All parks › Gulf Islands National Seashore
Gulf Islands National Seashore: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle, 7 days
- $25[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- June[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 7,576,923[3]
- Campgrounds
- 5[4]
Gulf Islands National Seashore is a National Park System unit in Florida and Mississippi[5]. NPS lists a $25 private vehicle entrance fee for its Florida fee areas, and the fees are cashless[1][6].
Entrance fees and passes
Fees as listed by the National Park Service. Fees change, so confirm on the park's official fees page before you go.
| Fee or pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Private Vehicle[1] | $25 |
| Motorcycle[7] | $20 |
| Per Person[8] | $15 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[9] | $45 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[10].
Entrance fee payment is cashless (card or mobile payment)[6].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[11] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[11] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[11] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[11] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[11] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[11] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[11] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[11] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[11] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
In 2025, NPS counted 7,576,923 recreation visits here[3]. The busiest month in 2025 was June with 944,025 visits, and the quietest was December with 340,831[2]. NPS says winter temperatures run from 30-60 degrees Fahrenheit and rain is less common than in other seasons[12]. Summer temperatures run from 70-100+ degrees, with frequent thunderstorms[12]. NPS notes that hurricanes can affect the area between June and November[12]. The Davis Bayou Area Visitor Center is listed for Wednesday to Sunday only[13]. Naval Live Oaks is a day use area with its own listed hours[14]. The Fort Pickens Area lists a winter season exception from 2026-11-01 to 2027-03-31, so check its current hours[15].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 369,688 |
| February | 613,357 |
| March | 542,325 |
| April | 609,965 |
| May | 773,132 |
| June | 944,025 |
| July | 856,414 |
| August | 794,771 |
| September | 720,777 |
| October | 522,785 |
| November | 488,853 |
| December | 340,831 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list 5 campgrounds here[4]. Fort Pickens Campground has 201 sites and Davis Bayou Campground has 56 sites[4]. NPS lists nightly individual-site fees from $22 to $25[4]. Naval Live Oaks has a youth group camping area that is reservation only[14].
- Fort Pickens Campground, 201 sites[4]
- Davis Bayou Campground, 56 sites
- Naval Live Oaks Youth Group Camping, 1 sites
- Fort Pickens Group Campground
- Davis Bayou Group Campground
Pets and dogs
The national NPS pet rule says that where pets are allowed, they must be kept in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less[16]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches, with service animals excepted[16]. The park can close more areas to pets, so check with the park before bringing a dog[16].
Before you go
- Entrance fees are cashless, so bring a card or mobile payment[6].
- NPS lists the Fort Pickens, Opal Beach and Johnson Beach areas in Florida as fee areas[1].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass for entrance[10]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80 and the Senior Lifetime Pass at $80[11].
- NPS lists an Annual Entrance - Park pass at $45, good for 365 days from purchase[9].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm them on the official NPS park page before you go.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Gulf Islands National Seashore?
- NPS lists $25 for a private vehicle, $20 for a motorcycle and $15 per person[1][7][8]. NPS says fees apply in the Florida areas of Fort Pickens, Opal Beach and Johnson Beach[7].
- What is the busiest month at Gulf Islands National Seashore?
- The busiest month in 2025 was June with 944,025 recreation visits[2]. The quietest month in 2025 was December with 340,831[2].
- Are dogs allowed at Gulf Islands National Seashore?
- Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet where allowed[16]. They are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches[16].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $25. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 5,458,816, 2022: 5,685,155, 2023: 8,277,857, 2024: 7,801,176, 2025: 7,576,923. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Gulf Islands National Seashore (list on this page). National Park Service
- Gulf Islands National Seashore is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Seashore) in Florida and Mississippi. National Park Service
- Entrance fees at Gulf Islands National Seashore are cashless (cards or mobile payment, no cash) according to NPS. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $20. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $45. National Park Service
- Gulf Islands National Seashore accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Gulf Islands National Seashore. National Park Service
- Operating hours, Davis Bayou Area: The Davis Bayou Area is located south of U. S. Hwy. 90 east of downtown Ocean Springs, Mississippi and offers many recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy fishing, hiking, biking, birdwatching, picnicking, kayaking... National Park Service
- Operating hours, Naval Live Oaks Area: Naval Live Oaks is located on U.S. 98 east of Gulf Breeze, Florida. The fee-free area features many hiking trails and an overlook. Also great for fishing or launching a kayak. Additionally, there is a youth group... National Park Service
- Operating hours, Fort Pickens Area: Located on the western end of Santa Rosa Island, the Fort Pickens Area of the park offers a variety of visitor experiences including fishing, hiking, swimming, camping, and touring historic coastal defense structures.... National Park Service
- National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15