Biloxi is a place that rewards a loose plan. The coast is flat, compact and easy to drive, the beach is free, and most of the best things to do are a short hop from one another. Three days is enough to see the essentials, taste the seafood, get on the water and cross the bay for a taste of art-colony Ocean Springs. This itinerary groups sights by geography so you spend more time out and about than in the car.
Before you go: the two bookings that matter
First, if you want to visit Ship Island, check the ferry season and reserve ahead for weekends and holidays, because service runs seasonally from roughly mid-March through October and sailings fill. Second, if you want a dinner at a landmark restaurant such as Mary Mahoney's Old French House, reserve before you arrive. Everything else can be decided day by day, which is part of the pleasure of a coast trip.
Day one: the heart of Biloxi
Start at the Biloxi Lighthouse, standing in the middle of Beach Boulevard since 1848, and pick up maps at the nearby visitor center. Walk or drive east to the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art, where George Ohr's wildly twisted pottery and the Gehry-designed campus fill a morning. Next door is the Schooner Pier and the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, which tells the story of the fleets and canneries that made Biloxi. After lunch, spend the afternoon on the beach, then check the schooner calendar for a late-day sail. For dinner, choose a classic seafood restaurant and finish with a sunset stroll on the sand.
Day two: the water
Spend the day on the Gulf. In the open season, take the ferry from Gulfport to Ship Island, where the swim beach and Fort Massachusetts make a full day of sun, history and shells. Bring a cooler, sun protection and water shoes, and remember that cell service is poor on the island. In the colder months, replace the island with a schooner sail, a shoreline walk or a visit to the Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport. Either way, plan an easy dinner back in Biloxi, because ferry days are tiring in the best way.
Day three: across the bay and into the arts
Cross the bridge to Ocean Springs for a different pace. Browse the downtown galleries, visit the Walter Anderson Museum of Art with its famous murals, and stop at Shearwater Pottery for hand-thrown pieces that make better souvenirs than any T-shirt. Have lunch downtown, or join the Ocean Springs food tour if you want local tastings and history. If the weather is good, spend an hour at Davis Bayou in Gulf Islands National Seashore to see herons and walk the bayou boardwalks. Return to Biloxi for a final evening of shows, a resort dinner or a last walk on the beach.
If you have a rainy day
The Gulf Coast gets summer thunderstorms that tend to pass quickly, but a full rainy day is easy to fill. The Ohr-O'Keefe Museum, the Maritime Museum, the Mardi Gras Museum and the Mississippi Aquarium are all indoors. The casino resorts offer spas, theaters and restaurants. Keep one of these in reserve and swap it in when the forecast changes.
If you are on a budget
The beach, the lighthouse and Davis Bayou are free or low-cost, and the self-guided scavenger hunts are an inexpensive way to see the city. Choose a hotel away from the beachfront for lower rates, eat boiled shrimp or po-boys at casual spots and save a splurge for one landmark dinner or the Ship Island ferry.
If you have a fourth day
Drive west to Bay St. Louis for Old Town galleries and a boat tour, or add the Infinity Science Center at Stennis Space Center for a space-meets-swamp contrast. You can also continue the trip to New Orleans or Mobile, each roughly an hour or two away by car, though those cities deserve their own days.
Practical notes
A car makes the coast far easier, since attractions spread along Highway 90 and across the bay. Summer is hot and humid, so schedule outdoor activities for mornings and evenings. Hurricane season runs from June through November, so buy flexible bookings and watch forecasts. Gaming floors are restricted to guests 21 and over, but everything else in the resorts is open to everyone.
