Things to Do in Biloxi MS: Beaches & Museums
The best things to do in Biloxi MS (Mississippi) are the 1848 Biloxi Lighthouse climb, the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, a Biloxi schooner sail, the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, Beauvoir, and the public beach along U.S. Highway 90. Admission ranges from free to $30 per adult, and the lighthouse tour runs only from 9 to 10 a.m.
Key Takeaways
- Biloxi Lighthouse: Built in 1848 and 65 feet (19.8 meters) tall, the lighthouse offers climbs daily from 9 to 10 a.m. for $5 per adult.
- Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art: The museum opens Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at $12 per adult, and closes every Sunday.
- Beauvoir: The 51-acre (20.6-hectare) estate opens daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at $13 per adult.
- Biloxi schooners: Walk-on sails last 2.5 hours and cost $30 per adult and $20 per child ages 3 to 12, with a minimum of 6 passengers.
- Mississippi shrimp season: The 2026-27 season opened May 26, 2026, and closes January 1, 2027, north of the Intracoastal Waterway or May 1, 2027, south of it.
What Are the Best Things to Do in Biloxi MS?
The best things to do in Biloxi MS fall into three groups: landmarks (Biloxi Lighthouse, Biloxi Visitors Center), museums (Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, Beauvoir), and water activities (schooner sails, public beach, Ship Island ferry). Each group suits a different half-day of a Biloxi trip.
Biloxi sits on a peninsula along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and U.S. Highway 90 (Beach Boulevard) connects most attractions. This guide sorts the stops by opening window because the lighthouse tour, the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, and the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum each keep different hours.
| Attraction | Adult admission | Hours | Best for |
| Biloxi Lighthouse | $5 | Daily, 9-10 a.m., weather permitting | History, views, short stops |
| Biloxi Visitors Center | Free | Open daily (confirm closing time) | Orientation, rainy-day stop |
| Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art | $12 | Tue-Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Art, architecture |
| Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum | $10 | Mon-Sat, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Seafood and hurricane history |
| Biloxi schooner walk-on sail | $30 | Posted dates and times; call the morning of | Water views |
| Beauvoir | $13 | Daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Historic home, grounds |
Admission and hours come from the City of Biloxi, Coastal Mississippi, and each attraction’s website, checked October 17, 2026. The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum price comes from a 2022 city listing, so call (228) 435-6320 to confirm it before you go.
Climb the Biloxi Lighthouse (1848)
The Biloxi Lighthouse is a cast-iron lighthouse built in 1848 that stands 65 feet (19.8 meters) tall in the middle of U.S. Highway 90. Guided climbs run daily from 9 to 10 a.m., weather permitting, and cost $5 for visitors 12 and older, $2 for ages 6 to 11, and nothing for ages 5 and younger.
The climb covers 57 spiral steps plus an eight-rung ladder through a 19-by-23-inch (48-by-58-centimeter) trap door into the light room. Visitors must stand at least 42 inches (107 centimeters) tall, and anyone who struggles with stairs should skip the climb. Visitors pass hurricane waterlines dating back more than 100 years on the way up. The City of Biloxi has reported that interior temperatures can climb well above 100°F (37.8°C) during the day, so the 9 a.m. window works best in summer.
Stop at the Biloxi Visitors Center
The Biloxi Visitors Center at 1050 Beach Boulevard charges no admission and sits beside the lighthouse. The center holds nearly 12 multimedia exhibits about Biloxi’s people, waterfront, and cultural mix, plus a 67-seat theater that shows the 10-minute film “We Are Biloxi.” The second-floor porch puts visitors at eye level with the lighthouse beacon.
See the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art
The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art at 386 Beach Boulevard combines gallery space with Frank Gehry-designed buildings set among old oak trees. Hours run Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4:15 p.m. Adults pay $12, seniors 60 and older pay $10, students ages 6 to 17 pay $6, and children under 6 enter free.
The museum closes on New Year’s Day, Mardi Gras Day, July 4, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, and shortens hours on Christmas Eve to close at 1 p.m. Trinity Cafe by Joshua, inside the Welcome Center, serves lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tour the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum
The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum at 115 First Street occupies a building of more than 19,000 square feet (1,765 square meters) on the eastern tip of the Biloxi peninsula. The atrium centers on the Nydia, a 30-foot (9.1-meter) wooden vessel built in the late 1800s on Biloxi’s Back Bay. Exhibits include a display and film on Hurricane Camille, which struck in 1969.
The City of Biloxi lists hours as Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., plus Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The same listing gives admission at $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 60 and older, AAA members, and military, and $6 for students ages 5 to 12. The listing dates from 2022, so confirm prices before visiting.
Sail a Biloxi Schooner
The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum operates two replica oyster schooners, the Glenn L. Swetman and the Mike Sekul, each 65 feet (19.8 meters) long with two masts. Walk-on sails depart from the Schooner Pier Complex at 367 Beach Boulevard when at least 6 passengers book, and tickets cost $30 per adult and $20 per child ages 3 to 12. Sailings do not take reservations, so call (228) 435-6320 on the morning of the sail to confirm the trip.
Passengers may bring food and drinks, and the crew supplies ice chests and ice. Country Roads Magazine reported that the captain has let children take turns at the helm. Private charters for up to 20 people cost $600 for 2.5 hours, with $20 per extra person up to 44 passengers.
Walk Through Beauvoir
Beauvoir, the Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library at 2244 Beach Boulevard, opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults pay $13, children ages 6 to 17 pay $7, and children ages 5 and younger and uniformed active-duty military enter free. The 51-acre (20.6-hectare) National Historic Landmark includes the restored home, a presidential library, a Confederate museum, and a cemetery fronting the Gulf of Mexico.
A guided house tour lasts about 30 minutes, and the grounds are self-guided. Residents of the grounds include sheep, goats, peacocks, and a camel named Sir Camelot. Beauvoir centers on Jefferson Davis and Confederate history, so travelers who want a specific interpretive approach should read the museum’s current exhibit descriptions before booking.
Are There Free Things to Do in Biloxi MS?
Yes. Biloxi offers at least four free activities: walking the public beach, touring the Biloxi Visitors Center exhibits, photographing the Biloxi Lighthouse from Beach Boulevard, and watching the 10-minute film “We Are Biloxi.” Paid admission starts at $5 for the lighthouse climb and reaches $30 for a schooner sail.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast has 26 miles (41.9 kilometers) of beach, and the Biloxi stretch runs along Beach Boulevard. We recommend pairing the free stops with one paid stop per day: the $5 lighthouse climb in the morning, then the Visitors Center and beach in the afternoon, which keeps a day under $10 per adult. Biloxi Bicycle Rentals, listed on the City of Biloxi site, offers a way to see the shoreline on two wheels; call for current rates.
| Free option | Where | Notes |
| Public beach | Along Beach Boulevard | Check water advisories before swimming |
| Biloxi Visitors Center | 1050 Beach Boulevard | Exhibits, 10-minute film, porch view |
| Lighthouse exterior | Median of U.S. Highway 90 | Climbs cost $5 |
What Are Fun Things to Do in Biloxi MS Besides Gambling?
Fun things to do in Biloxi MS besides gambling include climbing the 1848 lighthouse, sailing a replica schooner, touring the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, walking Beauvoir’s 51 acres (20.6 hectares), and taking a ferry to Ship Island. None requires entering a casino, and the first four cost between $5 and $30 per adult.
Biloxi has casino resorts, and Mississippi casino floors admit adults 21 and older. Travelers who skip the casinos can fill an evening with a schooner sail on dates posted by the museum, or time a visit to the Blessing of the Fleet and Shrimp Festival, a tradition that dates back to 1929 and held its 97th annual edition on May 31, 2026. During that festival, shrimp boats gather in the west end of the Biloxi Channel near the Beau Rivage Casino and parade east. The festival marks the start of shrimp season, so check the Coastal Mississippi events calendar for the 2027 date.
What Are the Best Things to Do in Biloxi MS for Couples?
The best things to do in Biloxi MS for couples are a schooner sail, a gallery visit at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art followed by lunch at Trinity Cafe by Joshua, and a 9 a.m. lighthouse climb. For two adults, the lighthouse costs $10, the museum $24, and the schooner $60.
That plan totals $94 for two adults before food. The Gehry-designed museum campus works as a walking stop between the lighthouse and the waterfront, and the schooner gives couples 2.5 hours on the Mississippi Sound. Book the museum for Tuesday through Saturday and the schooner on a posted sailing date, because both keep limited schedules.
What Are Good Things to Do in Biloxi MS With Kids?
Good things to do in Biloxi MS with kids include the lighthouse climb (minimum height 42 inches, or 107 centimeters), schooner sails (20forages3to12),theMaritime&SeafoodIndustryMuseum(6 for students ages 5 to 12), and Beauvoir’s farm animals, which include sheep, goats, peacocks, and a camel named Sir Camelot.
Age rules shape the budget, so the table below prices a family of two adults and two children ages 8 and 10.
| Activity | Adults (2) | Children (2) | Family total |
| Biloxi Lighthouse climb | $10 | $4 | $14 |
| Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum | $20 | $12 | $32 |
| Schooner walk-on sail | $60 | $40 | $100 |
| All three | $90 | $56 | $146 |
Children under 6 enter the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art free, and the Biloxi Visitors Center charges nothing for its 10-minute film. The museum prices above come from a 2022 listing, so confirm them by phone. Parents of children under 42 inches (107 centimeters) should plan the beach or the Visitors Center during the 9 a.m. lighthouse window. To budget the whole trip, try our travel cost calculator.
What Are the Best Things to Do in Biloxi MS This Weekend?
The best things to do in Biloxi MS this weekend depend on the day: Saturday opens every major attraction, while Sunday closes the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art and limits the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum to summer hours. Plan the lighthouse at 9 a.m. Saturday and Beauvoir on Sunday.
Saturday Itinerary
- 9 a.m.: Biloxi Lighthouse climb ($5), then the Biloxi Visitors Center next door
- 11 a.m.: Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art (open until 5 p.m.) and lunch at Trinity Cafe by Joshua
- Afternoon: Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum (closes 4:30 p.m.)
- Late afternoon or evening: schooner walk-on sail, if the museum has posted a sailing
Sunday Itinerary
- 9 a.m.: Beauvoir, which opens daily at 9 a.m.
- Afternoon: beach time after checking Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) advisories
- Summer only: Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, noon to 4 p.m., between Memorial Day and Labor Day
For event listings on a specific weekend, check the Coastal Mississippi events calendar before booking.
Can You Swim at Biloxi Beach?
Yes. Biloxi’s beach is open for swimming, but swimmers should check Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) water contact advisories first, because high bacteria levels trigger warnings to stay out of the water while the sand remains open to the public.
MDEQ stresses that a water contact advisory is not a beach closure. The state’s Beach Task Force recommends no swimming during or within 24 hours of a significant rainfall. Biloxi stretches carry their own monitoring stations: Station 12A covers Biloxi West Central Beach (Travia Avenue to Iberville Drive), Station 12B covers Biloxi East Central Beach, and Station 11A covers Edgewater Beach (Debuys Road to Edgewater Avenue). Harrison County has 13 monitoring stations in total.
A Gulf Coast tourism official told Mississippi Today that the Mississippi Sound water looks brown, not clear. Travelers who want clearer water can look at Ship Island, where the national seashore beaches draw swimmers and shell collectors. For clearer Gulf water, compare the best things to do in Naples Florida. MDEQ has offered text alerts by texting “MDEQbeach” to 95577.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Biloxi MS?
March through October is the best window for a first Biloxi trip because the Ship Island ferry runs on that schedule and Mississippi’s shrimp season opens in late May. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, so summer and fall bookings need flexible cancellation terms.
| Season | What the sources confirm |
| March-May | Ship Island ferry spring schedule (Wednesday-Friday, plus weekend departures); shrimp season opens May 26, 2026 |
| June-August | Ferry runs 7 days a week; Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum adds Sunday hours; lighthouse interior can exceed 100°F (37.8°C) |
| September-October | Ferry fall schedule; ferry season ends in October |
| November-February | No Ship Island ferry; museum Sunday hours pause |
How Do You Visit Ship Island From Biloxi?
Visit Ship Island by taking the Ship Island Excursions ferry, which runs about one hour to the island, 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) south of the coast. The 2026 season runs March through October, with summer departures at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. and returns at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The ferry leaves from the Gulfport Small Vessel Harbor, and the National Park Service also lists a departure from the Margaritaville Resort in Biloxi, so confirm the boarding location when you book. Current fares are posted at msshipisland.com. Ship Island belongs to Gulf Islands National Seashore, and Fort Massachusetts stands near the ferry landing alongside a ranger station and concession stand.
Spring and fall service differs from summer: Wednesday through Friday ferries leave Gulfport at 9 a.m. only, while Saturday and Sunday ferries leave at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Conclusion
Biloxi rewards travelers who plan around opening windows instead of attraction lists. The 9 a.m. lighthouse tour, Tuesday-through-Saturday museum hours, and schooner sails that run only on posted dates set the order of a good trip. Future visits depend on beach advisories, the ferry calendar, and the next shrimp season, so check each source the week of travel and build the itinerary around what is open on the day. Extending a Southern coast road trip? See the best things to do in Hilton Head.
