Fast Facts
- Population
- 153,701 (2020 census)
- Founded as Capital
- 1821
- Mississippi Civil Rights Museum Opened
- December 9, 2017
- State Capitol Completed
- 1903
- All-American Road
- Natchez Trace Parkway, 444 miles — two sections closed into 2027
What to Know Before You Arrive
Jackson, Mississippi's capital and most populous city, had 153,701 residents at the 2020 census. Founded in 1821 and named for Andrew Jackson, the city was set on fire by Union forces under General William Tecumseh Sherman during the Civil War, following the 1863 Battle of Vicksburg. Today its slogan is "The City with Soul," reflecting a history of prominent blues, gospel, folk and jazz musicians.
The Mississippi State Capitol, known as the "New Capitol," was completed in 1903 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2016. A few miles away, the Eudora Welty House, built by the author's parents in 1925 in the Belhaven neighborhood, was her home for nearly 80 years and opened as a museum in 2006, preserved with much of its original setup intact.
The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History share a single campus in downtown Jackson, built together near the William Winter Archives and History Building. The Civil Rights Museum, which opened December 9, 2017, documents the civil rights movement in Mississippi between 1945 and 1970 and is described as the first state-sponsored civil rights museum in the country. Learn more about that history at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History's own site. North of downtown, the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, the family's home from 1956, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017 and established as a National Monument in 2020, managed by the National Park Service. Learn more about Medgar Evers's life and legacy at the National Park Service's own site.
The Road Trip Stop
The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History share one campus in downtown Jackson, opened together in 2017. The Civil Rights Museum documents the movement's history in Mississippi from 1945 to 1970, and the History Museum covers the state's broader story.
Budget the time
- The two museums are interconnected on one campus, and one general admission covers both. We were unable to confirm how long a visit to both takes.
- The Two Mississippi Museums' own site (Mississippi Department of Archives and History) lists hours of Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mondays and on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. General admission, covering both museums and special exhibitions, is $15* for adults, $8* for ages 4 to 22, and $13* for seniors (60 and over) or military; visitors under 3 are listed as free, and the site says admission is free every Sunday.
- The Medgar Evers Home National Monument is a separate stop north of downtown, managed by the National Park Service.
- The Mississippi State Capitol is within walking distance of the museum campus.
*Fees subject to change, please check 2mm.mdah.ms.gov for updated information.
Neighborhoods
Downtown & the Capitol complex
Home to the Mississippi State Capitol and the shared Civil Rights Museum/History Museum campus.
Farish Street Historic District
A once-flourishing Black-owned business district and home to blues and gospel record labels through the 1970s.
Belhaven
A historic residential neighborhood where author Eudora Welty lived most of her life.
The Medgar Evers Historic District
A north Jackson neighborhood, developed after World War II as the first planned middle-class subdivision for African Americans in Mississippi, home to the Evers family's house.
The Food Stop
Downtown Jackson, near the Capitol and museum campus, holds a mix of restaurants within walking distance of both.
Belhaven, near the Eudora Welty House, offers additional dining in a quieter residential setting.
Been here a while
Places that have been serving a long time. We could not confirm 1 of these as still trading in 2026 — ring ahead. Each name links to its source.
- 1935Mayflower CafeDowntown Greek-American seafood cafe described as Jackson's oldest restaurant
- Bully's RestaurantSoul-food restaurant named a James Beard America's Classic in 2016still trading? unconfirmed
One brewery within 10 miles of Jackson, though our source does not record a room you can sit in.
See all 1
- Lucky Town Brewing Co1710 N Mill St, Jacksonproduction site*
*Check before you go. This list says what the source records as open and where it is — nothing more. Opening hours, whether a kitchen is serving, and whether anywhere suits your family are not in this data and change without notice. A production site may have no public room at all. Please confirm with the venue.
Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)
The Home Teams
Jackson has no major-league team; Jackson State University's Tigers play football at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in the city.
Day Trips
| Destination | Time | Distance | How we got it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vicksburg | 53 min | 44 mi | routed |
| The site of the 1863 Civil War siege that preceded Jackson's own, west along I-20. | |||
| Clinton | 18 min | 9 mi | routed |
| A neighboring city home to Mississippi College, just west of Jackson. | |||
| Canton | 33 min | 26 mi | routed |
| A small city north of Jackson known for its historic downtown square. | |||
| Ridgeland | 17 min | 10 mi | routed |
| A neighboring city north of Jackson, along the Natchez Trace Parkway. | |||
Routed figures are computed over map data at free-flowing speeds, between map points rather than street addresses, so a real drive runs longer.
Distances routed by OSRM and places geocoded by Nominatim, over map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Worth a Weekend
8 more Highway Heads places lie within about 180 miles of Jackson in a straight line — far enough that most are a night away rather than an afternoon.
- NatchezMississippiabout 90 mi
- Baton RougeLouisianaabout 140 mi
- BiloxiMississippiabout 150 mi
- National WWII MuseumLouisianaabout 160 mi
- New OrleansLouisianaabout 160 mi
- TupeloMississippiabout 160 mi
- MobileAlabamaabout 170 mi
- LafayetteLouisianaabout 180 mi
Lakes Nearby
1 lake we have checked near here. These are the ones from our research that we could check against an official page — not every lake there is.
Ross Barnett Reservoir
- Fishingyes - bass, crappie, bream, gar, catfish
- Boatingyes; district boat launches and kayak launches
- Rentals & marinaFive marinas (private and public partners)
- CampingFive district campgrounds
Run by Pearl River Valley Water Supply District
*Check before you go. Every lake here links to the official page we checked it against. Fees, seasons, water levels, algal advisories and ramp closures change without notice and belong to the agency that runs the water. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something the lake lacks.
Distilleries Nearby
1 producer we have checked near here. These are the ones from our research we could check against their own site — not every producer there is.
Cathead Distillery
Describes itself as Mississippi's oldest distillery; vodkas, gin and bourbon.
- HoursPublic tours Fri 3 & 5pm; Sat 1, 3 & 5pm
- Toursyes; 30-min public tour $15 with tastings; private tours $30 by advance reservation
- Foodno
- Phone(601) 667-3038
422 South Farish St., Jackson, MS 39201
*Check before you go. Every producer here links to its own site, which is where we read these details on the date we checked. Opening hours, tour times, tasting fees and who may come in change without notice and belong to the producer. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something they lack. None of these say anything about children, so do not plan around it without asking them.
Zoos, Aquariums and Wildlife Parks Nearby
Within 60 miles of Jackson, nearest first.
Jackson ZooJackson
- Hours
- Conflicting: zoo site says daily 9am-4pm; Visit Jackson says Tue & Thu-Sun 10am-4pm
Mississippi Museum of Natural ScienceJackson
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 8-5; Sat 9-5; Sun 1-5; closed Jan 1, Easter, Memorial Day, Jul 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, Dec 24, Dec 25
- Admission
- Adult $9 · Child $7
State natural science museum whose aquarium network holds over 200 living species in 100,000 gallons, per their own site. Open mid-May to Labor Day hours differ; check before a shoulder-season stop.
Yellowstone Bear WorldRexburg
- Season
- seasonal (closed until April 2027)
Closed for the season until April 2027
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. None of these carry an accreditation we were able to confirm, which is not the same as none being accredited — we check against one register, and plenty of good municipal, state and university places are in no register at all. Opening times, prices and seasons change without notice, so check the operator’s own site — every name above links to it.
Annual Events Nearby
Within 60 miles of Jackson, nearest first.
What is on, and when
Mississippi State Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairJackson
- Usually
- October, over several days
- Held at
- Mississippi State Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: not re-checked this session. Check their site before you go.
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Events are listed by the month they usually fall in, because that is what we hold — we do not publish dates, and a month is not a promise. Check the organiser before you plan around one. One entry is marked with an asterisk: we could not confirm part of what is listed, and the note under it says which part. Opening times, line-ups and ticketing change without notice, so check the venue’s or organiser’s own site — every name above links to it.
Parks and Attractions Nearby
Within 60 miles of Jackson, nearest first.
Snow King MountainJackson
ski area with alpine slide and Cowboy Coaster; homepage blocked automated fetch
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Prices, hours and ride closures change without notice — every name above links to the park’s own site.
Practical Road Trip Info
A full day covers the museum campus and the State Capitol; a separate half day covers the Eudora Welty House and Farish Street.
The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History are separate museums on one shared campus, commonly visited together.
Jackson sits at the crossing of I-55 and I-20, halfway between Memphis and New Orleans on one route and Dallas and Atlanta on the other.
The Medgar Evers Home National Monument is a separate stop from downtown, requiring its own drive or visit window.
The Local Debate
Family-Friendly
The Museum of Mississippi History
A broad survey of the state's history on the same campus as the Civil Rights Museum.
The Mississippi State Capitol
A free, walkable National Historic Landmark building near downtown.
The Eudora Welty House & Garden
A compact, well-preserved author's home with a dedicated visitor center for context.
Plan Your Visit
Mississippi Civil Rights Museum & Museum of Mississippi History
- Address
- 222 North St, Jackson, MS 39201
- Hours
- Check the official site for current hours
- Price
- Check the official site for current admission
- Link
- mcrm.mdah.ms.gov
We checked fees, opening hours and closures on 2026-10-13. These change without notice — confirm with 2mm.mdah.ms.gov and nps.gov the week you travel.
Sources — 18 claims, 17 checked against the source on 2026-09-23
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson is the capital and most populous city of Mississippi, population 153,701 at the 2020 census; founded in 1821 as the new state capital, named for Andrew Jackson; located halfway between Memphis and New Orleans on I-55 and Dallas and Atlanta on I-20; the city's slogan is "The City with Soul," reflecting a history of musicians prominent in blues, gospel, folk and jazz | Jackson, Mississippi — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Following the Battle of Vicksburg in 1863, Union forces commanded by General William Tecumseh Sherman launched the siege of Jackson and set the city on fire during the Civil War | Jackson, Mississippi — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Author Eudora Welty was born in Jackson in 1909, lived most of her life in the city's Belhaven neighborhood, and died there in 2001; she won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973 for her novel The Optimist's Daughter | Jackson, Mississippi — Wikipedia | Checked |
| The Mississippi State Capitol, known as the "New Capitol," has been the seat of Mississippi's government since 1903, succeeding the Old Capitol; designated a Mississippi Landmark in 1986 and a National Historic Landmark in 2016; designed by architect Theodore C. Link and completed within 28 months, between January 1901 and August 1903 | Mississippi State Capitol — Wikipedia | Checked |
| The Eudora Welty House & Garden, at 1119 Pinehurst Street in Jackson, was built by Welty's parents in 1925; the author lived there from age 16 until her death in 2001; the house was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2004 and opened to the public as a museum in 2006, restored by the Eudora Welty Foundation and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History; an Education and Visitors Center opened next door in 2009 | Eudora Welty House — Wikipedia | Checked |
| The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, in Jackson, documents the American Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi between 1945 and 1970; secured $20 million in funding from the Mississippi Legislature in 2011, broke ground in 2013, and opened December 9, 2017; administered by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History; described by a Mississippi state senator as the first state-sponsored civil rights museum in the United States; built next to the Museum of Mississippi History, near the William Winter Archives and History Building | Mississippi Civil Rights Museum — Wikipedia | Checked |
| The Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, at 2332 Margaret Walker Alexander Drive in Jackson, was built in 1956 and was the home of civil rights activist Medgar Evers and his wife Myrlie; designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017; authorized as a national monument by the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, signed March 12, 2019, and established December 10, 2020, after the National Park Service acquired it from Tougaloo College; the surrounding Elraine Subdivision was the first planned middle-class subdivision for African Americans in Mississippi after World War II | Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Learn more about Medgar Evers's life, legacy and the history of the site at the National Park Service's own page for the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument | Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument — official site (NPS) | Checked |
| Farish Street Neighborhood Historic District in Jackson was a hub for Black-owned businesses up until the 1970s, named after a family that lived and worked on the street for four generations; by 1908 much of the area was Black-owned; in 1915 the neighborhood was home to Trumpet Records, Ace Records and the Speir Phonograph Company; added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 as the largest economically independent Black community in Mississippi at that time | Farish Street Neighborhood Historic District — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Jackson has a number of museums and cultural institutions including a hands-on youth museum, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, the Mississippi Museum of Art and the Old Capitol Museum; the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium is home to the Jackson State Tigers football team | Jackson, Mississippi — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Jackson is located on the Pearl River in the greater Jackson Prairie region; the Jackson metropolitan area had about 592,000 residents in 2020 and a GDP of $30 billion, accounting for 29% of Mississippi's total | Jackson, Mississippi — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Drive distances and times from Jackson to Clinton, Canton and Ridgeland. Tried: City of Clinton site (clintonms.org), Visit Ridgeland, City of Ridgeland, the National Park Service Natchez Trace Parkway planning pages and the City of Canton site (JavaScript-rendered, no readable text); none states a distance or drive time from Jackson. | No source accepted yet | Not confirmed |
| Prices shown in this guide from 2mm.mdah.ms.gov: $13, $15, $8 | 2mm.mdah.ms.gov — the page the prices are taken from | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| The Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum are interconnected, opened December 9, 2017, on one campus; one general admission covers both museums and special exhibitions | Two Mississippi Museums — About the Museum (Mississippi Department of Archives & History) | Checked |
| Two Mississippi Museums hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm, closed Mondays; closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day | Two Mississippi Museums — Hours & Admission (Mississippi Department of Archives & History) | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Two Mississippi Museums general admission (covers both museums and special exhibitions): adult $15, ages 4-22 $8, senior (60+) or military $13, under 3 free; admission free every Sunday | Two Mississippi Museums — Hours & Admission (Mississippi Department of Archives & History) | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Designated an All-American Road by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation; 444 miles in AL, MS, TN; FHWA suggests: Take two days to enjoy the byway (checked 2026-10-29) | Federal Highway Administration: Natchez Trace Parkway | Checked |
| Two closures listed: milepost 437-440 in Williamson County, Tennessee (Double Arch Bridge) closed for bridge construction April 2026 to May 2027, detour via HWY 96 and HWY 100; and milepost 135-159.5 in Leake and Attala Counties, Mississippi, closed for road reconstruction from August 3, 2026, with project completion scheduled for mid-2027 and a signed detour on State Highways 19, 35, 25 and 16 that the park says adds 11 minutes. The page also links an article headed "15-mile Section Reopens as Road Rehabilitation Advances", so part of the Mississippi stretch may have reopened; the closure listing had not changed. Page last updated October 28, 2026 (checked 2026-10-29) | National Park Service: Natchez Trace Parkway road and site status | Checked monitored · 2026-10-29 |
Road Trippin’ with the Harts
The Highway Heads books turn the miles between stops into a game the whole car can play.
See the booksLive Conditions
Wildlife Spotted Nearby
Nearest Airports
Straight-line distance from Jackson, not drive time.
- Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International (JAN) — 6 miles
- Hattiesburg Laurel Regional (PIB) — 76 miles
- McComb-Pike County Airport / John E Lewis Field (MCB) — 79 miles
On these trips
This guide sits on a road we have written up end to end, with the stops we publish along the way.
Explore the Full Road Trip
Return to the Highway Heads map and discover the next family-ready stop.
Explore the Map