing can be hung on trees
• Pets are allowed, but must be attended
• The campground is open year round
• Visitor Center Hours 9am – 4:00pm 

For all the details that you should Know Before You Go, check out this page on the Gulf Islands website.  

Hiking Trails

There aren’t many hiking trails within the Davis Bayou area.  There are 3 very short and flat trails that lead you around various areas of the park.  

Trail Names

• Davis Bayou Trail – 1 mile – Out and Back
• Civilian Conservation Corp. Spur Trail – 0.2 miles, Out-and-Back
• Nature’s Way Trail – 0.5 miles, Loop Trail

We mostly just walked around the campground and the roads for our exercise.  But the trails were still cool to see and explore while we were there.  We were able to see several species of birds, but didn’t get to see any alligators while we were camping here.    

Ok, let’s get into the campground details and what to expect!

The Campground 

Davis Bayou Campground offers 52 Water/Electric campsites at an affordable rate.  There is a centrally located bathhouse with showers and bathrooms, and a dump station for all your camper/RV needs.  

These sites vary in size and vary in shade/sun exposure.  The sites are mostly well-spaced, with a few that are closer together than others.  Within this Gulf Islands area, there is a Visitor Center, 5 Pavilions, a boat ramp, a fishing pier and 3 hiking trails.  

Details

• 52 Standard Water/Electric Sites
• 1 Group Camping Site (Tents Only)
• Boat Ramp 
• 1 Bathhouse w/Showers
• Dump Station
• Fishing Pier
• Picnic Area

Group Camping Site (Tents Only)

There is only one group campsite in Davis Bayou Campground.  You can have a group between 10 and 40 people with up to 12 vehicles camping here.  There is no electric hook-up here, so be sure to bring your battery banks to charge any devices you have. 

There is water hook-up, a fire pit area, multiple picnic tables, and a lot of privacy from the rest of the campground.  And at only $20 per night (for 25 people or less) or $30 per night (for between 26 and 40 people), this is a great place to bring some friends for a cheap weekend.  

Tent/Camper/RV Sites

Tents, Campers and RVs are all welcome at Davis Bayou Campground.  All of the sites have electric and water hook-ups, so regardless of what you’re camping in, you’ll have these hook-ups.  

If you are camping in any type of RV, make sure that you read the description for the site you want to book.  There are MANY different sizes available in Davis Bayou Campground.  Some are barely big enough for a small camper while other can accommodate big rigs and their trucks.  So be thorough with reading the descriptions before you book.  

But what about the prices?  Camping is notoriously cheap, but exactly how cheep are we talking?

Price Comparison

**Disclaimer: These prices can and will change depending on the dates, weekends or holidays that you are booking.  These prices are just to give you an idea of a budget and were the prices as of January 2025.

Group Site (10 – 25 People)

• $20 per night 
• $140 per week

Group Site (26 – 40 People)

• $30 per night 
• $210 per week

Camper/RV Site

• $22 per night
• $154 per week

Again, these prices are just to give you an idea of a budget for camping in Davis Bayou Campground.  

Our Camping Experience

My husband and I camped in Davis Bayou Campground in January of 2025 and we actually endured the record snowfall of the south!  We were safe and sound and enjoyed the beauty of the snow while we stayed here.  

As for the rest of our camping trip, we loved our stay here!  The sites are wide and flat, easy for parking our 25 foot travel trailer.  The bathhouse was very clean and the showers were hot and had decent water pressure.  

This campground is less than 15 minutes away from Downtown Ocean Springs, MS.  Ocean Springs has a cute little downtown area where there are dozens of shops and restaurants for you to explore and enjoy.  If you camp here, you are also only a half hour from Downtown Biloxi and Biloxi Beach.  This area is adorable with shopping and a great boardwalk for walking or biking.  

Normally we book our campsites 6 months in advance, but this campground was a last minute booking for us because of the cold (and SNOW).  Because of this delayed booking, we ended up having to split our 2 weeks across 4 campsites.

Overall, we really enjoyed our stay at Davis Bayou Campground!  This campground has everything a good campground needs at a very affordable rate.  

Conclusion

If you are looking for a cheap way to visit coastal Mississippi or explore this side of Gulf Islands National Seashore, look no further than Davis Bayou Campground!  Just minutes from downtown Ocean Springs, and less than 30 minutes to the beach, you’ll love camping here.  

This campground should definitely be on your list of places to stop if you are looking to explore coastal Mississippi.  Even if it’s just for a quick weekend, be sure to check out Davis Bayou Campground.  

As always, feel free to ask any questions at averagewildexperience@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to help.

-Happy Camping!