Gulf Islands National Seashore


Millions of visitors are drawn to the Gulf of Mexico for Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Come explore with us today!

Gulf Islands National Seashore is a place of myriad riches - blue-green, sparkling waters, magnificent white beaches, and fertile coastal marshes. Its 13 areas include historic forts, shaded picnic areas, trails, and campgrounds. From Cat Island, Mississippi, it stretches eastward 160 miles tot he Okaloosa Area east of For Walton Beach, Florida.

  • Biking
  • Mountain Biking
  • Road Biking
  • Boating
  • Motorized Boating
  • Jet Skiing
  • Boat Tour
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Canoe or Kayak Camping
  • Car or Front Country Camping
  • Group Camping
  • RV Camping
  • Fishing
  • Freshwater Fishing
  • Saltwater Fishing
  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Self-Guided Tours - Auto
  • Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
  • Boat Tour
  • Hands-On
  • Citizen Science
  • Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Horse Trekking
  • Horseback Riding
  • Hunting and Gathering
  • Hunting
  • Living History
  • Historic Weapons Demonstration
  • Paddling
  • Canoeing
  • Kayaking
  • Stand Up Paddleboarding
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • SCUBA Diving
  • Snorkeling
  • Swimming
  • Saltwater Swimming
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store
  • Gift Shop and Souvenirs

  • African American Heritage
  • Engineering
  • Enslavement
  • Forts
  • Incarceration
  • Maritime
  • Coastal Defenses
  • Maritime - Military
  • Lighthouses
  • Piracy and Privateering
  • Military
  • Infantry and Militia
  • Artillery
  • US Army
  • US Navy
  • US Marines
  • US Coast Guard
  • US Air Force (Army Air Corps)
  • Armories
  • Battlefields
  • Monuments and Memorials
  • Presidents
  • Wars and Conflicts
  • Colonial/European Contact Conflicts
  • Indian and Frontier Wars
  • Civil War
  • Spanish-American War
  • World War I
  • World War II
  • Korean War
  • Animals
  • Alligators or Crocodiles
  • Birds
  • Fish
  • Tortoises and Turtles
  • Climate Change
  • Night Sky
  • Astronomy
  • Oceans
  • Trails
  • Wetlands
  • Marshes
  • Wilderness

Beach Scene

Fluffy white clouds shadow overhead as blue-green waves crash against a white sand beach.

Blue-green waves crash on the white sand beaches of Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Fort Pickens Museum

A room full of exhibits and displays about natural and cultural resources.

Visit the Fort Pickens Museum and learn more about the national seashore's awesome stories and resources.

Kayaking at Gulf Islands National Seashore

Two kayakers paddle toward the camera.

Experience the park from the water and see what makes Gulf Islands National Seashore so special.

Fort Massachusetts

A brick fort stands on the edge of a white sand beach.

Fort Massachusetts is one of the four forts built in 1800s preserved by Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Sea Turtles

A recently hatched turtle makes its way to the water from the beach.

Gulf Islands National Seashore biologist study sea turtle to protect them and their habitats.