The Five Best Beaches in Mississippi

Get some sun, sand and splash way down south at one of these Mississippi beaches.

Author Image

Hopper Editors - Thu Oct 26 2017

Rugged, raw and romantic in the extreme, it’s nearly impossible to dislike the unique beachfronts of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Today they remain some of the best public recreation spots in the whole state, offering up watersports, walking routes, sunbathing spots, nightlife opportunities, culinary treats and whole host of other interesting things for both traveller and local alike. What’s more, they remain some of the most accessible and family friendly coastal spots in southern America; connected as they are by the so-called Beach Boulevard (American Highway 90), from the Alabama border in the east, to the Louisiana wetlands in the west.

Here’s a selection of some of the best beaches in all of Mississippi, showcasing a great cross-section of the coastal spots in the state; from the romantic stretches of Harrison County, to the sporting beaches of Gulfport and beyond.

Introducing the coast of the Mexican Gulf on Biloxi Beach

This long stretch of pearly white sand in the city of the same name is nestled in the middle of the Mississippi gulf coast. It’s one of the most quintessential images of the state’s coastline, boasting calm waters and plenty of amenities that also make it one of the family friendly favorites in the Deep South. For one of the best seaside sunset views around, be sure to head to Biloxi in the evening, when orange and pink hues cast a romantic glaze over the beach and its waters.

Bonfires and beachcombing on the Harrison County Sand Beach

Backed by undulating dunes of white sand and rugged sea grass, this beach is one of the coastal gems of Mississippi’s Harrison County. During the day, travellers can be seen enjoying the calm waters with a spot of paddle boating or high-speed jet skiing, while locals cluster here after dark to enjoy makeshift bonfires on the sand (for which permits will need to be purchased from the park authority). What’s more, there are plenty of parking spaces available on the city side of the beach for travellers making their way across Mississippi’s so called Beach Boulevard highway.

Lazing with the locals on Gulfport

Photo by nickmickolas/Flickr.

While Gulfport itself is perhaps best known as the historic shipping gateway to the Gulf of Mexico, the city’s beach is also one of the best-loved local sunbathing and swimming spots on the state’s south coast. During the high season the spot is packed with locals soaking up the rays and cooling off in the waters, while Gulfport beach also hosts regular volleyball competitions throughout the year. Don’t forget to take a stroll along the boardwalk here, which takes guests out into the Gulf swells and across the bumpy dunes to the back of the sand.

Romantic sunsets and tasty shrimp dishes at Long Beach

Famed for being one of Mississippi’s most romantic beach spots this long sand curve in Harrison County is an essential stop on the Highway 90 coastal route. With easy parking and a wide beach front, visitors can expect isolation and privacy here, while many of the iconic seafood eateries in the town are again beginning to serve up crawfish, shrimp and other Gulf specialities following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Front Beach: a must on the Beach Boulevard of southern Mississippi

Photo by jared422_80/Flickr.

Offering unrivaled panoramas of the Mississippi Sound and some of the calmest, shallowest sea waters for any beach on the Highway 90 coastal route, it’s perhaps little wonder that Ocean Spring’s Front Beach continues to be one of the favored swimming and sunbathing spots in all of Mississippi. But it’s not all for beachcombers here, because Front Beach also boasts a number of great fishing piers, some excellent romantic getaway accommodations and great access to the nearby town of Pascagoula.