Gulf Islands National Seashore Mississippi

The Mississippi portion of Gulf Islands National Seashore protects a chain of undeveloped barrier islands in the Mississippi Sound — Ship, Horn, Petit Bois and other islands with white-sand beaches, clear warm water, maritime forest, salt marsh and rich wildlife, accessible only by private boat or concession ferry from Ocean Springs and other mainland launch points.

These are among the most pristine barrier islands on the northern Gulf Coast — no roads, no development, no crowds on the outer islands, with water that is cleaner and calmer than open Gulf beaches. The barrier islands protect the mainland coast from storm surge and offer outstanding swimming, shelling, birding (huge nesting colonies of terns and skimmers) and backcountry camping. Gulf Islands National Seashore is a treasured natural icon of Mississippi.

Gulf Islands National Seashore Mississippi offers swimming and wading in the warm, shallow Mississippi Sound waters, beachcombing and shelling (whelks, scallops and sand dollars wash up after storms), birding (the islands host huge nesting colonies of least terns, royal terns and black skimmers, and migratory shorebirds concentrate on the beaches), backcountry camping on Horn and Petit Bois islands (permit required, pack everything in and out), wildlife watching (bottlenose dolphins often visible from the ferry, loggerhead sea turtles nest on the outer beaches), and fort tours (Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island, a pre-Civil War era fortification). The pristine barrier-island beach and the Fort Massachusetts history are the signature draws.

Spring (April through June) and fall (September through November) offer the most comfortable temperatures for beach visits, with warm water and fewer jellyfish than summer. Summer brings the warmest water (excellent for swimming) and the nesting tern colonies at peak activity, but also heat, humidity and jellyfish. Fall migration brings shorebirds and migrant songbirds to the islands. Winter is mild and uncrowded. Spring for comfortable temperatures and nesting birds, and summer for the warmest swimming and fort tours are the highlights — any time of year is extraordinary on the barrier islands.

The barrier islands of the Mississippi Sound have sheltered mariners since the era of European exploration — Ship Island (the largest, most accessible island) served as a major anchorage, a yellow-fever quarantine station and the site of Fort Massachusetts, built by the U.S. Army in 1859. During the Civil War, Union forces seized Ship Island and used Fort Massachusetts as a prison camp for Confederate soldiers. The Confederacy held the island briefly before the Union captured and held it for the war’s duration. Gulf Islands National Seashore preserves this remarkable maritime and military heritage, a treasured icon of Gulf Coast history.

The barrier islands of Gulf Islands National Seashore are low, sandy barrier islands formed by longshore drift of sand along the Gulf Coast, with beaches, dunes, maritime shrub-forest (wax myrtle, yaupon holly, live oak) and marsh on the interior. The islands are dynamic — shifting, eroding and rebuilding with each hurricane season. Hurricane Katrina (2005) dramatically reshaped the islands (Ship Island was split in two, later reconnected by the rebuilding of sand). The sandy Pleistocene-age barrier island system, the Gulf currents and the storm dynamics created the beautiful, shifting barrier islands.

Gulf Islands National Seashore Mississippi hosts world-class seabird and shorebird nesting — least terns, royal terns, Caspian terns, and black skimmers nest in large colonies on the open sandy beaches (late April through July; these areas are roped off to protect nesting birds). Loggerhead sea turtles nest on the outer beaches in summer (protected; do not disturb). Bottlenose dolphins are commonly seen from the ferry and near the islands. The salt marshes support wading birds, and the maritime forest attracts neotropical migrants in spring and fall. Gulf Islands offers exceptional birding and wildlife watching.

The barrier islands of Gulf Islands National Seashore protect a chain of nearly pristine barrier-island ecosystems on the northern Gulf Coast — white-sand beach, active sand dunes, maritime shrub forest and salt marsh supporting nesting seabirds, sea turtles and a rich marine community in the surrounding shallow sound. The barrier islands also protect the mainland from storm surge (a critical ecological service). Protecting the nesting colonies, the sea turtle nesting beaches, the native maritime vegetation and the pristine water quality sustains this irreplaceable Gulf Coast ecosystem.

Gulf Islands National Seashore Mississippi holds a treasured place among the icons of the Gulf Coast — pristine, undeveloped barrier islands with white-sand beaches, clear water and the pre-Civil War Fort Massachusetts, accessible only by ferry, offering the most unspoiled Gulf barrier-island experience in Mississippi. Fort Massachusetts’s Civil War history and the pristine barrier-island experience together make Gulf Islands National Seashore exceptional. It is a cherished natural and historical icon of Mississippi.

The Mississippi portion of Gulf Islands National Seashore is accessible via concession ferry from the Biloxi/Ocean Springs mainland area (Ship Island ferry is the most popular — check Ship Island Excursions for schedules and tickets) or by private boat. The national seashore mainland visitor center is in Ocean Springs. Horn and Petit Bois islands require private boat or charter (primitive camping; no concession ferry). The Mississippi Gulf Coast cities of Biloxi, Gulfport and Ocean Springs have full services. Check the NPS Gulf Islands website for current ferry schedules, island access, camping permits and conditions before visiting.

The National Park Service manages Gulf Islands National Seashore. Tern and skimmer nesting colonies are roped off during nesting season (late April through July) — never enter or disturb the nesting areas (the birds will abandon nests and chicks). Sea turtle nests are marked — do not approach. Carry all trash off the island (no facilities on the outer islands). Do not remove shells, sand or other natural materials in large quantities. Clean, drain and dry all watercraft to prevent invasive species spread. Protecting the nesting birds, the sea turtles and the pristine island environment sustains this irreplaceable national seashore.

The barrier islands are remote — if going by private boat, tell someone your plans, carry all safety equipment, and check weather forecasts (afternoon thunderstorms and sudden Gulf squalls are common in summer). Carry all water, food and sunscreen (no facilities on the outer islands). Jellyfish (including stinging sea nettles) are common in the Sound, especially in summer. The ferry to Ship Island is the safest way to experience the islands for first-time visitors. Respect the isolation, the sun and heat, the jellyfish, and the nesting birds.

NPS entrance and ferry fees apply. Do not enter roped nesting-bird areas. Do not disturb sea turtle nests. Camping on Horn and Petit Bois requires a NPS backcountry permit (no facilities; pack everything in and out). No alcohol on the islands. Clean, drain and dry all watercraft. Pack out all trash. Pets are not permitted on the outer islands. Check the NPS for current ferry schedules, camping permits, island access rules and conditions before visiting.

The cities of Biloxi (with casinos, seafood, Beauvoir Jefferson Davis Home and the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum), Gulfport, Ocean Springs (with a charming downtown and Walter Anderson Museum), and the Mississippi Gulf Coast resort communities lie near the seashore. Deer Island (near Ocean Springs, a small state park accessible by kayak), the Mississippi Aquarium in Biloxi and the Gulf Coast’s seafood restaurants are nearby. Gulf Islands anchors the Gulf Coast outdoor experience, easily combined with a Biloxi seafood dinner and the Ocean Springs arts district.

Book the Ship Island ferry well in advance for summer weekends — it sells out. Arrive at the ferry dock early, bring sun protection (the barrier islands are exposed with no shade), carry plenty of water, and plan for at least 3-4 hours on the island for the full experience (beach, fort, nesting birds). Tour Fort Massachusetts with the NPS ranger for the Civil War history. Watch the offshore water near the ferry for dolphins (almost always present). Check the nesting-colony ropes carefully before setting up a beach blanket in late April through July — least terns nest very close to the beach and are easily disturbed.