4 Islands to Visit in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Area

The Mississippi Gulf Coast area includes a lot of beaches and shore, but you can expand your visit beyond the beach and make way to one of the small islands located in the region. There are four key islands to visit in the coastal area, and each one includes unique features.

As you plan a Mississippi Gulf Coast vacation, learn about the islands so you are familiar with your options and can plan out visits accordingly.

1. Deer Island

One of the smallest islands is also one of the closest to the coast. Deer Island is small and features a huge strip of beach along with a variety of trails and wooded areas to explore. Guests on the island can spend the day swimming or bring equipment for salt water fishing. Along with seeing nature, you can dive deep into the history of Deer Island.

The island itself is known for many Mississippi ghost stories. Explore the wooded areas and see if you can spot legends such as the headless ghost. Rumors of skeletons plaguing the island have spread for years, and the location is a fun place to visit at dusk.

The best way to reach the island is on kayak. You can typically paddle over in less than 15 minutes and access the island. If you're from out of town, then you can find many businesses who offer kayak rentals to give you easy access to the island.

2. Cat Island

Oddly, Cat Island is named for the large population of raccoons that used to inhabit the island. Early explorers mistakenly thought the raccoons were cats, and the island name stuck. Cat Island features a lot of privately owned land, but visitors can visit the Gulf Islands National Seashore portion of the island.

The seashore features a lot of beach access, so you can enjoy a quiet area to swim and relax. If you want to see wildlife, Cat Island is home to many types of gators, allowing you to capture pictures and videos of the creatures.

To visit the island, you can take your own boat or look for a chartered boat ride.

3. Horn Island

One of the farthest islands from the Mississippi Gulf Coast is Horn Island. The island is long but not very wide, creating a huge strip of land that is mostly composed of a beach. On the inland parts, you can find multiple lagoons where alligators will swim through the water and can be spotted daily.

Horn Island offers a lot of tranquility away from everyday life. You can unplug and enjoy a lot of relaxation as you rest on the beach, explore, and enjoy the surrounding ocean views.

4. Ship Island

If you're looking for a more established tourist destination, then you can ride a ferry to Ship Island. The island includes electricity, food establishments, and tourist attractions along with the beauty of the beach. One of the biggest landmarks found on the island is Fort Massachusetts.

Built in the mid-1800s for use in the Civil War, the large structure has a lot of history packed inside and offers a lot for visitors to explore. Tours are given seasonally, and most occur during the warmer months of the year.

The island also includes a large boardwalk that you can walk on to enjoy views of the water. The boardwalk extends for a lot of island, giving you an easy path to follow as you enjoy the unique island and everything the location has to offer.

As you plan your island visits, book a room with us at Bed, Breakfast & Beyond. We can offer cozy and accommodating rooms for your entire Mississippi vacation.