Davis Bayou Campground Review: Great Place To See an Alligator

davis-bayou-campground

We drove all the way from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to see an alligator in the wild, and we were not disappointed.

Davis Bayou Campground is an excellent place to camp. Our review will tell you everything you need to know about the park, from the campsites and amenities to where the alligators are sunbathing.

We love visiting the Gulf Islands National Seashore and think you will enjoy staying at this campground in Mississippi.

Where Is Davis Bayou Campground?

Davis Bayou Campground in Mississippi
Exploring Davis Bayou

The campground is located near Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Davis Bayou is roughly 2 hours west of Pensacola, an hour west of Mobile, or an hour and 45 minutes northeast of New Orleans.

Davis Bayou Area Map

Below is a map so you can orient yourself.

Davis Bayou Campground Details

Davis Bayou is a good place to camp if you want a peaceful place. It is tucked within the trees and close to the bayou.

There are 52 campsites. Most sites have shade at some part of the day or are entirely shaded.

The campground is open year-round and is suitable for tents, RVs, vans, and motorhomes.

More campsite details:

  • Standard electric hookups
  • Water hookup
  • There is a dump station
  • Picnic table
  • Fire pit
  • The bathhouse has running water, hot showers, and flush toilets
  • There is cell phone reception
  • Trash collection is available
  • No camp store or ice
  • No firewood for sale
  • No laundry facilities

When we visited, the bathhouse was clean and had air conditioning, which was a treat because it was hot and humid.

Watch Our Campground Review on YouTube

We visited Davis Bayou on our way home from spending a week exploring the state parks near Pensacola, Gulf Islands Perdido Key, and Fort Pickens.

We take you on a biking tour of the central part of the park (excluding the islands) so you can see the layout.

How To Make Camping Reservations

You can make online reservations ahead of time on recreation.gov.

We use the recreation.gov mobile app, which is convenient.

Check out our article on FREE apps we use to find camping and hiking all over the U.S.

Camping Fees

Check out recreation.gov for the most current fees.

Things To Do at Davis Bayou

Things to do at Davis Bayou
Looking for alligators

Paddling

The Gulf Islands National Seashore is famous for its kayaking adventures. Paddling (link to NPS) and fishing are popular activities in the bayou, and several outfitters open year-round can provide equipment and instruction, or you can bring your own.

For a leisurely paddle, launch from the designated Davis Bayou boat launch and paddle around the bayou close to shore.

For the more experienced sea kayaker, you can paddle out to Horn Island and Petit Bois. Both islands are designated wilderness areas. Backcountry camping (boat-in camping) is allowed here.

Biking

There are no official bike trails, but we biked around the main paved roads and had a blast.

Hiking

There are a few short trails within the park to check out while visiting. Some are paved, and some are not.

  • CCC Overlook Trail
  • Nature’s Way Trail
  • Davis Bayou North Trail
  • Davis Bayou South Trail

Be sure to bring bug spray (seriously). The flies were brutal when we visited in May.

Watching for Wildlife

Davis Bayou Mississippi Alligator
Alligator in the wild

One of the best things about the Davis Bayou Area is that it’s home to several alligators, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled while you’re there. You’ll see a few pull-offs along the road where you’ll be able to see ‘gators basking in the sun or lurking in the marsh.

This was the best part of the trip! Finally, I saw an alligator in the wild from a safe distance.

We also saw turtles and lots of seabirds.

Fishing and Boating

We saw quite a few folks fishing from boats on Davis Bayou. There is a fishing pier near the visitor center, and trails and boardwalks lead out towards the water.

There is also a separate boat launch area.

Swimming is not allowed in the park (because there are alligators and poisonous snakes).

You can boat out to Cat Island, Horn Island, Petit Bois, Ship Island, and West Petit Bois Island.

Explore the Visitor Center

The William M. Colmer Visitor Center has a neat exhibit area to explore and air conditioning if you need to escape the heat for a little.

Best Time of Year To Visit

Davis Bayou Fishing Pier
Fishing pier

The park is open year-round. However, it is on the Gulf, so consider hurricane season (June-November) when making plans.

If you don’t like it super-hot and humid, you might consider avoiding late May through September. We visited in mid-May and thought the weather was great. It would be nice to visit in the late fall and early spring.

How Much Time To Spend Here

You can easily spend one day to three days or more.

If you just want to camp, check out the area, and look for alligators, you can do that in a day. If you want to enjoy more of the area and paddle or go boating, spend multiple days here.

Ashlee & Pablo


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Ashlee Fechino

Ashlee Fechino is an outdoor recreation and travel writer sharing the best-kept secrets that aren’t in your typical guidebook. Her goal is to inspire people to travel with a sense of adventure by sharing hidden gems across the U.S. and beyond. She is married to an expat Argentine, Pablo. They camp in their Aliner often and love wandering the world. Follow their latest adventures on Instagram @thehappinessfxn.

16 Comments

  1. Travel Heal Love on September 1, 2022 at 6:16 pm

    Such a great campground and with so many activities! I love the fact that you have a lot of options as in many campground ms I have been there is nothing around to do and it can be a little boring. Thanks for sharing!



    • Ashlee Fechino on September 2, 2022 at 2:29 pm

      Hi there! Thanks for reading. We drove all the way here just to stay at Davis Bayou. We thought it was great. Check it out sometime.



  2. Lisa Manderino on September 1, 2022 at 10:21 am

    Alligators scare me so much! I think I have an irrational fear however the Bayou campground would be a perfect place to see them at a safe distance!



    • Ashlee Fechino on September 2, 2022 at 2:29 pm

      Hi Lisa – you can totally see them at a safe distance here. We felt really safe.



  3. Anja | Anja On Adventure on September 1, 2022 at 10:09 am

    Love this! I just booked a campervan (in Europe) for a wee little road trip and now I regret not doing it there. Have to admit that I would not go out of it if there are alligators but it sounds like such a cool experience.



    • Ashlee Fechino on September 2, 2022 at 2:28 pm

      Hi Anja! A campervan road trip through Europe sounds way fun! We hope you have a great time. Thanks for reading. Next time you’ll have to swing through the Gulf States in the USA!



  4. Krista on September 1, 2022 at 7:45 am

    This looks like a really cool place to go camping, but I’m not sure I’d be able to sleep with all of the gators hanging around!



    • Ashlee Fechino on September 1, 2022 at 8:18 am

      Hi Krista! The alligators were near the water away from the campground. We felt safe. It was fun to see them in their natural habitat.



  5. Sharyn on September 1, 2022 at 2:23 am

    Not overly fond of alligators myself but great to see them in their natural habitat.



    • Ashlee Fechino on September 1, 2022 at 8:17 am

      Hi Sharyn – thanks for reading. We felt totally safe while exploring the park so don’t worry!



  6. Bobbi Buswell on August 13, 2022 at 6:03 pm

    Will be traveling this area soon, depending on the weather.
    Looking forward to seeing and learning more about Perdido Key.



    • Ashlee Fechino on August 14, 2022 at 12:45 pm

      Hi Bobbi – thanks for reading. Hope you have a great trip!



  7. Gregg on August 11, 2022 at 11:26 am

    Cool probably won’t be able to get a reservation next time thanks.



    • Ashlee Fechino on August 14, 2022 at 12:48 pm

      Thanks for reading, Gregg. When we visited it was easy to get a campsite in May. Not sure about the summer months or touristy seasons.



  8. Burt Randall on July 25, 2022 at 5:48 pm

    This trip sounds fun !!

    Be careful of those alligators !!



    • Ashlee Fechino on July 26, 2022 at 4:54 pm

      Hi Burt! Thank you for reading. You can view the alligators from a safe distance easily 🙂