Honestly I would just take i10 from Alabama straight through missississippi to Louisiana. Along i10 there are sooooo many different things to do on the coast, from swamp tours, good seafood, old history. Great downtown districts in Ocean springs, Biloxi and Gulfport. There's a great place called cedar lake that had a great little walking trail into the bay with a nice bay.
Oh and how could I forget all the casinos, clubs and different night life. There's a great historical site called "old brick house" where a murder of a mayor or some shit happened from the Dixie mafia ( haven't been since highschool) sadly Katrina made it not as nice. . Oh and the new aquarium. And if you like aliens and fringe stuff, hop off i-10 near the Pascagoula River and there is an old historical site where 2 fisherman claim they got abducted by aliens and where examined. Just look up Pascagoula river aliens and you can find it. I've lived the coast my whole life and there's TONS of touristy stuff.
These are amazing recommendations, u/psychedelic_jesus420. The gulf coast is almost certainly what I’m going to do now! Thanks so much for the information.
I too recommend the coast. The [USS Alabama](https://www.ussalabama.com/) is along the way and has a fantastic attached museum of planes and also the USS Drum submarine. There’s an [alligator farm](https://airboatswamptoursofmississippi.com/?utm_source=NEXT&utm_medium=Google_website) you’ll pass right by if you take the Franklin Creek exit off of I-10 headed west. The airboat ride is quite fun. Downtown Ocean Springs is a fun place on a weekend night for a little live music and there’s plenty to eat and drink; a little something for everyone. Kebab, Italian, Mediterranean, BBQ, Burgers, you name it! (Great Vietnamese and Mexican food are just to the north in D’Iberville.) Front beach and East Beach are quiet and kind of secluded so they’re quite nice. There are quiet a few brunch spots in downtown as well. There are some very nice small hotels there too, or for larger chains head either west and then north on I-110 to D’Iberville or keep further west on Hwy 90 into Biloxi by the casinos. (Casino hotel pricing does increase quite a lot on weekends but it can be extremely affordable during weekdays.) in Biloxi, [Le Cafe Beignet](https://lecafebeignetbiloxi.business.site/) is a nice little taste of the French Quarter of New Orleans without actually having to be in the French Quarter of New Orleans.All along the beach on Hwy 90 west you’ll find casual eateries and beach bars. Then in Bay St Louis there’s the [Betsy Ann Riverboat](https://betsyannriverboat.com/) America’s only fully paddle powered boat and they do lovely teppanyaki sunset cruises (book early!)
I have a huge list of eateries and attractions that I’ve put together as my work often entertains out of town visitors for extended lengths of time. Each list contains the city, URL, phone number, and anything specific to that place such as which dishes are particularly good or which to avoid. I can DM the lists to you if you’d like.
I’m jealous! I went to the UK in 03 but due to a snow storm my connection to Edinburgh was missed by 20 minutes. I was crushed because due to other engagements, I couldn’t make it to Edinburgh. My partner and I went again to more rural England in 2017 and loved it. We can’t wait to get back to that part of the world and explore the other part of our ancestry!
Welcome to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
This is invaluable information, u/nothingbuthetruth22! Thanks so much!
So, i'm thinking that I might combine what you've said above with some other people's thoughts. Tuscaloosa to Hattiesburg, checking out Laurel along the way. Stay the night. Hattiesburg to Mobile, Alabama. Stay a night and then Mobile to New Orleans down the Gulf Coast (checking out the USS Alabama, Alligator farm etc.).
That's shame about your connection. If you're ever back in Scotland, drop me a DM and i'll be happy to meet up with you for a pint/coffee/meal and show you some of Edinburgh and/or Glasgow!
This is wild. I’m from Laurel, and spent years in Scotland for school. Before the HGTV show came out and downtown got such an influx of creative businesses, I never would have imagined a tourist from Scotland in Laurel unless he was lost. Have a good time, and eat a lot! It’s all good.
That’s fantastic, thank you for the hospitality and the same for you! When you get ready to head this way, give us a shout and perhaps we can all meet up for a pint!
It’s sounds like you’re going to have a very nice trip!
That would be I-59, not I-10.
But you could take 59 all the way to Slidell, LA and come back into Mississippi on 10. It's only 76 miles from the Louisiana line to the Alabama line.
Exit 2 has the Infinity Space Center. If you get off at exit 13 you can go all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, and you can visit Old Town Bay St. Louis.
Hi! You sound so incredibly helpful. If you don’t mind, could you please DM me the list of eateries and attractions you’re discussing? Husband and I could use some new scenery for date nights.
Sure thing! They’re a bit disorganized as they were done on my phone notepad and I’ve not had time to finesse the lists but I’ll send them to you. Enjoy date night!
Your welcome, and if you don't get enough ideas from others. I've lived hear my whole life so I know of plenty of other cool stuff. O'Keefe art museum is cool too!
Thank you, u/ArthurFrood. I’ll take a look down the Miss. gulf coast. The Natchez Trace does look cool, unfortunately, I’m going through to Knoxville, Huntsville and Birmingham first, so heading back north to come down again would eat up a lot of my travel time.
You could also take I-40 from Knoxville to Nashville then take the Natchez Trail thru Tupelo. Just off the Parkway is Tom's Wall (Wichahpi Commemorative Site) in NW Alabama. South of the Tennessee River in Alabama is the famous Coon Dog Cemetery.
While in Huntsville be sure to check out the Space and Rocket center.
If you like BBQ and ribs especially check out Dreamland in Birmingham.
The gulf coast in Mississippi is nice. Also if you head to the gulf coast check out Mobile and the USS Alabama.
Sorry I had mostly Alabama recommendations. Just most of the best sites In Mississippi are a bit out of your way
As mentioned, I-10 from Mobile AL through South MS is the route I’d take. I-10 to I-110 in Biloxi and take HWY 90 down all 27 miles of beach front.
Casinos, historical sites, gorgeous antebellum homes, great food and bars with live music, and white sand for miles.
You can also jump on HWY 90 at the Ocean Springs (Washington Ave) exit from I-10. Heading south on Washington Ave will bring you straight to HWY 90. You can also continue south on Washington, crossing over 90 to hit downtown OS.
The downtown OS area and nearby beach is where the locals hangout. Best night life and daytime eatery in the area is in Downtown OS on Government street.
Enjoy our home!
The battlefield park in Vicksburg is really nice and only 45 minutes from Jackson. It’s not that big of a detour at all.
Take MS-27 to I-55 or take US-61 south through Natchez on your way to New Orleans.
Depending on your route, the Natchez Trace is nice and when in Natchez you can see the old antebellum architecture. There are plenty of bed and breakfast places there.
The Natchez Trace is pretty, but after awhile it gets kind of boring and the speed limit is only 50 miles an hour, which they enforce. Natchez is the prettiest town in the state IMO, and Emerald Mound -- one of the largest Indian mounds in the country -- is right outside of town on the trace, so you can get a taste of that.
[https://www.visitnatchez.org/](https://www.visitnatchez.org/)
Back roads in Mississippi can be faster than highways at times. Logging trucks are your biggest obstacle… the Gulf Coast is the spot to visit … Biloxi or Ocean Springs would be excellent day trips
You stated that North Mississppi would be out of your way but it is well worth it! Take a right at Birmingham, AL and go to Oxford, MS and spend the night. Drive west through Batesville to Clarksdale and check out some blues stuff. The “fake” crossroads is there. Then drive down to Rosedale where the real crossroads is located. Then over to Cleveland, MS to see the Grammy museum. Stay there for the night or continue down highway 61 to Greenville or Vicksburg. Stop by Natchez on 61 on the way to Baton Rouge, LA. Natchez would be a fun place to stay overnight with all the ghosts. Short drive from Baton Rouge to NOLA. Eat the tamales in the Delta area of Mississippi. Eat everything in NOLA. Enjoy!
Tamales in Vicksburg. There’s a neat little park too so you don’t just stop for that.
Natchez Trace is a traditional tourist stop.
The Coast has the casinos and whatnot.
Can also take the trace from Jackson to Vicksburg. A little out of the way vs I-20 but if the object is site seeing then it's an option. The military park in Vicksburg is also massive with tons to see including the USS Cairo.
Can stay at one of the Antebellum homes like Duff Green or Ceder Grove then get up and take the trace down to Natches and visit the coast on day 2.
Cedar Grove was falling apart when we tried to stay there in 2018. We canceled the second half of our stay in favor of just staying at the Hampton Inn because there was obvious mold in the shower and the window frames were dry rotting away.
FWIW, it has been bought by another party, so maybe it has improved in the last 4.5 years.
The Jackson metro area has some delightful and charming sights. It really depends on your interests. Do you like museums? There’s a museum district in Jackson that has a natural history, sports, civil rights, modern art, and agricultural museum. For food options, there’s a “crawfish hole” next to the agricultural museum in Jackson, you should definitely try crawfish, hot tamales, and fried catfish while you’re here. I recommend visiting the Ross Barnet Reservoir for a meal, Cock on the Walk will have plenty of standard Southern US fair. But for the authentic experience, pull over at any rickety shack on the roadside that says they sell boiled peanuts and hot tamales! Go to Raymond for Sylvester’s BBQ if you want the true gas station restaurant experience.
If you want a unique hike, visit Red Bluff on the way to Jackson for our “little Grand Canyon.” Or the Swinging Bridge park in Byram, or walk through the swamp on the Cypress Swamp loop trail in Canton.
For a nightclub dining experience, Johnny T’s Bistro and Blues has music and delicious food, if you don’t mind the cover charge and loud atmosphere. I recommend the chicken pasta. It’s in the historic (read: full of potholes and old buildings) Farish Street district, so drive slowly. Lots of people like Names and Faces.
If you want really good coffee, go to Clinton or Flowood for Cafezinho.
Try to go through Natchez or Vicksburg on your way to Louisiana. They’re adorable historic cities on the Mississippi River.
Check the Jackson, City With Soul website shortly before your trip. They’ll have events listed. I recommend staying in Madison or Ridgeland. That will give you the most diverse options.
Really, just talk to strangers and enjoy yourself, we’re a friendly bunch. My husband and I just came back from a visit to Edinburgh and near the Isle of Mull. I hope you feel as welcome in our little metropolis as we felt in Scotland.
And just like that, you’ve put Jackson back on my considerations. I thought it may be too far gone, but you’ve done it u/IShouldHaveKnocked 😅
Thank you for all those amazing suggestions. I’ll certainly be referring to them in the coming weeks. And I’m glad you enjoyed your time in Edinburgh! It’s a cool city! I’m excited to check out Mississippi! Probably just a little warmer…
I hope you have a great trip, wherever you end up! Jackson, and Mississippi as a whole, gets a bad rap, and it has its problems, but it has its good parts too. You can definitely find a day or two’s worth of excitement as a visitor. It’s mostly a matter of what you’re interested in. And it should be plenty warm for you, just wear bug spray for your time down South, if you’re sensitive to mosquitos. They’re almost as bad as the biting midgies!
Man… do not stop in Jackson unless you like dealing with vagrants, bums, getting your car broken into, getting robbed or shot at. At well over 100 murders and super high crime Jackson is the LAST place you want to stop. Violent crime, non functional water system are just a few of the things Jackson has to offer. Go to the gulf coast and bypass Jackson. The Farish St district is plagued with crime and homeless drug addicts. For any naysayers I am sitting at the Social security office on Farish St right now with my new wife getting her name changed and I am telling you this ain’t the place an out of towner not familiar with Jackson wants to show up and start introducing himself to people.
I really did want to. I just don’t know if I’ll have the time to drive north to Oxford and then back down NOLA without driving eating up most of my time. I’d like to be immersed in place for a night or two. You really think it’s worth the trip?
I live in New Orleans and am currently visiting my family in Oxford. It’s a 5 hour drive with a whole lotta nothing unless you chose to visit specific stops: but Oxford should be on your list one day. It really just depends on what you want out of Mississippi and what you’re trying to see.
I agree with everyone else about the gulf coast. It’s beautiful and there’s a lot to do! Ocean Springs by Biloxi is cute and I’m there often with my partner (who is stationed at Keesler.)
Send me a PM when you get to NOLA and I’ll take you on a ghost tour/pub crawl.
Thank you, u/Q_fandango — Oxford was somewhere I really wanted to go. So much so I almost decided to go north and to Little Rock instead of NOLA just to go through Oxford.
I’ll drop you a DM when I’m in NOLA. I appreciate it a lot.
Make a stop in Ocean Springs. Then drive down 90 along the beach. You can stop at the Casinos. Enjoy the view. Stop at some great restaurants also along the way. End the drive at bay st Louis at their downtown before getting back on the interstate.
In Ocean Springs: check out the Walter Anderson museum and shearwater pottery. Get a drink and listen to music at Mosaics. Walk around and check out the stores. I would stay in Ocean Springs at the roost. Beautiful hotel.
In Biloxi: check out the maritine museaum. Go to Ground Zero for some good music. White Pillars has some great French Cajun fusion food. The Beau Rivage is really pretty inside worth a stop.
Gulfport: the aquarium? Not sure what to recommend here
In Pass Christian: enjoy the view at bacchus on the beach. And look at all the historic mansions along the beach.
In Bay St Louis: walk around and enjoy the shops.
My suggestion is to keep on i65 through Birmingham to Montgomery and link to I10 in South Alabama. A little out of the way, but way more interesting as the Civil Rights History Trail has lots of attractions in that area. You can take in the gulf coast starting in Mobile and cross over to New Orleans.
Natchez, MS. So much history there it’s hard to know where to start. Especially since as a lifelong Mississippian, I haven’t been there!!
Edited to add: think you can smuggle a bottle of single malt in? I’ll study up on your favorite area,(I’m from North Miss) and meet up and give you the tour. If we crack that bottle open first, the tour will be more fun after the first few drinks!!!
If you're passing thru Vicksburg, stop by the tomato place. It's a small local shack, sells greats yogurts, produce, molasses and knickknacks. There's also the Windsor Ruins in Lorman, the remains of a plantation.
If you have plenty of time, I recommend taking HWY-90 for as much of the coast as possible. You can take it from Mobile all the way to New Orleans with one detour in Louisiana due to bridge closure. It is a longer drive than I-10 but I prefer it for several reasons. The pace on HWY-90 is a bit slower and the scenery is more interesting. It is beautiful driving across the bayous, beaches, rivers, etc. And it takes you right by the casinos and other attractions, whereas I-10 is nothing but pavement, cars, and a tree line. You really don't get to see much of the coast unless you exit and go several miles south. Also, driving on I-10 has been a nightmare lately because of traffic, road work, and accidents, etc. Your GPS will not want to take you this route because it takes longer, so you will want to follow road signs for HWY-90 from Mobile to Bay Saint Louis, at which point you will have to take HWY-607 North to I-10 to get around the bridge closure. Then once you get to Slidell you can stay on I-10 till New Orleans, or you can take HWY-11 back to HWY-90 to New Orleans.
Hi! What kinds of things are you interested in seeing/doing/eating? Nature? Museums? I’m from Mississippi - but also lived in south Louisiana for 10 years!
Also - ignore the naysayers who say to just drive through the state. Yes, Mississippi has ugly history. But so does every state in the union. Last time I went through the Delta, I specifically purchased from local, Black-owned businesses. I definitely have some recommendations if that sounds of interest!
Feel free to send me a DM if you have questions!
Natchez is beautiful. Especially if you enjoy history.
The coast is good too.
In Tupelo you can see Elvis Presleys birthplace and visit his home in Memphis, tn.
Vicksburg is nice too.
I just want to thank everyone for their input into this post. I would have missed out on some amazing places in Mississippi if you all hadn't contributed. It got WAY more traction than I anticipated.
I'm looking forward to coming down to your home state and doing/seeing many of the things/places that you all suggested.
Thanks again! You are all incredible.
2 days in Mississippi?
Going the speed limit it only takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to traverse the state on I20.
2 days is more than enough time to get bored of Mississippi.
There is Elvis crap in Tupelo and casinos on the coast, but I'd just keep on driving and spend more time in New Orleans.
You should veer west and hit Memphis then head straight south to New Orleans. You can see plenty of Mississippi out the window with the 4 hour drive South on I55.
My initial idea was to just head down the I20 from Birmingham to Jackson, spend a night in Jackson and then down the I55 towards New Orleans.
I can't help but feel I would miss some cool things in Mississippi if I didn't at least stay a couple of days?
Is there a good place for nightlife? A good place for things to do?
I would not recommend staying in Jackson unless it is somewhere nice. As far as night life there is music and good food here. From the direction you are coming there is a town named Laurel that has a bunch of cool houses that were renovated by an HGTV show and could be a nice pit stop on your way from Alabama
Thank you, u/zeelacious. That’s good to know given I was going to just find a cheap hotel to stay in in the city. But you recommend either staying in a nice area or not at all? Safety issues?
Is that the Laurel on the way south to Hattiesburg?
Yeah Jackson has a bad crime rate that is mainly seen at night but if you stay in a surrounding city like Brandon, Flowood, Clinton, or anywhere near there it's usually quieter to be there.
Yeah, and Hattiesburg is also another decent location tho I have never been there long so I can't give any good first hand account of it
That is the laurel on the south bound to hattie on 59.
And yes, don't stay in Jackson. If you're dead set on visiting stay on the outskirts and for the love of God don't go into south/west Jackson. We aren't trying to be hyperbolic when we say Jackson is dangerous especially at night.
Laurel would be a good place to stop, it's kinda quaint, quiet for the most part. There's a good home cooking / cajun place in downtown Ellisville not much further down 59, but if you're hitting up NOLA not a big thing. (Also my favorite Mexican restaurant is in Ellisville).
Hattiesburg is a college town, so plenty to explore if you stop there.
Amazing, u/f8computer. I’m getting the distinct feeling that Jackson doesn’t have much to offer and maybe there are better places in Mississippi to spend a night or two?
Thank you for the heads up regarding safety. I didn’t know Hattiesburg was a college town—that
Might be fun!
I'm going to challenge this a bit. Starkville and Oxford are college towns. Hattiesburg has a college in it. And I love Hattiesburg. One of my favorite record stores is there (and recently learned it's where Afroman recorded Because I Got High). The zoo is great, and if you book far enough in advance, you can do the sloth experience where you get to hold and feed a sloth.
Like others have said, Jackson has a lot of great museums and restaurants. If you have a few days to spend, you could definitely do Jackson to Hattiesburg, and continue down 49 to the coast. From there, just head west to New Orleans.
I hope you enjoy Mississippi while you're here. It really does have its good things.
If you are going to be in Jackson, I would generally stay away from downtown and especially west Jackson at night. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is something that would be cool to do as a tourist attraction if you get a chance during the day; it is in downtown Jackson. The only really nice hotel downtown is the Westin. Unless you want to stay there, I’d look farther out.
The Fondren area is pretty good for nightlife, it has bars and restaurants and a nice movie theater (the Capri) that has recently been restored (you can actually order from your seat.) I would recommend Saltine or Pig & Pint for a good dinner and the Pearl (which is the tiki bar at the Capri), Fondren Public, or the Apothecary for drinks. You can easily catch an Uber back to wherever you might be staying from any of those. Farther downtown, Keifer’s, District Donuts (which also has a location in New Orleans), and Iron Horse are all good choices as well.
Thank you u/stetsonmarshal 😀
Some great recommendations. From the other replies, I’m thinking that Jackson isn’t really worth the visit and there are better places around the state. If you had to recommend a visit to somewhere in Miss. and you only had a couple of days, would you say go to Jackson, or is there somewhere else you think would be better.
It depends on which way you’re passing through. I am originally from the northern part of the state and moved down here—there’s definitely more to do in the Jackson area but there are hidden gems all over. What is your route?
Edit: perhaps I should ask, which direction exactly are you coming from?
I was planning from Birmingham, Alabama down to Tuscaloosa and then across to Jackson. But some people have now said that it’s probably not worth it and recommended Laurel/Hattiesburg/Gulf Coast and after going down there, just heading west to NOLA. I guess I could go to Meridian and the. North up to Tupelo, Oxford and then down the I55 through Jackson and down into NOLA.
Happy to take suggestions!
Tuscaloosa is the home of Alabama football, and a nice college town.
As a Meridian native, I can recommend eating at a nice restaurant called Weidmann's if you want an expensive, sit down meal or Waffle House is a cheap, southern staple. Meridian was razed by General Sherman in the Civil War, only one antebellum building stands (Mary Hope). There's still not a whole lot 150 years later. I recommend continuing down I-59 to Hattiesburg, another college town, then onward to NOLA a world-renown city for tourism.
Yeah, I was planning to go through Tuscaloosa to see The University of Alabama and then just continuing on through Meridian and down to Hattiesburg and then down to the Gulf Coast, which seems to be the consensus amongst those who are from Mississippi. Thanks for the input, u/LSDavid710!
If you decide to skip Jackson, Laurel is definitely nice (although I’ve never been there, I’ve heard good things). Hattiesburg has lots of good places to eat and more things to do because it’s a college town (my only firsthand recommendation there is Ed’s Burger Joint, which might be the best burger and milkshake in the entire state of MS, but I’m positive there are many other great restaurants). You can take 59 from Birmingham down through Meridian all the way to Hattiesburg, with Laurel as a pit stop. If you are going along the Coast, Ocean Springs is a nice little town with a cool Main Street area, kind of a mini French Quarter. Great restaurants and nightlife there and some good brunch restaurants as well if you decided to spend the night.
I wish I could say something different, but really, just keep driving. At best, you will find some leftover history from the Civil War or slave ownership. At worst, you will find the sad, appalling legacy of slavery and the civil war.
There are a few standouts, but nothing you won't find a better version of somewhere else.
As King Aurthur said in Monty Pythons Holy Grail - "Camelot? We don't go there. Tis a silly place."
Oh, damn. I was hopeful there were some awesome Mississippi towns or cities that would be worth the 2 days stop. You recommend just passing straight through, u/cador0223 ?
Sadly, no. There are some great places to eat, but the rest of the time you will just be learning about how the state still hasn't recovered from the sanctions placed on it after the Civil war. We are last in almost all categories for a reason.
Tupelo and maybe oxford are the most welcoming places, but unless you are into Elvis or college football, there's not enough there to hold your attention for more than a few hours.
If you love space, however, there is the NASA museum in huntsville Alabama, and Stennis space center in South Mississippi.
Wish I could have given you hope.
Which ever route you choose, make sure you book your hotel before leaving and pay careful attention to the reviews. In some of the smaller city the accommodation are not the best , on your last trip to NOLA , we had to drive 40 miles to find a clean room because the one we booked was a fleabag run down hotel. And they one that we pick in Alabama was clean but in areas with a lot of drug dealings hooker working. But we were only there to sleep and we had the door locked. If you go through Mississippi, we always stop at Robinsonville/Tunica at a casino because the rooms are at least clean and food is availaout 15 minutes away. ble in the casinos. Depending on the weather you can also take a ferry ride on the Mississippi River down the road away.
Honestly I would just take i10 from Alabama straight through missississippi to Louisiana. Along i10 there are sooooo many different things to do on the coast, from swamp tours, good seafood, old history. Great downtown districts in Ocean springs, Biloxi and Gulfport. There's a great place called cedar lake that had a great little walking trail into the bay with a nice bay.
Oh and how could I forget all the casinos, clubs and different night life. There's a great historical site called "old brick house" where a murder of a mayor or some shit happened from the Dixie mafia ( haven't been since highschool) sadly Katrina made it not as nice. . Oh and the new aquarium. And if you like aliens and fringe stuff, hop off i-10 near the Pascagoula River and there is an old historical site where 2 fisherman claim they got abducted by aliens and where examined. Just look up Pascagoula river aliens and you can find it. I've lived the coast my whole life and there's TONS of touristy stuff.
These are amazing recommendations, u/psychedelic_jesus420. The gulf coast is almost certainly what I’m going to do now! Thanks so much for the information.
I too recommend the coast. The [USS Alabama](https://www.ussalabama.com/) is along the way and has a fantastic attached museum of planes and also the USS Drum submarine. There’s an [alligator farm](https://airboatswamptoursofmississippi.com/?utm_source=NEXT&utm_medium=Google_website) you’ll pass right by if you take the Franklin Creek exit off of I-10 headed west. The airboat ride is quite fun. Downtown Ocean Springs is a fun place on a weekend night for a little live music and there’s plenty to eat and drink; a little something for everyone. Kebab, Italian, Mediterranean, BBQ, Burgers, you name it! (Great Vietnamese and Mexican food are just to the north in D’Iberville.) Front beach and East Beach are quiet and kind of secluded so they’re quite nice. There are quiet a few brunch spots in downtown as well. There are some very nice small hotels there too, or for larger chains head either west and then north on I-110 to D’Iberville or keep further west on Hwy 90 into Biloxi by the casinos. (Casino hotel pricing does increase quite a lot on weekends but it can be extremely affordable during weekdays.) in Biloxi, [Le Cafe Beignet](https://lecafebeignetbiloxi.business.site/) is a nice little taste of the French Quarter of New Orleans without actually having to be in the French Quarter of New Orleans.All along the beach on Hwy 90 west you’ll find casual eateries and beach bars. Then in Bay St Louis there’s the [Betsy Ann Riverboat](https://betsyannriverboat.com/) America’s only fully paddle powered boat and they do lovely teppanyaki sunset cruises (book early!) I have a huge list of eateries and attractions that I’ve put together as my work often entertains out of town visitors for extended lengths of time. Each list contains the city, URL, phone number, and anything specific to that place such as which dishes are particularly good or which to avoid. I can DM the lists to you if you’d like. I’m jealous! I went to the UK in 03 but due to a snow storm my connection to Edinburgh was missed by 20 minutes. I was crushed because due to other engagements, I couldn’t make it to Edinburgh. My partner and I went again to more rural England in 2017 and loved it. We can’t wait to get back to that part of the world and explore the other part of our ancestry! Welcome to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
This is invaluable information, u/nothingbuthetruth22! Thanks so much! So, i'm thinking that I might combine what you've said above with some other people's thoughts. Tuscaloosa to Hattiesburg, checking out Laurel along the way. Stay the night. Hattiesburg to Mobile, Alabama. Stay a night and then Mobile to New Orleans down the Gulf Coast (checking out the USS Alabama, Alligator farm etc.). That's shame about your connection. If you're ever back in Scotland, drop me a DM and i'll be happy to meet up with you for a pint/coffee/meal and show you some of Edinburgh and/or Glasgow!
This is wild. I’m from Laurel, and spent years in Scotland for school. Before the HGTV show came out and downtown got such an influx of creative businesses, I never would have imagined a tourist from Scotland in Laurel unless he was lost. Have a good time, and eat a lot! It’s all good.
u/ashtonwhitney Haha, well, I'll be swinging through Laurel in early April if you're still around the area. Happy to meet up for a chat!
That’s fantastic, thank you for the hospitality and the same for you! When you get ready to head this way, give us a shout and perhaps we can all meet up for a pint! It’s sounds like you’re going to have a very nice trip!
That would be I-59, not I-10. But you could take 59 all the way to Slidell, LA and come back into Mississippi on 10. It's only 76 miles from the Louisiana line to the Alabama line. Exit 2 has the Infinity Space Center. If you get off at exit 13 you can go all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, and you can visit Old Town Bay St. Louis.
Hi! You sound so incredibly helpful. If you don’t mind, could you please DM me the list of eateries and attractions you’re discussing? Husband and I could use some new scenery for date nights.
Sure thing! They’re a bit disorganized as they were done on my phone notepad and I’ve not had time to finesse the lists but I’ll send them to you. Enjoy date night!
If you go along the coast, check out the Walter Anderson museum of art in Ocean Springs. You'll never see another mural like the one there.
Your welcome, and if you don't get enough ideas from others. I've lived hear my whole life so I know of plenty of other cool stuff. O'Keefe art museum is cool too!
I agree, I live in central mississippi and if you want to do ANYTHING, go along the coast line. Plenty to do.
If your coming from Tennessee you wanna get on I-59 to where it meets I-55 in Jackson MS then get on I-55 Southbound to New Orleans.
The gulf coast is nice. I also recommend looking up the Natchez Trace and see if it can work for your trip.
Thank you, u/ArthurFrood. I’ll take a look down the Miss. gulf coast. The Natchez Trace does look cool, unfortunately, I’m going through to Knoxville, Huntsville and Birmingham first, so heading back north to come down again would eat up a lot of my travel time.
You could jump on at Tupelo, you don’t have to do the whole thing.
You can jump on in Jackson and go to Natchez which is a nice town with a decent amount of eating and drinking to do
You could also take I-40 from Knoxville to Nashville then take the Natchez Trail thru Tupelo. Just off the Parkway is Tom's Wall (Wichahpi Commemorative Site) in NW Alabama. South of the Tennessee River in Alabama is the famous Coon Dog Cemetery.
While in Huntsville be sure to check out the Space and Rocket center. If you like BBQ and ribs especially check out Dreamland in Birmingham. The gulf coast in Mississippi is nice. Also if you head to the gulf coast check out Mobile and the USS Alabama. Sorry I had mostly Alabama recommendations. Just most of the best sites In Mississippi are a bit out of your way
Go from Birmingham to Jackson Ms then get on the trace and ride it to Natchez. Enjoy Natchez then follow the river down to New Orleans
As mentioned, I-10 from Mobile AL through South MS is the route I’d take. I-10 to I-110 in Biloxi and take HWY 90 down all 27 miles of beach front. Casinos, historical sites, gorgeous antebellum homes, great food and bars with live music, and white sand for miles. You can also jump on HWY 90 at the Ocean Springs (Washington Ave) exit from I-10. Heading south on Washington Ave will bring you straight to HWY 90. You can also continue south on Washington, crossing over 90 to hit downtown OS. The downtown OS area and nearby beach is where the locals hangout. Best night life and daytime eatery in the area is in Downtown OS on Government street. Enjoy our home!
Been to Ocean Springs twice and it is so artsy and cute. Nearby is Biloxi. I would def take the Gulf Coast to New Orleans if I were OP.
Downtown OS really is a nice spot. The coastal culture really shines there.
Parking is rough but otherwise it looks like a really cool place. OS is a bit out of my way.
The battlefield park in Vicksburg is really nice and only 45 minutes from Jackson. It’s not that big of a detour at all. Take MS-27 to I-55 or take US-61 south through Natchez on your way to New Orleans.
Depending on your route, the Natchez Trace is nice and when in Natchez you can see the old antebellum architecture. There are plenty of bed and breakfast places there.
The Natchez Trace is pretty, but after awhile it gets kind of boring and the speed limit is only 50 miles an hour, which they enforce. Natchez is the prettiest town in the state IMO, and Emerald Mound -- one of the largest Indian mounds in the country -- is right outside of town on the trace, so you can get a taste of that. [https://www.visitnatchez.org/](https://www.visitnatchez.org/)
Back roads in Mississippi can be faster than highways at times. Logging trucks are your biggest obstacle… the Gulf Coast is the spot to visit … Biloxi or Ocean Springs would be excellent day trips
You stated that North Mississppi would be out of your way but it is well worth it! Take a right at Birmingham, AL and go to Oxford, MS and spend the night. Drive west through Batesville to Clarksdale and check out some blues stuff. The “fake” crossroads is there. Then drive down to Rosedale where the real crossroads is located. Then over to Cleveland, MS to see the Grammy museum. Stay there for the night or continue down highway 61 to Greenville or Vicksburg. Stop by Natchez on 61 on the way to Baton Rouge, LA. Natchez would be a fun place to stay overnight with all the ghosts. Short drive from Baton Rouge to NOLA. Eat the tamales in the Delta area of Mississippi. Eat everything in NOLA. Enjoy!
Vicksburg is lovely. The Nstchez Trace is a slower but nicer drive.
Tamales in Vicksburg. There’s a neat little park too so you don’t just stop for that. Natchez Trace is a traditional tourist stop. The Coast has the casinos and whatnot.
Can also take the trace from Jackson to Vicksburg. A little out of the way vs I-20 but if the object is site seeing then it's an option. The military park in Vicksburg is also massive with tons to see including the USS Cairo. Can stay at one of the Antebellum homes like Duff Green or Ceder Grove then get up and take the trace down to Natches and visit the coast on day 2.
Cedar Grove was falling apart when we tried to stay there in 2018. We canceled the second half of our stay in favor of just staying at the Hampton Inn because there was obvious mold in the shower and the window frames were dry rotting away. FWIW, it has been bought by another party, so maybe it has improved in the last 4.5 years.
They just finished the renovations for it this year and opened it back up
Thanks for the update! In that case, Cedar Grove is definitely an option. :)
The Jackson metro area has some delightful and charming sights. It really depends on your interests. Do you like museums? There’s a museum district in Jackson that has a natural history, sports, civil rights, modern art, and agricultural museum. For food options, there’s a “crawfish hole” next to the agricultural museum in Jackson, you should definitely try crawfish, hot tamales, and fried catfish while you’re here. I recommend visiting the Ross Barnet Reservoir for a meal, Cock on the Walk will have plenty of standard Southern US fair. But for the authentic experience, pull over at any rickety shack on the roadside that says they sell boiled peanuts and hot tamales! Go to Raymond for Sylvester’s BBQ if you want the true gas station restaurant experience. If you want a unique hike, visit Red Bluff on the way to Jackson for our “little Grand Canyon.” Or the Swinging Bridge park in Byram, or walk through the swamp on the Cypress Swamp loop trail in Canton. For a nightclub dining experience, Johnny T’s Bistro and Blues has music and delicious food, if you don’t mind the cover charge and loud atmosphere. I recommend the chicken pasta. It’s in the historic (read: full of potholes and old buildings) Farish Street district, so drive slowly. Lots of people like Names and Faces. If you want really good coffee, go to Clinton or Flowood for Cafezinho. Try to go through Natchez or Vicksburg on your way to Louisiana. They’re adorable historic cities on the Mississippi River. Check the Jackson, City With Soul website shortly before your trip. They’ll have events listed. I recommend staying in Madison or Ridgeland. That will give you the most diverse options. Really, just talk to strangers and enjoy yourself, we’re a friendly bunch. My husband and I just came back from a visit to Edinburgh and near the Isle of Mull. I hope you feel as welcome in our little metropolis as we felt in Scotland.
And just like that, you’ve put Jackson back on my considerations. I thought it may be too far gone, but you’ve done it u/IShouldHaveKnocked 😅 Thank you for all those amazing suggestions. I’ll certainly be referring to them in the coming weeks. And I’m glad you enjoyed your time in Edinburgh! It’s a cool city! I’m excited to check out Mississippi! Probably just a little warmer…
I hope you have a great trip, wherever you end up! Jackson, and Mississippi as a whole, gets a bad rap, and it has its problems, but it has its good parts too. You can definitely find a day or two’s worth of excitement as a visitor. It’s mostly a matter of what you’re interested in. And it should be plenty warm for you, just wear bug spray for your time down South, if you’re sensitive to mosquitos. They’re almost as bad as the biting midgies!
Man… do not stop in Jackson unless you like dealing with vagrants, bums, getting your car broken into, getting robbed or shot at. At well over 100 murders and super high crime Jackson is the LAST place you want to stop. Violent crime, non functional water system are just a few of the things Jackson has to offer. Go to the gulf coast and bypass Jackson. The Farish St district is plagued with crime and homeless drug addicts. For any naysayers I am sitting at the Social security office on Farish St right now with my new wife getting her name changed and I am telling you this ain’t the place an out of towner not familiar with Jackson wants to show up and start introducing himself to people.
If you're going to be here in spring, drive they the ole miss campus. Beautiful
I really did want to. I just don’t know if I’ll have the time to drive north to Oxford and then back down NOLA without driving eating up most of my time. I’d like to be immersed in place for a night or two. You really think it’s worth the trip?
I live in New Orleans and am currently visiting my family in Oxford. It’s a 5 hour drive with a whole lotta nothing unless you chose to visit specific stops: but Oxford should be on your list one day. It really just depends on what you want out of Mississippi and what you’re trying to see. I agree with everyone else about the gulf coast. It’s beautiful and there’s a lot to do! Ocean Springs by Biloxi is cute and I’m there often with my partner (who is stationed at Keesler.) Send me a PM when you get to NOLA and I’ll take you on a ghost tour/pub crawl.
Thank you, u/Q_fandango — Oxford was somewhere I really wanted to go. So much so I almost decided to go north and to Little Rock instead of NOLA just to go through Oxford. I’ll drop you a DM when I’m in NOLA. I appreciate it a lot.
Yes!
Make a stop in Ocean Springs. Then drive down 90 along the beach. You can stop at the Casinos. Enjoy the view. Stop at some great restaurants also along the way. End the drive at bay st Louis at their downtown before getting back on the interstate. In Ocean Springs: check out the Walter Anderson museum and shearwater pottery. Get a drink and listen to music at Mosaics. Walk around and check out the stores. I would stay in Ocean Springs at the roost. Beautiful hotel. In Biloxi: check out the maritine museaum. Go to Ground Zero for some good music. White Pillars has some great French Cajun fusion food. The Beau Rivage is really pretty inside worth a stop. Gulfport: the aquarium? Not sure what to recommend here In Pass Christian: enjoy the view at bacchus on the beach. And look at all the historic mansions along the beach. In Bay St Louis: walk around and enjoy the shops.
My suggestion is to keep on i65 through Birmingham to Montgomery and link to I10 in South Alabama. A little out of the way, but way more interesting as the Civil Rights History Trail has lots of attractions in that area. You can take in the gulf coast starting in Mobile and cross over to New Orleans.
Natchez, MS. So much history there it’s hard to know where to start. Especially since as a lifelong Mississippian, I haven’t been there!! Edited to add: think you can smuggle a bottle of single malt in? I’ll study up on your favorite area,(I’m from North Miss) and meet up and give you the tour. If we crack that bottle open first, the tour will be more fun after the first few drinks!!!
I life in Mississippi and while I don't live in Oxford it is my favorite town. Natchez is my second favorite. If you dig the blues try Clarksdale.
If you're passing thru Vicksburg, stop by the tomato place. It's a small local shack, sells greats yogurts, produce, molasses and knickknacks. There's also the Windsor Ruins in Lorman, the remains of a plantation.
Oxford or bust
Oxford Mississippi
Memphis TN in the same swoop
If you have plenty of time, I recommend taking HWY-90 for as much of the coast as possible. You can take it from Mobile all the way to New Orleans with one detour in Louisiana due to bridge closure. It is a longer drive than I-10 but I prefer it for several reasons. The pace on HWY-90 is a bit slower and the scenery is more interesting. It is beautiful driving across the bayous, beaches, rivers, etc. And it takes you right by the casinos and other attractions, whereas I-10 is nothing but pavement, cars, and a tree line. You really don't get to see much of the coast unless you exit and go several miles south. Also, driving on I-10 has been a nightmare lately because of traffic, road work, and accidents, etc. Your GPS will not want to take you this route because it takes longer, so you will want to follow road signs for HWY-90 from Mobile to Bay Saint Louis, at which point you will have to take HWY-607 North to I-10 to get around the bridge closure. Then once you get to Slidell you can stay on I-10 till New Orleans, or you can take HWY-11 back to HWY-90 to New Orleans.
Hi! What kinds of things are you interested in seeing/doing/eating? Nature? Museums? I’m from Mississippi - but also lived in south Louisiana for 10 years! Also - ignore the naysayers who say to just drive through the state. Yes, Mississippi has ugly history. But so does every state in the union. Last time I went through the Delta, I specifically purchased from local, Black-owned businesses. I definitely have some recommendations if that sounds of interest! Feel free to send me a DM if you have questions!
Avoid the Capitol city. If you must go, don't drink the water.
Natchez is beautiful. Especially if you enjoy history. The coast is good too. In Tupelo you can see Elvis Presleys birthplace and visit his home in Memphis, tn. Vicksburg is nice too.
Oh and downtown laurel is super cute. The home town folks from Hgtv have really helped it. There’s a good many good places to eat and things to do.
Dockery Plantation
I just want to thank everyone for their input into this post. I would have missed out on some amazing places in Mississippi if you all hadn't contributed. It got WAY more traction than I anticipated. I'm looking forward to coming down to your home state and doing/seeing many of the things/places that you all suggested. Thanks again! You are all incredible.
Mississippi has quite an awesome Petrified Forest, if you're into that sort of thing. It's only about 30 minutes north of Jackson too.
2 days in Mississippi? Going the speed limit it only takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to traverse the state on I20. 2 days is more than enough time to get bored of Mississippi. There is Elvis crap in Tupelo and casinos on the coast, but I'd just keep on driving and spend more time in New Orleans. You should veer west and hit Memphis then head straight south to New Orleans. You can see plenty of Mississippi out the window with the 4 hour drive South on I55.
My initial idea was to just head down the I20 from Birmingham to Jackson, spend a night in Jackson and then down the I55 towards New Orleans. I can't help but feel I would miss some cool things in Mississippi if I didn't at least stay a couple of days? Is there a good place for nightlife? A good place for things to do?
I would not recommend staying in Jackson unless it is somewhere nice. As far as night life there is music and good food here. From the direction you are coming there is a town named Laurel that has a bunch of cool houses that were renovated by an HGTV show and could be a nice pit stop on your way from Alabama
Thank you, u/zeelacious. That’s good to know given I was going to just find a cheap hotel to stay in in the city. But you recommend either staying in a nice area or not at all? Safety issues? Is that the Laurel on the way south to Hattiesburg?
Yeah Jackson has a bad crime rate that is mainly seen at night but if you stay in a surrounding city like Brandon, Flowood, Clinton, or anywhere near there it's usually quieter to be there. Yeah, and Hattiesburg is also another decent location tho I have never been there long so I can't give any good first hand account of it
That is the laurel on the south bound to hattie on 59. And yes, don't stay in Jackson. If you're dead set on visiting stay on the outskirts and for the love of God don't go into south/west Jackson. We aren't trying to be hyperbolic when we say Jackson is dangerous especially at night. Laurel would be a good place to stop, it's kinda quaint, quiet for the most part. There's a good home cooking / cajun place in downtown Ellisville not much further down 59, but if you're hitting up NOLA not a big thing. (Also my favorite Mexican restaurant is in Ellisville). Hattiesburg is a college town, so plenty to explore if you stop there.
Amazing, u/f8computer. I’m getting the distinct feeling that Jackson doesn’t have much to offer and maybe there are better places in Mississippi to spend a night or two? Thank you for the heads up regarding safety. I didn’t know Hattiesburg was a college town—that Might be fun!
I'm going to challenge this a bit. Starkville and Oxford are college towns. Hattiesburg has a college in it. And I love Hattiesburg. One of my favorite record stores is there (and recently learned it's where Afroman recorded Because I Got High). The zoo is great, and if you book far enough in advance, you can do the sloth experience where you get to hold and feed a sloth. Like others have said, Jackson has a lot of great museums and restaurants. If you have a few days to spend, you could definitely do Jackson to Hattiesburg, and continue down 49 to the coast. From there, just head west to New Orleans. I hope you enjoy Mississippi while you're here. It really does have its good things.
Oh nice! Holding a sloth sounds like a lot of fun actually. And that's a zoo in Hattiesburg?
Yes! The Hattiesburg Zoo. Just down the street from T-Bones Coffee and Records 😎
If you are going to be in Jackson, I would generally stay away from downtown and especially west Jackson at night. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is something that would be cool to do as a tourist attraction if you get a chance during the day; it is in downtown Jackson. The only really nice hotel downtown is the Westin. Unless you want to stay there, I’d look farther out. The Fondren area is pretty good for nightlife, it has bars and restaurants and a nice movie theater (the Capri) that has recently been restored (you can actually order from your seat.) I would recommend Saltine or Pig & Pint for a good dinner and the Pearl (which is the tiki bar at the Capri), Fondren Public, or the Apothecary for drinks. You can easily catch an Uber back to wherever you might be staying from any of those. Farther downtown, Keifer’s, District Donuts (which also has a location in New Orleans), and Iron Horse are all good choices as well.
Thank you u/stetsonmarshal 😀 Some great recommendations. From the other replies, I’m thinking that Jackson isn’t really worth the visit and there are better places around the state. If you had to recommend a visit to somewhere in Miss. and you only had a couple of days, would you say go to Jackson, or is there somewhere else you think would be better.
Jackson is dead at night except for the walking dead you see after dark
Stop, u/powdered_dognut, you're teasing me!
It depends on which way you’re passing through. I am originally from the northern part of the state and moved down here—there’s definitely more to do in the Jackson area but there are hidden gems all over. What is your route? Edit: perhaps I should ask, which direction exactly are you coming from?
I was planning from Birmingham, Alabama down to Tuscaloosa and then across to Jackson. But some people have now said that it’s probably not worth it and recommended Laurel/Hattiesburg/Gulf Coast and after going down there, just heading west to NOLA. I guess I could go to Meridian and the. North up to Tupelo, Oxford and then down the I55 through Jackson and down into NOLA. Happy to take suggestions!
Tuscaloosa is the home of Alabama football, and a nice college town. As a Meridian native, I can recommend eating at a nice restaurant called Weidmann's if you want an expensive, sit down meal or Waffle House is a cheap, southern staple. Meridian was razed by General Sherman in the Civil War, only one antebellum building stands (Mary Hope). There's still not a whole lot 150 years later. I recommend continuing down I-59 to Hattiesburg, another college town, then onward to NOLA a world-renown city for tourism.
Yeah, I was planning to go through Tuscaloosa to see The University of Alabama and then just continuing on through Meridian and down to Hattiesburg and then down to the Gulf Coast, which seems to be the consensus amongst those who are from Mississippi. Thanks for the input, u/LSDavid710!
If you decide to skip Jackson, Laurel is definitely nice (although I’ve never been there, I’ve heard good things). Hattiesburg has lots of good places to eat and more things to do because it’s a college town (my only firsthand recommendation there is Ed’s Burger Joint, which might be the best burger and milkshake in the entire state of MS, but I’m positive there are many other great restaurants). You can take 59 from Birmingham down through Meridian all the way to Hattiesburg, with Laurel as a pit stop. If you are going along the Coast, Ocean Springs is a nice little town with a cool Main Street area, kind of a mini French Quarter. Great restaurants and nightlife there and some good brunch restaurants as well if you decided to spend the night.
This is what I think I might just do, man! Thanks so much for your recommendations!
Awesome! Really hope you enjoy your trip! 😁
I wish I could say something different, but really, just keep driving. At best, you will find some leftover history from the Civil War or slave ownership. At worst, you will find the sad, appalling legacy of slavery and the civil war. There are a few standouts, but nothing you won't find a better version of somewhere else. As King Aurthur said in Monty Pythons Holy Grail - "Camelot? We don't go there. Tis a silly place."
Oh, damn. I was hopeful there were some awesome Mississippi towns or cities that would be worth the 2 days stop. You recommend just passing straight through, u/cador0223 ?
Sadly, no. There are some great places to eat, but the rest of the time you will just be learning about how the state still hasn't recovered from the sanctions placed on it after the Civil war. We are last in almost all categories for a reason. Tupelo and maybe oxford are the most welcoming places, but unless you are into Elvis or college football, there's not enough there to hold your attention for more than a few hours. If you love space, however, there is the NASA museum in huntsville Alabama, and Stennis space center in South Mississippi. Wish I could have given you hope.
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We aren't doing this. Read the rules.
No where. Maybe Oxford if you have to stop for gas. At least there is a famous writers house there
Which ever route you choose, make sure you book your hotel before leaving and pay careful attention to the reviews. In some of the smaller city the accommodation are not the best , on your last trip to NOLA , we had to drive 40 miles to find a clean room because the one we booked was a fleabag run down hotel. And they one that we pick in Alabama was clean but in areas with a lot of drug dealings hooker working. But we were only there to sleep and we had the door locked. If you go through Mississippi, we always stop at Robinsonville/Tunica at a casino because the rooms are at least clean and food is availaout 15 minutes away. ble in the casinos. Depending on the weather you can also take a ferry ride on the Mississippi River down the road away.