Camp near Biloxi for maritime history and beautiful landscapes next to the Big Easy.
Sitting along the Gulf of Mexico in southern Mississippi, Biloxi attracts visitors from every walk of life. Campers enjoy fresh-caught seafood or multicultural cuisine before partaking in the city’s active nightlife. A trip to the Biloxi Lighthouse and The Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum will be full of the city’s nautical heritage. From there, travel into nature across the channel at Ship Island and lie on Gulf Islands National Seashore or learn about a historic fort. De Soto National Forest is another quick drive away and offers campers over 500,000 acres of wilderness to explore and view native wildlife. Or head to Pearl River Wildlife Management Area to sleep by a bayou and wake up for crawfishing.
Just 12 miles off the coast of Mississippi lies Ship Island, one of the barrier islands within Davis Bayou Area Gulf Islands National Seashore. A one-hour ferry ride takes campers to the island to swim, fish, enjoy the beach, and tour Fort Massachusetts—a historic fort built after Texas’ 1845 annexation. Ship Island doesn’t allow camping, but Davis Bayou Campground does offer 52 campsites for tents and RVs near beaches and boardwalks at the national seashore. All campsites are equipped with electric hookups and are near flush toilets, hot showers, potable water, and a dump station.
Take a drive to De Soto National Forest, a dense environment teeming with biodiversity. Relax in the shady Leaf Wilderness Area before hiking along 60 miles of trails winding through pinewood forests. Black Creek, the only National Scenic River in Mississippi, beckons campers to its sandy beaches, deep water, and colorful bluffs. The park’s hilly terrain also offers a wide range of activities, including horseback riding, biking, and hunting, while flowing waterways are welcome retreats for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and creekside lounging. The forest manages several campgrounds, including Big Biloxi Recreation Area, where 25 campsites for tents and RVs are outfitted with utility hookups, hot showers, and a nearby dump station.
Right across the MIssissippi-Louisiana border, Pearl River Wildlife Management Area covers over 35,000 acres of forest, bayous, and waterways. The area is popular for hunting and trapping, with a wide range of waterfowl and game, including white-tailed deer, beaver, and bobcat. On-site waterways offer opportunities for boating, canoeing, fishing, and crawfishing. A shooting range is also open year-round, and area trails allow for hiking, birding, and nature photography. At Crawford Landing, campsites are outfitted with portable toilets, a dump station, and boat launch; however, a wildlife permit or hunting license is required to stay in Crawford Landing.
Peak camping season in Biloxi lasts from May to mid-August as beachgoers flock to the water to escape the hot weather. Temperatures in summer peak at around 90°F, with humidity levels as high as 75%. To beat the heat and the crowds, visit from November to April, as winters in Biloxi are relatively temperate. Between late August to October, campers in the area should keep an eye on weather reports for hurricane activity.