Davis Bayou Campground Review: Great Place To See an Alligator
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?
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
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
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
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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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!
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.
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!
Hi Lisa – you can totally see them at a safe distance here. We felt really safe.
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.
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!
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!
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.
Not overly fond of alligators myself but great to see them in their natural habitat.
Hi Sharyn – thanks for reading. We felt totally safe while exploring the park so don’t worry!
Will be traveling this area soon, depending on the weather.
Looking forward to seeing and learning more about Perdido Key.
Hi Bobbi – thanks for reading. Hope you have a great trip!
Cool probably won’t be able to get a reservation next time thanks.
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.
This trip sounds fun !!
Be careful of those alligators !!
Hi Burt! Thank you for reading. You can view the alligators from a safe distance easily 🙂