Starting February 1, Gulf Islands National Seashore will start enforcing maximum RV/trailer length and height limitations for all campsites within the Fort Pickens Campground in Florida as well as Davis Bayou Campground in Mississippi.
Although length limits have been in effect for a long time, a new height limitation of 12 feet for Fort Pickens Campground Loop A has been imposed, as per a release. The restriction was imposed due to the growth of trees over the roadway.
The maximum lengths for each campsite differ based on the dimensions of the parking pavement. Visitors can check the length of the campsite at recreation.gov (Recreation.gov Camping, Cabins, RVs, Permits, Passes & More). Reservations made for vehicles that exceed the limits will be canceled by staff on site.
“The current limits in place will be enforced for the safety and protection of the park and visitor property,” said Darrell Echols, Gulf Islands superintendent. In 2021, Gulf Islands National Seashore saw an increase in incidents resulting in damage to park resources and visitor’s property. The enforcement of these restrictions is expected to reduce these incidents. Visitors are encouraged to review the published limits for campsites when making their reservations on recreation.gov”.
Two vehicles are allowed at each campsite, which is the case for RVs and trailers because of the limited pavement for parking and turning around. All vehicles must back into the site with all tires parked on the pavement.
The vehicles are not allowed to park sideways or in the grass at campsites. If a vehicle can’t be backed into a site, then it must be relocated to one of the campground’s overflow parking areas.
The National Park Service is entrusted with the responsibility of preserving and caring for the unique cultural and natural treasures for the next generation. This modification will help improve the balance between continuing accessibility to the campground for overnight visitors as well as the protection of the park’s cultural and natural assets.
For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/eatingsleeping.htm.
About Gulf Islands National Seashore
Created in 1971, the national seashore stretches 160 miles along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and Mississippi, and includes barrier islands, maritime forests, historic forts, bayous, and marine habitat.
About the National Park Service
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.
Just a heads-up for those heading to Gulf Islands National Seashore’s campgrounds! Height restrictions are in place to keep everyone safe. Let’s all pitch in to protect this beautiful park!