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While there are countless small towns worth visiting in Mississippi, there is a handful that really stands out for travellers seeking to cram as much into a single visit as possible. The best of these eclectic small towns not only boast historic attractions that provide a look into their intriguing pasts, but they also feature a mix of modern museums, galleries, events, and festivals that guarantee broad appeal. From their strong literary and artistic connections to their fascinating music and cultural heritage, travelers exploring these unique destinations will discover plenty of great things to do. Whether you’re planning a fun day trip or a memorable weekend getaway, be sure to consider these eclectic small towns in Mississippi in your travel plans.

Oxford

Located in northern Mississippi and only an hour’s drive south of Memphis, TN, Oxford boasts a great selection of sightseeing opportunities and experiences. Established in 1837, the town square is a great place to begin a self-guided walking tour of downtown Oxford. Here you’ll find the attractive Lafayette County Courthouse, built in 1872 and renovated multiple times since, as well as four separate locations of Square Books, an independent bookstore founded in 1979 that hosts weekly author signings.

Carry on exploring the town’s literary connection with a 20-minute stroll along South Lamar Boulevard from the square to Rowan Oak, the home of William Faulkner. Constructed in 1844 and set on over 29 acres of wooded property, self-guided tours are available that include a glimpse of Faulkner’s notes on the walls of his study. Summer’s a great time to visit for the Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference, an eclectic academic event held at the University of Mississippi (UM). Founded in 1974, it draws scholars and fans from across the globe to participate in one of America’s oldest literary conferences.

April’s Double Decker Arts Festival is another great excuse for a visit and features regional art along with live music around the historic square. And over on UM’s campus, sports enthusiasts can attend Ole Miss Rebels games at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium or take in a show at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

Starkville

Situated mid-state just a short drive from the border with Alabama, Starkville is home to Mississippi State University (MSU), a nearly 150-year-old institution that continues to influence local culture. The campus is a delight to wander with notable landmarks including the Chapel of Memories, constructed in 1965 on the site of a previous building lost to fire, and the Charles H. Templeton Sr. Music Museum with its large collection of historic instruments and sheet music illustrating the evolution of the nation’s popular music from the mid-1800s to the 20th century.

Off-campus, the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum explores the region’s agricultural history including cotton gins and local artwork, while Starkville’s Cotton District features many fine examples of Greek Revival and Victorian-inspired architecture. Cultural events that put Starkville on the radar include the Magnolia Independent Film Festival (aka, The Mag) in February, while fall’s Bulldog Bash celebrates MSU’s football team with live music and food stalls along Main Street. Sports fans should also visit MSU’s Dudy Noble Field for college baseball matchups.

Tupelo

Famous as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, Tupelo is a must-visit for fans of the King of Rock and Roll. If that’s you, start your adventure at the Elvis Presley Birthplace. Built in 1935, this modest two-room home now features an adjacent museum outlining the star’s early years, as well as a memorial chapel. Mark your calendars for June when the Tupelo Elvis Festival brings tribute acts to town to perform the King’s best-known songs, while May brings with it the much-anticipated Blue Suede Cruise vintage car show.

Tupelo is also a great destination for traveling families. A highlight for those with young ‘uns in tow includes the Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, a 210-acre animal wonderland with bison, zebras, and other exotic animals, as well as guided trolley tours and giraffe feeding. The Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center is another great place to stop, especially if you’re into road trips, as it provides interpretive exhibits about the 444-mile scenic route linking Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee.

Vicksburg

Its handy location on the I-20 near the state border with Louisiana makes Vicksburg an easy-to-get-to destination. Its strategic location on the Mississippi River has also played a part in the town’s growth and development, and also played a pivotal role in the Civil War. You can learn more about this period at the Vicksburg National Military Park. Established in 1899 and encompassing 1,800 acres of historic battlegrounds from this period of American history, it’s here you can see the salvaged USS Cairo, a Civil War ironclad gunboat sunk in 1862 and raised in 1964.

The Old Courthouse Museum, completed in 1858, is another historic landmark that featured predominantly in the Civil War. Pop in to see fascinating exhibits in 1863’s nearly three-month-long Siege of Vicksburg, as well as artifacts, including Confederate currency. The Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum commemorates Joseph Biedenharn’s 1894 innovation of bottling Coca-Cola, with interactive exhibits, original equipment and documents, as well as a gift shop. Be sure to also spend time exploring the riverfront area. Here, you’ll find the Lower Mississippi River Museum with its scale model of river flood controls and information on levee systems, while the Riverfront Murals on Levee Street capture key historical episodes, including the steamboat trade of the 1870s.

Clarksdale

Clarksdale is located on the northwest corner of the state near the border with Arkansas and is closely linked to the heritage of Delta blues, a fact that makes it especially popular with music fans. If that includes you, start at the Delta Blues Museum. Situated in the old Clarksdale freight depot built in 1918, it features displays of instruments, photographs, and even personal items that once belonged to such greats as Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. Afterwards, head to the iconic Ground Zero Blues Club. Part-owned by actor Morgan Freeman, this popular nightspot hosts regular blues performances with a backdrop of murals depicting some of the South’s greatest music legends.

Fans of blues folklore will also want to visit the famous Crossroads at Highways 61 and 49, rumored to be where Robert Johnson bartered his soul for guitar prowess. The Riverside Hotel, adapted from the former G.T. Thomas Afro-American Hospital in 1944, is where singer Bessie Smith passed away in 1937 following an automobile accident. Best time to visit? That’d be April when the Juke Joint Festival returns to downtown Clarksdale with musicians playing at genuine juke joints and on street stages. For outdoor pursuits, head to the Sunflower River which runs through Clarksdale and pick up a kayak from the Quapaw Canoe Company… and hit the water.

Laurel

Handily located on the I-59 just 90 minutes from Jackson, the state capital, Laurel has transformed from a major timber town to something of an arts hub. Cultural highlights include the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, which opened in 1923 and Mississippi’s first art museum. Among its eclectic collections are everything from Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints to European oil paintings, as well as a significant assortment of British Georgian silver. Fans of old architecture should explore the 16 blocks of Laurel’s Historic District with its well-preserved commercial architecture dating from 1890 to 1920.

Here you’ll find the restored Arabian Theatre, which started operations in 1927 and still hosts community performances and vintage films; and the attractive Rogers-Green House, built in 1903 with its original stained-glass windows still in place. Try to time a visit to coincide with the Loblolly Festival, a fun event named after the loblolly pine that once fueled the local lumber industry and featuring wood-carving demonstrations, live entertainment, and displays from area artisans. The lumber legacy continues at Sawmill Square Mall, a great place to wind up your visit with some good ol’ retail therapy.

The Final Word

For those looking for fun things to do in Mississippi, these six small towns won’t disappoint. So much more than mere dots on a map, each of these destinations features a diversity of attractions to explore, whatever your interests. From musical and cultural milestones to Civil War landmarks, these six eclectic locations in Mississippi present no end of fun travel opportunities in the deep South.