7 Perfect Destinations for a Long Weekend in Mississippi

Mississippi's small towns offer delightful university museums, rock-star attractions, Civil War battlefields, and beautiful antebellum mansions, all in one package. With these destinations, you can spend a long weekend exploring Mississippi’s secret coastline in Bay St. Louis or Ocean Springs, dive into the dramatic Civil War history of Vicksburg, or explore the wide range of museums in Starkville. Many of these towns also offer charming B&Bs or historic mansion inns, making them easy places to settle in for a few days. Read on to learn why these are some of the perfect destinations for a long weekend in Mississippi.

Starkville

Located next to Mississippi State University, Starkville has earned a reputation as one of the best small towns in Mississippi. Much of this praise comes from the town’s impressive collection of museums, which go well beyond the typical county history display. The Charles H. Templeton Sr. Music Museum houses more than 13,000 musical recordings, while the Cullis and Gladys Wade Clock Museum features over 400 clocks and watches. Despite being firmly rooted in the South, Starkville is also home to an extensive collection of Abraham Lincoln artwork and research at the Frank & Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana. Beyond its museums, Starkville offers access to nearby natural areas such as the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, where wetlands, forests, and lakes support migratory birds and fish. During your long weekend in Starkville, you can stay at The Montgomery B&B, which offers four guest rooms in a relaxed setting.

Tupelo

If you’re looking for a rock ’n’ roll-themed getaway, Tupelo delivers as the birthplace of Elvis Presley. He grew up in a modest home here with his mother, who encouraged his love of music by buying him a guitar for his 11th birthday. Visitors can learn more about his early life at the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum and at the Tupelo Hardware Company, where that famous guitar was purchased. Tupelo also serves as a gateway to the Natchez Trace Parkway, built along an 8,000-year-old Native American trail that stretches 444 miles across the South. Another popular attraction is the Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, home to one of the largest buffalo herds east of the Mississippi River. For lodging, Tupelo offers several chain hotels, including Comfort Suites and America’s Best Value Inn.

Port Gibson

When Ulysses S. Grant's army captured Port Gibson in 1863, he reportedly spared the town, calling it “too beautiful to burn.” One of the town’s most striking landmarks today reflects that long history. The Windsor Ruins consist of 28 towering columns, all that remain of the Windsor Plantation, which burned in 1890. Port Gibson is also home to preserved antebellum houses, including the Greek Revival-style Idlewild, built in 1833. During the 1840s, Kentucky politician Henry Clay delivered a campaign speech here, adding another layer to the town’s historical legacy. Visitors can spend much of a day exploring Grand Gulf Military Monument Park, which preserves Civil War-era forts, a museum, a cemetery, and an observation tower. Located just 44 minutes south of Vicksburg, Port Gibson makes a convenient base for exploring the region, with lodging available at the Isabella Bed and Breakfast.

Bay St. Louis

Bay St. Louis sits along what’s often called Mississippi’s Secret Coast, a stretch of shoreline that surprises many visitors. The town feels like a smaller, more relaxed version of New Orleans, thanks to its lively music, art, and food scene. Performances take place at the award-winning Bay St. Louis Little Theatre and at the historic 100 Men Hall, known for hosting live music, dances, and events rooted in African American culture. Local folk art traditions are celebrated at the Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum. Visitors can also enjoy the calm waters of Bay St. Louis Beach, a small-town shoreline with kayak rentals and gentle waves. For overnight stays, options include the Silver Slipper Casino Hotel as well as a variety of vacation rentals and guesthouses.

Ocean Springs

Known as the City of Discovery, Ocean Springs was one of the earliest French settlements in what was once French Louisiana. Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville established Fort Maurepas here in 1699, and today a statue of the explorer stands in Fort Maurepas Park. The town is closely associated with artist Walter Inglis Anderson, whose paintings and murals drew inspiration from nature and prehistoric cave art in France. His work is showcased at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. Each March, Ocean Springs celebrates its creative spirit during the Spring Arts Festival. On either end of town, visitors can enjoy peaceful outdoor spaces, including the Twelve Oaks Trail through old trees and bayou scenery, as well as Ocean Springs Beach near the Biloxi Bay Bridge. The Hotel Beatnik offers a fittingly artistic place to stay.

Vicksburg

Vicksburg was the site of one of the most significant battles of the American Civil War. While fighting raged in Gettysburg, General Ulysses S. Grant was leading the campaign to capture Vicksburg, then the last major Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. Today, the Vicksburg National Military Park preserves the battlefield along with more than 1,400 monuments and memorials, as well as the Vicksburg National Cemetery. The town is a destination for Civil War enthusiasts, with extensive collections on display at the Vicksburg Civil War Museum. Vicksburg’s history stretches back even further, to the late 1700s. The McRaven Home, built in 1797 for a highwayman named Andrew Glass, is the city’s oldest structure and was later expanded with Greek Revival architectural elements. Several antebellum homes now operate as B&Bs, including the Anchuca Historic Mansion and Inn.

Natchez

French settlers established Natchez as a trading port along the Mississippi River in 1716. Over the decades, the town changed hands from French to British to Spanish control before becoming part of the United States. During the Civil War, Natchez was largely spared from destruction, and many freed slaves chose to settle there afterward. As a result, the town features both grand antebellum architecture and important African American cultural landmarks, including the Museum of African American History and Culture, housed in a former 1904 post office. Another key site is the William Johnson House, once owned by a free African American man whose detailed personal journals are preserved in the home museum. Natchez is also known for its antebellum mansions, such as the Rosalie Mansion and Gardens, built in 1823, and Stanton Hall, completed in 1857. Visitors can take in river views along the Historic Bluff Trail and Natural Trail before settling into one of the town’s many B&Bs, including the 118 B&B or the Beaumont House.

Rock n' roll getaways

Touring these towns, it’s easy to feel like a rock star moving from one standout destination to the next. You can walk in the footsteps of a music legend in Tupelo or unwind along the beach in Ocean Springs. History buffs can imagine Civil War generals surveying the landscapes of Vicksburg or Port Gibson, while art lovers explore the creative legacy of Mississippi artists in Ocean Springs. With comfortable accommodations throughout, these towns make an ideal setting for a long weekend filled with discovery.