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If you think you need a passport or won’t be able to avoid Florida’s crowds this spring to find your slice of white sand paradise, that’s because you’re unaware of a seasonal island that’s reopening for tourism this spring.

The Gulf is teeming with hidden gems, but very few are remote hideaways with sensational beaches.

Texas doesn’t quite meet the mark despite South Padre’s claims to have “white” sand, but their tourism board might be colorblind.

Louisiana really only has one “resort town”, which might be a stretch to say, and everyone seems to already know about Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Shores these days.

That leaves Mississippi, a highly underrated state in multiple regards, whether it be gleaming white-sand beaches or historic cities with more attractions than you might suspect.

But the Magnolia State’s best-kept secret is a seasonal island open from spring to fall and is ready to reopen for tourism again soon.

As we help you dot your i’s and cross your t’s (and I count my s’s and my p’s), get ready to discover your new favorite beach getaway: Ship Island.

From One White Sand Beach To Another

Come mid-fall, Ship Island closes down for the off-season. Locals love coming here to escape the touristy crowds of Biloxi, the best place to make your base as Ship Island is a day-trip destination with no hotels on-site.

Furthermore, locals love coming in winter even more as private boats are still allowed to drop anchor on Ship Island, but the only public service here runs for just 3 seasons out of the year.

The best strategy for visiting Ship Island is to combine all of Biloxi’s delights and add Ship Island as a throw-in to your itinerary, which in all likelihood, will ultimately be the highlight of your trip.

Biloxi is a resort and casino-laden coastal city with top-of-the-line seafood and soft, white sand beaches worthy of enjoying in their own right.

To be fair, Biloxi doesn’t have the clearest water, so that’s why Ship Island, just a short ferry ride away, is a surprising paradise with vivid blue waters, gleaming white sand, all the space you ever want to sprawl out like a starfish, and even has intriguing historical landmarks to learn more about.

Most importantly, you’ll need to plan your trip here, but it all starts in Biloxi…or neighboring Gulfport for that matter as 3 budget airlines fly here as well as more popular Delta, American, and United.

Biloxi offers some familiar names for great stays like Margaritaville, Hard Rock, and Golden Nugget or TripAdvisor’s top rec, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Biloxi

Lone Ferry To Ship Island Restarts Service Soon

Ship Island Excursions has a monopoly on this island, but sadly if you go you won’t collect $200.

You’ll actually have to pay up, but if the rave reviews live up to the hype, it’s certainly worth the price of admission, which is $44 for adults and $38 for kiddos.

Another reason I mentioned Gulfport is this is where the ferry departs for Ship Island, but Biloxi undoubtedly has the best stays.

The lone Ship Island ferry is set to restart service on March 15th, and tickets are already on sale for Wednesday through Sunday rides (closed Monday and Tuesday).

The ride takes only an hour as Ship Island is just 11-12 miles offshore. While aboard, make sure to keep a close eye out for dolphin sightings, or you can book a separate tour with the same operator for a Dolphin Watching Cruise or a ‘Sunset Music Cruise‘ if that’s more your jam.

Ship Island’s Breathtaking Beaches & Historic Attractions

Ship Island is one of many of the National Park Service designated National Seashore covering Florida and Mississippi.

If there weren’t historically significant landmarks here, this pristine island would have Castaway vibes with driftwood washing ashore and possibly more wildlife sightings than people.

Located on the island’s south side, the most notable beach here is Swim Beach, and I bet you can guess as to why it’s named that.

Just remember that there are no hotels or vacation rentals here, so finding shade can be a challenge at times. Sunscreen, followed by hydration, is priority number one and two on the island.

With no hotels, Fort Massachusetts, a Civil War masonry fort dating back to the 1850s, is all the more noticeable.

As it currently stands, it makes for awesome photo-ops along bright white sand, but you can also take a guided tour provided by the National Park Service (NPS) to learn it’s important role in America’s history.

Additionally, you may be wondering how equipped beaches are. Not only does NPS provide insightful tours, but it also rents out beach loungers and picnic tables and sells snacks and refreshments at the on-site convenience store.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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