Featured image: Play Coastal MS
After decades without passenger trains, the whistle will blow once more along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. On August 18, Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service begins four daily trips between New Orleans and Mobile, stopping in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula.
The service, halted in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, is finally returning—welcomed by residents who have waited twenty years for the sound of a train chugging along the Gulf Coast.
The full journey takes about four hours end-to-end and will run twice daily. Fares start at just $15, making it an accessible option for both locals and visitors.
“This isn’t just a transportation milestone; it’s a transformative opportunity to drive tourism growth across our entire region,” said Judy Young, CEO of Coastal Mississippi Tourism.
For the Coast, the return of rail will truly change the way travelers experience the region: step off in Bay St. Louis and wander into galleries within minutes. Ride a little farther and check into Hotel Vela in Gulfport (its restaurant, Siren, is one of our very favorites). In Biloxi, Fly Llama Brewing is pretty fly.
The Coast has always had its draws: sugar-white beaches, a culinary scene that stretches from po’boys to James Beard plates, and festivals that crowd the calendar. But rail adds something new: the ease of connection in a destination that’s otherwise difficult to reach.
And because the line links directly to New Orleans, it opens the door to pairing two very different Southern experiences in one trip. The Crescent City is just an hour away, but you can shape the visit to your style (our Sober Guide to New Orleans has ideas for enjoying the city’s food, music, and culture without the hangover). Ride the rails back into Mississippi for a slower pace, more space, and a view of the Gulf at sunset.
The trains are expected to bring thousands of new visitors to the Coast all year round, but if you’re thinking of visiting during Carnival season, the rail line makes it easier—our Guide to Mardi Gras on the Mississippi Coast has the details on parades, krewes, and where to find the best king cake outside of New Orleans.
Insider tip: The Old No. 77 Hotel is offering an All Aboard Alabama promotion for rail travelers. Book here.
“We look forward to welcoming our first passengers on August 18, and we invite everyone to hop aboard the Mardi Gras Service to discover everything there is to love about Coastal Mississippi,” Young said.
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