On the north side of the island, visitors will find the tourboat docks, ranger station, picnic pavilions, restrooms, first aid station, and Fort Massachusetts. The boardwalk's south end brings visitors to a beach on the Gulf of Mexico. Nearby, a snack bar and beach store and a beach chair and umbrella rental stand are open from March to the end of the autumn tourboat season. Outdoor showers, a bathhouse, restrooms, and picnic pavilions are also found on the south beach. Grill fires are not allowed in the picnic shelters.
Picnic shelters are available on a first come-first served basis.
Swimming During the summer, a section of beach on the island's Gulf side is reserved for swimmers. Private Boaters Plan your boat trip carefully, and be sure that you carry adequate fuel and supplies. Rangers on West Ship Island cannot give or sell gas to private boaters, nor can they give tows back to the mainland. Boats must anchor at least 500 feet outside the designated swim area on the south beach. During the tourboat season, private boaters may tie up south of the designated tourboat docking areas.