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Today’s post is #3/3 in a southeast road trip series I’ve written covering Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. We spent most of our time during this trip in Louisiana which I loved, since there are so many things to do in New Orleans. But since I had to visit Alabama and Mississippi too for my 50 states challenge, we did day trips! This blog post is focused on the Gulf Shores area of Mississippi. It covers fun things to do in Biloxi, Mississippi, along with Gulfport and Ocean Springs, so let’s jump in!
Where is Biloxi, Mississippi?
The Mississippi River is well known for its river cruises, Civil War history, and iconic city stops. Mississippi’s Gulf Coast shouldn’t be overlooked and is easily drivable from New Orleans! I visited a few cities in the Magnolia State earlier this year on a southeast road trip.
Biloxi is a Mississippi city in Harrison County on the Gulf of Mexico. It’s known for its casinos — we may or may not have visited the Golden Nugget for a slot or two, and beaches. Biloxi is the states 4th largest city and is adjacent to Gulfport along US-90. The beachfront of Biloxi lies directly on the Mississippi Sound, with barrier islands scattered off the coast and into the Gulf of Mexico. Aside from its natural beauty, this area has a lot of history, as the first settlers here were French.
How do you get to Biloxi, Mississippi and the Gulf Shores area?
If you’re looking to fly into Biloxi, you can take American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, or Sun Country Airlines into the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, which is located in nearby Gulfport. Another easy way to access this area via public transportation is Greyhound USA, which operates a bus from New Orleans Bus Station to Biloxi Transit Center once daily. Tickets cost $10 – $45 and the journey takes 1h 40m.
Pro-tip: You can even use public transportation to get to the Biloxi beach! Coast Transit Authority’s Beachcomber bus runs from the Biloxi Transit Center downtown right along the beach all the way to Gulfport.
My friends and I just drove directly in a rental car from New Orleans to the Gulf Shores area. This ride only took 1.5 hours and was easy to do! I recommend driving a car if you plan on following this list of suggestions, as some of the best things to do in Biloxi, Mississippi are a bit spread out! Speaking of that, let’s hop into the recommendations…
Fun things to do in Biloxi, Mississippi
Visit the Golden Nugget + Casinos
Although modern day Biloxi has tons of restaurants, shops, and beautiful beaches, gambling is probably the city’s biggest draw. Biloxi has always been a hot spot for gambling in the Deep South, dating back to the 1920s when the first resorts with gambling started popping up. When it was outlawed in the 1950s, back room gambling became more common, especially in clubs. It was during this time that Biloxi earned the title “Las Vegas on the Gulf Coast”.
For 30 years, legalized gaming has been a staple in Biloxi. Today, you’ll find eight first-class casino resorts in the city. One of the largest and most popular is the Golden Nugget, which we spent some time in during our day trip here. I can confirm, using the slot machines is one of the most fun things to do in Biloxi, Mississippi.
The Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Harrah’s, and of course — the Hard Rock are other honorable mentions for gambling resorts along the Gulf Coast.
See the Biloxi Lighthouse
The Biloxi Lighthouse was built in 1848 and was one of the first cast-iron lighthouses in the South. This lighthouse is the city’s signature landmark and also became a symbol of Biloxi’s resilience after Hurricane Katrina swept through the area in 2005.
The Biloxi Lighthouse stands next to Biloxi Beach on the Mississippi Sound. For more specific location instructions: the lighthouse is in the center median of U.S. 90 at Porter Avenue, south of the new Biloxi Visitors Center, and just west of I-110 loop and Beau Rivage Resort & Casino.
The lighthouse is open daily in the mornings for tours and visits. No reservations are required and tickets for adults are $5 each.
Go to Biloxi Beach
Aside from the casinos and golfing in the area, the beaches off Beach Blvd. are some of the most fun things to do in Biloxi, Mississippi. The Mississippi Sound has soft, white beaches that are extremely well maintained. Furthermore, the barrier islands off the coast in the Gulf of Mexico help keep the water calm and warm. The average high temperature in the city is consistently in the 80s during the summer months and can stay warm throughout April and October shoulder seasons as well.
Unfortunately, the beaches aren’t dog friendly. The good news? Chair, umbrella, and wave runner rentals are available during beach season at several spots on the beach in Biloxi.
Visit the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum Of Art
The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum Of Art is a non-profit art museum located in Biloxi, Mississippi, dedicated to the ceramics of George E. Ohr, the self-proclaimed “Mad Potter of Biloxi”. This museum celebrates the innovative, independent and creative spirit of Mississippi master potter George Ohr (1857-1918). The building is silver and super funky!
The museum is open to the public from Tuesday – Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM and costs $10 to visit.
Bonus: Take a photo of the Greetings from Biloxi mural located at 158 G E Ohr St, Biloxi, MS 39530.
Go on a Biloxi Shrimping Trip
This company has been entertaining tourists since 1954 with its 70-minute tour into the journey of shrimp from sea floor to sea food. The shrimping expedition includes a 16-foot trawl being dropped and dragged on the bottom of the Mississippi Sound. This is one of the best things to do in Biloxi, Mississippi for families!
Pro-tip: It’s recommended to book online, where tickets are $30 for ages 4+.
Additional recommendations for the Gulf Shores of Mississippi
Ocean Springs was the most charming small town & my personal fav! Nestled along the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the City of Ocean Springs is a vibrant and eclectic arts community. It is home to numerous galleries, artist studios, and over 100 restaurants. It recently opened its first micro-brewery.
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after Jackson and is adjacent to Biloxi. There’s a few murals in the area. Also see the water park, several beaches, the aquarium, and the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies. This is also where you can find the world’s largest rocking chair!
That wraps up my post about things to do in Biloxi, Mississippi! I hope to visit Mississippi again in my future, maybe to explore more of the river and historic Vicksburg area, or for Jackson and a game at Ole Miss! Continuing along with covering my travels through all 50 states… catch you in another one soon!
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