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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Bay St. Louis
A quiet beach town with one casino and a historic blues venue. Worth a half-day stop between New Orleans and Mobile, or a one-night stay for a relaxed beach break.
Bay St. Louis is a small resort town on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, known for its historic jazz and blues venue (100 Men Hall), a casino, and a relaxed beach atmosphere. It's quieter than Biloxi or Gulfport, making it a good stop for a few hours or a single night.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (hot and humid), hurricane season (Jun–Nov)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $120–200 excl. bed · High $200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Fire and ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $3–5 |
| Lunch (sandwich or burger) | $10–15 |
| Dinner (casual restaurant) | $15–25 |
| Beer (draft) | $5–7 |
| Casino buffet | $15–25 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | $15–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GPT · Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
- About 30 min drive east on US-90.
- MSY · Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
- About 1 hour drive west on I-10.
Typical fares
- Gulfport Airport → Bay St. Louis
- about $30–40 by taxi
- New Orleans Airport → Bay St. Louis
- about $60–80 by taxi
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
A car is essential. US-90 runs along the coast; parking is free and easy. Biking is possible on the beachfront but limited.
See and do
Known for
- 100 Men Hall (historic blues venue)
- Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast
- Silver Slipper Casino
- Alice Moseley Folk Art & Antique Museum
- St Rose de Lima Church gospel choir
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Biloxi | Drive east on US-90, about 30 min | 30 min |
| Gulfport | Drive east on US-90, about 15 min | 15 min |
| New Orleans | Drive west on I-10, about 1 hour | 1 hour |
Sleep
- Beach Boulevard (US-90)
- Most hotels and the casinos are along this strip; easy access to the beach and restaurants.
- Old Town
- Historic district with a few B&Bs and walkable access to 100 Men Hall and Depot.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much? | How much?how much |
| Where is the bathroom? | Where is the bathroom?where is the bathroom |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Hurricane season runs June through November; check forecasts before booking.
- Silver Slipper Casino requires guests to be 21+ on its property; no one under 21 allowed.
- The town is quiet; nightlife is limited to the casinos and a few bars.
Standard precautions apply: lock your car, don't leave valuables on the beach. The main risk is summer heat and hurricane season.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bay St. Louis yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- 100 Men Hall (historic blues venue)
- Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast
- Silver Slipper Casino
- Alice Moseley Folk Art & Antique Museum
- St Rose de Lima Church gospel choir
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Bay St. Louis, revision 5240842 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5240842
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/bay-st-louis). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.