Pack your bags and hit the beach! We've rounded up some of our favorite beach towns in driving (or short flight) distance of Nashville.
Mississippi Gulf Coast
More than 1,600 miles in all, the Mississippi Gulf Coast includes a 62-mile stretch of coastal towns. Less than eight hours driveway to sand, the quaint, walkable town of Ocean Springs can be found along this stretch—it boasts more than 100 restaurants, a slew of art galleries and shops, and plenty of outdoor adventure, too. We love Front Beach in Ocean Springs. Along the one-mile, dog-friendly path, enjoy views of the Mississippi Sound, fishing piers, and even an over-sized chessboard. Come dusk, you’ll find breathtaking sunsets over the Biloxi Bridge. Charter a boat at Ocean Springs Harbor’s resident Strictly Fishin’ Charters, where you can fish inshore or along the barrier islands and enjoy a little sightseeing while you’re at it. It’s all about core strength at Paddles Up, where stand-up paddle boards (SUP) and kayaks are a specialty—they offer multi-level classes, too. You can even paddle among dolphins and watch pelicans from a different perspective. There may be no swimming beaches at Gulf Islands National Seashore, Davis Bayou, but there’s plenty of fishing, hiking, birding, and other ranger-led programs to round out an Ocean Springs experience. gulfcoast.org
