The Gulf Coast is a road-tripper's dream: warm water, seafood cheaper than the Atlantic, and a string of beach towns that get better the farther east you go. This 5-day route covers roughly 450 miles across four states — Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida — with the ocean on your shoulder almost the whole way. Take it slow, roll the windows down, and let the coast set the pace.
Day 1 — New Orleans to Gulfport (~90 miles)
Start in the Crescent City with beignets and a café au lait at Café du Monde, then point the car east on US-90. Pull off at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi — a charming arts-and-sunsets town with a wide, walkable beach and a restored historic district. Grab a shrimp po'boy at Trapani's Eatery, then continue to Gulfport for the night. If you time it right, you'll catch the sunset over the Mississippi Sound from the Gulfport pier. Sleep: Gulfport or neighboring Biloxi, both full of affordable beachfront motels.
Day 2 — Gulfport to Mobile (~95 miles)
Drive the coast through Biloxi — stop for fresh Gulf oysters at Half Shell Oyster House and walk the Biloxi Lighthouse. Cross into Alabama and overnight in Mobile, a port city with deep history, the Battleship Memorial Park, and an underrated seafood scene (try Wintzell's Oyster House). Don't skip a walk through the Mobile Botanical Gardens if you need a break from the sun. Sleep: Downtown Mobile.
Day 3 — Mobile to Gulf Shores (~55 miles)
You're in the sweet spot now. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach serve up wide, warm, family-friendly sand. Rent a beach chair, swim in the calm Gulf, and eat seafood at The Flora-Bama (yes, that one — it straddles the state line). If you're feeling adventurous, the Gulf State Park pier is the longest on the Gulf and free to walk. Sleep: A beachfront condo in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach.
Day4 — Gulf Shores to Destin (~70 miles)
The shortest drive of the trip but the most scenic. You'll cross into the Florida Panhandle and hit Destin — the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village." Walk the HarborWalk, swim in the clearest water in the Panhandle (the emerald-green kind), and get a grouper sandwich at The Back Porch. Book a sunset sail if you have the evening free. Sleep: Destin harbor area.
Day 5 — Destin to 30A (~30 miles)
Finish strong on Scenic Highway 30A — a 24-mile coastal road through pastel beach towns. Rent a bike and cruise the Timpoochee Trail between Seaside, WaterColor, and Rosemary Beach. Grab sunset drinks on the sand (a cold pint helps), and start planning the next trip before you're even home.
Road-trip tips
- A Jeep or SUV opens up the beach access roads and the unpaved shortcuts inland.
- Pack a cooler — seafood markets line the route; grab shrimp and oysters straight off the boats.
- Leave the highway for the coast road whenever you can — US-90 and County Road 30A beat I-10 every time.
- Summer sunsets run 7–8 PM; don't miss them.
- Gas up in Mobile — the Panhandle stretch has fewer stations than you'd expect.
- Keep a Salty Roads pint glass in the cooler for the sundown toast.
Worth the detour
If you have an extra day, push past 30A to Panama City Beach for Shell Island (a boat-only barrier island with wild, empty sand) or keep east toward Apalachicola for oysters and old-Florida charm.
