• Beach walkway to white sandy beach and bluegreen waters

    Gulf Islands

    National Seashore FL,MS

There are park alerts in effect.
show Alerts »

  • Partial Closure on Horn Island

    Small portion of Horn Island, Mississippi, closed to entry due to discovery of asbestos and possible other bio hazards. Click on more for map and press release. More »

  • Park Closures

    Restrooms, and Visitor Center closures due to the impact of Seqestration. More »

Frequently Asked Questions

A female ranger stands in front of beach users at the Naval Live Oaks Area.

Rangers can provide answers to Seashore questions.

nps photo

1. Does the passenger ferry operate to West Ship Island in Mississippi from Gulfport?

Yes. Weather permitting and the passenger ferry operates daily from March through the end of October.

3. Are personal watercraft (PWC) allowed to operate in the Seashore?

Restrictions apply when operating Personal Watercraft (PWC) within the Seashore. For visitor safety, resource protection, and wilderness protection, certain areas of the Seashore are closed to PWC operation. Know the rules and regulations before you go.

4. Can sea shells be collected?

Sea shells can be picked up if there are no living creatures in them.

5. Are fireworks allowed in the park?

Fireworks are prohibited in the park.

6. Are metal detectors allowed?

Metal detectors are prohibited.

Did You Know?

The arches at Fort Massachusetts are made of red and tan bricks.

Gulf Islands National Seashore's Fort Massachusetts, on West Ship Island 12 miles off the Mississippi coastline, was covered by the 30-foot storm surge from Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005.  The fort has been reopened to the public.