Locations and Directions

Halstead Site

703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 
The 50-acre Halstead site is the original location of GCRL, as established by the State Legislature in 1948. Numerous academic, research and administrative units are located at the Halstead site, including GCRL’s Dormitory, Dining Hall, Gunter Library, and classroom facilities (including the Field Studies Building) which support the long-running Summer Field Program. The harbor at this location is home to the R/V Jim Franks and Miss Peetsy B, and its boat launch supports USM small boat research and academic operations.

Halstead site map

Google map

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

• If you are traveling east on I-10, take the Ocean Springs Exit #50 and follow Highway 609 (Washington Avenue) about three miles to U.S. 90. Turn left on U.S. 90; right on Bechtel Boulevard (4th traffic light, including the fire station traffic signal); cross the railroad tracks; left on Government Street (a 4-way stop); right on Halstead Road (a 3-way stop); go south to the end of Halstead Road; the GCRL entrance is on the left.
• If you are traveling west on I-10, take the Ocean Springs Exit #57; turn left (south) and follow Hwy. 57 to U.S. 90. Turn right on U.S. 90. Go about 4.5 miles (7th traffic light) to Hanley Road. Turn left on Hanley; cross railroad tracks; right on Government (a 4-way stop); left on Halstead (a 3-way stop); go south to the end of Halstead Road; GCRL entrance is to the left.

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Cedar Point Site

300 Laurel Oak Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564
The 224-acre Cedar Point site is east of the Halstead site and adjacent to the Gulf Islands National Seashore’s Davis Bayou Area. The property was donated to USM by the Jackson County Board of Supervisors in 1995, initially for expansion of marine aquaculture research at GCRL. Cedar Point includes numerous facilities supporting the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, and the Research Building there is home to several SOSE faculty. Recovery from Hurricane Katrina damages in 2005 has occurred primarily at this location, with completion of the Marine Education Center in 2018, the Toxicology Building in 2017, and the GCRL Physical Plant facility in 2013.

Cedar Point Site Map

Google map

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

• From the GCRL Halstead Campus, turn right and go 1.4 miles north on Halstead Road to Government Street and turn right. After 2.0 miles, turn right on Knapp Road. Take the first right onto VFW Road. Take the first left onto Park Road. In 0.2 miles, the GCRL entrance is to the left at Laurel Oak Drive. 
• If you are traveling east on Highway 90, just after passing Ocean Springs Hospital, turn right (south) at the traffic light onto Park Road at the Gulf Islands National Seashore entrance. (The road on the north side of the intersection is Ocean Springs Road.) Continue 1.4 miles and turn left on Laurel Oak Drive. Continue 0.2 miles and turn right into the parking area.
  If you are traveling west on Highway 90, continue 1.1 miles past Wal-Mart and turn left (south) at the traffic light on Gulf Islands National Seashore Parkway, just before reaching Ocean Springs Hospital. (The road on the north side of the intersection is Ocean Springs Road.) Continue 1.4 miles, and the GCRL entrance is to the left at Laurel Oak Drive.

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Point Cadet

Point Cadet in Biloxi serves as a research vessel and teaching site for GCRL and is the homeport to the R/V Tommy Munro and the R/V Jim Franks.

google map