Top Things To Do in Biloxi MS: Free and Paid

Are you looking for things to do in Biloxi MS?  What about free things?  Well, look no further because we’ll be discussing both paid AND free things to do in Biloxi right here!

Biloxi is a busy town, with a population of nearly 50,000 people, this coastal town has a little bit of everything.  From the historical tours, to walking along the beach or even renting a bike from the Biloxi Bike Shop, you’ll love exploring this unique and busy coastal town!

Let’s start with exactly where Biloxi, Mississippi is. 

Location

Biloxi, Mississippi is located right on the coast of Mississippi.  This busy town was discovered  in 1699 and is now home to casinos, resorts, beaches, and so much history.  

Just across the bay bridge from Ocean Springs, MS, Biloxi is about 1.5 hours from New Orleans, LA and 1 hour from Mobile, AL.  While Gulfport, MS is larger, Biloxi holds its own with lots of activities and restaurants to choose from.  

Let’s start with some free things to do around Biloxi MS for those of you on a budget (like us!).

Free Things

We all know that doing things can be expensive, and things to do in Biloxi MS are no exception.  So here are a few free things to get you started.   All of these you can do solo, or enjoy with the whole family.

Walk the Biloxi Beach Boardwalk

Biloxi has a 2 mile boardwalk that allows easy access to the beautiful and calm Biloxi Beach.  There are a few beachfront restaurants here and a great souvenir shop called Sharkheads.

This is definitely one of the calmer boardwalks I have ever explored.  When I think of a boardwalk I think of a large and wide boardwalk lined with shops and restaurants on one side and the ocean on the other.  But this just has one shop and a few restaurants.  

But while you’re there, you might as well visit the beach!

Go to Biloxi Beach

Get some sand between your toes and relax in the white sand beaches of Biloxi Beach!  This beach has very calm water and is the perfect place to walk on the sand.

The boardwalk nearby is very low-key so you don’t have to worry about too much noise, and the picturesque palm trees are beautiful!  So let the little ones play in the sand, or sit and read a book at Biloxi Beach.  

Walk Around Downtown

Biloxi has a cute historic downtown area with several murals and cute shops.  The old buildings each have a plaque on them that will tell you when they were built, and a lot of them were built in the 1800s!

There’s even a free historic walking tour with QR codes around the town.  We saw at least 21 QR code plaques filled with information.  

Nearby Free Things

If you are still looking for free things to do in Biloxi MS, there is a nearby town you should check out too!  Nearby is the town of Ocean Springs, MS and this is another town you won’t want to miss. For a more detailed account of things to do in Ocean Springs, check out this article! 

There is a much larger downtown area with dozens of shops and nearly 100 restaurants throughout the town!  They also have several cheap places to grab a snack, like The Tato-Nut Donut Shop and French Kiss Pastries that both offer sweet treats!

Walk and Explore Front Beach (Ocean Springs Beach)

Front Beach is a great place to enjoy the beauty of the beach and take a walk.  These white sand beaches are a great place to enjoy calm waters with a view of the Biloxi Bay Bridge and the Ocean Springs Harbor.  

BONUS: Along the Front Beach walking path, there is the Fort Maurepas City Park where kids can enjoy the playground and even a splash pad in the summertime.   

Gulf Islands National Seashore (Mississippi Side)

Gulf Islands Sign!

Next up is the Davis Bayou area of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.  This area has a fishing pier, a picnic area, a few walking trails and a great visitor center (perfect for your kiddos to explore and touch the exhibits).  There is also an attached campground if you are the camping type!

Check out this link for all of the things you can do and see in the Davis Bayou area.  And unlike the Florida side of the national seashore, this area is free to enter as well.

Paid Things

Alright, grab those wallets, because we have reached the paid list of things to do in Biloxi MS.  You can choose to do a thing or two here, or you can choose to do them all!

Take a Tour of Beauvoir

You might be asking “What is Beauvoir?” and that’s ok!  Beauvoir is the home of Jefferson Davis, the first and only president of the Confederate States.  He lived his last 12 years here and wrote the infamous “The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government”.  

Beauvoir became the Mount Vernon of the Confederacy as people have been taking tours here since 1998.  You can book and schedule your tour here, they have a couple tours you can choose from to tour the 52-acre property.  

Biloxi Lighthouse

Next on our list of paid things to do in Biloxi MS is the Biloxi Lighthouse.  Built in 1848, the Biloxi Lighthouse is one of only 3 remaining lighthouses in all of coastal Mississippi.  

This lighthouse even stood the test of time and survived Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  For just $5 per adult (and $2 per child) you can climb to the top of the lighthouse and get a view of the beautiful Mississippi coast.  

Ship Island

Technically, Ship Island tours operate out of Gulfport, but this island is protected by the above mentioned Gulf Islands National Seashore.  This little coastal island is home to the historic Fort Massachusetts, which was built in the 1850s and saw combat during the US Civil War.  

This island is only reachable by boat from March to October.  There is also a snack stand and swimming area on Ship Island.

Visit a Casino

Now, you can’t cross into Biloxi without seeing the towering structures of their 8 first-class casinos.  This isn’t my cup of tea, but the fine dining, buffet, and wide array of amenities might be just what you want to check out.  

These casinos have hotels and restaurants attached to them if you want the whole casino experience.  

Paradise Pier

If you are looking for a little thrill and have older kids, Paradise Pier might be perfect for you.  With rides and activities, you won’t be bored at Paradise Pier.  They sell unlimited ride packages as well as kids unlimited ride packages at a discounted rate.     

So if you are hoping for something to entertain the kids for several hours, be sure to purchase your wrist bands to Paradise Pier.  

The Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum

You probably think of New Orleans when you think of Mardi Gras, but there are deep roots of the celebration of Mardi Gras in the Coastal Mississippi area too!  If you want all the details and history of Mardi Gras in Mississippi, head over to the Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum in Biloxi. 

For just $8 per adult, you’ll be able to see classic costumes, photos, and artifacts keeping the history of Mardi Gras alive.  

Rent EBikes to Explore Ocean Springs and Biloxi!

And finally, to wrap up this list of things to do in Biloxi MA, you can rent an EBike from Biloxi Bicycle Works.  EBikes can take you much further than your legs or a regular bike can, while also allowing you to enjoy the area and not worry about parking.  

You can rent these bikes at this link for a comfortable ride around Biloxi and even across the bridge to Ocean Springs.    

Hotels and B&Bs

There are dozens of things to do in Biloxi MS, but what about where to stay?  There are over 100 ways to stay, including hotels and Bed & Breakfasts.  You can choose to stay in a Casino Hotel in Biloxi, rent a condo, or stay in a historic B&B.  

Whatever your vibe (or budget) is, you can search this Coastal Mississippi website to find the perfect place for you!

Cheapest Way to Stay!

If you are looking to explore and find things to do in Biloxi MS then I have a great affordable place to stay.  Just how cheap?

How does $22 per night sound?  This is where we stayed when visiting Biloxi and it saved us a ton of money!

And the place is Davis Bayou Campground.  Davis Bayou is right outside of Ocean Springs and just 12 minutes from the bustling downtown area of Ocean Springs, MS.  The campground has 52 sites with water and electric hook-ups and a clean bathhouse.  So while this isn’t the life of luxury, it’s a great way to save some money.

And Finally, FOOD!

Of all the free and paid things to do in Biloxi MS, you have even more choices when it comes to restaurants.  There are dozens of restaurants in Biloxi and the nearby Ocean Springs, with over 30 Seafood restaurants between the two!

Truly, there are more restaurants here than I could ever possibly try, so for all the information about restaurants in Ocean Springs and nearby, I’ll refer you to the Coastal Mississippi website.  

You can use the filters to look for the type of cuisine as well as select the coastal town you are looking for.  So if you are looking for Seafood in Biloxi, select these 2 filters and it will give you your options.  

Conclusion

There are hundreds of things to do in Biloxi MS, but this list will get you started!  Whether you’re here for the free things, or are looking to dive into the history of Biloxi, there’s something here for everyone and for every budget.

If you are looking to explore more of Ocean Springs, be sure to check out this article as well.  We enjoyed shop hopping and walking along the coast in both Biloxi and Ocean Springs, and I hope you will too!