 Home / U.S. State Travel Guides / U.S. Vacations / U.S. National Parks / U.S. State Highpoints / U.S. Road Trip Planning  MISSISSIPPI TRAVEL GUIDEWelcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to Mississippi! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Mississippi. Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I do not make any profit from this website, and you will see no ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.  OVERVIEWTOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN MISSISSIPPI✮ Cycle the Longleaf Trace and/or the Tanglefoot Trail; both are among the finest rail trails in the U.S. ✮ Head to Natchez, the "B&B capital of the south" ✮ Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway, which passes through some of MI's most historic towns ✮ Take a boat tour from Gulfport to visit Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island ✮ Visit one of the premier Civil War sites at Vicksburg National Military Park ✮ Tour the Melrose plantation in Natchez ✮ Catch some blues music at Red's Lounge in Clarksdale ✮ Hit the beaches at Gulf Islands National Seashore ✮ Throw some dice at one of the fine casinos in Biloxi If I could select only one place to visit in Mississippi, I would choose the Gulf Islands National Seashore. For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here. 5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN MISSISSIPPINorthern Mississippi (including Oxford, Tunica, and Tupelo) ✮ Civil War Interpretive Center, Corinth - exhibits on the Battle of Shiloh & the Siege and Battle of Corinth ✮ Delta Blues Museum, Clarksdale - a small but good collection of blues memorabilia ✮ Elvis Presley Birthplace & Museum, Tupelo - visit the tiny building that Elvis grew up in ✮ Gambling at casinos in Tunica - e.g. Fitz, Gold Strike, Hollywood Casino, Horseshoe, Sam's Town, etc. ✮ Gold Strike Casino Resort, Robinsonville - good casino with 1400 slots and 40 table games ✮ Natchez Trace Parkway - a 444-mile scenic drive that passes through some of Mississippi's most historic towns ✮ Red's Lounge, Clarksdale - the place to go in Mississippi for live blues music ✮ Tanglefoot Trail - this trail is 100% paved and it is often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S. ✮ Tishomingo State Park, Tishomingo - arguably Mississippi's most scenic nature park; great hiking trails, rock climbing, and canoeing ✮ Tupelo Automobile Museum, Tupelo - auto museum with more than 150 rare and collectible cars ✮ Vaught Hemingway Stadium, Oxford - catch an "Ole Miss" college football game in this large outdoor stadium Central Mississippi (including Jackson and Vicksburg) ✮ B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center, Indianola - "preserves and shares the legacy and values of B. B. King" ✮ Birthplace of Kermit The Frog Museum, Leland - small museum in Jim Henson's boyhood town ✮ Historic Natchez Cemetery, Natchez - one of the most historic cemeteries in the south ✮ Mississippi Children's Museum, Jackson - one of the best children's museums in the south ✮ Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Jackson - an outstanding museum exhibiting the history of the Civil Rights Movement ✮ Mississippi State Capitol, Jackson - visit the current capitol building ✮ Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson - the largest museum in Mississippi ✮ Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Jackson - the best natural history museum in the state ✮ Natchez Trace Parkway - a 444-mile scenic drive that passes through some of Mississippi's most historic towns ✮ U.S.S. Cairo Museum, Vicksburg - see the restoration completed to date on an iron clad river boat ✮ Vicksburg National Cemetery, Vicksburg - visit the grave sites of 17,000 Union soldiers ✮ Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg - take a 16-mile driving loop past one of the most famous Civil War battlefields Southern Mississippi (including Biloxi, Gulfport, and Natchez) ✮ Beauvoir, Biloxi - visit the home of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy ✮ Biloxi Beach, Biloxi - one of Mississippi's best and most popular beaches; the Biloxi Lighthouse is there as well ✮ Biloxi Lighthouse, Biloxi - visit a cast-iron lighthouse built in 1848 ✮ Betsy Ann Riverboat, Bay Saint Louis - take a short cruise on an authentic stern wheel paddlewheel riverboat ✮ Boat tours from Gulfport - e.g. take a cruise to Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island ✮ Clark Creek Natural Area, Woodville - one of Mississippi's most beautiful hiking areas; many seasonal waterfalls ✮ De Soto National Forest, - some of the best trails and canoeing/kayaking in the state ✮ Fort Massachusetts, Ship Island, Gulf Islands National Seashore - take a boat or ferry to visit a historic fort; there's also a swimmer's beach ✮ Gambling at casinos in Biloxi's - e.g. Beau Rivage, Boomtown, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, Harrah's, IP, Palace, Treasure Bay. ✮ Gulf Islands National Seashore - the best beaches in Mississippi ✮ Hattiesburg Zoo, Hattiesburg - a very small but highly rated zoo ✮ Longleaf Trace - this 44-mile long rail trail is 100% paved and it is often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S. ✮ Longwood, Natchez - tours of the largest octagonal house in the U.S. ✮ Melrose, Natchez - offers excellent plantation tours, including a 15,000sq foot mansion of the Greek Revival design ✮ Red Bluff, Foxworth - take a hike to see a colorful canyon; take note that maintenance of this location is spotty and you may see a lot of trash ✮ Rosalie Mansion, Natchez - tour a pre-Civil War mansion; no photography allowed ✮ St. Mary Basilica, Natchez - arguably the most beautiful church in Mississippi ✮ Stanton Hall, Natchez - tour a palatial Greek Revival style residence; the #1 Natchez attraction ✮ World's Largest Rocking Chair, Gulfport - 35-foot tall roadside attraction of a giant rocking chair Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Mississippi? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com. For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links: AL | AR | LA | TN BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN MISSISSIPPI✮ Biloxi - a small city on the Gulf Coast that has several good casinos, museums, and other attractions ✮ Jackson - a medium-sized city and capital of Mississippi; known for having several great museums ✮ Natchez - a small city with many antebellum homes; dubbed the "B&B capital of the south"; start of the Natchez Trace Parkway; music history ✮ Vicksburg - a small city with many antebellum homes that is famous for its Civil War battlefields and museums Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S. WHAT IS MISSISSIPPI FAMOUS FOR?✮ blues music ✮ catfish ✮ casinos (e.g. in Biloxi and Tunica) ✮ Civil Rights history ✮ cotton / cotton fields ✮ magnolia trees ✮ plantation homes ✮ poorest state in the U.S. Click here if you'd like to explore what other U.S. states are famous for. NATIONAL PARKS IN MISSISSIPPINational Monuments ✮ Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument National Forests ✮ Bienville National Forest ✮ Delta National Forest ✮ De Soto National Forest ✮ Holly Springs National Forest ✮ Homochitto National Forest ✮ Tombigbee National Forest National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties ✮ Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site ✮ Gulf Islands National Seashore ✮ Natchez National Historical Park ✮ Natchez Trace Parkway ✮ Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail ✮ Shiloh National Military Park ✮ Tupelo National Battlefield ✮ Vicksburg National Military Park For more information on Mississippi's national parks, visit the Mississippi page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here. STATE PARKS IN MISSISSIPPITo see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here. BEST WATERFALLS IN MISSISSIPPI✮ Clark Creek Natural Area waterfalls ✮ Dunn's Falls (even though it's partially man-made) ✮ Scutchalo Falls ✮ Yellow Creek Waterfalls For a listing of all known waterfalls in Mississippi, visit the World Waterfall Database. BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN MISSISSIPPI✮ Beach Boulevard - an 9-mile paved route along the Gulf Coast shoreline within the city limits of Bay St. Louis ✮ Natchez Trace Parkway - a 444-mile paved route from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN with many historic sites and scenic overlooks ✮ US-90 - a 29-mile drive along the Gulf Coast shoreline between Henderson Point and Ocean Springs There may or may not be some scenic sections of the Great River Road in Mississippi as well, but I haven't driven this section of that famous road yet. For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here. BEST OCEAN BEACHES IN MISSISSIPPI✮ Bay St. Louis beaches ✮ Biloxi beaches ✮ East Beach, Ocean Springs ✮ Gulfport Beach, Gulfport ✮ Henderson Point Beach, Pass Christian ✮ Ocean Springs Beach, Ocean Springs ✮ Pass Christian Beach, Pass Christian ✮ Ship Island beaches BEST RAIL TRAILS IN MISSISSIPPINorthern Mississippi (including Oxford, Tunica, and Tupelo) ✮ Tanglefoot Trail - this trail is 100% paved and it is often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S. Southern Mississippi (including Biloxi, Gulfport, and Natchez) ✮ Longleaf Trace - this trail is 100% paved and it is often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S. For detailed information on all known rail trails in Mississippi, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website. BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS / THEME PARKS IN MISSISSIPPI✮ Buccaneer Bay Waterpark, Waveland ✮ Geyser Falls Water Theme Park, Choctaw ✮ Grand Paradise Water Park, Collins ✮ Gulf Islands Water Park, Gulfport BEST MUSEUMS IN MISSISSIPPINorthern Mississippi (including Oxford, Tunica, and Tupelo) ✮ Civil War Interpretive Center, Corinth ✮ Delta Blues Museum, Clarksdale ✮ Elvis Presley Birthplace & Museum, Tupelo ✮ GRAMMY Museum Mississippi, Cleveland ✮ Tupelo Automobile Museum, Tupelo Central Mississippi (including Jackson and Vicksburg) ✮ B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center, Indianola ✮ Birthplace of Kermit The Frog Museum, Leland ✮ Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, Jackson ✮ Mississippi Children's Museum, Jackson ✮ Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Jackson ✮ Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson ✮ Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Jackson ✮ Museum of Mississippi History, Jackson ✮ U.S.S. Cairo Museum, Vicksburg Southern Mississippi (including Biloxi, Gulfport, and Natchez) ✮ Longwood, Natchez ✮ Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, Biloxi ✮ Melrose, Natchez ✮ Mississippi Armed Forces Museum, Hattiesburg ✮ Rosalie Mansion, Natchez ✮ Stanton Hall, Natchez ✮ Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Ocean Springs The city of Jackson, Mississippi is one of the best cities in the U.S. for museums. BEST DAY HIKES IN MISSISSIPPI✮ Bear Creek Outcroppings Trail, Tishomingo State Park ✮ CCC Camp Trail Loop, Tishomingo State Park ✮ Clark Creek Natural Area trails I haven't hiked everywhere in Mississippi, but my guess is that the best hiking you'll find in the state is within Tishomingo State Park. The highpoint of Mississippi is Woodall Mountain (806'). You can drive to the top, and so no hiking is required. BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN MISSISSIPPIIf you know of any other backpacking trails/areas in Mississippi, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN MISSISSIPPI✮ Backpacking the Black Creek Trail ✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Chunky River ✮ Canoeing/kayaking on Okatoma Creek ✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Piney River ✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Strong River ✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Wolf River ✮ Cycling the Longleaf Trace ✮ Cycling the Tanglefoot Trail ✮ Mountain biking the Clear Springs Recreation Area ✮ Mountain biking the Mt. Zion Bike Trail in Brookhaven ✮ Mountain biking the Ridgeland Mountain Bike Trails ✮ Parasailing in Biloxi ✮ Rock climbing in Tishomingo State Park ✮ Tubing the Bogue Chitto River ✮ Tubing the Strong River ✮ Tubing the Wolf River SKI RESORTS IN MISSISSIPPIMISSISSIPPI TRAVEL TIPSUNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN MISSISSIPPI✮ biscuits ✮ fried catfish ✮ fried hushpuppies ✮ fried mullet ✮ mud pie ✮ pig ear sandwich ✮ slugburgers ✮ tamales (e.g. delta tamales) For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Mississippi (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website. For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here. For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Mississippi (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website. OTHER KEY MISSISSIPPI INFORMATIONJackson Major Airports: Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT) and Jackson-Evers International Airport (JAN); you can also fly into New Orleans, LA and then drive into Mississippi Largest Cities: Jackson (149,739), Gulfport (73,952), Southaven (55,782), Biloxi (50,529), Hattiesburg (49,278), Olive Branch (40,957), Tupelo (38,599) Primary U.S. Interstates: I-10, I-20, I-22, I-55, I-59, I-69 State Highpoint: Woodall Mountain (806') in northeastern Mississippi; you can drive all the way to the top Professional Sports Teams: None (although college football is very popular in Mississippi, e.g. Ole Miss and Mississippi State) Funny or Unique Town/City Names: Chunky, Goodfood, Guntown, Hot Coffee, Rolling Fork, and Whynot Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here. ROAD TRIP GUIDEBOOKSIn addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.  
 
 
 
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