Long Beach City BeachUnited States Beach Guide

Long Beach City Beach is easy to reach by car from US-90 Long Beach — you're looking at roughly two minutes from the highway. Free parking runs along the beachfront, so there's no app, no ticket machine, and no fee to worry about. The beach is also accessible by ferry or seaplane for those arriving from the water side.

The fishing pier is the beach's signature feature — bring a rod and join the locals. For a bigger adventure, Ship Island Excursions, about six kilometres away, runs ferry trips out to West Ship Island and the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a genuinely spectacular day out. The Biloxi Lighthouse, a cultural landmark roughly fifteen kilometres east, is worth the short drive if you want a dose of Gulf Coast history. Gulfport Beach, about eight kilometres along the coast, offers additional beachfront with Jones Park nearby if you want to extend your Gulf-side day.

Flyin' Jalapeño, a Mexican spot about four kilometres away, is the closest dining option when hunger strikes. For something more regional, Shaggy's Gulfport Beach and The Chimneys are both within about seven kilometres and lean into Gulf Coast flavours. Half Shell Oyster House and Los Kioskos — offering Spanish and Colombian fare — round out the options within a short drive.

The nearest hotels are clustered towards Gulfport, with Legacy Inn the closest at under eight kilometres from the beach. WoodSpring Suites and Value Place Gulfport, Mississippi offer budget-friendly options a little further along, while Hampton Inn & Suites and Home2 Suites sit about eleven kilometres out near the Gulfport Biloxi International Airport corridor.

Shoot early morning when the white sand catches soft golden light and the water's brown tones take on a warm, almost amber quality — the grassy median park makes a clean, green backdrop behind the shoreline. The fishing pier is your best structural subject, especially at dusk when the Gulf sky opens up behind it.

No permanent lifeguard service is on duty, so swim within your comfort level and keep a close eye on children in the water at all times. Jellyfish are a real possibility from July through August — if you spot them, stay out. Alcohol is not permitted without a proper permit, and glass containers are banned on the beach entirely; pack cans and leave the bottles at home. Dogs are welcome on leash, which makes this one of the more pet-friendly stops on the Gulf Coast.