9 Perfect Destinations for a Long Weekend in Mississippi
Mississippi, deriving its name from the Ojibwa (Chippewa) word “misi-ziibi,” meaning “great river,” as a nod to the Mississippi River, provides a number of excellent destinations for a long weekend you can try out for this new year. In Magnolia State, where magnolia trees grow in abundance, you will come upon historic towns like Bay Saint Louis and Port Gibson, which have contributed much to the formation of the state. Beyond the metropolitan beauties of Jackson, Gulfport, and Southaven, you will be enamored by the geographical oddity of Cleveland and the birthplace of the king, Tupelo. Best of all, you will not regret your exploration of the perfect destinations in Mississippi for a weekend retreat.
Bay Saint Louis
Bay Saint Louis, founded in 1699 and so named after King Louis IX of France, started out as a convenient retreat for wealthy planters retiring from the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Although it momentarily suffered from the Battle of Christian during the War of 1812, this quaint small town beside the Mississippi Sound, an embayment of the Gulf of Mexico, continues to promote its sceneries and its spectacles to newcomers everywhere. At the Hollywood Casino & Resort Gulf Coast, you can immerse yourself in the gambling glories of Las Vegas as well as the filmic delights from the City of Angels, Los Angeles.
Back in 2005, much of Bay Saint Louis’s abodes were wrecked due to Hurricane Katrina—fortunately, places like the Bay Saint Louis Historic L & N Train Depot have been restored and reopened for all to tour. The John C. Stennis Space Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) near Bay Saint Louis in Hancock County encourages you to look beyond the Earth and into the vast reaches of the Milky Way Galaxy. Those of you interested in Bay Saint Louis’s lovely attractions can certainly spend your weekends here in one of the town’s lavish lodgings, like the Carroll House Bed & Breakfast or the Pearl Hotel.
Corinth
Changing its name from Cross City to a city in Greece in the year 1857, the town of Corinth is a historic town two hours away from the city of Memphis in Tennessee. It was during the American Civil War that the townsfolk of Corinth witnessed or participated in the Battle of Shiloh, and over 5,500 Union and Confederate soldiers were interred at the Corinth National Cemetery. The Shiloh National Military Park Corinth Interpretive Center explains more about the pivotal Battle of Shiloh, while the nearby Corinth Contraband Camp focuses on the liberation of over 6,000 African-American slaves around the town. Interestingly enough, the Verandah-Curlee House is a historic abode that was once the former headquarters of Confederate leaders in Mississippi. There are many more moments of the past to learn all about in Corinth, so you should consider booking a room in places like The General's Quarters Inn for a studious stay in town.
Cleveland
Many people are inclined to follow the suggestions of fictitious characters. In the case of Ulysses Everett McGill, the protagonist of the movie Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou, you should definitely consider his wise sayings about the town of Cleveland: “Well, ain’t Cleveland a geographical oddity. It’s less than an hour from just about anywhere in the Mississippi Delta!”
Indeed, the townsfolk promote the geographical oddity of Cleveland with a festive mood in November when Christmas lights dominate the town during 50 Nights of Lights. Additionally, Cleveland is home to the GRAMMY Museum Mississippi, which showcases the individuals who have all won GRAMMY awards. The Delta State University is open to many scholars in the Mississippi Delta and beyond, just as the Amzie Moore House and Interpretive Center highlight the significance of the Civil Rights movements, which men like Stokely Carmichael, Bob Moses, and Dr. Martin Luther King Junior campaigned for. Before the day ends, you can either watch lively music performances at the Bologna Performing Arts Center (BPAC) or learn more about the railroad industry of Mississippi at the Cleveland Train Museum. Lodgings like the Cotton House or the Lyric Hotel will never disappoint with their amicable accommodations.
Biloxi
A famous French explorer named Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville arrived on Mississippi’s shores in 1699 and established Fort Maurepas in what is now Ocean Springs, near present-day Biloxi. From 1699 to 1702, Fort Maurepas served as the first territorial capital of French Louisiana. While the fort itself was eventually abandoned, the surrounding coastal area gave rise to the settlement of Biloxi, which would grow into one of Mississippi's most notable coastal towns. Today, Biloxi is a vibrant city located about 47 minutes from Bay Saint Louis, known for its rich history, lively festivals, and coastal charm.
In this historic town, one can attend Biloxi’s version of the Mardi Gras festival, which you can familiarize yourself with more deeply at the Coastal Mardi Gras Museum. Meanwhile, the Maritime Seafood Industry Museum and the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art are two notable destinations that will give you an appetite for the arts and for Mississippi’s dishes. At the time of occupancy, the Beauvoir estates served as the homes of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, a rival to President Abraham Lincoln. There are plenty of other attractions worth seeing in Biloxi, like the loggerhead turtles and pelicans at Deer Island or even the accommodations afforded to travelers at the Rue Magnolia Bed & Breakfast, Hilton Garden Inn, or Harrah’s Gulf Coast.
Natchez
Long ago, the Natchez, Chickasaw, and Choctaw peoples often traveled along the Natchez Trace Parkway to arrive in areas like Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi. The town of Natchez is one of the many magnificent towns along this route, specifically on the banks of the Mississippi River. You can participate in the annual Spring Pilgrimage by visiting the Pilgrimage Garden Club and the Natchez Garden Club. The Longwood, Stanton Hall, the Melrose estate, the William Johnson House, and Fort Rosalie in the Natchez National Historical Park are among the many antebellum buildings in Natchez memorializing the town’s beginnings.
On the other hand, the Grand Village of the Natchez Native Americans gives you an informative and respectful look into the indigenous people who helped make Natchez. The Forks of the Road is a historical site that was a major center for the domestic slave trade. You need not feel so dreadful when exploring Homochitto National Forest, Natchez State Park, and the Emerald Mound. Most of all, you will feel rejuvenated once you rest at either the Natchez Grand Hotel, Concord Quarters, or Stone House Musical B&B.
Port Gibson
Port Gibson was spared the torch of war when Ulysses S. Grant conquered the town after the Battle of Port Gibson. He found this little community beside the Bayou Pierre and the Natchez Trace Parkway “too beautiful to burn” and left the town to focus on his true target, the town of Vicksburg in the north. Because of this generous move, one of Port Gibson’s remarkable landmarks, a Greek revival mansion called the Windsor which has over 23 Corinthian columns for all to see, has endured. You can admire the history of the American Civil War by touring the ruins of two Confederate fortresses, Cobun and Wade, at the Grand Gulf State Park. Finally, you can spend your amicable evenings in Port Gibson in one of the town’s fine establishments like the Isabella Bed & Breakfast or the Collina House.
Tupelo
The history of rock and roll might not have been the same if it had not been for the King, Elvis Presley. Better yet, Elvis Presley would not have been if not for his hometown, Tupelo. In honor of this Rock’n Roll icon, the townsfolk celebrate the beloved Elvis Festival from June 5 to 9, and Presley’s own home now serves as a living museum depicting his life. However, Tupelo is not only the birthplace of the King of Rock and Roll but also the home of the largest buffalo park in Mississippi, where you can admire humungous herds of American bison in the plains.
Back in the past, Tupelo was a site for numerous conflicts during the Chickasaw Campaign of 1736, like the Battle of Hikki’ Ya’ (Ackia) at the Chickasaw Village Site. Furthermore, it also witnessed a handful of American Civil War battles, such as the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads, the Battle of Tupelo/Harrisburg, and the Battle of King’s Creek. Tupelo has a wide spectrum of special attractions and information that will bamboozle many visitors, so you should consider booking a room at either the Hotel Tupelo or the Scottish Inn for a longer weekend in Tupelo.
Holly Springs
Before 1836, Holly Springs was once known as Suavatooky when immigrants from Europe established a lasting community about 60 miles away from Corinth. At the time of its beginnings, the town was a hotbed of slave labor, specifically for African-Americans who were worked to death to make cotton. Fortunately, in the American Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant liberated Holly Springs’ slaves and transformed the town into a supply depot and headquarters, which Confederate General Earl Van Dorn often raided.
These days, visitors can enjoy leisurely strolls through the Holly Springs National Forest or marvel at the modern artworks of the Kate Freeman Clark Art Gallery. At the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum and the “Behind the Big House” tour, you can learn more about the African-American history that Holly Springs was part of. Should you wish to spend your evenings in this historic town, you can do so by first booking a room at either the Wynne House Inn or Magnolia Inn.
Oxford
Although the town of Oxford in Mississippi and the city of Oxford in England are far apart, they do share an affinity for being college communities. The former, specifically, contains the University of Mississippi, also known as the “Ole Miss” by the locals. Within the campus grounds, you can admire a Civil Rights Monument, such as a statue of an African-American named James Meredith, who became the first African-American student to ever be integrated in 1962. Nearby, the Rowan Oak, the home of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner, can be explored in addition to other domiciles and dwelling places where authors like Larry Brown, Barry Hannah, Willie Morris, and John Grisham once resided. Oxford is certainly a prestigious and informative town that will enlighten many with its educational attractions, and even the fine hostels of the South Lamar Bed & Breakfast, The Inn at Ole Miss, or Courtyard Oxford have something for you.
A Memorable Long Weekend in Mississippi’s Scenic Towns
You should not miss out on Mississippi this 2025, particularly the perfect destinations for a long weekend in Mississippi. It was in this state that President Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear, prompting the creation of Teddy Bears. It is in this state that you will be drawn to the academic allure of Oxford, the rich history of landmarked towns like Holly Springs, Tupelo, and Port Gibson, as well as the coastal beauties of Biloxi and Bay Saint Louis. Most importantly, it is in the Magnolia State of Mississippi that you will be rejuvenated and renewed for a hopeful new year from the ideal destinations suitable for a long weekend.
