Unforgettable is the only word to describe Mississippi Gulf Coast's picturesque beaches! Twenty-six miles of soft white sand outlines gentle waves that dance on the water's surface offering an exceptional view from U.S. Highway 90, aka Beach Boulevard! A chain of barrier islands limits the amount of strong waves reaching the beaches, making the resultant calm gentle waters ideal for water-based activities and children!
Several pullovers provide convenient beach access, photo opportunities, and water adventures for beach goers! Pass Christian and Long Beach, which are just west of the Gulfport/Biloxi area are considered residential areas offering quieter, tranquil sections of beaches for sunbathing, romantic walks, or moonlight picnics. Presently there are only limited portable restrooms available, but plans are for new and improved comfort stations to be rebuilt!
Several designated areas of the beach provide perfect nesting areas for an endangered bird species known as Least Terns. Visitors are restricted from these areas, but encouraged to stop, take pictures, and enjoy these unique and beautiful birds!
If surf is your priority, take the Ship Island ferry from the Gulfport Small Craft Harbor to our biggest barrier island, Ship Island. Ship Island Excursions offers daily passenger ferry service to West Ship Island and Fort Massachusetts (circa 1858), part of Gulf Island National Seashore. The island is approximately 10 miles offshore from Gulfport/Biloxi offering visitors beautiful Gulf waters for swimming, sunbathing, shelling finding and more! Mississippi Magazine recently selected the island as one of the top 25 must-see places in the Magnolia State, and USA Today named it as one of the top ten beaches in the United States! Be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen, as the sun can be fierce! The cruise to the barrier island takes about an hour one way, and dolphin sightings are frequent during the boat ride! Food service, chair, and umbrella rentals are available on the island! Ship Island Excursions runs March – October.
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