Gulf Islands National Seashore — Davis Bayou

The mainland piece of the Gulf Islands National Seashore sits just east of Ocean Springs on Park Road — salt marshes, live oak forest, nature trails threading toward Davis Bayou. This is where the National Park Service runs headquarters for the entire seashore, which stretches from Cat Island, Mississippi to Perdido Key, Florida. The visitor center holds exhibits on barrier island ecosystems and the Mississippi Sound. The campground is the only NPS campground on the Mississippi coast; book ahead for peak season. Free admission.