# Downtown Ocean Springs

> Ocean Springs is regarded as the first permanent French settlement on the Mississippi Gulf Coast: Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville reached the area in 1699 and…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/ocean-springs-downtown/

A walkable Gulf Coast town of independent shops, galleries and cafes under old live oaks, close to the shore. Park near Government Street and explore on foot, ideally with time for a meal.

Ocean Springs is regarded as the first permanent French settlement on the Mississippi Gulf Coast: Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville reached the area in 1699 and had Fort Maurepas built. The arrival of the railroad in 1870 brought growth, and the town was incorporated in 1892. Defining features are mighty live oaks, bays and marshland, and its position between Biloxi Back Bay to the south and Old Fort Bayou to the north.

Culturally, the Walter Anderson Museum of Art is the centerpiece; the Anderson family name is also tied to Shearwater Pottery. The Charnley-Norwood House, designed in 1890 by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, was restored after Katrina. Front Beach is good for a stroll by the water. The Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival, usually held in early November, draws many visitors, so expect large crowds then. At Davis Bayou in Gulf Islands National Seashore there is a campground with hiking trails.

- **Nearest town:** Ocean Springs, MS
- **Category:** History & culture
- **GPS:** 30.4113, -88.8278

## Good to know

**Best time to go:** The most pleasant months are usually March–April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in May, September and December–February. Hot in June–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## Sources

- [Ocean Springs (Mississippi Gulf Coast Heritage)](https://msgulfcoastheritage.ms.gov/ocean-springs/)
- [Ocean Springs, Mississippi (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_Springs,_Mississippi)

## Nearby

- [Walter Anderson Museum of Art](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b9-walter-anderson-museum/) – 0 mi
- [Gulf Islands National Seashore, Davis Bayou](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b9-davis-bayou/) – 2 mi
- [Biloxi Lighthouse](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b9-biloxi-lighthouse/) – 5 mi
- [Beauvoir](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b9-beauvoir/) – 9 mi

## FAQs

### Where is Downtown Ocean Springs?

Downtown Ocean Springs is in Ocean Springs, MS, at GPS 30.4113, -88.8278. It is about 31 mi from Bay St. Louis.

### Can you camp near Downtown Ocean Springs?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is RV Campground, about 2 mi away; within 25 mi there are 15 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

### What is there to see near Downtown Ocean Springs?

Places worth a stop nearby: Walter Anderson Museum of Art (0 mi), Gulf Islands National Seashore, Davis Bayou (2 mi), Biloxi Lighthouse (5 mi) and Beauvoir (9 mi).

### When is the best time to visit Downtown Ocean Springs?

The most pleasant months are usually March–April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in May, September and December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)