Are you a Snowbird having trouble finding an RV site along the Gulf Coast?
For Snowbird’s finding a decent and affordable Winter RV campground along the Gulf of Mexico drive from Mississippi to Florida is a challenge. We’ve found having to make a reservation a year in advance is normal. That degree of advance planning doesn’t fit our lifestyle. So my wife Jo and I usually find ourselves in late Fall searching for places to stay that aren’t fully booked. We’ve found a few we like, including this one on in Waveland, Mississippi.
Campground Review: Buccaneer State Park
Buccaneer State Park in Waveland, Mississippi, is located 6 miles West of Bay St. Louis along South Beach Boulevard and faces the Gulf of Mexico.
Buccaneer is a large park offering 250 campsites with full utilities, including sewer. Other amenities include four bathhouses, a laundry facility, free wi-fi, and a seasonal camp store. Most of the roads throughout the park, as well as the RV sites, are paved. Most sites offer some amount of shade. The RV site fees are reasonable, $24-$32/nite in 2023.
Other amenities include: a 1.8 mile Nature Trail, an 18 hole disc golf course, and a Gulf-side sand beach on a tiny peninsula jutting out into the Gulf.
Sounds like a pretty good deal. How come sites are available?
Here’s some reasons why you may be able to make reservations as late as December for February or March or even just a week in advance.
- The park’s main attraction is the extensive Buccaneer Bay Waterpark, which doesn’t open until late May each season. So for the park the Winter season is the off-season.
- The weather is cooler than in South Florida. High temperatures in January and February tend run in the 60s, occasionally into the 70s.
- Another reason for it being less crowded could be that the general area of the park’s location lacks the usual tourism amenities. There’s no shops, hotels or restaurants along Waveland’s South Beach Boulevard drive along the Gulf. You’d have to bike or drive 6 miles to Old Town Bay St. Louis to get your culture fix.
Other Campground Amenities
Pirates Alley Nature Trail
This 1.8 mile, self-guided trail, encompasses many species of Oaks, Magnolia, Pines, and a variety of indigenous plants and animals of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A pier with a gazebo extends over Mud Bayou’s canal.
State Park Beach
The park’s beach is located across Beach Boulevard from the main park. Not a large beach, but convenient.
What do we like best about Buccaneer State Park?
- We like the paved roads and parking pads.
- We like the full utilities, water, electric, sewage, and wi-fi.
- We like the reasonable price.
- We like biking. The extensive paved roads throughout the park provide bike-riding opportunities and the very nice paved Beach Boulevard Bike Trail starts a few blocks East of the park. It runs all the way to Old Town Bay St. Louis.
- And we like that there is an affordable golf course 20 minutes away.
Nearby Attractions to Buccaneer State Park
Historic Old Town Bay St. Louis
As it is only 6 miles down the road from the park, we always spend some time in Old Town Bay St. Louis. We enjoy walking or biking around the historic section of town seeing neat old cottages and buildings that have been restored and visiting the various artisan shops found in them. The Old Bay St. Louis Visitor Center and Folk Art Museum, located in the old railroad depot, is a worthwhile stop both for the exhibits and visitor information. There’s some decent bars and seafood places along the beachfront. Old Town Bay St. Louis has some of the flavor of New Orleans without the massive crowds.
Pass Christian Golf Club
Another plus in terms of nearby entertainment and cultural amenities, is a short drive across the Bay St. Louis bridge to Pass Christian Golf Course. When we golf, we prefer walking for the exercise. We also look for one that isn’t so crowded we are pressured to “race” through our round of golf. We also look for more affordable courses. We found what we seek 12 miles away at Pass Christian Isles Golf Course.
Directions to & Making Campsite Reservations at Buccaneer State Park
There are seven loops (camping areas) within the park. All but the north area (Royal Cay) offer paved pads. Royal Cay has grass covered and gravel sites. See more details on the sites here.
- Park Office phone # (228) 467-3822
- Online Reservations
- Buccaneer Park Website
Directions to Buccaneer State Park
Links to more Gulf Coast Camping and Road Trip resources
Davis Bayou – Another good RV campground for last minute reservations.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Campground Directory
Visitor Attractions along the Mississippi-Alabama Gulf Coast Drive
Ross Reinhold
Editor and Publisher ScenicPathways