Family Attractions
Gulf Islands Waterpark
17200 16th Street, Gulfport
Gulf Islands Waterpark sits just off Interstate 10 in Gulfport, about twenty minutes from the Biloxi casino strip, and it's the biggest water park on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The lineup includes the Horn Island Blaster water coaster, a 12,000-square-foot wave pool, and the Lazy Pearl, a lazy river longer than three football fields. Pack sunscreen — you'll be wet within ten minutes of walking in.
Getting There
The waterpark sits inside the Gulfport Sportsplex at 17200 16th Street, just north of I-10 — the slide towers are visible from the highway before you reach the exit. From I-10, take the Highway 49 North exit, merge left onto Landon Road, and go west about a mile; the Sportsplex entrance is on your left. From the Biloxi casinos it's roughly a twenty-minute drive west. Parking is free with admission, but the lot fills fast on summer weekends, so arrive close to the 10 a.m. opening if you want a locker near the gate.
What to Expect
The Horn Island Blaster is the ride most people come for — the Gulf Coast's only water coaster, sending riders through more than 500 feet of twists, steep drops, and a couple of uphill blasts powered by water jets. The Cat Island Catapult drops nearly 155 feet down a twisting tube slide, with the Deer Island Express and Camille Cutter rounding out the slide complex for anyone who'd rather skip the coaster. When your legs need a break, the Lazy Pearl drifts past most of the park on an inner tube, and the wave pool alternates rolling swells with calmer stretches. Little ones get their own space at Lil' Pelican Bay, with smaller slides scaled to their size.
Good to Know
The park runs a summer season, typically mid-May through early September, with weekend-only days bookending the busiest stretch — the exact calendar shifts year to year, so check gulfislandswaterpark.com before you drive out. Daily hours run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Same-day admission is $49.99 for guests 42 inches and taller, $29.99 under that height, and free for kids 2 and under with a signed waiver; season passes start at $79.99. Tube rentals, life jackets, and Pepsi fountain drinks are included, and parking is free. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a padlock for the lockers.
Our Take
The Horn Island Blaster alone is worth the ticket if you've got a thrill-seeker along — there's nothing else quite like it on the coast. Families with younger kids will get more mileage out of the Lazy Pearl and Lil' Pelican Bay than the big slides, and that's fine; a lazy-river float on a hot Gulfport afternoon is its own reward. Go on a weekday if you can. Weekends in July mean lines at every slide.
Details last verified August 2026. Always confirm current hours and prices directly with the attraction.