Is Long Beach safe?
Long Beach, Mississippi · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Long Beach as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Long Beach
“Go. Long Beach is a peaceful, laid-back coastal community on the Mississippi Gulf Coast that offers very low violent crime and a family-friendly environment. Visitors can comfortably explore the quiet beaches, harbor area, and small downtown core with standard travel awareness.”
About the area
Situated along Highway 90 between Pass Christian and Gulfport, Long Beach is known as the 'Friendly City' and features quiet white-sand beaches and live oaks. It hosts the coastal campus of the University of Southern Mississippi, giving the small town an academic yet relaxed seaside character.
- Coastal Suburban
- Quiet / Peaceful
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Long Beach
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 50/100
While there is no municipal bike-share system, the continuous paved multi-use trail along Beach Boulevard (Highway 90) provides miles of scenic coastal cycling.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are substantially lower than both state and national benchmarks
- High homeownership rate of over 70% fostering a stable, well-maintained community
- Scenic, uncrowded beachfront with an expansive public boardwalk and harbor
Cons
- Vulnerability to seasonal Gulf Coast hurricanes and severe coastal flooding
- Suburban sprawl away from the coast makes everyday travel heavily car-dependent
- Nighttime street lighting is minimal on interior residential and wooded roads
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in Long Beach, with virtually no encampments or panhandling; the nearest social support services and shelters are situated in neighboring Gulfport.
What Long Beach is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe, with locals jogging along the coastal boardwalk and dog walkers enjoying the breezy morning air.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and family-oriented, with light beachgoers, campus activity at USM, and easy navigation throughout town.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and secure, with modest foot traffic clustered around Jeff Davis Avenue restaurants and harbor view spots.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic and mostly quiet residential streets where crime is rare, though coastal fog and low lighting require driving caution.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by Coast Transit Authority (CTA), with Route 34 providing fixed-route service along the beach highway connecting to Gulfport and Biloxi; there is no passenger rail service.
Parking is abundant and almost entirely free throughout the city, including public parking bays along Highway 90, at the Long Beach Harbor, and on downtown side streets.
Things to do in Long Beach
- Stroll along the Long Beach Boardwalk and relax on the white-sand shoreline overlooking the Mississippi Sound
- Visit the historic Friendship Oak, a massive 500-year-old live oak tree on the USM Gulf Park Campus
- Charter a coastal fishing trip or launch a kayak from the Long Beach Small Craft Harbor
Local favorites
- Radish Restaurant · Southern Restaurant · 4.6★ (320)Upscale yet approachable eatery in downtown Long Beach serving modern Southern cuisine and craft cocktails.
- Harbor View Cafe · Seafood & American · 4.4★ (850)Casual waterfront spot offering classic po'boys, fried seafood platters, and scenic Gulf views.
- Bull's Restaurant · Diner / Comfort Food · 4.6★ (510)Beloved local diner renowned for hearty Southern breakfasts and daily meat-and-three lunch specials.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.