Alabama vs. Mississippi Coastline: Alabama's Is Longer (64 vs. 44 Miles)

The source has it backward. **Alabama has the longer Gulf coastline: ~64 miles (103 km) vs. Mississippi's ~44 miles (71 km).**

Why the Confusion?

• General coastline (NOAA measure): Alabama 53 mi, Mississippi 44 mi — Alabama longer.
• Tidal shoreline (includes bays, inlets, islands): Alabama 607 mi, Mississippi 359 mi — Alabama *much* longer due to Mobile Bay, barrier islands (Dauphin, Petit Bois), complex estuary.
• Mississippi's coast is relatively linear—mainland beach + a few small bays (Biloxi, Pascagoula). No major bay system.

Key Features

• Alabama: Mobile Bay (31 mi long), Dauphin Island, Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach — tourism-heavy.
• Mississippi: Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula — casino tourism, shipbuilding (Ingalls), shrimping.

Bottom Line

By any standard measure, **Alabama's coastline is longer**. The source's numbers (MS 44, AL 64) actually show Alabama longer but the text says Mississippi—likely a typo.