9 Most Scenic Mississippi Towns

Mississippi earns the title "State for Wanderers," boasting bustling town streets, an abundance of camping destinations, and breathtaking state parks. The Magnolia State encompasses a distinct American culture and plenty of scrumptious culinary delights, so there is plenty of good food, a unique history, and a welcoming community to go around. Unforgettably, Mississippi is the birthplace of the delta blues, one of the earliest-known styles of blues music.

While the state offers plenty of adventure and unique happenings and histories, it also hosts plenty of breathtaking towns for a scenic vacation. The diverse terrain of the southern state includes treetop trails, vast beaches, red-clay hills, and natural hot springs. No matter what you seek to discover, the scenery of Mississippi offers something for every adventure.

Holly Springs

Holly Springs is one of the best small towns to retire to in Mississippi, boasting hot summers, mild winters, and plenty to do in the great outdoors. Swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing are popular along the shores of Chewalla Lake, while travelers often hike, camp, and explore the beautiful Holly Springs National Forest. Strawberry Plains Audubon Center protects 2,500 acres of hardwood forests, wetlands, and native grasslands, as well as animal habitats, while offering the opportunity to learn about the natural ecosystem and wildlife of the area. Wall Doxey State Park is another scenic destination, which encompasses a 60-acre, spring-fed lake, perfect for fishing, camping, and traversing nature trails. Aside from camping, popular places to stay in the area just so happen to double as historic buildings, including Court Square Inn Bed & Breakfast, The Wynne House Inn, and Heritage Inn Bed & Breakfast.

Port Gibson

One of the most charming towns in Mississippi, Port Gibson stuns with historic landmarks, preserved during the Civil War as President Ulysses S. Grant believed it was "too pretty to burn." The Windsor Ruins are an iconic site, left behind by the historic Windsor Plantation, as well as an 1861 Greek Revival mansion. Destroyed by a fire in the 1890s, only towering pillars remain. Another spot on the National Record of Historic Places, Grand Gulf Military Park was the base of Ulysses S. Grant's operations, and now contains Grand Gulf Cemetery, a museum, a carriage house, campgrounds, hiking trails, and the picturesque Confederate Memorial Chapel.

The town, situated along the Blues Highway on the way to Memphis, is well known for its peaceful atmosphere, drawing visitors in from all over. Travelers stay in destinations that embody a quaint and welcoming energy, alongside historic tales and unique details, such as the Collina Plantation Inn, a Greek Revival 1830s home in the town's countryside.

Natchez

Natchez is just forty miles southwest of Port Gibson and sits on the shores of the Mississippi River. The charmed hamlet is well known for its antebellum mansions, including the uniquely octagonal Longwood, The House on Ellicott Hill, and the breathtaking Melrose estate, which sits within the Natchez National Historical Park. A self-guided walking tour is one of the best ways for travelers to familiarize themselves with the area, beginning at Fort Rosalie, a 1716 French colonial bulkhead, wandering through Memorial Park, and ending at the Bridge of Sighs, overlooking the Mississippi River.

Other opportunities for outdoor recreation include a hike through the Natchez Trace Parkway, a visit to St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge, and a boat ride on the waters of the Old River. Visitors may experience the town's storied past and its welcoming community with a stay at Historic Oak Hill Inn, Dunleith Historic Inn, or Beaumont House.

Woodville

Woodville is an adorable Mississippi town, and it also happens to be one of the oldest-founded towns in the state, dating all the way back to 1811. Many of the town's original structures remain intact, including the Wilkinson County Museum of the 1834 banking house of the West Feliciana Railroad, and the African-American Museum, once the 1819 Federal building. Wilkinson County Park is just four miles north of the town, perfect for fishing, hiking, and biking, while Clark Creek Natural Area is to the west and home to over thirty waterfalls.

The borough is part of the Mississippi Main Street Community, featuring a charmed main street dotted with an antique mall (called the Main Street Market) and restaurants such as the Woodville Cafe and Jackie's Hamburger Shop. The main street also hosts the Deer and Wildlife Festival each October.

Greenville

Greenville sits in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, home to a number of state parks for a lush, tucked-away vacation. Nearby Warfield Point Park and Leroy Percy State Park are home to more than just campgrounds, with plenty of room for hiking, water sports, and outdoor adventuring. Lake Washington, known for its crappie, catfish, and bluegill fishing, attracts anglers from all over the country, while Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge is the ideal destination for bird-watching. A visit to Greenville offers the opportunity to traverse the Mississippi Blues Trail, which marks important moments in history alongside scenic views. In terms of architecture and Antebellum homes, the town's streets encompass buildings such as the 1927 Flood Museum, which is the oldest structure in Downtown Greenville, and the Neoclassical Revival First National Bank Building.

Oxford

Oxford is one of the friendliest towns in Mississippi, earning the title “Cultural Mecca of the South” because of its history of musicians, artists, and writers, who all find inspiration from the town's scenery and atmosphere. Some of the most popular and beautiful attractions include the L.Q.C. Lamar House, which is a Greek Revival Structure and National Historic Landmark, the 1848 Rowan Oak house, once home to Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner, and the University Museum, which includes a variety of collections from antiquity, folk artists, and scientific instruments. With a rich history, visitors also find themselves drawn to the town's scenery, most potent in its parks, such as John W. Kyle State Park, Wall Doxey State Park, and Bailey Branch Park.

Tupelo

Tupelo is a charming small town, though it is most famous for being Elvis Presley's birthplace. It also houses the headquarters of the Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile drive (hiking, biking, boating, horse riding, and camping are all options as well) through breathtaking natural scenery. Visitors can get up close and personal with beautiful buffalo at Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo, as well as giraffes, monkeys, and lions. For those in search of history and beauty combined, take a walk along one of the hamlet's heritage trails, such as the Civil Rights Heritage Trail or the Battles of Tupelo/Harrisburg and Brice's Crossroads Trail. Elvis fans may find themselves in search of the King of Rock 'n' Roll's story, which is waiting to be discovered at locations such as the Elvis Presley Birthplace & Museum and the Elvis Homecoming Statue.

Ocean Springs

Ocean Springs is one of the most charming beach towns in Mississippi, situated along the scenic shoreline of the Gulf Coast. Because of its location, the town encompasses plenty of natural attractions and historical landmarks, including Fort Maurepas State Park, where there was the first French settlement, Davis Bayou Area, and the Gulf Islands National Seashore. More historic spots include the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Bridge Mosaic Mural, and the Crooked Feather sculpture, which stands 30 feet tall. 

The main street community offers much to explore, boasting amenities and destinations such as Slow Ride Pedal Tours, The Walter Anderson Museum of Art, and The Candy Cottage & Gourmet. Each month, there is a First Saturday Art Walk where the streets come to life, covered in live music, unique vendors, and plenty of local art.

Vicksburg

Vicksburg earns a spot in history as a site of a key Civil War battle, permanently commemorated within the Vicksburg National Military Park. There are eleven tour homes within the town's borders, allowing visitors to delve into a storied history. The homes vary in age, ranging from the early 1700s to the post-Civil War era, such as Anchuca Historic Mansion, an Antebellum home, the Victorian era Baer House, and the Duff Green Mansion, once a Civil War Hospital. For outdoor adventurers, the town sits on the Great River Road and encompasses several stops on the Mississippi Blues Trail and Tamale Trail. Cyclists and runners may find a trip to the Mississippi River Trail especially enticing, traveling along the banks of the river.

Mississippi's scenic small towns offer endless beauty and adventure, ideal for a wandering spirit. From a breathtaking sunset, where vibrant orange rays dance along the glistening waters of the Mississippi River in Natchez, to the natural and historic treasures of Strawberry Plains Audubon Center in Holly Springs, there is something for everyone to discover in these Mississippi towns. On top of their picturesque views, each town boasts its own unique culture, food, events, and more, enticing visitors from all over.