Natchez National Historical Park · NPS Photo · Public domain (US federal government)

Road Trip Guide:
Mississippi

Explore Mississippi

Boatmen who floated goods down the Mississippi River to Natchez and New Orleans sold their flatboats as lumber and walked or rode home along the Old Natchez Trace, because the boats were useless against the current. The Natchez Trace Parkway roughly follows that route for 444 miles to Nashville, and commercial vehicles are prohibited on it.

Around 4 breweries sit near the stops we cover in Mississippi. Our source does not record a public room at any of them. The kitchen figure is a floor: the source lists some full restaurants as production sites.

Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)

Around 2 public campgrounds sit near the stops we cover in Mississippi. 1 of them take reservations; the rest are first-come. Public campgrounds run by federal agencies. State-park and private campgrounds are not included.

Outdoors

Public land, water and snow — the places that are the reason for the drive.

National parks and federal sites in Mississippi

10 National Park Service sites in Mississippi. We have written guides to only a few of these — the rest are here so you can see what is in the state.

*Check before you go. Entrance fees, seasonal road closures, timed-entry reservations and whether a site suits your family are set by each park and change through the year. Follow the link and check with the park itself.

Park register from the National Park Service (public domain)

State parks in Mississippi

27 state parks we know of in Mississippi. We have not visited these and have no guide to them — this is a list of what exists, so you can look one up.

See all 27

Buccaneer State Park
Clarkco State Park
Flint Creek Water Park
Florewood State Park
George P. Cossar State Park
Golden Memorial State Park
Grand Gulf Military State Park
Great River Road State Park
Holmes County State Park
Hugh White State Park
J. P. Coleman State Park
John W. Kyle State Park
Lake Lincoln State Park
Lake Lowndes State Park
LeFleur's Bluff State Park
Legion State Park
Leroy Percy State Park
Nanih Waiya
Natchez State Park
Paul B. Johnson State Park
Percy Quin State Park
Roosevelt State Park
Shepard State Park
Tishomingo State Park
Tombigbee State Park
Trace State Park
Wall Doxey State Park

*Check before you go. Opening hours, entry fees, campsite availability and whether a park suits your family are not in this data and change with the season. Several of these are day-use only. Please confirm with the park before setting out.

State park locations from Wikidata (CC0)

Lakes in Mississippi

6 lakes in Mississippi that we have checked. These are the ones from our research that we could check against an official page — not every lake there is. We have not been to these; this is what the official pages say, so you can look one up.

Arkabutla Lake
near Coldwater / Hernando · reservoir
- FishingFishing reduced by low water since 2023
- BoatingOnly Hwy. 51 Landing ramp open; other ramps closed
- CampingMost campground facilities open
Lake held substantially low during long-term dam repairs
Run by US Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District
Enid Lake
near Enid / Water Valley · 6,100 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - top-10 fishing spot; world-record white crappie
- Boatingyes
- Swimmingyes
- Camping5 Class A Corps campgrounds
- EntryDay-use passes for boat ramps and swimming areas via recreation.gov
Run by US Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District
Grenada Lake
near Grenada · 35,000 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes
- Boatingyes
- Swimmingyes
- CampingCamping offered; reserve on recreation.gov
- EntryDay-use passes for boat ramps and swimming areas via recreation.gov
Run by US Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District
Pickwick Lake
near Counce TN; Iuka MS; Florence AL · 43,100 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes: smallmouth & largemouth bass, crappie, sauger, catfish
- Boatingyes, motorized (boating and water skiing)
- CampingTVA campground below the dam (92 RV + 8 tent sites); Pickwick Landing SP (TN); J.P. Coleman SP (MS)
- SeasonSummer pool 413-414 ft; winter minimum 408 ft
Tennessee bans moving live shad/skipjack away from Pickwick (to stop invasive carp spreading).
Run by Tennessee Valley Authority
Ross Barnett Reservoir
near Ridgeland / Brandon (Jackson area) · 33,000 acres · 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
Sardis Lake
near Sardis / Batesville · 32,500 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes
- Boatingyes
- SwimmingSwimming areas; day-use pass needed
- CampingCorps camping; reserve on recreation.gov
- EntryDay-use passes for boat ramps and swimming areas via recreation.gov
Run by US Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District

*Check before you go. Every lake here links to the official page we checked it against. 3 of these state a price we read off that page on the date we checked. 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. Never assume a lifeguard. Whether a beach is staffed turns on the season, the day, and which agency runs that particular beach — two beaches on one lake can differ. If that matters to your family, confirm it with the agency before you set out.

Long Bike Trails

2 in this state.

Longleaf Trace
Length
44 miles
Surface
Paved
End to end
Hattiesburg MS – Prentiss MS
Piney woods ride starting at University of Southern Mississippi
Tanglefoot Trail
Length
43.6 miles
Surface
Paved
End to end
New Albany MS – Houston MS
Hill-country farmland with whistle-stop rest areas

This is a list of what is there, not a recommendation of any of it. Opening dates, lift schedules and trail conditions move every year and we hold none of them, so check before you build a day around it. Every name above links to the operator’s own site.

Days out with the family

Gated attractions with a front door, a ticket and a car park.

Zoos, Aquariums and Wildlife Parks

8 across Mississippi, by town.

Safari Wild Animal Park and PreserveComo
Hours
Mar 1-Nov 4: Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 12-5, last car 4; Nov 5-Feb 28: Mon-Sat 10-4, Sun 12-4, last car 3
Season
seasonal
Admission
Closed until Spring 2027; check the website before planning a stop
CLOSED until Spring 2027 for improvements, stated on their own site. The posted hours apply only once it reopens.
Mississippi Aquarium — some details below are unconfirmedGulfport
* We could not confirm: site blocked fetch. Check their site before you go.
Ocean Adventures Marine Park (Institute for Marine Mammal Studies)Gulfport
Hours
From Sep 8, 2026 (fall/winter): Mon-Fri 9-2; Sat-Sun 9-3
Season
seasonal
Admission
Adult $17 · Child $15
Hattiesburg Zoo — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedHattiesburg
* We could not confirm: hours/admission on separate page. Check their site before you go.
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.
Wild Acres Hands on Animal ExperienceMcHenry
Hours
Wed-Fri 12-5; Sat 10-5; Sun 12-5; closed Mon-Tue
Reservations
tour only
The site presents visits as booked public or private encounter tours, so book before going. Its listed hours are Wed-Sun.
Tupelo Buffalo Park and ZooTupelo
Hours
Apr-Oct: Mon-Thu 10am-4pm, Fri-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm; Nov-Mar: Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm
Season
year-round; closed Christmas
Some animals not visible below 60F

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. 1 of these carries an accreditation we confirmed against the accrediting body’s own register. Where there is no badge we did not confirm one — that is not a judgement on the place, and a good many municipal, state and university sites belong to no register we check. 2 entries are marked with an asterisk: we could not confirm part of what is listed, and the note under it says which part. Opening times, prices and seasons change without notice, so check the operator’s own site — every name above links to it.

Water Parks

4 across Mississippi, by town.

Geyser Falls Water Theme ParkSeasonalwater parkChoctaw
Pearl River Resort property; season May to Labor Day.
Grand Paradise WaterparkSeasonalwater parkCollins
Weekend-only seasonal water park; 2026 schedule linked.
Gulf Islands WaterparkSeasonalwater parkGulfport
Seasonal water park.
Serengeti SpringsSeasonalwater parkHattiesburg
Water park at Hattiesburg Zoo; closed for the season.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Every one of these runs a season rather than opening year round. Opening and closing dates move every year and we hold none of them, so check the park’s own calendar before you build a day around it. Prices, hours and ride closures change without notice — every name above links to the park’s own site.

Distilleries in Mississippi

1 producer in Mississippi that we have checked. These are the ones from our research we could check against their own site — not every producer there is. We have not been to these; this is what their own sites say, so you can look one up.

Cathead Distillery
distillery · Jackson, MS
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.

Venues and Annual Events

16 across Mississippi, by town.

Where to see something

Delta Blues Museumstudio-museumClarksdale
Hours
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm (last admission 4:30pm)
Address
1 Blues Alley Ln, Clarksdale, MS 38614
Phone
662-627-6820
Founded 1979; displays remains of Muddy Waters' cabin from Stovall Farms.
Ground Zero Blues Club — some details below are unconfirmedclubClarksdale
Hours
Wed-Thu 5-11pm; Fri-Sat 11am-12am (subject to change)
Address
387 Delta Ave, Clarksdale, MS 38614
Co-founded 2001 by Morgan Freeman and partners.
* We could not confirm: address differs from the original Blues Alley location - likely relocated; co-founder note from reference. Check their site before you go.
Dockery Farms — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumCleveland
Hours
Grounds open daylight hours
Address
229 MS-8, Cleveland, MS 38732
Plantation where Charley Patton lived; often called a birthplace of the blues.
* We could not confirm: address from reference, not checked on official site this session; not verified this session. Check their site before you go.
GRAMMY Museum Mississippi — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumCleveland
Tours
group tours section on site
Address
800 W Sunflower Rd, Cleveland, MS 38732
First GRAMMY Museum outside Los Angeles.
* We could not confirm: address from reference, not checked on official site this session; opened year from reference. Check their site before you go.
B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumIndianola
Hours
Tue-Sat 10am-5pm; closed Sun-Mon
Address
400 Second St, Indianola, MS 38751
Phone
662-887-9539
Museum on B.B. King's life and the Delta; King is buried on the grounds.
* We could not confirm: opened year and burial note from reference. Check their site before you go.
The MAX (Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience) — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumMeridian
Address
2155 Front St, Meridian, MS 39301
Phone
601-581-1550
Museum honoring Mississippi artists, musicians and writers.
* We could not confirm: opened year from reference. Check their site before you go.

See the other 1

Elvis Presley Birthplace — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumTupelo
Hours
Mon-Sat 9am-4pm; Sun 1-4pm; ticket office closes 3pm
Tours
house and museum
Address
306 Elvis Presley Dr, Tupelo, MS 38804
Phone
662-841-1245
Two-room house built by Elvis's father, grandfather and uncle.
* We could not confirm: build year from reference. Check their site before you go.

What is on, and when

Cruisin' the Coast — some details below are unconfirmedBiloxi / Gulf Coast cities
Usually
October, over several days
Held at
Multiple Gulf Coast sites
Since
first held 1996
* We could not confirm: not re-checked this session; classic car week. Check their site before you go.
Choctaw Indian Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairChoctaw
Usually
July, over several days
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Juke Joint Festival — some details below are unconfirmedmusic festivalClarksdale
Usually
April, over several days
Held at
Downtown Clarksdale
Since
first held 2004
* We could not confirm: not re-checked this session. Check their site before you go.
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.
Natchez Spring Pilgrimage — some details below are unconfirmedNatchez
Usually
March-April, over several days
Held at
Historic homes citywide
Since
first held 1932
* We could not confirm: not re-checked this session; historic house tours. Check their site before you go.
Double Decker Arts Festival — some details below are unconfirmedmusic festivalOxford
Usually
April, over several days
Held at
Oxford Square
Since
first held 1996
* We could not confirm: not re-checked this session. Check their site before you go.

See the other 3

Neshoba County Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairPhiladelphia
Usually
Late July (June in 2026), over several days
Held at
Neshoba County Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Mid-South Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairSouthaven
Usually
Late September–October, over several days
Held at
Landers Center
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Tupelo Elvis Festival — some details below are unconfirmedmusic festivalTupelo
Usually
June, over several days
Held at
Downtown Tupelo
Since
first held 1999
* 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. 15 entries are 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.

On the road

Before you set off.

Scenic roads through Mississippi

Federally designated scenic byways and All-American Roads, with the places we publish along each one in the order you meet them.

Great River Road10 states · 57 places we publish Natchez Trace Parkway3 states · 18 places we publish

What to wear in Mississippi

Illustrated outfit board for Mississippi: four seasonal panels of clothing with average temperatures.

Spring 76°/52°F (24°/11°C)

Spring is warm with rain and occasional cool spells.

Wear: Pair a breathable tee or relaxed shirt with lightweight chinos, joggers, or an easy midi skirt. Add an open overshirt for cool stops.
Shoes: Broken-in walking sneakers; water-resistant shoes when rain is forecast.
Pack: light cardigan or overshirt
packable rain jacket
sun hat
spare socks

Summer 91°/70°F (33°/21°C)

Summer is hot and humid, with rain possible.

Wear: Choose a loose, breathable tee or shirt with quick-drying shorts, lightweight pants, or an airy dress. Carry a thin layer for chilly indoor stops.
Shoes: Breathable walking sneakers; secure sandals for casual paved stops.
Pack: sun hat
sunglasses
light indoor layer
light rain shell
spare tee

Fall 77°/53°F (25°/12°C)

Fall stays warm early before cooler nights become more common.

Wear: Pair a tee with lightweight pants or a casual skirt, then add a cardigan or overshirt as evenings cool. Swap to a sweater later in the season.
Shoes: Comfortable walking sneakers; water-resistant shoes for rainy days.
Pack: cardigan or overshirt
light rain shell
sun hat
warmer late-season layer

Winter 58°/37°F (15°/3°C)

Winter is generally mild, but freezing weather can occur.

Wear: Wear a tee or long-sleeve top with pants and a sweater. Add a medium-weight jacket on colder days and a rain shell for wet stops.
Shoes: Closed-toe walking shoes; water-resistant shoes when showers are forecast.
Pack: sweater
medium-weight jacket
rain shell
warm socks
light gloves for cold spells

Adjust for your route. The Gulf Coast is more temperature-moderated than inland northern areas. Bring a warmer jacket for winter northern stops.

Climate background: NOAA State Climate Summary

See what to wear in every state →

Keep exploring

See It in the Book

Explore Mississippi

Locations in Mississippi

Biloxi

Jackson

Natchez

Tupelo

National parks and federal sites in Mississippi

State parks in Mississippi

Lakes in Mississippi

Long Bike Trails

Zoos, Aquariums and Wildlife Parks

Safari Wild Animal Park and PreserveComo

Mississippi Aquarium* — some details below are unconfirmedGulfport

Ocean Adventures Marine Park (Institute for Marine Mammal Studies)Gulfport

Hattiesburg Zoo* — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedHattiesburg

Jackson ZooJackson

Mississippi Museum of Natural ScienceJackson

Wild Acres Hands on Animal ExperienceMcHenry

Tupelo Buffalo Park and ZooTupelo

Water Parks

Geyser Falls Water Theme ParkSeasonalwater parkChoctaw

Grand Paradise WaterparkSeasonalwater parkCollins

Gulf Islands WaterparkSeasonalwater parkGulfport

Serengeti SpringsSeasonalwater parkHattiesburg

Distilleries in Mississippi

Venues and Annual Events

Where to see something

Delta Blues Museumstudio-museumClarksdale

Ground Zero Blues Club* — some details below are unconfirmedclubClarksdale

Dockery Farms* — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumCleveland

GRAMMY Museum Mississippi* — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumCleveland

B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center* — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumIndianola

The MAX (Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience)* — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumMeridian

Elvis Presley Birthplace* — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumTupelo

What is on, and when

Cruisin' the Coast* — some details below are unconfirmedBiloxi / Gulf Coast cities

Choctaw Indian Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairChoctaw

Juke Joint Festival* — some details below are unconfirmedmusic festivalClarksdale

Mississippi State Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairJackson

Natchez Spring Pilgrimage* — some details below are unconfirmedNatchez

Double Decker Arts Festival* — some details below are unconfirmedmusic festivalOxford

Neshoba County Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairPhiladelphia

Mid-South Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairSouthaven

Tupelo Elvis Festival* — some details below are unconfirmedmusic festivalTupelo

Scenic roads through Mississippi

What to wear in Mississippi

Spring 76°/52°F (24°/11°C)

Summer 91°/70°F (33°/21°C)

Fall 77°/53°F (25°/12°C)

Winter 58°/37°F (15°/3°C)

Keep exploring

Mississippi Aquarium — some details below are unconfirmedGulfport

Hattiesburg Zoo — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedHattiesburg

Ground Zero Blues Club — some details below are unconfirmedclubClarksdale

Dockery Farms — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumCleveland

GRAMMY Museum Mississippi — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumCleveland

B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumIndianola

The MAX (Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience) — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumMeridian

Elvis Presley Birthplace — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumTupelo

Cruisin' the Coast — some details below are unconfirmedBiloxi / Gulf Coast cities

Choctaw Indian Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairChoctaw

Juke Joint Festival — some details below are unconfirmedmusic festivalClarksdale

Mississippi State Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairJackson

Natchez Spring Pilgrimage — some details below are unconfirmedNatchez

Double Decker Arts Festival — some details below are unconfirmedmusic festivalOxford

Neshoba County Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairPhiladelphia

Mid-South Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairSouthaven

Tupelo Elvis Festival — some details below are unconfirmedmusic festivalTupelo