I am going to a convention in New Orleans and would like to drive to a really nice beach resort for a few days, Something that is maybe 3 hours or less driving time.

I've heard Destin is nice, but I've never been there.

Dan: I live near New Orleans, and Destin, Florida is going to be the nicest beach you will find. It's a 4 hour drive from New Orleans. Other beaches in Florida that are nice, Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, Ft. Walton Beach. Pensacola is a 3 hour drive. There's also Gulf Shores, Alabama, also a 3 hour drive, but my least favorite beach and traffic can be a problem. Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi have beaches about 1 hour from New Orleans but I wouldn't recommend those beaches, the water there is not nice at all.

I have to agree that Destin is the closest nice beach & easiest to access. When are you going to be visiting? We went there one year in Oct & the weather was nice, the beach deserted but lots of stuff was closed. Still it depends on what you're going for. The Gulf Coast resorts are nice & closer & Beau Rivage has great specials on but the beach is not the nicest.

I live in New Orleans and the beaches between here and Ft. Walton or Destin FL are not white sand and the water is not the beautiful emerald green of those two places. My experience Destin 4 and 1/2 hours. If you just want a plain beach with murky water, Biloxi or Gulfport, MS. But, they do have great Casinos so you have to decide what you really want to do. You will have fun either place.