General Information
Primitive camping is allowed in Mississippi on Petit Bois, Sand, Horn, and East Ship Islands, as well as the National Park Service owned portion of Cat Island under the following conditions:
1. Currently, campers arriving by vessels do not need to register for a free camping permit.
2. Campsites must be on relatively flat, level beaches without vegetation or dune structure being damaged.
3. Camping on dunes, fore dunes, or on vegetation is prohibited.
4. Camping, cooking, or other activities are not allowed in areas closed for the protection of shorebirds, osprey, or eagles, including any area within 300 yards of any nest which is being used by adult or juvenile osprey or eagle.
5. Fires may be built on beaches only and must be placed no more than five feet above the high tide line, and they must be below any vegetated area. Only driftwood washed up on the beaches may be burned in these fires; dead and/or down vegetation from the interior of the islands may not be used.
6. Authorized fires on beaches, after being extinguished with water, are to be disposed of by removing burned and unburned material from the area or by burying all materials under at least six inches of sand.
7. Practice Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics.
8. Keep a respectful distance from wildlife.
9. Follow all National Park Service regulations found on our Laws & Policies page, as well as in the Superintendent’s Compendium.