Local

A guide to 6 MS Coast beaches and must-dos in each city from the New Orleans perspective

By Carlie Kollath Wells New Orleans Advocate

August 12, 2022 3:22 PM

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a popular day trip destination from New Orleans, offering sandy beaches, water views, delicious food and fun things to do for residents looking to get out of town for a few hours.

The beaches are easy to access and have free parking. You can reach most coastal destinations in about an hour.

Most of the beaches on the Mississippi Gulf Coast don’t have clear, blue water like in Florida, but they are close and budget-friendly. You can make your trip a little longer with a meal and a visit to places like the Mississippi Aquarium, the Walter Anderson Museum of Art or a Biloxi Shuckers game.

For the drive time estimates, we started at the Caesars Superdome.

Bay St. Louis

Drive time: 1 hour
Address: 600 South Beach Boulevard, Bay St. Louis
Amenities: Sandy beach, public bathroom and showers, easy parking

Bay St. Louis in Mississippi is one of the closest beach options for New Orleanians. There’s a public bathroom with showers and a free parking lot right on the beach. Often, a snowball vendor sets up on the Washington Street Pier.

The beach is dog-friendly as long as your furry friend is on a leash, per tourism officials.

You can bring a picnic or go to one of the many restaurants along the beach or downtown. The Blind Tiger and Mockingbird Cafe are solid options.

New Orleans-based companies, such as Creole Creamery, Fleurty Girl and PJ’s, have locations there too.

You can extend your stay, with several options for hotels, bed and breakfasts and Airbnbs. See more things to do in Bay St. Louis.

Long Beach

Drive time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Address: 205 E. Beach Boulevard for public parking
Amenities: Beach, bathrooms, splash pad, restaurants

Downtown Long Beach is a quaint little community that has been completely rebuilt since Hurricane Katrina. The main stretch of downtown is walkable on Jeff Davis Avenue and has places to eat, drink and shop.

There’s a free splash pad at the Harper McCaughan Town Green Pavilion that’s open seasonally.

On the beach, there’s the Long Beach Pavilion with public bathrooms, outdoor showers and free parking.

Solid dining options include Darwell’s, Lil Ray’s, Harbor View Cafe, Steve’s Marina Restaurant and Parrish’s. Steve’s Marina, more casual, and Parrish’s, a little fancier, are both on the water and have excellent views while you eat.

Gulfport

Drive time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Address: 1301 20th Avenue, Gulfport, for Jones Park
Amenities: Beach, bathrooms, outdoor shower, splash pad, playground

Gulfport has free beach parking along Beach Boulevard (Highway 90), and plenty of dining options. Bring your own chairs, beach umbrellas and kites. Jet skis and beach bikes are available for rent in multiple places in nearby Biloxi if you want more speed.

Jones Park by the Gulfport Harbor is an especially kid-friendly beach destination with a free splash pad, a playground and open areas for running. There’s a public fishing pier at the park too.

Downtown Gulfport has been revitalized since Hurricane Katrina and has many excellent spots for drinking and dining. Half Shell Oyster House and Pop Brothers (specialty popsicles) are solid options. Shaggy’s is a popular restaurant that overlooks the beach. New Orleans oyster restaurant, Felix’s, has a location in Gulfport too.

Popular attractions for children include the Mississippi Aquarium, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center (children’s museum), Ocean Adventures Marine Park (dolphin shows and touch pools) and the Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum. Biloxi is nearby and has family-friendly attractions too.

Ship Island

Drive time: 1 hour 15 minutes then an hourlong ferry ride
Address: 1040 23rd Avenue, Gulfport
Amenities: Blue water, white sand, historic fort, bathrooms

Ship Island is a fun destination from the Gulfport Harbor, and it is where you will find clear water after you walk to the Gulf side of the barrier island. The Ship Island ferry, operated by Ship Island Excursions, will get you to the island in about an hour.

You can often see dolphins during the ferry ride across the Mississippi Sound, which is the body of water between the beach and the barrier islands. Buy ferry tickets in advance online or in person at the ticket office.

Ship Island is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and is protected by the U.S. Park Service. It has excellent natural beaches for swimming, birding and collecting seashells.

Fort Massachusetts is a Civil War fort that is open for seasonal tours and provides a shady respite from the intense Southern sun.

Some food is available for sale on the ferry and the island, but many people pack a cooler with supplies. Umbrellas and beach chairs are available for rent.

Biloxi

Drive time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Address: 2305 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi (public bathroom)
Amenities: Sandy beaches, public bathroom, casinos, restaurants

The beaches in Biloxi and Gulfport are similar and are all accessible via Highway 90, which is also called Beach Boulevard. But each coastal community offers a little something different.

In Biloxi, you’ll find a bustling entertainment scene at the casinos that are popular for eating, drinking and playing. They also have regular concerts and other special events.

The Biloxi Shuckers are the minor league baseball team, and games at the outdoor stadium are popular. Time your visit right and you might see fireworks.

The 300-year-old community is packed with food options, from seafood to Vietnamese to casual American fare. Mary Mahoney’s is an upscale French restaurant that has hosted presidents, dignitaries and celebrities over the years. Plus, the casino buffets have started to reopen since COVID and are always popular, especially the all-you-can-eat king crab legs.

Popular attractions include the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, Beauvoir (Jefferson Davis’ home), Big Play Entertainment Center (bumper cars) and the Salvation Army Kroc Center (indoor splash pad and pool for children).

Ocean Springs

Drive time: 1 hour 30 mins
Address: 200 Front Beach, Ocean Springs
Amenities: Public beach, restaurants, free parking, splash pad, playground, bathrooms

Ocean Springs is an artsy community on the Mississippi Gulf Coast with a beach and a walkable downtown full of shopping and dining options.

Front Beach has public parking options and places to relax on the sand. If you park by Fort Maurepas City Park, there’s a playground, splash pad and bathrooms. Little Children’s Park is nearby and is a popular playground with swings and a zipline.

The main downtown area is on Washington Avenue and Government Street. Solid food options are Tatonut Donut Shop, Phoenicia Gourmet and Vestige (fine dining). The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint is a short drive from Interstate 10 and is a popular casual dining destination.

Other attractions: The Walter Anderson Museum of Art showcases the art of Walter Anderson and his brothers. If you are in the mood for shopping, swing by Realizations for prints and merchandise featuring Walter Anderson’s art.