The Five U.S. States Bordering the Gulf of Mexico

States with a Gulf Coastline

Five U.S. states have coastline on the **Gulf of Mexico**, listed geographically from east to west:

1. Florida — Longest Gulf coastline (~770 mi / 1,240 km). Panhandle (Emerald Coast) + Southwest (Ten Thousand Islands). Major ports: Pensacola, Panama City, Tampa Bay, Fort Myers.
2. Alabama — Shortest Gulf coastline (~53 mi / 85 km). Mobile Bay, Dauphin Island, Gulf Shores/Orange Beach tourism.
3. Mississippi — ~44 mi (71 km) mainland coast + barrier islands (Ship Island, Cat Island). Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula (major port).
4. Louisiana — ~397 mi (639 km) of complex deltaic coast (bayous, marshes, barrier islands). Major ports: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Port Fourchon (oil/gas hub).
5. Texas — ~367 mi (591 km). Major ports: Houston (largest US tonnage), Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Galveston, Port Arthur. Padre Island National Seashore.

Total Gulf Coastline

~**1,631 miles (2,625 km)** of general coastline (NOAA). Tidal shoreline much longer due to estuaries.

Economic Significance

• Energy: ~97% of US offshore oil/gas production (Federal Gulf). Refineries (TX/LA) = ~50% US capacity.
• Ports: 6 of top 10 US ports by tonnage (Houston, South Louisiana, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, New Orleans, Mobile).
• Fisheries: Shrimp, oysters, menhaden, reef fish.
• Tourism: Beaches, fishing, birding, cruise ports (Galveston, Tampa, Mobile, New Orleans).
• Strategic: Naval Air Station Pensacola, Keesler AFB, NAS Corpus Christi, JRB Fort Worth (near coast).