Beaches, Boating, & Water

There’s nothing better than a day at the beach. And the Coastal Mississippi is just the place to kick off your shoes, put your feet in the sand, and relax awhile. With sixty-two miles of scenic shoreline, it’s easy to find a perfect place to set up for a day in the sun.

Care to switch up the sand you’re on? Hop on a Ship Island Excursion from Gulfport Small Craft Harbor to Ship Island, part of Gulf Islands National Seashore. Twelve miles offshore from Gulfport, Ship Island offers gorgeous Gulf waters for swimming, sunbathing, shelling, and more. In fact, a chain of Gulf Coast islands, including Ship Island, limits the amount of strong waves reaching the mainland beaches, creating calm, gentle waters across the Coast. Ship Island — The Perfect Coastal Mississippi Getaway.

Paddle sports, anyone? There’s more than enough water around here to keep a paddle sports party going. Or should we say flowing? Mississippi paddling trails let paddlers enjoy short trips along Wolf River bayous to Bay St. Louis or through the emergent marshlands of the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. For a longer adventure, explore routes from the upper Pascagoula River—the longest free-flowing river in the nation—to the coast, or kayak to the pristine barrier islands for overnight camping under the stars. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources' story map website allows paddlers to choose the adventure that is right for them and provides events and resources to enjoy the variety of coastal preserves along the coast. Whether you want to paddleboard the coast, fish from your kayak, bird watch from your canoe, or lounge on a beach, Mississippi has an adventure for you.

For current information on Mississippi Gulf Coast Beaches, visit this trusted source: https://beaches.mdeq.ms.gov/

Boat Ramps, Fishing Piers, & Marinas

Coastal Mississippi has a vast inventory of freshwater and saltwater fishing opportunities. Click this link for an interactive map of a comprehensive list of places where you can enjoy the natural resources the Mississippi Gulf Coast has to offer.