8 Most Charming Small Towns In Mississippi
As the birthplace of the blues, Mississippi is a place that’s easy to love. From the waters of the coastline to the wide-open skies of the Mississippi Delta, these towns have a way of staying with you long after you leave. It’s a place where you can soak in the sunshine at the beaches of Ocean Springs, or tour antebellum homes in the historical village of Natchez. Whether you’re listening to the blues in a funky watering hole in Cleveland or hiking through Civil War battlefields in Vicksburg, Mississippi will steal your heart with these delightfully charming towns.
Natchez
Natchez, settled along the Mississippi River, is a historic community that is older than the state itself! Before Mississippi was even a state, it was a French trading port and one of the oldest European settlements on the southern portion of the Mississippi River. Fort Rosalie is one of the surviving sites of its French colonization, established in 1716, nearly 100 years before it was founded as a state. The original fort is lost to time, but in its place is a beautiful green space with picnic tables and dramatic bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River.
Natchez is a place where there’s always an amazing antebellum estate to explore. Stanton Hall is one of the best mansions in the area, allowing visitors to take self-guided tours of its period-accurate halls and manicured gardens. The sprawling estate is just one of many ornate estates scattered throughout Natchez! If you want to spend the night in one of its amazing mansions, the Monmouth Historic Inn and Gardens will make you feel like Mississippi royalty. The rooms are all period-accurate, and the former men’s and ladies’ parlors have been transformed into a beautiful restaurant.
Ocean Springs
With over 350 miles of coastline, Mississippi is no stranger to beach retreats. There are plenty of towns with high-rise hotels and crowded public beaches, but few oceanside retreats hold a candle to Ocean Springs. Despite its desirable location, Ocean Springs maintains its small-town vibe, with cozy cottages and an overall artsy vibe. You can spend the day soaking up the sunshine on the wide sandy beaches of Ocean Springs Beach, or go for a seaside hike at Fort Maurepas City Park and Nature Preserve. The real fun, however, happens when you step off the beach and roam its delightful downtown district.
Downtown Ocean Springs is famous for its beautiful live oak trees draped with Spanish moss that cast heavy shadows over the streets. Small, colorful cottages on its main streets yield hidden treasures, like Ocean Springs Mercantile, where you can shop for antiques. To truly experience Ocean Springs’ artsy vibe, the Pink Rooster/Gallery Garbo captures the spirit of the community. On the outside, it looks like a typical Ocean Springs cottage with a cozy front porch, but inside, you’ll find an impressive collection of art from local artists.
Corinth
Traveling to the north side of the state, not too far from the Tennessee border, is Corinth, a community with deep ties to the Civil War. Corinth was a major railroad hub during the Civil War and was often called the ‘Crossroads of the South.’ To learn more about Corinth’s importance during the war, the Shiloh National Military Park Corinth Interpretive Center tells the tale through exhibits and artifacts scattered throughout its beautiful grounds. The Crossroads Museum is another great place to learn more about Corinth’s importance during the war, with exhibits within the former Corinth Depot.
Its historical ties to the Civil War aren’t the only thing that makes Corinth a town worth visiting! It’s also where you will find the Corinth Coca-Cola Museum (across the street from its operational bottling plant). The bottling plant in Corinth opened in 1907 and is a major regional distributor in the south. The museum celebrates all things Coke with vintage bottles, soda machines, and it is completely free to explore.
Holly Springs
On the northern edge of Mississippi is Holly Springs, a community where southern charm is alive and well! The colorful streets of Holly Springs feel like stepping inside a postcard, with brick sidewalks and inviting storefronts like The Retro Rooster or delightful diners like Southern Eatery. Many of the lovely antebellum homes in Holly Springs date back to the pre-Civil War era. One of the most amazing homes in the area is Walter Place. It’s a perfect example of Southern antebellum architecture, featuring winding staircases and period-accurate decor.
One of the loveliest things to do in Holly Springs is to visit the Strawberry Plains Audubon Center. It's designed as an educational center to learn more about the native and migrating birds of the area, but it’s also a great place to relax in nature. It has densely wooded hiking trails accented with birdsongs, with wooden boardwalks and observation towers. There’s even an old log cabin that dates back to the 1800s that you can explore.
Bay Saint Louis
When you picture Bay Saint Louis, think sweeping ocean views without a high-rise in sight, quaint downtown bistros, and a blend of Creole and Victorian-style seaside cottages. It feels untouched by time, where streets are shaded by mighty oak trees and colorful, inviting storefronts. It's a place where a stroll down Beach Boulevard may lead to cozy diners like Dan B's Restaurant and Bar, where you can indulge in fresh seafood with a view, or iconic local landmarks like the Angel Tree.
Downtown may be cozy and quaint, but the best attraction in Bay Saint Louis is its breathtaking ocean views. You can spend the day relaxing on one of its white-sand beaches or taking a walk down the Jimmy Rutherford Fishing Pier. After a day out on the water, the Bay Saint Louis Little Theatre is a great way to top off the day with a live show. The theater is a Bay Saint Louis historical landmark that was built in 1946 and was once barracks used during World War II, and it always has a rotating list of live stage performances.
Vicksburg
During the Civil War, Vicksburg was the stage for the Siege of Vicksburg, a key battle in the war. The Vicksburg National Military Park is a great place to learn more about Vicksburg’s heritage with monuments, a restored gunboat called the USS Cairo, and the battlefield where the siege took place. You can tour the USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum or hike the 16-mile Tour Road that weaves through the former battlefield. The grounds of the park are quite expansive, sprawling over 1,800 acres, and blend the natural beauty and rich history of Vicksburg in one park.
Vicksburg is a great place for Civil War history buffs, but its story doesn’t end there. The architecture of Vicksburg is stunning, with a marriage of Greek, Gothic, and Colonial revival homes and landmarks. One of the most beautiful places to visit in the area is the McRaven Tour Home. It is believed to be one of the oldest homes in the area, and was built in the late 1700s. Many considered it Mississippi’s Most Haunted House, and it offers guided haunted tours retelling ghost stories from the Siege of Vicksburg to pioneer pirates!
Flora
On the East Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi is the lovely retreat of Flora, known for its cozy downtown and breathtaking views of the flatwoods, savannas, and bogs. With a population just shy of 2,000 residents, downtown Flora is a place that immediately feels like home. There are small diners like Blue Rooster, where you can sit down for a filling meal, or darling local grocers like The Farm Store by Two Dog Farms. It's the type of community where no one is in a hurry, and walking East Main Street feels like stepping back in time.
Flora’s biggest attraction isn’t its delightful downtown district, but what you’ll find slightly outside the city limits. South of central Flora lies the Mississippi Petrified Forest, a hidden gem of Mississippi that often goes overlooked. The park is millions of years in the making and features fossilized tree trunks that are over 35 million years old! It has fragrant, mossy hiking trails to explore and a small gift shop.
Cleveland
The Mississippi Delta is often referred to as the Heart of Blues, and it’s where you’ll find the soulful community of Cleveland. The buildings downtown, a mixture of Victorian and Craftsman styles, reveal their classic southern charm. Exploring downtown, however, unearths its deeply rooted arts and music scene. The soul of Cleveland is the GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. There are only two GRAMMY museums in the United States. There’s one in Los Angeles, and the only one is tucked away in Cleveland. The museum is a modern architectural wonder on the outside, with a modern vibe. Inside, you’ll find interactive exhibits and rotating displays on the history of the GRAMMYs.
To say that Cleveland is a fun and funky town is a bit of an understatement. There are quirky little diners, like Hey Joe's Burgers + Beer. It’s a bit of a local legend, where folks gather to enjoy greasy food and live music in a dark and moody atmosphere. You’ll find colorful candy stores like Gadzook’s and mouthwatering soul food at 122 Hang Suite. If you stop by 122 Hang Suite, make sure you order their locally famous Fish and Grits!
These Small Mississippi Towns Will Leave A Big Impression
The best adventures in Mississippi aren’t always found off the highway. If you really want to get to know what makes the state tick, the best place to start is communities that lie off the beaten path. Whether you long to walk on the white sandy shores of Bay Saint Louis or prefer to travel millions of years into the past in the Mississippi Petrified Forest in Flora, you’re bound to find your happy place in Mississippi. The next time the open road calls, venture off the highway into these charming Mississippi retreats.
