Mississippi
Go for the Delta's blues history, the antebellum houses of Natchez, the civil rights sites in Jackson and the Gulf Coast beaches.
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Mississippi is a Deep South state bordered by Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama and the Gulf of Mexico. Its northwest corner is the Mississippi Delta, a flat river floodplain where blues music took shape among cotton fields and juke joints. Clarksdale, where Highways 61 and 49 cross, is the best-known blues town there. Jackson, the state capital, has the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and other sites from the 1960s movement. Natchez sits on bluffs above the Mississippi River and has antebellum houses, many open for guided tours.
The Gulf Coast, around Biloxi and Gulfport, has sand beaches and seafood restaurants. The Natchez Trace Parkway, a National Park Service road, runs through the state, and Vicksburg has a Civil War battlefield and a national military park on the river. Choose Mississippi for history, live music and Southern cooking. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons; summers are hot and humid. Plan four or five days for the Delta, Jackson and Natchez, and add a few days for the coast.
Mississippi in five
- Rent a car at Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers AirportMost towns outside Jackson have no regular bus or rail service, so Oxford, Clarksdale, Natchez and the Gulf Coast need a car. Book before you land, because pickup counters at smaller airports are limited.Getting around
- Fill up before you join the Natchez TraceThe Natchez Trace Parkway is run by the National Park Service, has very few fuel stops, and bars commercial vehicles. Fill your tank in Jackson or Natchez first.
- Find the blues markers in ClarksdaleThe Crossroads, where Highways 61 and 49 meet, is Clarksdale's best-known blues landmark. Many live-music bars are small, so check their schedules before you plan a night out.Music
- Check whether your county is drySome Mississippi counties are dry, so beer, wine and liquor cannot be bought there. Ask your hotel before you plan dinner or a bottle to take to a friend's house.
- Buy insurance that covers storm delaysGulf Coast trips from June to November fall in hurricane season. Check that your policy covers storm-related cancellations before you book.
Neighborhoods
Oxford
- Best for: Writers, university visits
- Price band: $$
- The Square is the center of shops and restaurants
- Rowan Oak is William Faulkner's former home
- Rooms fill fast on home football weekends
Skip if you want Delta blues and a quiet base.
Natchez
- Best for: History, slow stays, Trace drives
- Price band: $$
- Antebellum houses open to visitors on guided tours
- The Natchez Trace Parkway starts near town
- The bluff overlooks the Mississippi River
Skip if you want a big-city restaurant scene.
Biloxi
Biloxi suits a relaxed Gulf Coast trip built around sandy beaches, fresh Gulf seafood, a historic lighthouse and a ferry out to barrier islands.
Things to do in Mississippi
See all attractions in Mississippi
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- ESTA for Visa Waiver passports; a visa for most others Read more
- Emergency
- 911 police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Expected: 15 to 20 percent at restaurants
- Time
- UTC-6 (Central), daylight saving to UTC-5 in summer
Weather by month
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, damp
- FebruaryWet, cool
- MarchStorm season
- AprilSpring blooms
- MayWarm, green
- JuneHot, humid
- JulyHottest
- AugustHot, humid
- SeptemberHurricane season
- OctoberMild, fall color
- NovemberCool, mild
- DecemberHoliday season
Right now in Mississippi
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 23°
- Humidity
- 66%
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 1%
Mississippi
11:03 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today26°18°1%Monday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Tue27°19°61%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 61%.
- Wed24°15°89%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 89%.
- Thu25°14°15%Thursday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Fri25°15°15%Friday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Sat22°12°5%Saturday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sun22°9°6%Sunday: Clear. High 22°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 6%.
Updated 07:47 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.119 USD
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Natchezabout 1.5 hours by car from JacksonAntebellum houses and the southern end of the Natchez Trace.
- Oxfordabout 2 hours by car from JacksonFaulkner's home and the Square, a full day in a university town.
- Gulf Coastabout 2 hours by car from JacksonBeaches, seafood and the casino towns of Biloxi.
- Clarksdaleabout 2 hours by car from JacksonThe Crossroads and Delta blues venues, best on a slow evening.
Before you go to Mississippi
Rules for Mississippi, checked
- Visa Waiver travelers need an approved ESTA before boarding a flight to the US. Check the rules on the official CBP site.Source
- Some Mississippi counties are dry, so alcohol cannot be bought there. Check the county before you plan dinner or a bottle.
- Commercial vehicles are barred from the Natchez Trace Parkway, a National Park Service road with almost no fuel stops. Check NPS rules before you drive it.
Plan around Mississippi
Why a car is the practical way to cover the state
Read the guideBlues and musicBlues, Clarksdale and the Delta music scene
Read the guideCulture and historyCivil rights sites, Faulkner and Natchez houses
Read the guideMoney and cardsSales tax, tipping and paying with cash
Read the guideVisas and entryESTA and visa rules for your passport
Read the guideWhere to stayJackson, Oxford, Clarksdale and Natchez bases
Read the guideMississippi FAQ
Is Mississippi worth visiting?
Yes, for blues, Southern history and small towns. Clarksdale, Oxford and Natchez each take a day or more, and the Natchez Trace Parkway runs through the state from Natchez north.
Where should I stay in Mississippi?
Jackson for flights and car rental, Oxford for the university town, Clarksdale for blues and Natchez for the old houses. Choose one base for every two or three nights.
How many days do you need in Mississippi?
Four to five days covers Jackson, the Natchez Trace and one of Oxford or Clarksdale. Add two more days for the Gulf Coast or a full Delta loop.
Do I need a car in Mississippi?
Yes for most trips. Outside a few towns there is little bus or rail service, and the Natchez Trace Parkway has almost no fuel stops.
Is Memphis in Mississippi?
No. Memphis is in Tennessee, on the Mississippi River. Clarksdale is about 90 minutes south of Memphis by car.
Can I visit Mississippi without a visa?
Yes, for many passports, if you have an approved ESTA. Visa Waiver travelers apply online through the US CBP ESTA site, and other travelers need a visa from a US consulate.