Gulfport, MS

Gulfport is the second-largest city in Mississippi, located in Harrison County along the state's Gulf Coast. With an approximate population of around 72,000 residents, it anchors the Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area and serves as a major coastal hub. Known for its white-sand beaches, the Port of Gulfport, and its front-door access to the Gulf Islands National Seashore, the city has a relaxed seaside character that blends working-harbor energy with a rebuilt tourism scene still shaped by the legacy of Hurricane Katrina. It sits about 80 miles east of New Orleans along Interstate 10, placing it within roughly an hour and a half of the Crescent City's airport and attractions.

One of Gulfport's marquee draws is the ferry service to Ship Island, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The boat ride from the Gulfport Small Craft Harbor deposits visitors on a barrier island known for sugar-white sand, calm Gulf waters, and the historic Fort Massachusetts, a mid-19th-century brick fortification. It makes for an easy half-day or full-day excursion and is one of the more distinctive coastal experiences in this part of the Gulf South.

The Mississippi Aquarium, which opened in 2020 along the waterfront, has quickly become a regional anchor attraction. It features a wide variety of freshwater and marine exhibits native to the Gulf Coast and beyond, including a sizable Gulf of Mexico tank, sea otters, alligators, and stingray touch tanks. Located in west Gulfport near the harbor, it is a short drive from most of the city's accommodations and a reliable option for guests looking to escape the beach for a few hours.

Families staying in Gulfport often gravitate to Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, a hands-on children's museum set in a historic school building in the downtown area. The center includes indoor and outdoor exhibits focused on art, science, and Gulf Coast heritage, and it has been a fixture of the city's family-friendly offerings for years.

A short drive east puts visitors in neighboring Biloxi, home to the region's casino resorts, fishing charters, and the historic Biloxi Lighthouse. Combined with Gulfport's own beaches, harbor cruises, and barrier-island access, the city functions as a comfortable base for travelers who want Gulf sand, family attractions, and an easy hop to the larger cultural draws of New Orleans and beyond.