Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT) serves Mississippi's Gulf Coast, a stretch of casino resorts, sandy beaches and historic coastal towns along the northern edge of the Gulf of Mexico, and a rental car is the easiest way to move between the region's spread-out attractions. The airport sits between Gulfport and Biloxi, with rental counters from international and local companies inside the terminal, and pickup is generally quick given the airport's manageable regional scale.
From GPT, the casino district along Biloxi's beachfront is only about fifteen to twenty minutes away, while Gulfport's own downtown and harbor area sit even closer to the airport itself. Heading east along Highway 90, the coastal road hugs the shoreline through Ocean Springs and toward Pascagoula, a scenic drive of perhaps thirty to forty-five minutes that passes beaches, fishing piers and historic live oak-lined streets. Heading west, the drive toward Bay St. Louis and eventually New Orleans, roughly an hour and a half further, follows a similar coastal corridor before turning inland.
Driving is on the right throughout the United States, and Highway 90 and the interstate connections around Gulfport and Biloxi are generally well maintained and easy to navigate, with I-10 offering a faster inland alternative for longer trips along the coast. Hurricane season, roughly June through November, is the main seasonal factor to plan around here, since tropical storms can bring heavy rain, storm surge and temporary road closures along the immediate coastline, so checking forecasts before a coastal drive during these months is a sensible habit.
Fuel stations are plentiful throughout Gulfport and Biloxi and along both Highway 90 and I-10, and traffic is generally light outside of casino event weekends and the busy summer beach season, when both roads and casino parking can fill up considerably along this popular stretch of the Mississippi coast worth planning around in advance.