The independent guide to Mississippi

From the blues of the Deltato the calm water of the Gulf.

Small towns, state parks, waterfalls and named drives, from the Natchez Trace Parkway to the barrier islands of the Gulf Coast.

Places to go→Road trips
Every fact checked at the sourceTowns · Parks · Road trips
2,954,160
Mississippians
$180
to build the house where Elvis was born
62 miles
of Gulf Coast shoreline
By town

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Biloxi

Climb an 1848 lighthouse past waterlines from a century of hurricanes

The Biloxi Lighthouse, built in 1848, is one of the first cast-iron structures erected in the South and is called one of the most photographed sites on the Gulf Coast. Tours of the 65-foot tower climb a 57-step spiral staircase past waterlines left by hurricanes dating back more than a hundred years.

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Jackson

Civil rights, state history and art museums, all within walking distance

Jackson is Mississippi's capital and its government, business and cultural center. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, the state history and art museums, the Old Capitol Museum and the Governor's Mansion are all within walking distance of one another, and every four years the city hosts the International Ballet Competition.

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Bay St. Louis

Upstairs in the old train depot: a folk artist who started painting at 65

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Oxford

Faulkner's home, Square Books and a downtown inside a half-mile of the courthouse

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Hattiesburg

A zoo with giraffes, bongos and a four-story ropes course for kids and adults

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Clarksdale

Live music seven nights a week, 365 days a year, at the Crossroads

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By the numbers

Things you wouldn'tguess aboutMississippi.

2,954,160

Mississippians The US Census Bureau estimated Mississippi's population at 2,954,160 on July 1, 2025.

$180

to build the house where Elvis was born Elvis Presley's father built the two-room house in Tupelo with $180, and it now draws more than 50,000 visitors a year.

62 miles

of Gulf Coast shoreline Coastal Mississippi counts 62 miles of shoreline, where a chain of islands limits the strong waves reaching the mainland beaches.

50

waterfalls, give or take, in one natural area Clark Creek Natural Area in southwestern Mississippi has some 50 waterfalls, from 10 to more than 30 feet high.

Frequently asked questions

Does Mississippi have waterfalls?

Yes, Mississippi has waterfalls, and the best-known concentration is at Clark Creek Natural Area in the southwest of the state. Its more than 700 acres hold some 50 waterfalls, ranging from 10 to more than 30 feet high.

How do you get to Ship Island, Mississippi?

You can reach Ship Island only by boat, and the public ferry runs between March and October from Jones Park in Gulfport, Mississippi. The barrier island lies about 12 miles off the Mississippi coast and is part of Gulf Islands National Seashore.

How long does it take to drive the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Driving the full Natchez Trace Parkway from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee, takes at least 10 hours, according to the National Park Service. The stretch from Natchez to Tupelo takes 5.5 to 6 hours, at a speed limit of 50 mph unless otherwise posted.

What is the Mississippi Blues Trail?

The Mississippi Blues Trail is a set of markers that tell the stories of blues musicians and of the places where they lived. The sites run from city streets and cotton fields to train depots, cemeteries, clubs and churches.

Where can you learn about civil rights history in Mississippi?

You can learn about civil rights history in Mississippi at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson and at the historic markers of the Mississippi Freedom Trail. The museum has eight interactive exhibits, and the trail's markers include one across from the Biloxi Lighthouse for the 1960 Biloxi wade-ins.

Why is the water so calm at Mississippi beaches?

The water at Mississippi's mainland beaches is calm because a chain of Gulf Coast islands, including Ship Island, limits the strong waves that reach them. Coastal Mississippi describes the result as calm, gentle waters across its 62 miles of shoreline.

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