Days Inn by Wyndham Picayune
450 South Lofton Ave, Picayune, MS 39466
Off I-59 at the Highway 43 exit, this budget motel works best as a stopover, not a destination — Picayune sits about an hour north of the Biloxi casinos and roughly the same drive from New Orleans' French Quarter. Rooms come with a microwave, fridge, and free WiFi, and a hot tub suite is worth the upgrade if you're passing through in cooler months. Grab the free breakfast, then head out to paddle Honey Island Swamp or walk the Crosby Arboretum trails before continuing on to the coast.
Getting There
Picayune sits right off I-59, and this Days Inn is only a couple of minutes from the Highway 43 exit, so you're checking in within five minutes of leaving the interstate. That makes it a handy crossroads stop: about an hour east on I-59 and I-10 puts you at the Biloxi casino strip, and the drive south toward New Orleans runs close to the same length. It works either as a cheaper base for exploring the swamp country outside town or as a break point if you're driving the Gulf Coast in one long push and don't want to do the whole thing in a single sitting.
Rooms & Amenities
Rooms are basic Days Inn fare, free Wi-Fi, a microwave and refrigerator in every room, décor that leans functional over stylish, but a couple of details push this past the typical interstate budget stop. The suites with in-room hot tubs are the real draw; they're uncommon at this price point in Picayune, and worth requesting by name when you book if a soak after a day of driving or swamp touring sounds good. There's an indoor fitness center for anyone keeping a workout streak alive on the road, an outdoor pool for warm months, and a light breakfast included each morning. Parking is free, with spots sized for trucks and trailers, which matters if you're towing a boat toward the Pearl River.
What's Nearby
Picayune's biggest draw is just outside town: Honey Island Swamp, one of the least-disturbed river swamps in the country, with fan-boat tours running out toward the Pearl River that put you eye-level with alligators and barred owls. The Crosby Arboretum, a native-plant preserve with boardwalk trails through pine savanna and wetland ponds, is about a 10-minute drive and worth a couple of quiet hours if you like walking trails more than theme parks. Closer to the hotel, Paul's Pastry Shop and PJ's Coffee cover breakfast and coffee runs without leaving town, and the Teddy Bear House Museum is a five-minute drive if you're traveling with kids who need a break from the car.
Our Take
Reviewers are split in a way worth knowing before you book: plenty describe surprisingly clean rooms and a fair price for what you get, while a smaller but vocal group has run into real maintenance letdowns, worn furniture, a tired pool. Treat that as a coin flip to hedge against, not a dealbreaker. Book this one for the location and the hot tub suites if you're passing through toward Biloxi or the swamp tours; skip it if a polished, full-service stay is the actual point of your trip.
Details last verified August 2026. Always confirm current rates and availability directly with the hotel.