Mississippi Gulf Coast
Outdoor Activities

The best Mississippi Gulf Coast outdoor activities are the kind you can wake up, walk out, and dive into — and that's exactly what makes Lake LaCroix RV Resort in Bay St. Louis such a natural basecamp for all of them. Sitting on about 38 acres of spring-fed lake, two minutes off I-10 Exit 13 and halfway between New Orleans and the Biloxi beaches, we put you within an easy drive of nearly everything the Coast does well outdoors. Here's the roundup, organized by what you're in the mood for.

On the water: kayaking and paddling

Start where you sleep. Our lake and Bayou La Croix are made for calm, flat-water paddling — push a kayak or paddleboard off the shore and drift past cypress and quiet coves without ever loading a car. It's the easiest paddle you'll find, and a favorite of first-timers and families.

Ready for more? The wider Bay St. Louis area is threaded with bayous and marsh you can explore by kayak. We keep kayaks and paddleboards available on site so you can start right here — see the details on our amenities page.

Casting a line: inshore fishing

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is inshore-fishing country, and the trio everyone chases is redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. You'll find them working the marshes, bayous, and shallows around Bay St. Louis. Bring your own gear and launch a kayak from the lake for a quiet morning, or head out with a local guide for the bigger inshore waters.

Timing matters — spring and fall tend to be prime, though the Coast fishes year-round in its mild climate. If you're here in season, keep an eye on our events calendar for the spring fishing rodeo.

Sun and sand: the beaches

You've got two flavors of beach here, and both are good. Right on property, our sandy freshwater beach is calm and shallow — no Gulf surf, no worries — which makes it ideal for little kids and lazy afternoons. When you want the classic Gulf shoreline, the long white-sand beaches of Bay St. Louis and the wider Coast are a short drive away, with Buccaneer State Park and its waterpark nearby for a bigger day out.

On two wheels and two feet: biking, birding, and nature

The flat, breezy terrain around Bay St. Louis is friendly to cyclists of every level, and a golf cart or bike is a fine way to roll around the park and down toward the water. Bring your bikes and settle into a slower pace.

Birders and nature lovers, the bayou delivers. Coastal Mississippi sits on a major flyway, so herons, egrets, ospreys, and pelicans are regular company around the water. Early morning by the lake, binoculars in hand, is a peaceful way to start the day. For a family-and-STEM twist, the INFINITY Science Center at NASA Stennis is about 15–20 minutes away.

For the golfers

Golf travels well with an RV trip, and the Coast has the courses to prove it. The Bridges and Diamondhead courses are a short drive from the park — easy to work a morning round into a week of paddling and beaching. Pack the clubs; there's room in the rig.

Bigger splashes and boat tours

When the group wants a little more thrill, the region's waterparks — including Buccaneer Bay near the state park — turn up the fun on a hot afternoon. And because so much of the Coast is defined by its water, boat tours and charters out of the harbor are a great way to see it from a new angle, whether that's an inshore fishing charter or a sightseeing cruise around the bay.

The daily finale: golden-hour sunsets

Don't overlook the simplest activity of all. The Mississippi Gulf Coast does a spectacular sunset, and you don't have to go anywhere to catch it — golden hour over the lake, from a chair by your own site or the pier, is the reward at the end of every full day outdoors. Bring a drink, watch the water go copper, and let the day settle.

Your basecamp for all of it

What ties this whole roundup together is location. Lake LaCroix keeps you 10–15 minutes from Old Town Bay St. Louis, 35–45 minutes from the Gulfport and Biloxi beaches, and about an hour from New Orleans — with a full-hookup site, a pool, a beach, and a firepit waiting when you get back. For the complete off-property guide, including drive times and the local scene, head to our the area page. Then check availability and start planning your days.