South MS city among best in the US for boating alongside Honolulu, San Diego, ranking says
Alongside its musical legacy, delicious Southern cuisine and historic landmarks, Mississippi also has some great places for water sports — including one of the best cities for boating in the United States, according to a recent ranking.
Biloxi landed in the top 20 cities in the country for boating experiences in 2025, alongside bigger cities like Chicago, Honolulu and San Diego, according to a recent ranking by BoatBooker, a boat tour platform.
“Biloxi’s strong ranking also highlights a broader national trend: smaller coastal communities with strong boating traditions increasingly rival major waterfront cities,” researchers said.
Here’s what makes the city such a great place for boating, according to BoatBooker.
Why does Biloxi stand out for boating?
Biloxi stood out as a top boating town for the following reasons, according to BoatBooker:
- Highly-rated marinas
- Peaceful Gulf waters
- Diverse water experiences
With 20 qualifying boating-related spots, Biloxi earned an average review rating of 4.86 for more than 2,500 reviews, according to the ranking.
What are the best boat rides in Biloxi?
Looking to book a boating trip in Biloxi? These are the city’s 10 best boat rides and cruises for 2025, according to Tripadvisor.
1. Biloxi Shrimping Trip
2. Ship Island Excursions
3. Biloxi Boat Tours
4. Dominator Fishing Charters
5. Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum - Biloxi Schooners
6. Fish-Finder Charters
7. Parasail Adventures
8. Mega-Bite Fishing Charters, LLC
9. Go Topless Fishing Charters
10. Adventure Charters
Which US cities are the best for boating experiences?
These are the top 20 cities in the country for boating, according to BoatBooker:
1. Chicago, IL
2. Honolulu, HI
3. Austin, TX
4. Seattle, WA
5. Orange Beach, AL
6. Virginia Beach, VA
7. Newport, RI
8. Slidell, LA
9. New York City, NY
10. Nashville, TN
11. Kailua-Kona, HI
12. Biloxi, MS
13. Boston, MA
14. Charleston, SC
15. San Diego, CA
16. Madison, WI
17. Cape May, NJ
18. Oklahoma City, OK
19. Portland, ME
20. Jackson, WY
How did boat tour company rank cities?
BoatBooker looked at Google Map data for cities across the U.S. to determine their ranking, researchers said. The analysis looked at the total number of reviews, average review rating and number of qualifying boating-related spots for each city and ranked them based on affordability, scenery and fun.
This story was originally published November 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
