These 8 Towns In Mississippi Were Ranked Among US Favorites In 2026

Each year, we rank the Mississippi towns readers love most. The 2026 favorites divide cleanly between the Gulf shore and the historic interior. Along the coast the appeal is salt air and a deep well of local art. Bay St. Louis still packs the 1922 100 Men Hall for live blues. Inland the draw is heritage you can walk straight into. Tupelo marks the store where a young Elvis Presley bought his first guitar. Vicksburg keeps the battlefield where Grant took the Mississippi River in 1863. Read on for the eight Mississippi towns that made the 2026 list.

Bay St. Louis

Beginning in the Gulf Coast, Bay St. Louis is a laid-back cultural hub offering convenient access to a gulfside beach and a tight-knit artistic community. For example, the town regularly gathers at the 100 Men Hall, which was built in 1922 to support African American social life and to celebrate Bay St. Louis' heritage of blues music and programs. Many of Bay St. Louis' attractions have a distinctly grassroots feel, such as the Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum, located in the L&N Train Depot. Another grand example is the Bay St. Louis Theatre, which was condemned and set to be demolished in 2007, but a community effort saved the structure, and now it regularly hosts local theatrical performances. Lastly, beachgoers can go swimming or fishing at the Bay St. Louis Beach.

Pass Christian

Pass Christian is located on a peninsula that juts out into the Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico. The town was chartered in 1848 on downtown land that Charles Asmar, a free man of color, had willed to his heirs. Later on, Pass Christian became well known for its blues musicians and its Victorian-style mansions. The town was called the Newport of the South after the city of Newport, Rhode Island, due to its numerous mansions, such as the 1848 Blue Rose Mansion, which now hosts events. Visitors come to Pass Christian for the sand at Henderson Point Beach or a walk on the Enchanted Nature Trail.

Ocean Springs

Ocean Springs is an ideal town to explore Gulf islands via the Gulf Islands National Seashore. By taking a ferry out to these islands, visitors can experience solitude in places like Ship Island, where the historic Fort Massachusetts rests, which began construction in 1857 and would play a major part in the American Civil War. Ocean Springs has several historic spots of its own, such as the Fort Maurepas City Park & Nature Preserve, built over the spot of a French fort constructed by Pierre LeMoyne, Sieur d'Iberville. The park has a bronze statue of this French explorer, along with a splash pad for children. Visitors can access the beach from several points in Ocean Springs, including via the Ocean Springs Beach or the Fishing Pier on Biloxi Bay.

Biloxi

Biloxi has a population of just over 48,000, and its beachside lighthouse and museums sit at the heart of Mississippi coastal culture. The town has one of the oldest cast-iron lighthouses in the South, the 1848 Biloxi Lighthouse, a 64-foot-tall structure that is open for tours and sits next to Biloxi Beach, which is close to several seafood restaurants. When looking at cultural landmarks, the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art is unbeatable. It honors the work of potter George Ohr, alongside many other artists with works that celebrate all aspects of Gulf culture, from African American experiences to wildlife drawings to many styles of pottery. Speaking of culture, Biloxi has a long tradition of celebrating Mardi Gras. The Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum preserves the history of this colorful festival through outfits, artifacts, and more.

Tupelo

Tupelo is a top Mississippi destination for fans of rock 'n' roll, as it was the birthplace of the King of Rock: Elvis Presley. Elvis grew up poor here, and his small family home is now the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum. Another key spot in Elvis' young life is the Tupelo Hardware Store, where his mother purchased him a guitar for his 11th birthday, kickstarting his love of performance. The business closed on December 31, 2025, just shy of its 100th birthday, and the City of Tupelo agreed to buy the building to preserve the site. The other reason Tupelo often tops favorite Mississippi town lists is due to the Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile scenic road that goes over an old Native American trail. Tupelo is a great place to start on the parkway, as it has the Parkway Visitor Center, with information on trails and attractions to see, such as the Chickasaw Village Site, which was formerly occupied by the Chickasaw people, or the scenic Old Town Overlook.

Vicksburg

For Civil War history enthusiasts, Vicksburg is the most important town to visit. It was home to the Battle of Vicksburg, where General Ulysses S. Grant's successful siege effectively gave the Union control over the entire Mississippi River. The Vicksburg National Military Park preserves the battlefield, along with the many men who died at the Vicksburg National Cemetery. For those who enjoy taking pictures of monuments, there are nearly 1,400 monuments, including bronze statues, regimental monuments, portraits, and busts. Despite this battle, many of Vicksburg's antebellum buildings remain standing and are open for tours, such as the Anchuca Historic Mansion, built in the Greek Revival style.

Oxford

Oxford has been called the Cultural Mecca of the South, and features the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and the home of author William Faulkner. He wrote many acclaimed novels such as "As I Lay Dying" and "The Sound and the Fury." The University of Mississippi maintains its Rowan Oak home for tours. Its dedication to literature doesn't stop there, as Oxford is home to Square Books, an independent bookstore fittingly stationed in the historic town square. The town can get pretty crowded during Ole Miss football games, but it's easy to get away from the crowds via the biking South Campus Rail Trail, which sits on a former railbed close by to the campus, or by going out for a fishing trip at nearby John W. Kyle State Park, which sits on Sardis Lake.

Natchez

Natchez regularly claims a spot among the top places in Mississippi to visit due to its rich history, both in the antebellum South and in Native American heritage. Visitors can tour premier southern mansions such as Magnolia Hall, built in 1858, named for magnolia blossoms that hang from the parlor ceiling. The most striking mansion in Natchez is Longwood, an octagonal house built between 1860 and 1862 with a central dome echoing Moorish-style buildings in Spain. In Natchez, one can also find ancient Native American mounds via the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, which has three mounds, a museum, and a reconstructed Natchez house. The largest mound 10 miles northeast of Natchez is Emerald Mound, built during the Mississippian period from 1200 to 1730 A.D. It's the second largest mound of its kind in the US.

Mississippi Royalty

Some might call these towns Mississippi royalty for their standout traits. Oxford reigns over the state's literary tradition through William Faulkner's home and Ole Miss, and Natchez holds court with its antebellum mansions. Others earn their place on state history alone, like Vicksburg and the Civil War siege fought within its borders. A warm welcome rooted in Southern hospitality rounds out why these communities keep ranking among US favorites in 2026.