Thousands gather in Long Beach for Jeepin the Coast 2026

LONG BEACH, Miss. (WLOX) — Thousands of Jeep enthusiasts gathered in downtown Long Beach for the second day of Jeepin the Coast 2026, transforming the area into what organizers call Jeep Central.

The annual event draws crowds who customize their vehicles in vastly different ways, from off-road builds to show vehicles.

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Preston Giberti said the appeal lies in the vehicle’s versatility.

“A Jeep is like a Lego, in my opinion,” Giberti said. “You can really customize and build and change pretty much everything in it — from suspension to seats to lights to almost everything around.”

For some attendees, the hobby has become a long-term passion. Chandler Culwell of Columbus, Ohio, said he bought his first Jeep at age 15.

“It was a ’92 Cherokee, and I just keep upgrading it- building them,” Culwell said. “I think I’ve had close to 20 or 25 Jeeps.”

Builds at the event ranged from functional off-road vehicles to display models, reflecting different approaches to customization.

“The way I see it, it’s people’s personalities,” Culwell said. “So, you can do anything you want. Any ideas that you have, you can do it. So, like, with mine, it’s built to wheel, and some other people’s are meant for show.”

Giberti said his vehicle is designed for trails rather than appearance.

“I off-road a lot. So, I built mine for the trails, not to be pretty either,” Giberti said. “Just to get me from point A to point B without breaking down is the big thing, but to have fun is another thing as well.”

He said budget constraints often require creative solutions.

“I ain’t got the money to go out and spend tens of thousands of dollars on brand new parts,” Giberti said. “So, you just kind of got to make it work. I got a welder, and so, sometimes you just got to weld some stuff up, you know.”

Jeepin the Coast continues Friday with several events, including beach crawls.

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