7 of the Most Charming Small Towns to Visit in Mississippi
The southeastern state of Mississippi, bordered by southern belles like Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, and Louisiana, has the Mighty Mississippi through its heart and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Now add in the charming natural features, from the verdant rolling hills to the Gulf Coast ocean breeze, and you've got the ultimate getaway to unwind in the outdoors, learn something new, and have fun along the way in the mild southern climate.
Each town on this list tells a charming story for a relaxing and fulfilling getaway in Magnolia State. New Albany downtown inspires retail therapy with its boutiques, antique shops, jewelry dealers, and specialty stores for gifts, while seafood lovers can look no further than the first town on the list, once devastated by a hurricane but as welcoming as ever, Bay St. Louis. And when it comes to kicking up your feet in style and comfort, Oxford offers great stays after the best entertainment scene on the list in this college town.
Bay St. Louis
Devastated in 2005 by a hurricane, Bay St. Louis is one of the Gulf Coast’s most charming, overlooked towns by yet-to-be visitors. This gem on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the southernmost part of the state is adorable, tucked into the Bay of St. Louis. Home to some 9,300 people living along the picturesque shores, Bay St. Louis Historic L & N Train Depot gives off the vibes of historic grandeur. Stop by the famous Mockingbird Cafe before hitting up a beach for a swim, fishing, and nearby wildlife trails, or a stroll down Washington Street Pier and Boat Launch in the mist. The town connects across the Bay St. Louis Bridge to Henderson Point to explore Henderson Point Park, even if you are tight on time.
Exuding Southern charm, Bay St. Louis offers a glimpse back in time of laid-back coastal living, part of its rich cultural tapestry of the day. Visitors can enjoy a lively arts scene, festivals, exhibits, music performances, and theatrical productions at Bay St. Louis Little Theatre. Its dreamy tree-lined streets of the Old Town district inspire pleasure browsing in the same salt-infused air with church spires in between a galore of small town businesses like boutique shops and art galleries and dining at some delicious seafood restaurants. Tourists can imbibe the local culture at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church and Saint Rose de Lima Catholic Church and don't miss the Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum.
Canton
Just north of the capital, Canton, the county seat of Madison County, is just "the city of lights," where every angle is photogenic, day or night. Not your usual small town, Canton's moniker, and the building style grandeur reveal its desire to stand out, and deservingly so, having played a massive role in the state's history and, more recently, a significant force in the film industry. Visitors can search for numerous sites, from well-known documentaries to major motion pictures. Pearl River State Wildlife Management Area is minutes south along Ross R. Barnett Reservoir, with a popular hiking trail, Natchez Trace Yockanookany Trailhead, for scenery and history against water views.
Quaint and proud of its long heritage and appeal to filmmakers, Canton boasts a notable arts and crafts community, with its annual flea being a country-wide destination for gifts, collectibles, and decor to display a little piece of Canton home. Tourists can imbibe the local culture at the historic square with intricate and sturdy buildings, homes, and museums, as well as one-of-a-kind shops and local cafes, to finally plop down and soak it all in. Offering two golf courses within proper and more around, as well as plentiful greenspace for strolls along the Bachelor Creek in autumn, don't miss the pumpkin patch at Moseley Meadows just south.
Holly Springs
Holly Springs, a small town with a population of around 6,500 people, is downright adorable. Encapsulating Southern culture along the uncrowded streets, the picturesque town, founded in 1836, celebrates its musical heritage on a daily basis. Just 15 minutes south, Foxfire Ranch is a destination in its own right to enjoy traditional North Mississippi Hill Country Blues concerts, with the best shows now through the end of the summer on Sunday afternoons. Combining some of the best North Mississippi nature with architecture, Holly Springs gives off a Pleasantville vibe, being both rural and proximate to Memphis.
Offering rich history and lush landscapes with plenty of outdoor activities for tourists and residents, from Chewalla Lake to Holly Springs National Forest, don't miss Phillips Grocery for the country’s best burger. As "Mississippi’s best-kept secret," the town is home to gorgeous antebellum homes dating back to the Civil War and open for tours, like the Ida B. Wells Museum and Walter Place. Marshall County Fairgrounds is just north of downtown for a fun day with horses, while the Chewalla Lake Recreation Area is minutes due southeast to play by the water, pier, and campground under the mild weather.
Natchez
Snug up against Louisiana across the river, there's no better town than Natchez for first-time visitors to the state and those seeking an in-depth look at the lives of Southerners. Boasting breathtaking views of the Mighty Mississippi, there's something for all, including the young and friends wishing to get some culture in between all the fun of discovering one of the nation's oldest towns. From Southern belles to surprising tidbits about the Natchez Indians, Civil War soldiers, and those who fought for civil rights, history is conveniently laid out along the streets. Natchez's many historic homes, including the iconic Longwood, are open for tours; landmarks for a glimpse at American history; and modern museums for daily life pre-Civil War.
Having attracted fascinating characters like John James Audubon, who sought inspiration in the surrounding rolling Mississippi landscape," Natchez is home to a brilliant art scene downtown with art galleries and studios to browse and even take home part of its cultural legacy. From the waterfront to churches, trails, and outstanding eateries with a vibrant nightlife, if that isn't enough, the "bed and breakfast capital of the South" excels in modern southern hospitality and a great choice of inns and B&Bs. Full of powerful reckonings, from the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians to the former slave market at Forks of the Road, don't miss Natchez National Historical Park with its four landmarks for history in the fresh air to get the best of this town even on a quick getaway.
New Albany
Finding yourself at the true heart of Mississippi, with rolling hills in north Mississippi for as long as the eye can see, New Albany feels much further than just an hour south of Memphis. From riverside strolls along the Tallahatchie River through the heart to the Tanglefoot Trail, a 44-mile paved walking and biking trail, New Albany is also the start of Rails to Trails paths, one of the state's most extended. New Albany is an antique in itself, with vintage architecture and a discerning feel of something else in the air. Could it be that this town, the birthplace of legendary William Faulkner, is a perfect day trip or weekend getaway for literary and culture fans?
The Native American mounds in the area add depth to this multifaceted town, which is one of the most interesting ones in Mississippi to discover. It really doesn't get much more charming or exciting than in the vibrant downtown area that inspires retail therapy with its boutiques, antique shops, jewelry dealers, and specialty stores for gifts. Visitors can vibe with friendly locals through a rich arts scene and seasonal festivals like Fort Desolation Fest in June, celebrating music and adventure. Stop by the Union County Heritage Museum and don't miss George's for fine dining, while the Bumpers Drive-In of America is an all-time local favorite for a quick bite in between award-winning tennis courts and a disc golf course.
Ocean Springs
It is not just another picturesque town along coastal Mississippi, but it is also one of the "coolest small towns in America." Downtown Ocean Springs boasts an impressive collection of funky boutiques, quaint shops, and top-notch dining at Blue Dog Bistro, with quick access to outdoor spaces like Ocean Springs Beach and Inner Harbor Park, which are spectacular at sunset. Craft Advisory Brewing is an unmissable stop afterward, with a local buzz and a family-friendly atmosphere to enjoy your choice of drinks and relax over craft beer and sodas made on-site. It is easy to see how inspiration seeps from everything that this town touches into this creative community, with vibrant art and music scenes through galleries and welcoming studios to browse, buy, and see the process.
Join the Slow Ride Pedal Tour downtown or hike the iconic Fontainebleau Nature Trail and kick up your feet at the Inn of Ocean Springs, a charming array of deluxe accommodations within historic buildings. Davis Bayou Area features a playground and a spectacular covered pier extending into the waters to take in views and enjoy photography even in the rain. Affording stunning Gulf Coast scenery, the Gulf Islands National Seashore can open up your own creative flow while on a leisurely stroll, in recreation mode, or simply lounging. Don't miss the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, and in the summer, Caboose Cones Sno Balls & Ice Cream in the heart of downtown for a stroll to the Front Beach with a dripping cone.
Oxford
Oxford is a down-to-earth town that encapsulates the best of the state in one small area. Abounding in creativity from musicians, artists, and writers, and lately, an extension into its new-age cafes and innovative restaurants, Oxford is rightfully the “Cultural Mecca of the South.” What is the primary source of so much inspiration, you ask? Home to the University of Mississippi, its deep history and youthful spirit fuse the preservation of the old, like Rowan Oak, with a futuristic perspective. Everyone will find something engaging in the Square, whether you're an artistically or musically inclined patron, with restaurants and bars like the Library turning into eclectic performance venues with household names and up-and-coming artists.
Find the brick-faced Graduate Oxford at the northern end for a convenient friends stay, while the Chancellor’s House, the newest boutique hotel, reminisces on Southern grandeur with a feel of approachable luxury for couples and families, featuring decadent rooms, a patio bar, and the opulent Chancellor’s Grill. Every Thursday in the fall and spring, Thacker Mountain Radio Hour, an authentically Oxford-free show, attracts nationwide culture fans for its impressive roster of musicians and writers. For another only-here experience, come cheered for the fierce Ole Miss Rebels and choose from racks of expertly curated vinyl at End of All Music, Oxford’s independent record store, to play over dinner while you tell the story back home.
Experience the Heart of the South in Mississippi's Charming Towns
Mississippi's small, charming towns make it fun and easy to discover the best of the American South, from culture to nature and history laid out along the streets, while treating visitors to local hospitality. For even a quick getaway, the state's oldest town, Natchez, the bed and breakfast capital of the South, is full of historic reckonings in a laid-back atmosphere, where John James Audubon sought inspiration in the rolling hills. Home to the 44-mile Tanglefoot Trail and Tallahatchie River through the heart, New Albany, the start of Rails to Trails paths, was home to William Faulkner, for all you nature and literary fans.
