Things to do in Biloxi when you are not on the course

The best things to do in Biloxi on a golf trip are close to the casinos: the 1848 Biloxi Lighthouse, a 70-minute shrimping trip from next to Hard Rock, a sail on the replica oyster schooners, and the Ship Island ferry from Gulfport in season. Downtown Ocean Springs and Davis Bayou are about 15 minutes east.

This guide is for the non-golf half of the trip: an arrival afternoon, a rest day, or partners who are not playing. Everything here comes from the research behind our map. Hours and ticket prices were not part of that research, so check before you go.

Quick facts

• Icon: the Biloxi Lighthouse (1848), tours from the visitors center.
• Best half day on the water: the Biloxi Shrimping Trip, about 70 minutes.
• Best full day: the Ship Island ferry, March to early November only.
• Best evening: downtown Ocean Springs, about 15 minutes east of the casinos.
• Nature: Davis Bayou, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
• Rain plan: museums, the aquarium and casinos.

Things to do in Biloxi at a glance

Around downtown Biloxi

Biloxi Lighthouse and Visitors Center

The cast-iron lighthouse dates from 1848 and stands in the median of US 90. It is the city's symbol. Tours are arranged at the Biloxi Visitors Center across the road at 1050 Beach Boulevard, which also has exhibits on Biloxi history. It is an easy hour on an arrival day.

The Biloxi Shrimping Trip

The Sailfish leaves from 693 Beach Boulevard next to Hard Rock for about 70 minutes on the Mississippi Sound. The crew trawls a net and identifies the catch. Book online. It is a good short outing for a buddies group between a morning round and dinner.

Biloxi Schooners

The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum runs public sails on its two replica oyster schooners, the Glenn L. Swetman and the Mike Sekul, from the Schooner Pier. The museum itself, at Point Cadet, covers the coast's seafood, boatbuilding and hurricane history.

Beauvoir

Beauvoir is the beachfront antebellum home that was Jefferson Davis's last, with a presidential library on US 90. House and grounds tours are offered.

The beach

The Harrison County beach is a long man-made sand beach along US 90 from Biloxi west to Pass Christian, with a beachfront walkway. It faces the calm, shallow Mississippi Sound rather than open-Gulf surf. Water temperature at the Bay Waveland gauge averages about 54F in January, 75.5F in October and about 86F in July and August.

The closest course to all of this that visitors can book online is Sunkist Country Club, about 20 minutes from downtown; the Sunkist course guide has rates. Bay Breeze on Keesler Air Force Base is closer, but it is a military course; civilians need a same-day background check at the base Visitors Center, open weekdays only, to get on.

Ship Island: the best full day off

Ship Island Excursions runs ferries from the Gulfport harbor to West Ship Island in the Gulf Islands National Seashore: a beach and the Civil War-era Fort Massachusetts. The 2026 seasons were:

• March 14 to May 15
• May 16 to August 9
• August 12 to November 1

There is no ferry from November to February, and the National Park Service closes the island buildings from November 1 to February 28. So a winter golf trip cannot include it, but a spring or early-fall trip can. The dock is in Gulfport, also home to Bayou Vista, the city course ($28 with cart, seen October 2026; rates change), if anyone wants a quick round on the same day.

Ocean Springs and Davis Bayou

Downtown Ocean Springs is a walkable Washington Avenue and Government Street district of galleries, shops and restaurants, about 15 minutes east of the Biloxi casinos. The Walter Anderson Museum of Art at 510 Washington Avenue shows the Ocean Springs artist's work, including his painted Little Room and community center murals. Vestige and Desi Vega Steakhouse make it a dinner destination.

Davis Bayou is the mainland unit of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, with the William M. Colmer Visitor Center, short nature trails, bayou views and birding.

Both fit a day at Shell Landing in Gautier or The Preserve in Vancleave, the east-side courses (see the Shell Landing course guide). Note that the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival (November 7-8 in 2026) draws about 100,000 visitors and jams downtown and US 90. Our Ocean Springs golf guide covers the area.

Bay St. Louis

Old Town Bay St. Louis is a small beach-town main street on the Bay of St. Louis, with shops, restaurants and the restored 1928 depot. It is an easy evening for groups playing The Bridges or Diamondhead; the Bridges course guide covers the course. The Blind Tiger beach bar overlooks the bay. See Bay St. Louis golf.

West of town, the INFINITY Science Center at Pearlington is the NASA Stennis visitor center and science museum, best for groups based in Bay St. Louis or driving in from New Orleans.

Casinos, shows and indoor fun

The casinos are the coast's default evening: Beau Rivage, Hard Rock, IP, Harrah's, Golden Nugget, Palace, Treasure Bay, Boomtown, Scarlet Pearl and Island View all have gaming, spas, shows and restaurants. Margaritaville Resort Biloxi's public indoor complex adds bowling, two golf simulators, an arcade, a ropes course and an indoor coaster. Our rainy day in Biloxi guide covers indoor options in full.

Events worth timing (or avoiding)

The Fallen Oak Collegiate is free and open to spectators, a way to see Fallen Oak, the Tom Fazio course otherwise open only to Beau Rivage guests. Our Biloxi events guide has the full list, and Mardi Gras Biloxi golf covers parade week.

Fitting it into a golf trip

• Arrival afternoon: lighthouse, visitors center and a walk on the beach.
• Between rounds: the shrimping trip or a schooner sail.
• Rest day (spring or early fall): Ship Island.
• East-side golf day: finish in Ocean Springs for dinner.
• West-side golf day: finish in Old Town Bay St. Louis.

For full trip shapes, see the Biloxi golf trip itinerary and where to eat in Biloxi. If you are combining two Gulf Coast towns, our Gulf Shores golf trip guide covers the Alabama end.

Plan it on the map

Open the Biloxi golf map to see every course and hotel, with drive times, so you can pair a round with the lighthouse, the ferry or a night in Ocean Springs. The $30 plan builds the days for you, with rest-day and evening ideas placed near your base.