McCool Travel 8 Great Pick: Gulf Coast Scenic Byway

One of my favorite secret, lesser known, unique American road trips is the drive along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The Coastal Mississippi Gulf Coast Scenic Byway has dozens of miles of unobstructed Gulf of Mexico and sugar sand views with plentiful beachfront parking. My favorite stretch is from Henderson Point (just after the Bay St Louis bridge) through Pass Christian (pictured below) and into Long Beach. McCool Travel tip: I suggest driving this road from Bay St Louis toward Biloxi so that you are on the coast side of the road.

parking spot next to beach sand of Mississippi Gulf Coast
scenic drive along Coastal Mississippi #USGulfCoast

Back to 8 Great US Coast Scenic Drives list

One local coastal drive I enjoy is in Ocean Springs. Start at the Ocean Springs Yacht Club next to the bridge and take Front Beach Drive along the water, then along Shearwater Drive (which reminds me of Boothbay Harbor Maine) onto East Beach Drive. Best sunset views are along Front Beach and depending on which month you are there, the sun may line up with the bridge.

sunset from Front Beach in Ocean Springs
Ocean Springs Coastal Mississippi sunset

Another wonderful Mississippi Gulf Coast scenic drive is the stretch of Beach Blvd. between Waveland and Bay St Louis, a nice eight mile stretch with no stop lights and 99% uninterrupted water views.

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