Biloxi-Gulfport

Mississippi's Gulf Coast resort strip, with long white-sand beaches, Biloxi casinos, the Mississippi Aquarium and the fort on Ship Island.

Biloxi–Gulfport is a twin-city resort area on Mississippi's Gulf of Mexico coast. The two cities, about 20 km apart, are linked by beachfront US 90, which runs from Bay St. Louis in the west to Ocean Springs in the east—an area locals simply call the "Mississippi Gulf Coast." It was once the seat of the capital of French colonial Louisiana, became known for oysters and shrimping from the 19th century, and turned into a gaming resort destination of the American South after casinos were legalized in the 1990s; Hurricane Katrina devastated the coast in 2005, but it has since largely been rebuilt. Exploring breaks down into three parts: Biloxi (the lighthouse, the casino district, the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art, the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum and Beauvoir, plus shrimping-boat or sailing trips); Gulfport (the Mississippi Aquarium, and ferries from Jones Park pier to Ship Island and Fort Massachusetts); and the towns on either side (Ocean Springs' old town and Davis Bayou to the east, and Bay St. Louis' old town and NASA's INFINITY Science Center to the west). The best seasons are March–May and October–November; summers are hot and humid, and June–November is Atlantic hurricane season, so keep an eye on forecasts; the Ship Island ferry runs roughly March–October. Getting there: Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport has flights to Atlanta, Dallas and elsewhere, and New Orleans is about 1.5 hours by car; local public transport is limited, so driving is recommended. Plan 2–3 days, and don't miss the local fried shrimp, raw oysters and gumbo.

Top sights

Where to eat