Bay St. Louis sits on the western end of the Mississippi Gulf Coast — a small artsy town of 9,500 on Bay St. Louis (the bay) where the Pearl River meets the Mississippi Sound, 50 miles east of New Orleans. Old Town Bay St. Louis is the destination: a 12-block historic district of restored 19th-century houses, art galleries, oyster bars, and live-music joints anchored by the 1850s Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church. Hurricane Katrina (2005) destroyed 90% of Bay St. Louis; the recovery turned it into one of the South's most distinctive small-town comebacks. For reunions, the appeal is unique: the historic-Southern small-town feel of Beaufort SC at half the price, with New Orleans 60 minutes west and Gulf beaches at the doorstep.
New Orleans (MSY) is 60 minutes west — the primary airport, direct from 60+ cities. Gulfport-Biloxi (GPT) is 30 minutes east, smaller but with direct connections to Atlanta and DFW. Mobile (MOB) is 90 minutes east. Drivable from Houston (6 hr), Atlanta (6.5 hr), Dallas (8 hr), and Memphis (6.5 hr). Lodging is small-scale: Pearl Hotel (downtown boutique, 17 rooms), the Bay Town Inn (8-room historic B&B), and a deep stock of historic and beachfront vacation rentals managed by Stay BSL and Coast Vacation Rentals. Bay St. Louis Casino (Hollywood Casino, 287 rooms, 5 min north) and the larger Gulfport / Biloxi casino-resorts (Beau Rivage, Hard Rock, IP, 600-1,700 rooms each, 25-45 min east) are the easy big-room-block options.
Peak runs March through May and October through Mardi Gras (75-85°F, low humidity, festival season — Bay's Mardi Gras parades are a regional draw). Summer (June-September) is hot (90°F days, 80% humidity) but ocean swimming is at the warmer Gulf Islands beaches (1 hr east). Winter (December-February) is cool (55-65°F days) — the surprise budget season; Christmas in Old Town with luminaries is uniquely photogenic. What you get is a real Southern small town with a 12-block walking district, Gulf access, and New Orleans an hour away — at prices that have stayed 30-50% below comparable Florida destinations.
Where it is
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Planning a reunion at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi?
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Things to do (with the family)
Hand-curated. Every entry links to its official source so you can plan without guessing.
Old Town Bay St. Louis walking district
12-block historic district along Beach Boulevard and Main Street — art galleries, antique shops, coffee houses, oyster bars, live-music joints. The single best multi-gen reunion afternoon. Free walking; pickups at the Bay Town Inn or Pearl Hotel.
Official source ↗Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church
Restored 1850s landmark church on Beach Boulevard — one of the few historic structures that survived Katrina. The reunion group-photo spot for the Old Town district. Free; donations welcomed.
Official source ↗Bay St. Louis beach + Beach Boulevard waterfront
3 miles of public beach along Beach Boulevard — calmer than the open Gulf, family-safe wading, lifeguarded sections in summer. The pier and the Town Hall reunion sunset spot. Free; metered parking.
Official source ↗INFINITY Science Center
15 min east on I-10 — NASA visitor center for the John C. Stennis Space Center. Apollo-era artifacts, Saturn V engine, kid-friendly hands-on exhibits. $15/adult, $9/child. The reliable indoor reunion day, ages 4-15 ideal.
Official source ↗Stennis Space Center bus tour
NASA's rocket-engine testing complex — the largest rocket-test facility in the country. Free bus tour from INFINITY Science Center, no security clearance needed. 2 hours total. The unique reunion experience you can't get anywhere else.
Official source ↗New Orleans day-trip
60 minutes west — French Quarter walking, Cafe du Monde beignets, Steamboat Natchez riverboat, the National WWII Museum (one of the best in the country). The major-city reunion day; an easy hour's drive in, harder to pull people out at end of day.
Official source ↗Mockingbird Cafe + Bay Books — the Old Town hubs
Mockingbird Cafe (the morning coffee spot since 2003) and Bay Books (the bookstore that anchored the Katrina recovery) are the local hubs. Cafe seats 60, bookstore hosts author readings most weekends. Add to any Old Town walking morning.
Official source ↗Mardi Gras parades (Bay's 5 parades, late Jan - Feb)
Bay St. Louis has 5 Mardi Gras parades (the Krewe of Nereids is the iconic one — late January through Mardi Gras Tuesday). Less aggressive than New Orleans, family-friendly, throw-catching standard. The peak-season reunion week.
Official source ↗Buccaneer State Park
30 min east in Waveland — 400-acre state park on the Gulf with cabins, RV campground, water park, and beach. The budget-friendly day-trip + alternate lodging option. $4/adult day-use, $30-50/night campsites, $130-180/night cabins.
Official source ↗Gulf Islands National Seashore (Davis Bayou)
45 min east in Ocean Springs — the mainland district of Gulf Islands National Seashore. Visitor center, bayou nature trails, picnic shelters, kayak put-ins. Free. The classic Gulf Coast nature reunion afternoon.
Official source ↗Biloxi historic + casino day
45 min east — Biloxi Lighthouse, the Beauvoir Jefferson Davis Home, Maritime + Seafood Industry Museum, the casino strip (Beau Rivage, Hard Rock). The history + adult-night reunion day.
Official source ↗Second Saturday Art Walk
Old Town hosts an art-and-music walk the second Saturday of every month, year-round — 30+ galleries open late, live music on multiple corners. The reunion-evening cultural anchor; plan the trip around it if you can.
Official source ↗The Sycamore House Restaurant + The Wharf - dinners
Bay St. Louis dining: The Sycamore House (modern Southern, milestone-dinner anchor), Buoy's Restaurant + The Wharf (oyster bar, water views), Trapani's Eatery (Italian, group-friendly), 200 North Beach (modern American), Mockingbird Cafe (breakfast/lunch). Reserve groups 3-4 weeks ahead.
Official source ↗Pass Christian harbor + Café Bonté
15 min east — neighboring small town of Pass Christian with a working oyster harbor, Live Oak Drive's antebellum mansions (most rebuilt post-Katrina), and Café Bonté for breakfast. The casual half-day on the drive east.
Official source ↗Find more things to do for your Bay St. Louis, Mississippi reunion
The picks above are general. Inside the Reunly app, Rosi tailors local activities, meals, and printables to your actual dates, group size, ages, and budget - and saves them straight to your reunion plan.
Where to hold your reunion near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Outdoor pavilions, county parks, fairgrounds, and event grounds within driving distance - places where your group can actually gather, not just visit.
Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis
🏨 Resort / Lodge287-room casino resort with conference center, ballroom, marina, and beachfront pool. The easy big-block reunion play in Bay St. Louis — 50-150 room blocks with full conference team support.
Reserve / info ↗Buccaneer State Park
🏞 State Park400-acre Mississippi state park with 21 cabins, 200+ campsites, water park, and reservable group picnic pavilions. The budget-conscious reunion option combining cabin lodging with the water park.
Reserve / info ↗INFINITY Science Center - Group Programs
📍 VenueNASA visitor center for the Stennis Space Center with reservable group programs, theater, and outdoor picnic space. Combined with the free NASA bus tour, makes a unique reunion half-day for groups with kids 6-15.
Reserve / info ↗Gulf Islands National Seashore - Davis Bayou
🏔 National ParkNPS mainland district with visitor center, picnic shelters, nature trails, and bayou kayak put-ins. Group picnic shelters reservable. The natural reunion afternoon for Gulf Coast nature.
Reserve / info ↗Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Biloxi
🏨 Resort / Lodge1,740-room Forbes Four-Star resort — the Gulf Coast's largest single-property reunion capacity. Conference team handles 100-500 room blocks; multiple ballrooms; full-service spa and golf. The milestone-reunion big-room-block play.
Reserve / info ↗Hancock County Library System - Bay St. Louis Branch
📍 VenueModern Old Town library with reservable community room. The unusual free / low-cost indoor meeting space for reunion business meetings, family-tree presentations, or rainy-day backup.
Reserve / info ↗Bay St. Louis Train Depot Museum
📍 VenueHistoric L&N Railroad depot turned community museum and event space — reservable for private gatherings. The history-themed reunion option for Old Town stays.
Reserve / info ↗👥 With Reunly
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Good for
- Budget-friendly Southern small-town reunions
- Mardi Gras season (late Jan - Feb) family reunions
- New Orleans + beach combined reunions (60 min west)
- Foodie + arts + history reunions
- Shoulder-season reunions (March-May, October-November)
- Drive-from-Houston / Atlanta / Memphis long-weekend reunions
Practical logistics
- Closest Airports
- New Orleans Louis Armstrong (MSY) 60 min west — direct from 60+ cities, the primary fly-in option. Gulfport-Biloxi (GPT) 30 min east — small regional, Atlanta + DFW + Charlotte direct. Mobile (MOB) 90 min east. MSY has cheapest fares; GPT has shortest drive.
- Drive Times
- New Orleans 60 min · Gulfport 30 min · Mobile 90 min · Houston 6 hr · Atlanta 6.5 hr · Dallas 8 hr · Memphis 6.5 hr · Nashville 7 hr · Birmingham 4.5 hr.
- Group Lodging
- Pearl Hotel (Old Town boutique, 17 rooms — small reunion-block option). Bay Town Inn (8-room historic B&B). Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis (287 rooms, 5 min north — the easy big-block option). 25-45 min east: Beau Rivage Biloxi (1,740 rooms), Hard Rock Biloxi (479 rooms), IP Casino Resort (1,088 rooms) — easy 100+ room blocks. Vacation rentals downtown and along Beach Boulevard via Stay BSL and Coast Vacation Rentals.
- Rental Companies
- Stay BSL (the biggest local agency). Coast Vacation Rentals. Vrbo and Airbnb cover hundreds of additional historic homes downtown and beachfront houses. Many homes are post-Katrina rebuilds with elevated construction.
- House Size
- 3-5 BR is the standard inventory in Old Town historic homes ($1,800-4,000/week peak). 6-8 BR estates exist along Beach Boulevard (rare, $3,500-7,000/week peak). For 40+ groups, the standard play is the Hollywood Casino block (50-150 rooms) or Beau Rivage Biloxi (45 min east) for milestone reunions.
- Peak Season
- March-May (festival season, 75-85°F days) and October-November (cool dry weather, 70-80°F days). Mardi Gras (late Jan - Feb) is a destination peak. Memorial Day weekend, July 4th, and Labor Day weekend are summer short peaks. New Orleans Jazz Fest weekends (late April - early May) book out a year ahead.
- Shoulder Season
- June-September is summer shoulder — hot (90°F days, 80% humidity, afternoon thunderstorms) but 20-30% off festival-season rates. Mid-November through mid-December and January (excluding Mardi Gras) are winter shoulder — 55-70°F days, 30-40% off festival-season rates. Christmas in Old Town with luminaries is uniquely photogenic.
- Restaurants
- The Sycamore House (modern Southern, milestone-dinner anchor, reserve 4-6 weeks). Buoy's + The Wharf (oyster bar, water views, walk-in handles groups). Trapani's Eatery (Italian, group-friendly). 200 North Beach (modern American). Mockingbird Cafe (breakfast/lunch). The Reef on the Beach (casual seafood). Cherokee on the Bay (German, kitschy, fun). For New Orleans dinners 60 min west — Commander's Palace, Brennan's, Cochon. Reserve groups 4-6 weeks ahead for Bay St. Louis; 8 weeks for NOLA classics.
- Kid Friendly
- Old Town walking + ice cream, the Bay St. Louis beach + pier, INFINITY Science Center (the kid highlight), Stennis Space Center bus tour, Buccaneer State Park water park, Gulf Islands National Seashore nature trails, and the Biloxi Maritime + Seafood Industry Museum all work for ages 4-15. Older teens enjoy the Second Saturday Art Walk and a New Orleans French Quarter walking day. Younger kids do well at the splash pad in Old Town and at the beach.
- Accessibility
- Pearl Hotel and Hollywood Casino fully ADA. Old Town sidewalks are uneven historic brick in places — slow walking; some galleries have step-up entry. Beach Boulevard is fully wheelchair-accessible. INFINITY Science Center fully accessible. Most Old Town historic-home rentals were rebuilt post-Katrina to current code with elevators on stilted homes; ask when booking.
- Weather Window
- Summer 88-92°F days, 75-80°F nights, 80% humidity, daily afternoon thunderstorms. Spring (March-May) 70-82°F days. Fall (Oct-Nov) 70-80°F days. Winter 55-65°F days, 40-50°F nights — cool but rarely freezing. Gulf water 84°F in August, 60°F in February.
- Park Fee
- Buccaneer State Park $4/adult day-use. INFINITY Science Center $15/adult, $9/child. Gulf Islands National Seashore free at Davis Bayou (Ocean Springs district). New Orleans WWII Museum $35/adult, $19/child. Most Old Town walking is free.
- Official Site
- https://www.visitbsl.com/
When to go
March-May for the festival-season peak (75-85°F, low humidity, art walks and Crab Festival weekends). October-November for the cool-dry shoulder peak (70-80°F, festival season). Mardi Gras (late January - February) for a destination Mardi Gras reunion week. Christmas Old Town for a budget winter reunion. Avoid June-September if your group can't handle 90°F and humidity — the trade is 20-30% off peak rates.
Best for your group size
Small group · 10–25
10-25 fits in a single 4-5 BR Old Town historic home rental + the Pearl Hotel or Bay Town Inn for grandparents.
Medium group · 25–60
25-60 should book a Hollywood Casino room block (50-100 rooms) or 2-3 adjacent Old Town / Beach Boulevard rentals.
Large group · 60+
60+ groups book Beau Rivage Biloxi (45 min east, 1,740 rooms) for the easy 100+ room block, or combine the Hollywood Casino with multiple Old Town rentals. For a 200-person reunion, Beau Rivage handles the entire block in one property.
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Sample 5-day Bay St. Louis reunion (mid-April festival season)
A starter agenda you can copy into Reunly's Schedule and customize for your group.
Friday — Arrival & Old Town
- 11:00 AM MSY airport pickups (60 min east)
- 1:00 PM Rouses Market grocery stop
- 3:00 PM Old Town rental check-in
- 4:30 PM Old Town walking tour — Beach Boulevard + Main Street
- 6:00 PM dinner at Buoy's + The Wharf (oyster bar, water-view)
- 8:30 PM second Saturday art walk if timed; otherwise live music at the Mockingbird
Saturday — INFINITY + Stennis
- 8:30 AM family breakfast at Mockingbird Cafe
- 10:00 AM INFINITY Science Center
- 12:30 PM lunch at Trapani's Eatery
- 2:00 PM Stennis Space Center NASA bus tour (free, reserve at INFINITY)
- 4:30 PM return to Old Town
- 5:30 PM Beach Boulevard sunset walk
- 7:30 PM dinner at The Sycamore House (book 6 weeks)
Sunday — New Orleans Day Trip
- 8:30 AM breakfast at the rental
- 10:00 AM drive 60 min west to New Orleans
- 10:30 AM French Quarter walking + Cafe du Monde beignets
- 12:00 PM lunch at Commander's Palace (book 8 weeks)
- 2:30 PM National WWII Museum (one of the best in the country)
- 5:00 PM Steamboat Natchez or French Quarter shopping
- 7:30 PM return to Bay St. Louis
- 8:30 PM late dinner at 200 North Beach or pizza-night-in
Monday — Beach + Biloxi History
- 8:30 AM family breakfast
- 10:00 AM Bay St. Louis beach + pier morning
- 12:00 PM lunch at The Reef on the Beach
- 1:30 PM drive 45 min east to Biloxi
- 2:00 PM Biloxi Lighthouse + Maritime + Seafood Industry Museum
- 4:30 PM optional Beauvoir Jefferson Davis Home
- 7:00 PM Lowcountry boil at the rental
Tuesday — Gulf Islands + Goodbyes
- 8:00 AM family breakfast
- 9:30 AM Gulf Islands National Seashore Davis Bayou (45 min east)
- 11:30 AM picnic + nature walk
- 1:00 PM lunch at Café Bonté in Pass Christian
- 2:30 PM rental check-out
- 4:00 PM MSY airport drop-offs
📅 With Reunly
Build the Bay St. Louis, Mississippi reunion schedule in minutes
Drag the sample itinerary above into Reunly's Schedule, add per-event RSVPs, and share one link with the whole family. Rosi (our AI) fills in gaps from your group size and dates.
Reunion organizer tips
Book 9-12 months ahead for Mardi Gras (late Jan - Feb) and for New Orleans Jazz Fest weekends (late April - early May). The Pearl Hotel and Bay Town Inn book a year ahead for Mardi Gras. Hollywood Casino blocks of 50+ rooms need 6-9 months for festival season.
Pick the right base. Old Town historic-home rentals = the walkable Old Town experience, dinner walking distance, 3-5 BR scale. Beach Boulevard rentals = water-view, 5-10 minute walk to Old Town, 4-6 BR scale. Hollywood Casino = easy big-block, 5 min from Old Town, hotel service. Beau Rivage / Hard Rock Biloxi (45 min east) = milestone-reunion big-room blocks.
Plan ONE New Orleans day. 60 minutes west — French Quarter walking, Cafe du Monde, the National WWII Museum, dinner at a NOLA classic (Commander's Palace, Brennan's — book 8 weeks). The easy day-trip; book a parking lot or take the Crescent City Connection ride-share.
Group dinners 4-6 weeks ahead. The Sycamore House is the milestone anchor (book 6 weeks). Buoy's + The Wharf handles 15-25 walk-in. Trapani's handles 20+ with reservation. Old Town has plenty of walking-distance options for 5-6 nights of varied dinners — easier than most beach destinations.
Time the Second Saturday Art Walk. Old Town's monthly second-Saturday art walk is the cultural anchor — 30+ galleries open late, live music on multiple corners. Year-round. Plan the reunion arrival or middle-night around it.
Stock the rental from Rouses Market on Hwy 90 or Walmart Supercenter on Hwy 603. Both 5-10 min from Old Town. Costco is in Slidell LA (30 min west). Instacart delivers from Rouses and Walmart. For seafood, the Wharf in Pass Christian (15 min east) sells fresh oysters and shrimp by the pound.
Reunly's tools earn their keep. Use the budget feature to split lodging + festival-week premium + casino-block costs; the polls feature works for picking the day-trip (NOLA vs Stennis vs Biloxi vs Gulf Islands); the schedule shows the Mardi Gras parade route times if you visit in season.
Hurricane plan. June-November is hurricane season; August-October is peak risk. The big casino properties (Hollywood, Beau Rivage) rebook without penalty under mandatory evacuation. Most private rental managers honor the same policy but confirm in writing. CFAR trip insurance is the safer bet for August-October.
Don't skip the Stennis Space Center tour. The free NASA bus tour from INFINITY Science Center to the rocket-test facility is genuinely unique — the largest rocket-engine test complex in the country. Reserve 1-2 days ahead in summer. Combined with the Science Center, plan a full half-day.
Mardi Gras with kids. Bay St. Louis Mardi Gras is much more family-friendly than New Orleans — fewer crowds, family-themed throws, daytime parades. The Krewe of Nereids (the biggest Bay parade) is the must-see. Bring small bags for the throw-catching cousins.
The Katrina story is part of the trip. Most of Old Town was rebuilt post-2005. Many businesses display before/after photos; the rebuilt Our Lady of the Gulf church is the symbol. For older kids and teens, a 20-minute Katrina-history briefing at the rental sets up the entire Old Town walk.
How Reunly helps you plan it
Reunly is the all-in-one app made for family reunion organizers. Free to start. No credit card. Cancel anytime.
Smart guest list
Drop in any spreadsheet - Rosi (our AI) reads multi-sheet, color-coded family groups, even handwritten exports. RSVP, dietary, T-shirt, paid status all in one row.
Open in Reunly →Public RSVP link
Share one link with the whole family. They RSVP per event (Friday BBQ, Saturday dinner) without making an account. You see live counts.
Open in Reunly →Budget that adds up
Track estimated vs. actual, who paid, who still owes. Auto-creates per-guest fee rows from your registration cost.
Open in Reunly →Day-by-day schedule
Friday welcome BBQ, Saturday photo, Sunday brunch - with location, meal flag, and per-event RSVPs.
Open in Reunly →Name tags + printables
Avery 5160 sheets color-coded by family, programs, welcome packets, packing lists - auto-filled from your data.
Open in Reunly →Rosi the AI helper
Stuck on a reminder email? A budget? A timeline? Click Rosi anywhere in the app - she drafts it from your live data.
Open in Reunly →Plan your Bay St. Louis, Mississippi reunion with Reunly
Free to start. Build your guest list, share an RSVP link, track payments, and print name tags - no spreadsheets.
Frequently asked
What's the best week to book Bay St. Louis for a family reunion?
March-May for festival-season peak (75-85°F, art walks, Crab Festival). October-November for the cool-dry shoulder. Mardi Gras (late January - February) for a destination Mardi Gras reunion. December for a budget Christmas-in-Old-Town reunion. Avoid June-September if your group can't handle 90°F and humidity.
How is Bay St. Louis different from Gulf Shores or Destin?
Bay St. Louis is a small Southern town (population 9,500) with a 12-block historic walking district, art galleries, and Mardi Gras parades — the focus is the town itself, not the beach. Gulf Shores and Destin are beach-condo-tower destinations with more swimming and fewer cultural attractions. Bay St. Louis is for reunions that want a small-town Southern feel + New Orleans access; Gulf Shores / Destin are for reunions that want pure beach.
Should we stay at the Hollywood Casino or rent a house in Old Town?
Hollywood Casino if grandparents prefer hotel service and you want an easy 50-150 person block in one property — 5 minutes from Old Town. Old Town rentals if you want walking-distance dinners and the historic-home feel, but inventory is small (3-5 BR max). For 25+ reunions, the standard play is a Hollywood Casino block plus 1-2 Old Town rentals for the cook-at-home families.
How big a house do we need for 30 people in Bay St. Louis?
A 6-8 BR Beach Boulevard rental (rare, $4,000-7,000/week peak) or two adjacent 4-5 BR Old Town historic homes. For 40+, the standard play is a 50-room block at the Hollywood Casino plus 1-2 rentals for the cook-at-home families.
What's the closest airport to Bay St. Louis?
New Orleans Louis Armstrong (MSY) at 60 minutes west — direct from 60+ cities, the primary fly-in option. Gulfport-Biloxi (GPT) at 30 minutes east is the shortest-drive option with direct connections to Atlanta and DFW. MSY usually has cheaper fares; GPT has the easier transfer.
Can we visit New Orleans from Bay St. Louis?
Yes — New Orleans is 60 minutes west, an easy day-trip. Plan one full day for the French Quarter, Cafe du Monde, the WWII Museum, and dinner at a NOLA classic. Book Commander's Palace or Brennan's 8 weeks ahead. Many reunion groups stay in Bay St. Louis as a quieter, cheaper base than the French Quarter itself.
How much does a 1-week Bay St. Louis reunion cost per family?
Festival season (March-May, October-November): $2,000-3,500 per family of 4 (rental share + groceries + activities + 1 NOLA day). Mardi Gras week: $2,500-4,500. Summer shoulder (June-September): $1,600-2,800. Winter (Dec-Feb except Mardi Gras): $1,300-2,200. Significantly cheaper than comparable Florida destinations.
Is the Katrina recovery still visible?
Yes — most of Old Town was rebuilt post-2005. Many businesses display before/after photos; the rebuilt Our Lady of the Gulf church is the symbol. For older kids and teens, a 20-minute Katrina-history briefing at the rental sets up the entire Old Town walk as a recovery story. The town wears its rebuild as a point of pride.
Other reunion-friendly spots nearby
Helpful planning guides
The complete family reunion checklist
12-month, 6-month, and day-of checklists organizers actually use.
Read the guide →Family reunion budget guide
How to estimate, track, and split costs without spreadsheets.
Read the guide →Family reunion on a $2,500 budget
A real budget breakdown for a destination reunion under $2.5K.
Read the guide →