Kids antsy, rain clouds brewing, Wi-Fi tapped out? Swap screen glare for clay splash in a snap. Just five minutes from your Gulf Beach RV Resort site, Family Wheel Day at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum lets you and the kiddos spin two keepsakes each—$45 per person, ages 8+, done in two hours.
Key Takeaways
Two nearby studios turn soggy beach days into keepsake-making adventures, and the details below help you choose the right fit without sacrificing sunset at your campsite. Scroll the bullets, note the prices, and you’ll know exactly what to pack, when to leave, and how soon you’ll be holding a fired-and-glazed mug back at Gulf Beach RV Resort.
– Fun indoor escape near Gulf Beach RV Resort: make pottery or paint a keepsake
– Two spots close by: Ohr-O’Keefe Museum (5 min east) and AlleyKat Ceramics (20 min west)
– Ohr-O’Keefe Family Wheel Day: ages 8+, select Saturdays 1–3 p.m., $45 per person, make 2 clay pieces
– AlleyKat drop-in painting: arrive before 2 p.m., choose a $10–$45 bisque piece, no sitting fee
– Firing time is 10–14 days; shipping home averages $18 if you leave town early
– Wheel classes need online reservations; painting is walk-in but fills up on rainy days
– Both studios have big parking lots, wheelchair ramps, stroller space, and room for RVs
– Wear old clothes and closed shoes; bring a small towel and a bag for messy gear
– Cost range $35–$45 per person; groups of five or more can ask for about 10 % off
– Short class times let you return to the resort in time for sunset and campfire.
Rather paint? AlleyKat Ceramics in Gulfport has no sitting fee; you pay only for the bisque you pick. Trade cabin fever for “can I make another bowl?”—the refrain you’ll hear once the wheel starts spinning.
RV in tow, stroller in hand, or date night on the horizon—there’s a class built for you. Paved lots, wheelchair ramps, evening slots, even group rates for crews of five or more are already mapped out below. Read on to see which studio lets your crew spin, splatter, and still make it back for sunset at the resort.
Quick-Glance Cheat Sheet
Two hours on a pottery wheel or an open-ended afternoon with paint—pick the rhythm that fits your road-trip clock. Family Wheel Day runs 1 p.m.–3 p.m. on select Saturdays, while AlleyKat welcomes drop-ins until 2 p.m. so staff can glaze pieces before closing at 4:30. Costs hover between $35 and $45 per person, and every class ships finished work for about $18 if you have rolled on down the highway before firing finishes.
From your full-hookup site, the Ohr-O’Keefe sits five minutes east on Beach Boulevard; count a 20-minute hop west on I-10 to reach AlleyKat. Kids under eight stick to paint-your-own bisque, older siblings can tackle the wheel, and adults snag evening BYOB slots most weekends. Reservations are a must for wheel classes, smart for groups of five or more anywhere, and entirely online, so you can book before the campfire even sparks.
Why Clay Beats More Screen Time
Rain or relentless sunshine, studio walls give you a climate-controlled zone where kids stay busy, grandparents stay cool, and no one complains about sand in their snacks. Hands wrap around spinning clay, eyes lock on wobbling walls, and those devices stay tucked away—parents report an instant drop in “Are we done yet?” whines once wheels whir. The room hums with giggles instead of app alerts, providing a cabin-fever cure you can trust on the cloudiest Gulf Coast day.
When the timer dings, your family holds a souvenir that won’t get lost in a camera roll. Bowls, mugs, or shell-textured plaques dry, glaze, and fire into tangible proof you made memories together. Studios are also stroller-friendly and ADA-compliant, so everyone from toddlers to wheelchair users rolls right up to the action without drama. Best of all, both venues sit close enough that you can surf, spin clay, and still grill dinner at your campsite before quiet hours.
Your Closest Wheel Throw: Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art
The Biloxi Center for Ceramics at 386 Beach Boulevard hosts Family Wheel Day on July 20 and July 27, 2025, from 1–3 p.m. Each participant—adult and child—forms two pieces, and staff handles messy glazing and firing (family wheel day details). Finished work is ready in roughly two weeks, with pickup or flat-rate shipping options at checkout.
Parking stresses fade fast: the museum lot swallows trucks and SUVs, while oversize rigs slide into the adjacent public beach lot. Unhook the tow-vehicle on busy weekends and use it for the short downtown turns around casinos. Wheelchair ramps, elevators, and wide studio aisles keep access smooth, and museum docents happily set up a chair for grandparents who prefer to watch and snap photos rather than shape clay.
Paint-Your-Own Freedom at AlleyKat Ceramics
Fifteen miles west, AlleyKat Ceramics (11294 Dye Road) invites families to walk in, choose a bisque cat, cupcake, or coffee mug, and start painting—no sitting fee required (AlleyKat hours & pricing). Pieces run $10–$45, so siblings can splurge or save based on allowance. Arrive by 2 p.m.; staff needs time to clear kilns and close the rural shop by 4:30.
The gravel lot digests Class A rigs, but watch for the two-lane turnoff just after I-10—a slow roll and blinker save headaches. Long-term travelers can also join six-week wheel courses or four-week hand-building sessions with a prorated tourist rate. Evening adult slots often allow BYOB, so couples snag a paint-splattered date night without the beach crowds.
Match the Class to Your Crew
Younger than eight? Skip the wheel and let little hands stamp shells into slabs or brush glaze onto a pre-made unicorn. Short attention spans thrive on projects finished in under an hour, and cleanup stays minimal. Ages eight to twelve can control a wheel if you split sessions with a snack break and let them stand for better leverage—studio stools adjust, so posture isn’t a problem.
Teens crave independence; enrolling them in an adult beginner slot boosts confidence and skill quickly. Meanwhile, grandparents appreciate watercolor classes in the same museum wing—quiet, seated, and still artistic (family watercolor schedule). Adult travelers chasing something new should ask about evening BYOB events where shipping the next day keeps fragile goblets safe from late-night potholes.
What to Wear & Pack for Stress-Free Mess
Pottery wheels fling slip like tiny tidal waves, so dark T-shirts hide splatters better than pastel resort swag. Closed-toe shoes grip the pedal, protect toes, and keep sandal straps from caking in mud. Long hair? Tie it back before clay suction creates an accidental dreadlock, and trim nails the night before so you can pull tall walls without carving them.
Most studios toss aprons over shoulders but rarely hand out towels. Slip a small hand towel and resealable bag into a tote for the ride home. Add labeled water bottles, wipes, and a spare pair of shoes—your upholsterer will thank you. Remove jewelry, too; clay creeps into ring grooves faster than beach sand.
RV & Parking Logistics Made Simple
From Gulf Beach RV Resort, point your GPS to the Ohr-O’Keefe and cruise east on US 90 for five minutes. Weekend traffic near casinos can tack on ten minutes, so leave early if your crew moves at kid speed. For AlleyKat, hop on I-10 west, exit 38, and slow once the ramp ends—the two-lane road lacks flashy signage, and gravel dust signals you’re close.
Oversize vehicle? The museum’s beach overflow lot and AlleyKat’s gravel field handle big rigs; just check clearance and avoid tight downtown streets. Most families unhook the tow-vehicle or grab a ride-share rather than muscle a Class A into city parking. Biloxi’s Coast Transit buses also swing along Beach Boulevard if you’d rather skip driving altogether.
Getting Your Masterpieces Home
Glaze and firing require 10–14 days, so shipping is the default for road-trippers. Studios double-box fragile shapes and bubble-wrap them like pros, averaging $18 per shipment. If you plan to pick pieces up in person, book your class at the start of your stay and confirm the ready date before paying.
On travel days, store breakables in a plastic bin padded with towels and place it over the front axle—the ride is smoother there than near the rear bumper. Never leave freshly fired ware in a sweltering cab; thermal shock can spiderweb a mug before you hit Louisiana. Instead, keep boxes in climate-controlled space until sunset driving cools the cabin.
Keep the Creativity Rolling Back at the Resort
Swing by a craft aisle for air-dry clay and spend lazy afternoons at the resort’s picnic tables, shell-pressing textures into coil pots. Lay down a disposable tablecloth to protect wood, then rinse residue at the wash station, not the kitchen sink—small habits prevent clogged gray-water lines. Snap progress photos and upload them to the resort’s Wi-Fi later so grandparents can admire the at-home studio you built on wheels.
Come evening, host a camp-side show-and-tell where every family member explains what they learned. Snap photos while Wi-Fi strength peaks, build a quick digital album, and post with the resort hashtag so relatives back home admire the muddy progress. Even if a bowl chips on the drive, the memory lives safely online.
Ready to trade screen time for clay time? The wheels are spinning just up the road, the paintbrushes are rinsed, and Gulf Beach RV Resort is the worry-free home base that makes it all effortless. Spin, splatter, then stroll back for a sunset swim and s’mores by the shoreline—memories (and mugs) in tow. Reserve your coastal campsite now and let the creativity—and relaxation—roll.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you pack that extra towel and head for the studio, skim the answers below so you can spend more time crafting and less time guessing. Each question tackles a worry common to RV families, from parking a Class A rig to snagging a last-minute wheel slot, ensuring you arrive prepared and ready to play in the clay.
Q: What’s the difference between Family Wheel Day at the Ohr-O’Keefe and paint-your-own sessions at AlleyKat Ceramics?
A: Family Wheel Day is a two-hour, instructor-led class where each person aged 8 and up throws two pieces on the pottery wheel for $45; AlleyKat is a drop-in studio with no sitting fee where you simply pay for the bisque you pick—$10 to $45—and you can stay as long as you like until the 4:30 p.m. close.
Q: How much does it cost, and what’s included in the price?
A: Expect $35–$45 per maker for wheel classes and $10–$45 for paint-your-own pieces; all glazes, apron use, firing, and either pickup or flat-rate shipping (about $18 per box) are built into those fees so there are no surprise add-ons.
Q: Do we need reservations or can we just walk in?
A: Wheel classes always require an online reservation because seats max out at eight wheels, while paint-your-own is first-come, first-served but the studios suggest snagging an online time slot on rainy weekends or for groups of five or more to skip a wait.
Q: How long will we be at the studio?
A: Plan on two hours for Family Wheel Day (that includes cleanup) and anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours for painting, depending on how detail-oriented your crew gets.
Q: Is this kid-safe and age-appropriate?
A: Yes—both studios use non-toxic, lead-free glazes, provide kid-sized aprons, and keep an instructor within arm’s reach so little hands stay safe while having fun.
Q: What’s the minimum age to use the pottery wheel?
A: Children must be at least eight years old to sit at a wheel; younger siblings can stamp textures or paint pre-made pieces at side tables in the same room.
Q: Can grandparents or non-participants just watch?
A: Absolutely; the studios have benches and extra chairs so spectators can snap photos or help kids without buying a seat at the wheel.
Q: Are the facilities wheelchair or stroller accessible?
A: Both locations meet ADA standards with ramps, wide doors, and adjustable-height tables, and staff is happy to rearrange stools so wheelchairs roll right up.
Q: Where can I park an RV or large vehicle?
A: The Ohr-O’Keefe shares an oversize beach lot that handles Class A rigs, while AlleyKat’s gravel field off Dye Road fits long trailers—just swing wide on the final turn and you’re golden.
Q: How far are the studios from Gulf Beach RV Resort?
A: The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum sits five minutes east on Beach Boulevard, and AlleyKat Ceramics is about a 20-minute hop west on I-10, so you can be crafting fast and back for sunset.
Q: Do you offer discounts for locals, seniors, military, or groups?
A: Yes—show a local ID, military ID, or AARP card for a 10 percent break, and parties of five or more automatically receive the group rate when they book by phone or online.
Q: Can we bring snacks or adult beverages?
A: Covered drinks and dry snacks are welcome anytime, and evening adult sessions at both studios run BYOB as long as containers stay sealed during wheel demos; check your confirmation email for exact rules.
Q: How will we get our finished pieces if we’ve already rolled down the road?
A: Pieces dry, glaze, and fire in 10–14 days; during checkout you can prepay $18 flat-rate shipping, and staff will bubble-wrap and double-box your ceramics to arrive safely at your next stop.
Q: What should we wear and bring?
A: Slip on old, dark clothes, closed-toe shoes, and a hair tie; toss a hand towel, wipes, and a spare pair of shoes in your tote and leave jewelry at the RV so clay doesn’t cake into ring grooves.
Q: Is there Wi-Fi if I need to work while the kids create?
A: The Ohr-O’Keefe lobby has free high-speed Wi-Fi and café tables, and AlleyKat lets you hotspot at your table, making it easy to answer emails between glaze coats.
Q: What’s the weather or cancellation policy?
A: Classes run rain or shine in climate-controlled studios; cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund or reschedule credit, and weather-related road closures always earn a no-fee transfer.
Q: What payment methods are accepted?
A: Both studios take all major credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and of course good old-fashioned cash, so checkout is as smooth as a freshly trimmed pot.