The Ultimate Guide to a 5 Day Gulf Coast Road Trip
Did you know that driving from New Orleans, Louisiana to Gulf Shores, Alabama is only a 3-hour drive? In those three hours, you can check-off three states! One day I was looking to do a long weekend trip and was looking to check off a few states. This route came on my radar and since it was by the ocean, I was 100% in. This is also a perfect itinerary to do in winter because it is still relatively warm! This is a pretty simple trip, but you can pack a lot in a few days.
Here is an itinerary for a 5 Day Gulf Coast Road Trip.
Day 1: Louisiana
Arrive in New Orleans, Louisiana
To make the most of your vacation time, fly into New Orleans on the first flight in the morning. I flew out of Denver, Colorado at 6:20am and arrived in New Orleans at 10:00am. The first two days I decided to spend in New Orleans since there is just so much to see and do in this unique city.
Where to Stay in New Orleans
I wanted to save some money while in New Orleans, so I decided to stay at an Airbnb outside of the city. The Airbnb I stayed at had free parking, a full kitchen, and one room. It was also only one block off Magazine Street, which made it easy to take the free trolly into the city when I wanted.
Here is the link to the Airbnb I stayed at in New Orleans.
Breakfast at Ruby Slipper Cafe
First, fuel up first thing in the morning. Head to Ruby Slipper. It is an award-winning cafe and was probably the one place that was most recommended to me. There are quite a few locations throughout New Orleans, but I went to the one in Uptown.
Walk the Shops in Uptown along Magazine Street
To walk off a bit of breakfast, head down Magazine Street for some window shopping. Make sure to stop in Nadeau Furniture but be careful because you may want to take everything home with you just like I did.
Take some time to walk up and down Magazine Street. There were some really beautiful homes and if you are there around Mardi Gras, the homes will be decked out with beads!
Explore Jackson Square in the French Quarter
When you think of New Orleans, you probably think of the French Quarter. Here is where you will see the famous St. Louis Cathedral. As long as there isn’t a mass going on, you can walk inside and take a self-tour.
There is normally a ton of artists and street vendors all around Jackson Square. You can even get your palms read right here, too, if that interests you!
Next to Jackson Square is the famous Cafe Du Monde where you have to try the beignets! They are delicious, fresh, and melt-in-your-mouth perfection.
Walk Down Bourbon Street with a Hand Grenade
You can’t really go to New Orleans without checking out Bourbon Street. The big party scene that is Bourbon Street is normally not my vibe, but I wanted to make sure to experience a little bit of it. One of the most famous alcoholic drinks in New Orleans is the Hand Grenade. Personally, I think it is one of the worst drinks ever, but “when in Rome!” You can find these large green, sweet drinks pretty much anywhere on Bourbon Street. Just be warned, you may want to head back to your hotel or Airbnb for a nap after!
Dinner at Basin Seafood and Spirits
Once you sleep off your Hand Grenade, head down Magazine Street for dinner at Basin Seafood and Spirits. They have a lot of great seafood options to choose from along with happy hour on weekdays, brunch on weekends, and a raw oyster special on Mondays.
Day 2: Louisiana
Breakfast at Horn’s Eatery
Make sure to start the day two off with a bang at Horn’s Eatery. The food was so good here, I wish I could have come back every single day! I got a pretty traditional breakfast of eggs, pancakes, and fruit, but man did they make it taste delicious.
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
After breakfast, head out of town for some time with nature. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is only about a 30-minute drive south of New Orleans. I ended up going to Barataria Preserve. This preserve has 26,000 acres with bayous, swamps, marshes, and forests. You can walk along the boardwalks and dirt trails to see animals, birds and plants. You may even see an alligator! There are a couple of different loops and trails to pick from so you can decide how long or short of a hike you want to go for.
Drinks and Dinner in New Orleans
Head back to the French Quarter for a cocktail at Sylvain. It is a super cute restaurant in an old carriage house. Enjoy just sitting at the bar with your fun champagne cocktail and watch the bartenders make their drinks.
After a drink, take the free trolley down to Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar. I had the Pasa De La Mer and was in love. I could have probably eaten that the rest of my life. They have a lot of great seafood options here for a pretty reasonable price.
Day 3 Gulf Coast Road Trip: Louisiana –> Mississippi
Breakfast at New Orleans Cake Cafe and Bakery
Before you head to Mississippi, make sure to stop at New Orleans Cake Cafe and Bakery for some breakfast and Kings Cake. You can’t leave New Orleans without having a famous Kings Cake!
Check out St. Louis Cemetery No. 3
Another New Orleans staple is the haunting past of the city. Head to St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 for a spook. This cemetery was established in 1854 with rows and rows of marble and stone gravesites. This is one of the less famous cemeteries in New Orleans, but it was on your way out of town, so it works out well. If you want to see the oldest cemetery, head to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, which was established in 1789. However, this one you have to purchase a ticket to get in.
Start the drive to Mississippi
Make sure to take US-90 along the coast when driving to Mississippi. Driving I-10 is faster, but then you won’t be driving along the coast!
Stop for a Beer at Chandeleur Island Brewing Company
Living in Colorado and being married to a husband who loves beer, I have learned to love craft beer. If you like to try new beer, make sure to stop at Chandeleur Island Brewing Company on the way to Biloxi where you will be staying for the night.
Where to Stay in Ocean Springs, Mississippi
I highly recommend staying at The Roost Ocean Springs Hotel for your stop in Mississippi. It is a boutique hotel recently renovated out of an old, historic building in Ocean Springs. It is near the beach and downtown Ocean Springs making it a perfect place to stop for the night. I may end up taking some interior decorating notes from this boutique hotel and use them in my house.
Dinner in Ocean Springs, Mississippi at Murky Waters Ocean Springs
Head downtown for dinner at Murky Waters Ocean Springs. They are well known for their BBQ and they smoke all their meat in-house. Six nights of the week there is also live Blues Music playing at the restaurant.
Day 4 Gulf Coast Road Trip: Mississippi –> Alabama
Breakfast Downtown Ocean Springs
I was going to say, start your morning out at Bayview Gourmet Restaurant, but I just checked for the address on Google and it says it is permanently closed! I won’t go into how good their breakfast was, then… Anyway, find a great brunch spot in Ocean Springs and check out the local shops before making your way to Alabama.
Explore Dauphin Island, Alabama
Once you reach Alabama, head to Dauphin Island. This is a beautiful and relaxing stop to make before reaching Mobile, Alabama where you will be spending the night. Dauphin Island has beautiful, white sandy beaches and plenty of recreational opportunities. I decided to just walk up and down the beach and enjoy the calm of the ocean waves, but spend as much or as little time exploring this island as you would like!
Where to Stay in Mobile, Alabama
While searching for a place to stay in Mobile, I found this super cute Airbnb. It is located in Historic Midtown, has a fully equipped kitchen, free bikes to use, and a fireplace. It is a really cozy place to stay. Here is a link to the nautical-themed Airbnb.
Dinner in Mobile, Alabama at The Original Oyster House
For dinner, head to The Original Oyster House, which is on the causeway on the way to the Gulf Shores. I got stuffed crab and fried shrimp with hush puppies, coleslaw and potatoes. It was all pretty good for fried seafood. And you can’t go to the South without eating a whole lot of hush puppies!
Day 5 Gulf Coast Road Trip: Mississippi –> Louisiana
Breakfast at The Warehouse Bakery and Donuts
Before heading back to Louisiana for your flight home, you have to check out the Gulf Shores. On your way there, make sure to grab breakfast at The Warehouse Bakery and Donuts. This place is so cute and the food is incredible. If I lived around here, I would find myself working remotely here a lot!
Spend the Day Enjoying the Beach at Gulf Shores
The Gulf Shores is a great vacation spot with wide, beautiful, white-sandy beaches. If you have more than a long weekend for this road trip, I’d recommend spending an extra few days at the Gulf Shores. When I did this road trip, it was January, so the beach was pretty chilly. Summer here would be great!
Drive Back to New Orleans to Fly Home
It is about a 3 hours drive back to New Orleans, so make sure you allow plenty of time to catch your flight home!
Have you done a Gulf Coast Road Trip like this? What do you recommend along the route?
Email me at hello@thekeystotravel.com if you need help planning and booking your next vacation.
