Places to Visit in Mississippi & Things to Do

Lounge on the beaches at the Gulf Coast, follow the Mississippi Blues Trail for a musical adventure, visit Elvis Presley's birthplace, or enjoy a few days fishing on a peaceful lake.

Mississippi is layered with stories. You feel it in the blues playing from a porch radio, in the hush of Spanish moss along riverbanks, and in the tang of salt on a Gulf breeze. From soulful cities to sleepy shore towns, every stop had a rhythm all its own. I remember thinking, “This is a state that doesn’t shout, it sings.” Whether I was standing in a civil rights museum, watching shrimp boats pull in at dusk, or sipping sweet tea in a small-town café, Mississippi gave me space to slow down and feel something real.

Best Places to Visit in Mississippi:

Rhythm and Roots in Jackson

We drove from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi, about three hours down I-55. The road was lined by pine forests that opened into rolling fields. By the time we arrived, I was ready to explore Jackson!

“This city wears its history on every corner,” I thought, standing outside the Mississippi State Capitol with its white dome glowing in late light.

Jackson felt like both a crossroads and a home place. Blues music was spilling from doorways. Civil rights landmarks stood firm.

I walked through the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum ($15 adults, $8 youth). The powerful exhibits carried me through songs, stories, and struggles that shaped the South. My son lingered at the interactive panels, asking thoughtful questions as we moved along.

A downside? Some downtown streets felt quieter than I expected in the evenings, and we had to plan our stops carefully since not every spot stayed open late.

Sunlight and Sea Breeze in Biloxi

We drove along the Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Biloxi, about an hour and a half east. The road stretched beside white sand and calm water, and by the time we pulled in, the breeze carried salt and magnolia.

“The sea feels endless here,” I thought, standing on the pier with gulls circling overhead and shrimp boats drifting in the distance.

Biloxi carried both its fishing-town roots and its lively tourist shine. Casinos glittered at night, while quiet stretches of beach in the morning gave me room to breathe. I felt the pace of the Gulf settle into my bones.

I enjoyed a morning visit to the Biloxi Lighthouse ($5 admission). I climbed its spiral staircase, the iron cool beneath my hands, until the view opened to sand, sea, and skyline. The Gulf spread wide in every direction, a reminder of the storms this coast had endured and survived.

A downside? The beaches were beautiful but narrow in spots. Weekend crowds meant parking filled quickly along the Seawall.

Soft Shores and Simple Pleasures in Gulfport

We drove just twenty minutes west from Biloxi along Highway 90, the shoreline always in view, until we reached Gulfport. The air smelled of salt and fried seafood drifting in from dockside cafes.

“This town feels tied to the water,” I thought as I watched shrimp boats rocking gently in the harbor, ropes creaking against wooden piers.

Gulfport carried a balance. It was busy at the port, yet calm along the beaches. Families strolled along the boardwalk. Seabirds hovered, waiting for scraps from the day’s catch.

My son and I enjoyed the Mississippi Aquarium ($29.95 adults, $23.95 children). Inside, light filtered through giant tanks where stingrays and sharks glided past. The dolphin show outside had my son pointing excitedly.

Where We Ate: At Shaggy’s Gulfport Beach, I had a po’boy stuffed with fried oysters. A side of fries came hot and salty. I finished with a slice of lemon icebox pie that was cool and sweet, cutting through the heat of the afternoon.

A downside? The beaches were pleasant but narrow compared to Florida’s wide stretches. The water often carried more silt than sparkle.

Southern Literature and Slow Afternoons in Oxford

We drove about an hour and a half south from Memphis into northern Mississippi. The highway rolled past hardwood forests and small towns before opening into Oxford. The square appeared suddenly, alive with brick storefronts and historic charm.

“This feels like a town built on stories,” I thought, standing under the shade of the courthouse as church bells echoed across the square.

Oxford carried an energy both intellectual and playful. College students filled the sidewalks, families browsed bookstores, and every corner seemed to hum with conversation and history. The University of Mississippi’s leafy campus stretched wide and green, a quiet balance to the bustle of downtown.

I enjoyed walking through Rowan Oak, the home of William Faulkner ($5 admission). The white-columned house sat among oak trees, and inside, handwritten outlines still lingered on the walls of his study.

Where I Ate: At Ajax Diner, I had chicken and dumplings with sides of fried okra and cornbread. The flavors were warm, rich, and comforting, the kind of food that seemed to carry the South in every bite. For dessert, I tried a slice of chocolate chess pie—sweet, dense, and unforgettable.

A downside? Parking around the square was tricky.

River Elegance and Echoes of the Past in Natchez

We drove down from Jackson, about two and a half hours southwest, the road winding through pine groves and open fields before dropping us into Natchez. The Mississippi River stretched wide at the edge of town, the water slow and brown, rolling steady as the years behind it.

“This view feels eternal,” I thought, standing on the bluff as the sunset turned the river into molten gold.

Natchez carried a grace that mixed grandeur and wear. Antebellum mansions stood among oak trees draped in Spanish moss, while downtown streets offered antique shops and cafes tucked into red-brick buildings. History lingered in every corner, beautiful, complicated, and unforgettable.

I enjoyed visiting Longwood ($25 adults, $20 children). Walking down its grand yet incomplete halls, I imagined the dreams that had built it and the hardship that left it frozen in time. The sunlight poured through high windows, lighting dust motes in the air like memory itself.

Where I Ate At Magnolia Grill, perched above the river, I had catfish étouffée over rice. The sauce was rich and smoky, full of peppers and spice, while the fish carried the Gulf’s freshness. I finished with bread pudding heavy with pecans and caramel, warm against the evening air.

A downside? Touring the historic homes was fascinating but added up quickly in cost.

Coastal Calm and Artful Corners in Bay St. Louis

We drove west along Highway 90 from Gulfport, barely thirty minutes before the coastline curved into Bay St. Louis. The road hugged the Gulf, and when we arrived, Bay St Louis was the definition of easygoing.

I remember thinking, “If joy could be a town, it might look like this.” The pastel cottages, local galleries, and front porch rockers gave the place a barefoot kind of feel. The ocean wasn’t just a backdrop, it was a way of life here.

“This feels like a secret worth keeping,” I thought, standing on the beach as children built sandcastles and the tide rolled in gentle and calm.

Bay St. Louis carried an artistic spirit with murals painted on brick walls, galleries tucked into old houses, and locals greeting us with warmth. The harbor bustled with boats, but just a block inland, the streets slowed into a mix of boutiques, cafés, and shaded porches.

I enjoyed exploring the shops in Old Town, especially the colorful art galleries. The creativity spilled outside, with sculptures and whimsical signs marking the sidewalks. My son and husband ducked into a toy store, emerging with a kite that we flew on the beach later that afternoon.

Where I Ate: At The Blind Tiger, overlooking the marina, I had a shrimp po’boy. The bread was crusty, the shrimp golden and fresh, and the tangy sauce tied it together.

A downside? The town was peaceful, but options for evening entertainment were limited once the sun went down, perfect if you wanted quiet, less so if you hoped for nightlife.

Why Mississippi Stays With You

Mississippi doesn’t try to be everything—it simply offers itself, honest and unhurried. It’s in the stillness of a bay sunset, the warmth of a stranger’s hello, the gravity of its history and the grace in how it’s told. These six destinations left something with me—not just places to check off, but places that reminded me why we travel at all. To connect. To reflect. To listen. If you let it, Mississippi will whisper its way into your heart—and you’ll be glad you listened.

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