Things to Do in Old Town
Bay St. Louis, MS

The best things to do in Old Town Bay St. Louis aren't on a checklist — they're a rhythm you fall into once you slow down and let the day carry you. Locals call Bay St. Louis "the Key West of the Gulf Coast," and once you spend a day wandering its walkable historic downtown, you'll understand why: colorful cottages, front-porch galleries, salt air off the harbor, and a pace that lets you breathe. From your basecamp at Lake LaCroix RV Resort — about 10 to 15 minutes up the road — you can do the whole thing in one unhurried day and be back at the lake for a bonfire by dark.

Here's how we'd spend it.

Start slow: coffee on the bayou

There's no reason to rush out the gate. One of the quiet joys of staying on the water is the slow morning — coffee on your picnic table, mist lifting off the lake, maybe a short paddle before the day warms up. Ease into it. Old Town doesn't fully wake up until mid-morning anyway, and the galleries keep their own gentle hours.

When you're ready, it's a short, easy drive south — two minutes to I-10 Exit 13, then a straight shot into downtown Bay St. Louis. Park once near the depot or along Main Street and leave the car; the whole district is made for walking.

Mid-morning: Old Town galleries & shops

The heart of Old Town runs along Main Street and Second Street, where working artists' studios sit shoulder to shoulder with coffee shops, antique stores, and little boutiques. This is a genuine arts town — Bay St. Louis has been named one of the Coast's most creative small communities more than once — so browsing here means meeting the makers, not big-box shelves.

Wander without a plan. Duck into a pottery studio, flip through vinyl and old postcards, find a hand-painted sign that says exactly what your camper needs. A few things worth doing:

• Browse the independent art galleries and glassblowing studios along Second Street
• Poke through the antique and vintage shops for a keepsake
• Grab a pastry and a cold-brew and people-watch from a shaded bench
• Snap a photo in front of the murals and painted cottages — the whole town is photogenic

If your visit lands on a Second Saturday

Try to time your trip for the Second Saturday Artwalk, held on — you guessed it — the second Saturday of every month. Galleries stay open late, musicians play on the sidewalks, food vendors set up, and Old Town turns into one big, easygoing block party. It's the single best night to feel the town's creative spirit, and it's free to wander. If you're building a trip around events, our events calendar tracks the Artwalk alongside everything happening back at the lake.

Lunch: Gulf-to-table on the water

By now you've earned a long lunch. Old Town and the nearby harbor are full of Gulf-to-table kitchens serving what came off the boats that morning — think fried shrimp po'boys, char-grilled oysters, seafood gumbo, and cold local brews. Grab a table with a water view if you can, and don't be in a hurry. This is a two-hour-lunch kind of town.

Afternoon: the harbor, the pier & the beach

After lunch, walk it off along the waterfront. The Bay St. Louis harbor and municipal pier stretch out over the water, with shrimp boats, sailboats, and pelicans for company. The pier is a favorite spot for a lazy afternoon stroll, a little fishing, or just watching the light change over the Mississippi Sound.

From there, the town beach runs along Beach Boulevard — a soft, calm stretch of Gulf sand that's perfect for a barefoot walk, a swim, or a nap under an umbrella. It's a different water than the freshwater lake back at the park, and doing both in one trip is part of the fun. Want the full rundown of beaches, casinos, golf, and family stops nearby? Our guide to the area maps it all out.

A detour for the kids

Traveling with a crew that's had enough gallery-hopping? The Bay St. Louis waterfront has splash areas and open green space, and the wider area has family anchors like the INFINITY Science Center near NASA Stennis, about 15 to 20 minutes away. See our family fun page for more kid-tested ideas that pair well with an Old Town day.

Golden hour: back to the lake

Here's the move that makes Lake LaCroix such a good basecamp — you don't have to squeeze dinner, drive an hour, and crash in a parking-lot campground. You're 10 to 15 minutes from your own quiet, spring-fed lake with a sandy beach and a firepit waiting.

Roll back in around golden hour, when the water goes gold and pink and the day cools off. Fire up the grill, or if you grabbed fresh shrimp in town, cook it lakeside. Then it's the best part of any Gulf Coast day:

• A bonfire and s'mores as the stars come out over the bayou
• A last golf-cart loop around the water with the whole family
• Quiet — no casino noise, no Gulf surf, just crickets and the fire

That's the whole point of staying on the lake instead of in town: you get all the color and character of Old Town by day, and a calm place to exhale by night. See what's waiting back at the park on our amenities page.

Make it a long weekend

One day in Old Town is a great taste, but two or three lets you slow down even more — a fishing morning on the bayou, a beach afternoon on the Gulf, an Artwalk night, and a lazy Sunday that's nothing but coffee and a kayak. If you're the type who'd rather settle in than rush, look at a longer stay and let the Coast come to you.