7 Coolest Mississippi Towns For A Summer Vacation In 2025

Mississippi doesn't always get the vacation glory it deserves—but once you visit, you'll be wondering what took you so long. It has an energy that can't be replicated—laid-back, soulful, and just below the radar enough to make you feel like you've discovered a hidden gem. Picture blues streaming out of juke joints in small towns, oak-shaded streets with real history, and beach towns where no one's in a rush. It's a place where summer feels like summer—slow mornings, warm nights, and plenty of goodness in between.

Bay St. Louis

Bay St. Louis feels like a hidden beach town that locals aren't quite ready to tell people about. It’s one of the more scenic towns in Mississippi, with water, art, and fresh breezes. Start the day at Harvest Bay Artisan Bakery. Then head over to Buccaneer State Park if you’re up for kayaking, or just hang out at the wave pool. The downtown stretch along Beach Boulevard is full of color and character. Stop by Gallery 220 for some local art, then pick up an iced latte at Mockingbird Café. It's possible to make a day of just walking, eating, and boat-watching. Bay St. Louis is as casual as it gets, and that's what makes it so great during the summer.

Oxford

Oxford may have a reputation as a college town, but once the students head out for the summer, it becomes the ideal location to relax. The square's still jumpin'—especially Square Books, a local bookstore that somehow makes you want to read more. Ajax Diner is a local institution and serves up some of the best comfort food anywhere. Rowan Oak, the old home of William Faulkner, is quiet, shady, and a bit haunting in the best way possible. And if you're a music fan, check out what's happening at The Lyric. You'll likely find a band you've never heard of that you'll go on to follow all year. Oxford has brains and charm, and during the summer, it's all yours.

Clarksdale

Clarksdale isn't fancy, and that's what makes it so great. It's gritty, genuine, and all about the blues.

Stop by the Delta Blues Museum to discover how this little town shaped American music. Then head to Red's—it doesn't look like much from the outside, but the blues are loud and live inside this lounge. Ground Zero Blues Club (part-owned by Morgan Freeman) is another must-visit—it's got barbecue, cold beer, and music that gets under your skin. For something really unusual, book a room at the Shack Up Inn, where you sleep in a refurbished sharecropper shack. It's weird and wonderful. Clarksdale is not attempting to impress you—it simply needs you to feel something. And you will.

Ocean Springs

Ocean Springs is the kind of town where even the trees appear to be artistic. An artful streak weaves its way through the town's stores, food, and general ambiance. See the Candy Cottage in town.

Walter Anderson Museum of Art is the center of everything—vivid, odd, and Gulf Coast inspiring. You can grab breakfast or a late biscuit at The Greenhouse on Porter, where they might be hosting a poetry reading while they brew your coffee. Shearwater Pottery is still family-owned by the Andersons and sells ceramics that are actually worth bringing home. Front Beach is small but lovely, and perfect for an afternoon swim. Ocean Springs is edgy enough to be interesting, and beachy enough to be relaxing.

Natchez

History lovers, Natchez is like traveling to another century—and with better cocktails.

Perched on a bluff above the Mississippi River, the town has some of the South's most beautiful sunset vistas. Longwood is one crazy, unfinished antebellum house that tells a story just by standing there. You can walk through the old streets downtown, then grab an espresso at Steampunk Coffee Roasters. Bluff Park is where everyone goes to catch the breeze and watch the river roll by. And Fat Mama’s Tamales? Order the Knock-You-Naked margarita. The name says it all. Natchez moves slow, and it doesn’t care that you’re used to rushing. That’s kind of the point.

Tupelo

Tupelo has Elvis—and it’s proud of it. You can visit his tiny two-room birthplace at the Elvis Presley Birthplace & Museum and see how humble beginnings can still shake the world. But this town’s got more going on.

Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo is surprisingly fun, especially if you’ve never seen a buffalo up close. C.H.O.P. Clay's House Of Pig downtown is your spot for the best barbecue and cold sweet tea. The Natchez Trace Parkway has hiking trails just outside of town if you require a break from nature. Blue Canoe is where the locals go for music, burgers, and killer atmosphere. Tupelo's the kind of town that sneaks up on you—in the best way.

Cleveland

Cleveland is quietly one of the Delta's most excellent spots to spend a day or two. The GRAMMY Museum Mississippi is actually quite sleek and larger than you'd expect in a town this size. Then take a stroll around downtown and grab ice cream at A La Carte Alley—the mint chocolate chip is a different type of wonderful on a hot day. For dinner, Hey Joe's serves burgers that are almost addictive, plus trivia nights and live music. Something outdoorsy? Got more time in Cleveland? Check out Bear Pen Park. It has trails, lakes, and more ducks than you can shake a stick at. And don't leave town without visiting Dockery Farms—where legend has it the blues officially began. Cleveland is small-town Mississippi with a dash of just the right cool.

Mississippi is more than a place on the map. It's an entire summer mood. You've got beachy Bay St. Louis, artsy little towns like Ocean Springs, and music landmarks from Clarksdale to Tupelo.

These aren't cookie-cutter tourist traps. These are real destinations with anecdotes, inhabitants, and character you'll recall. And the best part? You won't need to battle the crowds to savor them. Whether you're craving slow mornings, rich culture, or simply a great place to eat and relax, these seven towns present a compelling argument for placing Mississippi on your 2025 summer agenda.