Biloxi

Biloxi sits along the Mississippi Sound, defined by Highway 90 and the water. Commercial shrimp boats share the coastline with high-rise casino towers. You navigate the city primarily by car along the beach corridor or across the Back Bay. Expect warm Gulf waters, fried po' boys, and gaming floors operating twenty-four hours a day.

Biloxi seafood relies on proximity to the Mississippi Sound. Local spots serve wild-caught Gulf shrimp, blue crab, and oysters shucked to order. French loaves come pressed crisply, loaded with fried seafood and dressed with shredded lettuce and pickles.Vietnamese shrimpers settled in Biloxi during the 1970s and reshaped the local food culture. You will find bakeries combining traditional French-Southern seafood with garlic butter and fresh herbs.

• Order po' boys dressed

  Asking for a po' boy 'dressed' means adding mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and pickles.

• Charbroiled over raw

  Local spots top oysters with butter, garlic, and parmesan before grilling over open flames.

• Peak shrimp season

  Brown shrimp harvest peaks from May through July, providing fresh catches at coastal docks.

French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville established the first French settlement in the region in 1699. Biloxi briefly served as the capital of French Louisiana in the early 1700s.In the late nineteenth century, rail connections enabled a booming seafood canning industry. By 1903, Biloxi claimed the title of seafood capital of the world. Dockside casino gambling was legalized in 1990, with the first casinos opening in 1992, creating the modern resort strip.

1. 1699

   French Arrival

   Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville establishes Fort Maurepas across the bay.

2. 1848

   Lighthouse Built

   The cast-iron Biloxi Lighthouse opens, guiding maritime traffic into the harbor.

3. 1903

   Seafood Boom

   Canneries process millions of pounds of oysters and shrimp annually along Point Cadet.

4. 1992

   Legalized Gaming

   Dockside casino resorts open along the Biloxi beachfront and Back Bay.

Choose your location based on transport preferences and resort amenities. Beachfront casino towers put restaurants, gaming floors, and pools in one structure. Non-gaming hotels along Highway 90 offer quiet beach access further west.

Biloxi is a driving city spread along Highway 90. Public transit exists via Coast Transit Authority buses, but driving or rideshares remain the most efficient way to cross town.

• Local CTA buses require exact cash fare or contactless app payment.

• Speed limits drop to 35 mph near the lighthouse and pedestrian beach crossings.

Biloxi remains lower-cost than major Florida Gulf destinations. Casino resorts offer budget weekday rates offset by weekend increases when regional visitors arrive.

• Fried shrimp po' boy: $12–18

  Served with French fries at local neighborhood seafood stands.

• Dozen raw oysters: $18–26

  Prices fluctuate based on seasonal availability in Gulf waters.

• Bus day pass: $6

  Allows unlimited daily travel on Coast Transit Authority routes.

• Museum admission: $10–12

  Standard adult entry for local history and maritime museums.

• Shallow beach water

  Barrier islands block heavy ocean waves, creating calm, shallow shore waters along Highway 90.

• Sun exposure

  Reflections off sand and water accelerate sunburns even on overcast days.

• Casino age minimum

  You must be 21 or older to enter casino gaming floors in Mississippi.

• Resort fees

  Casino hotels charge daily resort fees ranging from $15 to $30 added to the nightly room rate.

• Lighthouse climb schedule

  Tours run daily at 9:00 AM, weather permitting, starting at the visitor center.