Gulf Islands National Seashore
Millions of visitors are drawn to the Gulf of America for Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Come explore with us today!
Alerts
- ClosureHurricane Isaias Closures Florida
All of the areas are closed until further notice. Fort Pickens Area and Fort Pickens Campground Okaloosa Area Santa Rosa Area (Opal Beach) Fort Barrancas Area Naval Live Oaks Area
- ClosureNPS ↗Battery 234 Loop Road Closure
The Battery 234 Loop Road and Battery Cooper within the GUIS, Fort Pickens Management Area will be closed to all for vehicle, bicyclists, and foot (pedestrian) traffic until further notice for safety purposes until the park can correct the leaning and structurally unstable historic Tower 234 that poses danger to visitors and staff.
- CautionNPS ↗Road workers on Park Road in Davis Bayou
Phase II of the Davis Bayou Bicycle and Pedestrian Path is in process. Visitors may encounter minor traffic delays and flaggers on Eagle Point and Park Road.
- CautionNPS ↗Rip Current Status
Review rip current status prior to visiting the park.
- InformationNPS ↗Accessing Fort Barrancas
Fort Barrancas is open 9 am–4 pm Wednesday through Sunday. To access Fort Barrancas, visitors will need to enter the Naval Air station Pensacola through the west gate.
- InformationNPS ↗No Dogs on Beach
Dogs and pets are not allowed on any of the beaches in Gulf Islands National Seashore. Visit the pet rules page for information.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private VehicleCost for up to six people in one vehicle. Good for seven days into any fee area in Florida, (Opal Beach, Johnson Beach, Fort Pickens). | $25 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Fees are required at Fort Pickens Area, Opal Beach Complex Area, and Johnson Beach Area in Florida. Additional fees to ride the ferry. | $20 | |
| Per PersonFees are required at Fort Pickens Area, Opal Beach Complex Area, and Johnson Beach Area in Florida. Additional fees to ride the ferry. | $15 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkGood for 365 days from purchase. Non-replaceable if lost. Keep receipt as second proof of purchase. Design specific to the park and changes annually. | $45 | |
Fees are required at Fort Pickens Area, Opal Beach Complex Area, and Johnson Beach Area in Florida. Additional fees to ride the ferry. All other passes commercial and non-commercial need to be purchased by emailing [email protected].
Hours
| Davis Bayou Area | Daily · 8:00AM - 6:00PM |
| Fort Pickens Area | Daily · 5:00AM - 8:00PM |
| Naval Live Oaks Area | Daily · 8:00AM - Sunset |
| Okaloosa Area | Daily · 8:00AM - Sunset |
| Santa Rosa Area | Daily · 8:00AM - 8:00PM |
| Perdido Key Area | Daily · 5:00AM - 8:00PM |
Fort Pickens Area: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow | 5:00AM - 8:00PM |
| Nov 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027Winter Season | 5:00AM - 6:00PM |
Okaloosa Area: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow | 8:00AM - Sunset |
| Nov 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027Winter Season | 5:00AM - 6:00PM |
| Nov 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027Winter Season | 5:00AM - 6:00PM |
When to go
June draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Campgrounds
| Davis Bayou Campground | 56 sites | |
| $22 a night · This campground is open year-round. The campground office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gate into the Davis Bayou Area closes at sunset year-round. | ||
| Fort Pickens Campground | 201 sites | |
| $25 a night · This campground loop is open year round. The gate into the Fort Pickens Area closes at 8 p.m. in the summer, and 6 p.m. in the winter. | ||
| Naval Live Oaks Youth Group Camping | 1 site | |
| $20 a night · This campground loop is open year round. Gate codes and access information are provided once reservations are confirmed and payment is received. · 1 reservable | ||
| Fort Pickens Group Campground | Campsite Atlas → | |
| Davis Bayou Group Campground | Campsite Atlas → | |
Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works
Visitor centers
- William M. Colmer Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
Located in the Davis Bayou area of Gulf Islands National Seashore this is the main visitor center for the park resources in Mississippi.
- Fort Barrancas Visitor CenterPassport stamp
The Fort Barrancas Visitor Center tells the long history of European settlers attempts to secure the vital Pensacola Bay beginning in the late 1700s and through its deactivation in the mid-1900s.
- Fort Pickens Visitor CenterPassport stamp
Explore indoor exhibits on the natural environment, wildlife, and history of the Fort Pickens Area inside the Visitor Center.
Explore
Things to do
- Watch the Sunrise/Sunset at Gulf Islands15-60 Minutes
Forts, beaches, bayous, and batteries provide amazing views of both sunrise and sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.
Opens on the Park Service site - Paddling in Gulf Islands1-8 Hours
Canoe, kayak, or paddleboard in the beautiful blue-green waters and calm bayous of Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit the Gulf Islands Park Store5-60 Minutes
Purchase souvenirs and more pages for your passport at this bookstore located within historic Fort Pickens.
Opens on the Park Service site - Get Your Passport Stamped at Gulf Islands5-15 Minutes
Collecting stamps, also known as cancellations, is a fun way to commemorate your visit to a new place. Learn where to get your passport stamped at Gulf Islands.
Opens on the Park Service site - Ride your Bike at Gulf Islands30-180 Minutes
Ride your bicycle for miles up and down the scenic coastal roads of Gulf Islands.
Opens on the Park Service site - Florida National Scenic Trail2-5 Days
This 36-mile contiguous section of the Florida National Scenic Trail is the southernmost portion of trail. This moderately strenuous hike can be difficult to traverse at certain times of year.
Opens on the Park Service site
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- View the Night Sky at Gulf Islands30-90 Minutes
Come explore the dark side of Gulf Islands National Seashore!
Opens on the Park Service site - Birdwatching at Gulf Islands30-120 Minutes
More than 280 species of birds have been sighted in Gulf Islands National Seashore, which is featured on Florida and Mississippi birding trails.
Opens on the Park Service site - Go Waterfowl Hunting1-4 Hours
Learn about how and where to hunt for waterfowl at Gulf Islands.
Opens on the Park Service site - Go for a Hike at Gulf Islands30-120 Minutes
Find trails in all sections of the park to explore.
Opens on the Park Service site - Ride the Ferry30-60 Minutes
Ride the to Pensacola Beach, Fort Pickens, or Ship Island.
Opens on the Park Service site - Fishing at Gulf Islands1-6 Hours
Fishing is a great way to enjoy the waters of Gulf Islands National Seashore. Anglers may enjoy casting from shore, a pier, or off a boat. Learn more about what's in season, size and take limits, and what to catch.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- 09:00 AM · runs through Oct 31 · registration requiredPort of Gulfport ferry pier.
- Adventure Through Davis Bayou: Ranger Led Hike10/1401:00 PM · runs through Oct 29 · freeVisitor center in Mississippi
- Tour of Battery Pensacola10/1511:00 AM · runs through Oct 29 · freeMeet inside Fort Pickens.
- Yoga in the Bayou10/1505:30 PM · freeDavis Bayou Pavilion 5
- Seashells (and a Murder Mystery) on Ship Island10/1612:00 PM · runs through Oct 30 · freeMeet on Ship Island swim beach on Ship Island in Mississippi. Only accessible by boat.
- Ranger Talk at Fort Pickens10/1603:00 PM · runs through Nov 1 · freeInside Fort Pickens
Show all 10Hide
- Civil War Medicine10/1611:00 AM · runs through Nov 1 · free · registration requiredInside Fort Pickens
- 09:00 AM · runs through Oct 24 · registration required
- Davis Bayou Kayak Tour10/1810:00 AM · runs through Oct 25 · free · registration requiredBehind the William M. Colmer Visitor Center at the boat house.
- Ranger's Choice Hike in Davis Bayou10/1911:00 AM · runs through Oct 27 · free · registration requiredWilliam M. Colmer Visitor Center
News
- Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida, Mississippi closes for Hurricane Isaias ↗2026-10-08
Gulf Islands National Seashore closes for Hurricane Isaias.
- National Park Service to close Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida, Mississippi for Tropical Storm Isaias ↗2026-10-07
Gulf Islands National Seashore is closing for Tropical Storm Isaias.
- National Park Service Expands Personal Watercraft Access at Gulf Islands National Seashore ↗2026-08-25
The National Park Service today announced a final rule that expands recreational opportunities for personal watercraft (jet-ski) users at Gulf Islands National Seashore by reducing flat-wake zones in Mississippi and…
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for the South
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthOsprey 9× · Brown Pelican 5× · Common Bottlenose Dolphin 2× · Belted Kingfisher 1× · Eastern Screech-Owl 1× · North American River Otter 1×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 305 birds, 43 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · American Swallow-tailed Kite · Bald Eagle · Barn Owl · Barred Owl · Black Vulture · Broad-winged Hawk · Burrowing Owl · Cooper's Hawk · Eastern Screech Owl · Great Horned Owl · Merlin · NORTHERN HARRIER · OSPREY · PEREGRINE FALCON · Red-shouldered Hawk · Red-tailed Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Short-eared Owl · Swainson's Hawk · Turkey Vulture
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Bittern · American Black Duck · American Coot · American White Ibis · American White Pelican · American Wigeon · BLACK RAIL · BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON · Black-necked Grebe · Blue Goose · Blue-winged Teal · Brown Pelican · Bufflehead · CATTLE EGRET · Canada Goose · Common Goldeneye · Common Loon · Common Merganser · Common Teal · Double-crested Cormorant · Glossy Ibis · Great Blue Heron · Great Egret · Greater Scaup · Greater White-fronted Goose · Green Heron · Harlequin Duck · Hooded Merganser · Horned Grebe · King Rail · LITTLE BLUE HERON · Lesser Scaup · Long-tailed Duck · Mangrove Rail · Mottled Duck · Northern Pintail · Pied-billed Grebe · REDDISH EGRET · Red-breasted Merganser · Red-necked Grebe · Ring-necked Duck · Ruddy Duck · SNOWY EGRET · Sandhill Crane · Tricolored Heron · Virginia Rail · Wood Duck · Wood Stork · Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Shorebirds & seabirdsAmerican Avocet · American Golden Plover · American Oystercatcher · American Woodcock · Baird's Sandpiper · Black Tern · Black-bellied Plover · Bonaparte's Gull · Buff-breasted Sandpiper · Caspian Tern · Common Tern · Dunlin · European Herring Gull · Forster's Tern · Franklin's Gull · Glaucous Gull · Great Black-backed Gull · Great Shearwater · Greater Yellowlegs · Gull-billed Tern · Iceland Gull · Laughing Gull · Least Sandpiper · Least Tern · Lesser Black-backed Gull · Lesser Yellowlegs · Long-billed Curlew · Long-billed Dowitcher · Magnificent Frigatebird · Manx Shearwater · Marbled Godwit · Masked Booby · Pectoral Sandpiper · Piping Plover · Pomarine Jaeger · Ring-billed Gull · Royal Tern · Ruddy Turnstone · Sanderling · Sandwich Tern · Semipalmated Plover · Semipalmated Sandpiper · Short-billed Dowitcher · Snowy Plover · Solitary Sandpiper · Sooty Tern · Spotted Sandpiper · Stilt Sandpiper · Upland Sandpiper · Western Sandpiper · White-rumped Sandpiper · Willet · Wilson's Phalarope · Wilson's Plover · Wilson's Storm Petrel · Wilson's snipe · killdeer · skimmer
Gamebirds & dovesCommon Ground Dove · Common Pigeon · Eurasian Collared-dove · Mourning Dove · White-winged Dove
WoodpeckersDowny Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Pileated Woodpecker · Red-bellied Woodpecker · Red-headed Woodpecker · Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsChimney Swift · Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Also on the checklistACADIAN FLYCATCHER · AMERICAN REDSTART · Ae'o · American Cliff Swallow · American Goldfinch · American Pipit · American Robin · Anhinga · Arctic Skua · Ash-throated Flycatcher · BALTIMORE ORIOLE · BAY-BREASTED WARBLER · BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER · BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER · BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER · BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO · BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER · BLACKPOLL WARBLER · BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER · BLUE-HEADED VIREO · BLUE-WINGED WARBLER · BOBOLINK · Barn Swallow · Bell's Vireo · Belted Kingfisher · Black Scoter · Black-billed Cuckoo · Black-headed Grosbeak · Black-legged Kittiwake · Blue Grosbeak · Blue Jay · Boat-tailed Grackle · Brewer's Blackbird · Brown Creeper · Brown Thrasher · Brown-headed Cowbird · Brown-headed Nuthatch · CAPE MAY WARBLER · CEDAR WAXWING · CERULEAN WARBLER · CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER · CHIPPING SPARROW · COMMON YELLOWTHROAT · Canvasback · Caribbean Elaenia · Carolina Wren · Chuck-will's-widow · Common Grackle · Common Moorhen · Common Nighthawk · Connecticut Warbler · DICKCISSEL · Dark-eyed Junco · EASTERN KINGBIRD · EUROPEAN STARLING · Eastern Bluebird · Eastern Meadowlark · Eastern Phoebe · Eastern Towhee · Eastern Wood Pewee · Eurasian Whimbrel · Evening Grosbeak · Field Sparrow · Fish Crow · Fox Sparrow · GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER · GRAY CATBIRD · GRAY KINGBIRD · GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH · GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER · Gadwall · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Grasshopper Sparrow · Groove-billed Ani · HOODED WARBLER · HOUSE WREN · Hermit Thrush · House Finch · House Sparrow · INDIGO BUNTING · KENTUCKY WARBLER · LEAST FLYCATCHER · LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE · LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH · Lark Sparrow · Lesser Nighthawk · Lincoln's Sparrow · MAGNOLIA WARBLER · Mallard · Marsh Wren · NORTHERN PARULA · NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH · Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow · Northern Cardinal · Northern Gannet · Northern Mockingbird · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Northern Shoveler · ORCHARD ORIOLE · OVENBIRD · PAINTED BUNTING · PALM WARBLER · PHILADELPHIA VIREO · PINE SISKIN · PRAIRIE WARBLER · PROTHONOTARY WARBLER · Pacific Diver · Purple Finch · Purple Gallinule · Purple Martin · RED-EYED VIREO · ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK · RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET · Red Knot · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-throated Diver · Red-winged Blackbird · Redhead · Roughleg · Rusty Blackbird · SCARLET TANAGER · SUMMER TANAGER · SWAINSON'S THRUSH · SWAINSON'S WARBLER · SWAMP SPARROW · Sage Thrasher · Sand Martin · Savannah Sparrow · Scarlet Flycatcher · Scissor-tailed Flycatcher · Seaside Sparrow · Sedge Wren · Shiny Cowbird · Song Sparrow · Sora · Surf Scoter · TENNESSEE WARBLER · Tree Swallow · Tufted Titmouse · VEERY · Varied Thrush · Velvet Scoter · Vesper Sparrow · WHITE-EYED VIREO · WHITE-THROATED SPARROW · WILSON'S WARBLER · WOOD THRUSH · WORM-EATING WARBLER · Warbling Vireo · Western Kingbird · Western Tanager · Whip-poor-will · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · Winter Wren · YELLOW WARBLER · YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER · YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT · YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER · YELLOW-THROATED VIREO · YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER · Yellow-billed Cuckoo · Yellow-headed Blackbird
Small mammalsAMERICAN BEAVER · BLACK RAT · EASTERN COTTONTAIL · EASTERN FOX SQUIRREL · EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL · EASTERN MOLE · HISPID COTTON RAT · HOUSE MOUSE · MARSH RICE RAT · MUSKRAT · NORWAY RAT · PERDIDO KEY BEACH MOUSE · SANTA ROSA BEACH MOUSE · SWAMP RABBIT · Southern Flying Squirrel
Marine mammalsATLANTIC SPOTTED DOLPHIN · BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN · FIN WHALE · MANATEE; MANATI · PYGMY SPERM WHALE · SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALE · SPERM WHALE · STRIPED DOLPHIN
PredatorsBLACK BEAR · BOBCAT · COMMON GRAY FOX · COMMON RACCOON · COYOTE · MINK · NORTHERN RIVER OTTER · RED FOX · STRIPED SKUNK
Hoofed mammalsWHITE-TAILED DEER
BatsBRAZILIAN FREE-TAILED BAT · Big Brown Bat · EVENING BAT · SEMINOLE BAT
Also on the checklistFERAL CAT · FERAL DOG · Human · NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO · NUTRIA · VIRGINIA OPOSSUM
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Camping in the national parks · Canoeing and kayaking in the national parks · Diving and snorkeling in the national parks · Fishing in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Horseback riding in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
All 39 activitiesHide
Weather & climate
Weather along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico can change quickly. During the winter temperatures range from 30-60 degrees fahrenheit, rain is less common than other seasons. Snow and freezing temperatures are not common. During the summer temperatures range from 70-100+ degrees fahrenheit. Rain is common during the summer with many thunderstorms. Hurricanes impact the area during the tropical storm season between June and November. Tornadoes can impact the area during the Spring and Fall.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Gulf Islands?
Entrance is $25 per private vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bike. Cost for up to six people in one vehicle.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Gulf Islands?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Gulf Islands-only annual pass is $45.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Gulf Islands takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Gulf Islands free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Gulf Islands?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Gulf Islands. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Gulf Islands?
Standard hours are 8:00AM - 6:00PM, every day.
Source: National Park Service
Can I camp in Gulf Islands?
Yes. The Park Service lists 5 campgrounds in Gulf Islands: Davis Bayou, Fort Pickens, Naval Live Oaks Youth Group Camping, Fort Pickens Group, and Davis Bayou Group. 3 take reservations through Recreation.gov; 2 are first-come, first-served.
Which Gulf Islands campgrounds have showers, hookups, or a dump station?
Showers: Davis Bayou, Fort Pickens, and Naval Live Oaks Youth Group Camping. Dump station: Davis Bayou and Fort Pickens. Electric hookups: Davis Bayou and Fort Pickens.
Source: Campgrounds
Do camping fees at Gulf Islands include the entrance fee?
No. Camping is charged per night on top of the entrance fee or a pass; Davis Bayou is $22 a night.
Source: Campgrounds
Is anything closed at Gulf Islands right now?
6 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Hurricane Isaias Closures Florida; Battery 234 Loop Road Closure; and more.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Gulf Islands?
7,576,923 recreation visits in 2025, number 7 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Gulf Islands?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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