Ship Island Beach

White sand beach

Unnamed Road, Biloxi, MS 39530, USA

14 miles from Biloxi, MS

Cleanliness

Water quality

Crowded

Impressions

Overall

Grades suggested by our reviewer

Water Quality

Unknown

Nudist beach

Beach amenities

Clothing optionalRead the description for more info
RestaurantsF&B places nearby
LifeguardsLifeguard on duty
Changing roomsDressing rooms on the beach
AccessibilityEasy beach access
Gear rentalsEquipment for rent
SunbedsBeach chairs available
WCPublic restrooms nearby
ShowerPublic showers available

👉 Download a FREE PDF map

About this beach

Warnings and hazards

The fartherst part of the beach is for nudists. More info in the description 👀

It can get very hot. Wear a hat, bring an umbrella or rent one!

Dogs are not allowed on the ferry!

Many agree that this has to be the best beach near NOLA. It is also one of the closest beaches near New Orleans.

Visiting Ship Island is an excellent way to spend your day. To get to the island you will need to take a ferry from the dock in Biloxi, which costs about $30 per person for a roundtrip. This will take approximately an hour. The trip itself is exciting - we saw a bunch of dolphins jump close to us! 😊 Walking to the beach itself will take 10+ minutes or so, as the nicest beaches are on the southern side of the island, while the dock is on the northern side of it.

There's not much to do except relaxing, swimming and touring the fort. You can rent umbrellas and sunbeds (around $25 for two) or bring your own if you don't mind carrying things around with you. There's a reasonably-priced snack bar, showers, and well-maintained bathroom facilities.

The beach has powder-white sand and the water is clearer than in Biloxi Beach (which we also recommend visiting) and very shallow so swimming is safe for kids. Crabs, jellyfish, stingrays are swimming really close!

While you are there make sure to visit the Fort Massachusetts - it's free, and if you are into history, you're going to love it (have a look at the article on Wikipedia about it).

This beach is a must-go.

Nudism

The furtherest end of the beach is where you can find the "nudist section". Getting there can be tiring – it's a long hike from where the boat drops you off. Few folks journey to that part of the island, but the ones who do have been going there for years, and they know what's the deal over there.

What we loved

The beach and the facilities
Not too crowded
Watching dolphins jump out of the water!

Hotels and rentals

If you're considering staying for one or even a few nights, there are plenty of options available near the beach. Chose your preferred accomodation type and your favourite room provider:

Nearby rentals from VRBO.
Nearby rooms and properties from Booking.com.

Beaches nearby

Additionally, there's a number of beaches near Ship Island Beach which you can visit:

Beach reviewed by:

Siobhan

Ask me a question about this beach! 👈

Photos from Google Maps

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Visitor questions:

Question: Do you have to be completely nude?

Asked by Eddie Duplantier 7 months ago

Answer: Dear Eddie, men usually sunbathe and swim completely naked. So the answer is yes. If you take your girlfriend with you, she can relax on the beach either completely nude or just topless if she likes. Also, some women use adhesive nipple stickers for extra privacy. Should you feel uncomfortable in the nudist part of the beach, you are always free to leave it and to go to the main beach where everybody is wearing swimsuits. The nudist beach is a small section in the further end of the island.

Question: Is there any place in land that I can take a hike nude? Do you know of a group I can get together with?

Asked by Fred 6 months ago

Answer: Mississippi offers no nude hiking opportunities — as opposed to the neighboring Alabama and Tennessee as well as many other states. As for the groups, America's most popular community is the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR). Please remember that due to the coronavirus epidemic hiking is temporarily banned.

Question: I'm thinking of going this coming week, I've really been wanting to go out for a nice nude day at the beach! do you think it should be good? And could you give me an idea of where exactly to walk to and how long it will take?

Asked by Joseph M Payne 24 days ago

Answer: Ship Island Beach boasts a wonderful clothing-optional beach. We hope you'll love it! The nudist area is located in the easternmost end of the island. Once you′ve left the boat near Fort Massachusetts, go east till the very end of the island. The ocean should always stay on your left. Have a nice day on the beach. No tan lines!