20 Things To Do In Biloxi, MS

Set along the scenic shores of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Biloxi is a historic port city filled with high-end casino resorts, impeccable white sandy beach and other exciting attractions. Located between Mobile and New Orleans, the city thrived as a hub for shipping and fishing for most of its past before the Magnolia State’s legalisation changes attracted the attention of Nevada’s casino kingpins. Biloxi is more than a gambling haven and resort city; it has a bustling downtown district, top-tier restaurants and boutiques, and a storied past which that stretches from 17th-century French exploration to Hurricane Katrina. Here are the best things to do in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Biloxi, Mississippi

20 Things To Do In Biloxi

1- Visit The Jefferson Davis Presidential Library

Established in 1998, the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library is the official library of Jefferson Davis, who served as the president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865.

The state-of-the-art facility was designed by architect Larry Albert and doubles as an exhibition space and national archive dedicated to preserving and showcasing a range of important documents, manuscripts and artefacts related to Davis’ life and the American Civil War.

Almost completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the presidential library was rebuilt and reopened in 2007.

The venue today is one of Biloxi’s top must-see attraction for historians and Civil War buffs.

The Jefferson Davis Presidential Library is at 2244 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39531. Check out Biloxi’s Scavenger Hunts.

2- Spend An Afternoon Lounging About On Biloxi Beach

Along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Biloxi Beach is the city’s premier public beachfront with white sand and tranquil waters.

Spanning more than 26 miles (42 km), Biloxi Beach is the longest man-made beach in the world and is right on the edge of downtown Biloxi, within walking distance of Biloxi’s restaurants and shopping areas.

One of the most popular spots to visit in Mississippi, Biloxi Beach is bordered by attractions such as the Biloxi Lighthouse, the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and MGM Park.

3- Take The Ferry To Ship Island

12 miles (19 km) off the coast of mainland Mississippi, Ship Island is a vital ecological area and historical site that was first been chartered by French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville in 1699.

Ship Island has the only deep-water harbour between the Mississippi River and Mobile Bay, which made the island a crucial stopping point for ships carrying explorers, soldiers and early European settlers during the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

Transferred to the United States from France following the Louisiana Purchase, the island forms part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and has impressive sights, including Fort Massachusetts and two lighthouses dating to the 1800s.

4- Spend A Weekend In New Orleans

The home of Mardi Gras and Jazz music, New Orleans is among the most exciting cities to visit in the United States, with a distinct culture, culinary scene and people which sets it apart from other major cities in the nation.

Situated 92 miles (148 km) from Biloxi, the Big Easy is the ultimate weekend getaway destination for adventurous Gulf Coast travellers seeking a quick break from the slower-paced cities of southern Mississippi.

A visit to the iconic French Quarter, the Audubon Zoo and Aquarium, the New Orleans Museum of Art and Jackson Square are all world-class Big Easy destinations which definitely shouldn’t be missed out on when planning your epic weekend NOLA travel itinerary from nearby Biloxi.

5- Experience A Shrimping Trip

Regularly organised in Biloxi Bay between Deer Island and the Biloxi Seashore, shrimping trips are some of the best ways of experiencing the rich maritime and fishing heritage which have come to define southern Mississippi.

Typically lasting between 60 and 70 minutes, these shrimping trips offer a glimpse of the Gulf’s many sea creatures as well as insights into what it takes to catch staples in local culinary delicacies such as crawfish, oysters, blue crabs and shrimp.

6- Tour The Maritime And Seafood Industry Museum

On the shores of Biloxi Bay, the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum is a world-class exhibition space that has been educating visitors about the region’s maritime past since the venue opened its doors back in 1986.

Housed inside a Daria Pizzetta-designed, 20,000-square-foot (1,858 m2) building that’s illuminated at night, the museum was all but destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and was only reopened some 9 years later following an extensive reconstruction process.

Among the museum’s most popular attractions and displays are its pair of 65-foot (20 m) two-masted Biloxi Schooners, its on-site theatre and the Wade Guice Hurricane Museum, a smaller 1,400-square foot (130 m2) exhibition space inside the main museum.

The Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum is at 115 E 1st St, Biloxi, MS 39530.

7- Stay Or Party At The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

One of the most popular dining, entertainment and accommodation destinations in Biloxi is the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, a stylish 479-room resort.

The five-star hotel has numerous world-class amenities, including seven restaurants, a nightclub, a full-service spa, a themed pool with a swim-up bar, and more than 50,000 square feet (4,645 m2) of total gambling space.

The hotel is regularly among the liveliest entertainment hubs in Biloxi and has hosted numerous live concerts and tribute acts by some of the biggest artists in the world, making it an impressive attraction to check out in Biloxi year-round.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is at 777 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530.

8- Stop By The Historic Biloxi Lighthouse

A short walk from Biloxi Beach is the Biloxi Lighthouse, which is a historic Biloxi landmark and one of the three original lighthouses commissioned along the Mississippi Sound during the 1840s.

The 61-foot-tall (18.5 m) lighthouse was automated in 1941 and was awarded a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 in recognition of its long service and the storied keepers who kept it running throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Despite suffering damage from several hurricanes throughout its history, the lighthouse continues to be used for guiding ships into Biloxi Bay to this day and was even featured on Mississippi’s licence plates from 2007 until 2012.

The Biloxi Lighthouse is at 1050 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530.

9- Catch A Minor League Game At MGM Park

The official home of Biloxi’s Double-A-affiliated Biloxi Shuckers Minor League Baseball team, MGM Park has been one of southern Mississippi’s key sporting destinations since 2015.

The 6,067 seater baseball stadium famously played host to the 2019 Southern League All-Star Game and is right in the middle of downtown Biloxi, steps away from Biloxi Beach and the city’s popular casino resorts.

MGM Park is at 105 Caillavet St, Biloxi, MS 39530.

10- Visit The Hurricane Katrina Memorial

Undoubtedly the largest event to have hit Biloxi and the Gulf Coast in recent memory is Hurricane Katrina, which pelted the Southern United States with Category 5 winds and floods between August 23 and August 31, 2005.

Hurricane Katrina caused 1,836 people to lose their lives and wreaked more than $180 billion in damages across Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama, making it the costliest natural disaster in US history.

The 12-foot-tall (3.6 m) Hurricane Katrina Memorial in Biloxi was erected in 2006 and features the names of the victims who lost their lives during the tragic event, as well as a selection of pieces collected from destroyed Biloxi landmarks following the hurricane’s aftermath.

The Hurricane Katrina Memorial is at 133 Main St, Biloxi, MS 39530.

11- Tour The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art

The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art is a a state-of-the-art exhibition space dedicated to preserving the legacy of the self-described “Mad Potter of Biloxi”.

The art museum has an intricate Frank Gehry-designed façade resembling stainless-steel ‘pods’ which appear to dance among oak trees.

Hosting pottery classes in addition to the museum’s extensive collection of George E. Ohr ceramic and pottery art, the facility is spread out across 5 different exhibition spaces on a 4-acre (1.6 ha) property and is among downtown Biloxi’s top places to visit among travellers.

The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art is at 386 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530.

12- See Dolphins And Stingrays At Ocean Adventures Marine Park

One of the most popular attractions in southern Mississippi is Ocean Adventures Marine Park, a popular destination among travelling families where visitors can interact with a variety of sea creatures and marine animals.

Part of the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, the marine park is home to several dolphins, sea lions, stingrays and sharks which are on display to the public through the regular live marine shows the park organises.

Situated just a short 20-mile (32 km) drive from Biloxi in the nearby city of Gulfport, the marine park boasts underwater viewing areas, stingray touch pools, and parrot and macaw exhibits, making it one of the best aquatic attractions in the Deep South.

Ocean Adventures Marine Park is at 10801 Dolphin Ln, Gulfport, MS 39503.

13- Be Spoiled At The Beau Rivage Resort & Casino

Famous for its sweeping views of downtown Biloxi, MGM Park and the Mississippi Sound, the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino is among the most luxurious hotels and resorts in the Deep South.

This world-class 1,740-room entertainment and accommodation space was completed in 1999 and was the biggest hotel-casino resort in the US outside the state of Nevada when it first opened its doors to the residents and visitors of Biloxi.

More than just a gambling spot, the resort features upscale amenities that include a Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course, a stylish outdoor pool area and several top restaurants.

With a maximum height of right around 346 feet (105 m), the casino resort is officially the tallest building in Mississippi and is a popular event space in Biloxi, hosting live shows and concerts year-round.

The Beau Rivage Resort & Casino is at 875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530.

14- Cool Off At Gulf Islands Waterpark

For sizzling summertime fun and a much-needed break from Mississippi’s hot summer days, be sure to stop by Gulf Islands Waterpark, one of the premier waterparks in the Deep South boasting several exhilarating rides and attractions.

Home to the first and only water coaster on the Gulf Coast, the waterpark has something in store for all ages and interests to enjoy, including a lazy river, fast-paced tube slides and several themed areas for young kids to enjoy.

Gulf Islands Waterpark is at 17200 16th St, Gulfport, MS 39503.

15- Visit The Walter Anderson Museum of Art

The Walter Anderson Museum of Art, or WAMA for short, has firmly established itself as one of Mississippi’s top centres for the arts since its formation back in 1991, with the museum specialising in showcasing the works of renowned American painter and writer Walter Inglis Anderson.

Situated in nearby Ocean Springs just across the Biloxi Bay Bridge, the museum also honours the artistic legacies of Anderson’s two brothers, Peter and James, who were noteworthy 20th-century artists in their own right.

The Edward Pickard-designed venue houses some of the Anderson siblings’ most impressive paintings, ceramics, pottery and prints depicting scenes and landscapes across Mississippi and the Gulf Coast, making it a real treat to stop by for art lovers travelling around Biloxi Bay.

The Walter Anderson Museum of Art is at 510 Washington Ave, Ocean Springs, MS 39564.

16- Explore The Colourful Exhibits Of The Coastal Mardi Gras Museum

Quaint in size and taking just a few minutes to tour, the Coastal Mardi Gras Museum celebrates the more than 300-year-long history of Mardi Gras in Mississippi.

Using a broad collection of colourful costumes, historical photographs and Mardi Gras artefacts, visitors get to learn about the carnival’s history through a Mississippian lens better than at any other venue in the Magnolia State.

The Coastal Mardi Gras Museum is at 792 Howard Ave, Biloxi, MS 39530.

17- Plan An Afternoon Visit To The Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum

Just 12 miles (19 km) west of downtown Biloxi, the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum is an eye-opening aviation museum which was established to showcase the role of aviation in Mississippi with the help of informative exhibits and unique displays.

The centre was officially opened in 2020 and is among the more recent additions to the Mississippi Gulf Coast tourism scene, with the museum playing an active role in educating visitors of all ages about a variety of STEM-related subjects through the wonderful world of aviation.

The Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum is at 429 Pass Rd, Gulfport, MS 39507.

18- Experience The Glitz And Glam Of Golden Nugget Biloxi

Not to be outdone by Biloxi’s other glamorous casino resorts, the Golden Nugget Biloxi is the oldest casino in the city and one of the Gulf Coast’s most storied venues, dating back to 1992.

Originally titled the “Isle of Capri” when it first opened its doors, the casino is credited with placing Mississippi on the map as a gambling alternative to Nevada when gambling became legal in the state.

Recently renovated to keep it up to date, the 705-room resort features creature comfort amenities such as an outdoor pool area, several on-site dining spots and boutique stores, cementing its status as one of Biloxi’s premier tourist attractions.

Golden Nugget Biloxi is at 151 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530.

19- Stop By The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center

Opened back in 1998, the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center is the oldest dedicated children’s museum in Mississippi and is housed inside the repurposed Mississippi City Elementary School in nearby Gulfport.

The museum was the brainchild of Joe Meadows and Carole Lynn and features more than 15,000 square feet (1,394 m2) of total indoor exhibition space as well as six outdoor zones where young minds are exposed to STEM-related subjects by playing and interacting, making it a popular attraction to visit when travelling with young families.

The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center is at 246 Dolan Ave, Gulfport, MS 39507.

20- Go On A Shopping Spree At Edgewater Mall

The Edgewater Mall in downtown Biloxi has been the city’s premier shopping hub for more than 60 years, with the first retail outlets popping up in the mall following its completion in 1963.

Edgewater Mall features more than 840,000 square feet (78,039 m2) of total retail space and over 100 unique stores and eateries, making it the ideal destination in town for going on an impromptu shopping spree or snapping up some gifts to take back home.

The Edgewater Mall is at 2600 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39531.