The best place to stay in Long Beach, MS is within a few blocks of Beach Boulevard (Highway 90), where you can walk to the sand, the Long Beach Harbor, and the small-town shops of the Jeff Davis Avenue downtown strip. Long Beach is the calm middle of the Mississippi Gulf Coast — beach out the front door, Gulfport's casinos and airport ten minutes east, Pass Christian's harbor ten minutes west, and New Orleans close enough for a day trip. Stay'ca manages the Beach Bungalow here — a 3-bedroom, 3-bath home that sleeps 9, a short walk from the beach. Book direct at stayca.life for the lowest rates, with no platform service fees.

What is Long Beach, Mississippi known for?

Long Beach is a residential beach town of about 16,000 people between Gulfport and Pass Christian, known for its stretch of the Mississippi coast's famous man-made sand beach, its small-craft harbor, and the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Park campus. It is the family-neighborhood alternative to the casino towns — quieter, slower, and closer to the water. The town rebuilt beautifully after Hurricane Katrina, and its downtown along Jeff Davis Avenue now has local shops, restaurants, and live music on weekends. On the USM campus along Highway 90 you'll find the Friendship Oak, a live oak more than 500 years old and one of the most photographed trees in Mississippi — local tradition says friends who stand in its shade will remain friends for life.

What can you do at the beach in Long Beach?

Long Beach sits on Harrison County's 26-mile man-made sand beach — widely billed as the world's largest man-made beach — which runs from Biloxi through Gulfport and Long Beach to Pass Christian along the Mississippi Sound. Parking along Beach Boulevard is free, crowds are light compared to Florida beaches, and a paved pedestrian path runs the length of the sand. Within Long Beach itself:

• The Long Beach Harbor — a working small-craft harbor with a fishing pier, boat launch, pavilions, volleyball nets, and a snowball stand in season. Sunsets over the moored boats are the town's signature view.
• Beach access with amenities — public parking, restrooms, and a splash pad near 205 E. Beach Boulevard make this one of the easiest family beach days on the coast.
• The Friendship Oak and USM Gulf Park campus — free to visit, with sprawling lawns and beachfront views along scenic Highway 90.
• Ship Island day trips — the ferry to Ship Island's clear-water Gulf beaches and historic Fort Massachusetts leaves from the Gulfport Harbor, about 15 minutes away, and takes about an hour each way.

Know before you go: the beach here fronts the Mississippi Sound, sheltered by barrier islands — the water is calm and shallow, great for small kids and kayaks, but it's not the clear surf of the open Gulf. For that, take the Ship Island ferry.

Where should you stay in Long Beach?

Stay in the neighborhoods just north of Beach Boulevard, where a vacation rental puts you a short walk from the sand without beachfront pricing. Stay'ca's Long Beach home is the Beach Bungalow — 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, sleeping up to 9, built for exactly the trips people take here: beach weeks with kids, multi-generational family gatherings, girls' trips to the coast, and long snowbird stays. You get a full kitchen, real living space, and free parking — things a casino hotel room in Gulfport can't offer — while staying 10 minutes from those casinos when you want them. Booking direct at stayca.life means no platform service fees, and you can browse availability on our properties page.

Where do locals eat in Long Beach?

Long Beach eats better than a town its size should, and almost everything is local — there's no beachfront chain-restaurant strip here. Local favorites:

• Darwell's Cafe — the town institution: Cajun and Creole cooking in a brightly painted cottage near the beach. Expect a wait on weekends; it's worth it.
• Steve's Marina Restaurant — seafood and gumbo overlooking the harbor at 213 E. Beach Boulevard, serving Long Beach since 2001.
• Harbor View Cafe — breakfast and lunch with, as promised, a harbor view.
• Long Beach Market & Deli — sandwiches and picnic supplies for a beach day.
• Shaggy's Pass Harbor — the original Shaggy's (opened 2007), ten minutes west on the Pass Christian harbor, for fresh Gulf seafood and beach drinks on the water.

Should you book Long Beach for Cruisin' the Coast?

Yes — and book early. Cruisin' the Coast, the Mississippi Gulf Coast's biggest annual event, runs October 4–11, 2026, celebrating its 30th anniversary as "America's Largest Block Party." Thousands of classic cars cruise Highway 90 through Long Beach all week, with cruise-in venues, live oldies bands, a swap meet, and an auto auction spread across the coast towns. Lodging across all of Harrison County sells out months ahead, and a Long Beach rental puts you directly on the cruise route without Biloxi's traffic. If your dates are flexible, spring and fall shoulder seasons offer warm water, empty sand, and lower rates.

How do you get to Long Beach, MS?

Long Beach is one of the easiest Gulf Coast beach towns to reach. Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT) is about 10 miles away — roughly 15 minutes door to door. Driving, it's about 72 miles (1 hour 15 minutes) from New Orleans via I-10, about 1.5 hours from Mobile, and about 1 hour 15 minutes from Hattiesburg via US-49. Amtrak's Mardi Gras Service also runs twice daily between New Orleans and Mobile with a stop in Gulfport, minutes from Long Beach. That New Orleans proximity works both directions — day-trip into the city for beignets and the French Quarter, then sleep somewhere quiet, cheaper, and steps from a beach.

Frequently asked questions

Is Long Beach, MS good for families?

Yes — it may be the most family-friendly town on the Mississippi coast. The Sound-side water is calm and shallow, beach parking is free, there's a splash pad at the main public beach access, and the town is residential and quiet at night. Casinos and nightlife stay ten minutes away in Gulfport, not on your doorstep.

How far is Long Beach from New Orleans?

About 72 miles — roughly a 1-hour-15-minute drive via I-10 and Highway 90. That makes Long Beach both an easy day trip from the city and a popular home base for visitors who want New Orleans within reach but prefer to sleep near a beach at a lower nightly rate.

When is Cruisin' the Coast 2026?

October 4–11, 2026 — the event's 30th anniversary. Classic cars cruise Highway 90 through Long Beach all week, and coast-wide lodging books up months in advance, so reserve early.

Do snowbirds winter in Long Beach?

Yes. Long Beach is a well-established snowbird roost — mild winters, uncrowded beaches, low cost of living, and monthly rental rates well below Florida's. Ask us about extended-stay pricing for winter months when you book direct.

Last updated: July 29, 2026 · Written by the Stay'ca team, Mississippi-based property managers