New Orleans is left through the eastern side of the city. The route follows the US 90 corridor out of the dense streets, past industrial edges, waterways, marshland and the bridges around Chef Menteur and the Rigolets. The stage is almost flat, but long at around 131 kilometres. After the Mississippi line, the road opens up. Bay St. Louis is the first clear coastal town, followed by Waveland, Pass Christian, Long Beach and Gulfport. The Gulf of Mexico stays close to the road in many places, with beach sections, piers, harbours, casinos and wide access roads. Traffic increases before Biloxi. The city is a practical coastal finish, with hotels, restaurants and views across the Mississippi Sound.
