1. Jackson, 2. Little Rock, 3. Hot Springs, 4. Birmingham, 5. Mobile, 6. Memphis, 7. The Mississippi River, 8. Baton Rouge, 9. Lafayette, 10. Alexandria. There’s nothing like a nice, relaxing weeklong beach getaway. Unfortunately, that’s not in everyone’s budget. So, what’s the next best thing? Perhaps you’ll do a search for “a day trip near me in Mississippi.” Okay, so maybe it’s not the next best thing but if planned correctly, a day trip can be a good way to take a break from everyday life, and these 10 best day trips from Mississippi are proof.
- Jackson
- Little Rock
- Hot Springs
- Birmingham
- Mobile
- Memphis
- The Mississippi River
- Baton Rouge
- Lafayette
- Alexandria
Jackson
Jackson ranks first on the list of the best day trips from Mississippi. Although tourists often overlook it, Mississippi’s capital and largest city, Jackson certainly has enough going for it to warrant a visit. Set on the banks of the Pearl River, it boasts a brilliant live music scene and a handful of excellent museums and historic buildings. It is part of the Mississippi Freedom Trail, which memorializes locations and people that impacted the Civil Rights Movement, and there are markers throughout the city.
The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History are its two main tourist attractions. While the former provides an interesting look at the state’s history and culture, the latter focuses on Mississippi’s fight for racial equality. Aside from the magnificent museums, there is also the artsy Fondren District to explore, with its boutiques and coffee shops.
As ‘The City with Soul’ is Jackson’s slogan, it should come as no surprise to learn that there’s a load of great live music to discover in its numerous bars and venues. Weekends are a particularly good time to visit: this is when blues, folk, and jazz can be heard on every street corner. The city also boasts over 300 restaurants where visitors can relax and enjoy some delicious Southern comfort food.
Google rating: 4.6/5.0
Location: Mississippi
Phone: N/a
Website: https://www.jacksonms.gov/
brookings.edu
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Little Rock
A day trip to Little Rock, Arkansas, is ideal for those interested in visiting one of the city’s numerous museums. This trip is ideal for families and requires a couple of hours of driving to Little Rock and back. Nonetheless, there should be time to visit one of the excellent local museums. The Arkansas Arts Center can be found here. This is Arkansas’s largest art museum, and it dwarfs many museums in Mississippi. At the same time, the museum is a performing arts center, so check to see if any plays are scheduled here, especially if you enjoy day trips with your children.
Another excellent option for a few hours of exploration is the Little Rock Museum of Discovery. It’s a hands-on museum, so your kids can easily experiment with various science experiments here. Because this museum isn’t too large, you’ll have a few hours left in the day to visit one of the excellent local restaurants. Alternatively, you could go to Old State House. This was the old Arkansas state capitol, so it has political and historical significance. When converted into a museum, it can provide the closest experience to a White House visit for those traveling from Mississippi.
Address: 500 W Markham St. / Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone: 501-371-4510
Website: https://www.littlerock.gov/
hardmoneyadvisor.com
arkansas.com
Hot Springs
Hot Springs ranks 3rd on the list of the best day trips from Mississippi. If you want to relax for the entire day, the Hot Springs are worth a visit. You can spend at least 8 hours at a local resort or spa if you leave early in the morning. This ideal spay day trip is designed for those who are able to drive to Arkansas. Hot Springs is said to have numerous miraculous healing power glasses of water, which have inspired numerous legends. If you want to sit back and relax for a few hours, you can now book full-day access to one of the springs around the spa town or at one of its many hotels. A well-known horseracing park is also located in the city, which may be worth a visit if there is a horse racing event scheduled for the day.
Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Address: 134 Convention Boulevard, P.O. Box 6000, AR 71902
Phone: (501) 321-2277
Website: https://www.hotsprings.org/
getawaycouple.com
Birmingham
For a romantic day trip, Birmingham in Alabama can be a close-by destination. This place offers great shopping opportunities and a few cinemas to watch a movie. But the best place for couples to watch a real play here is right at the Birmingham Theatre. While it looks impressive, the theatre also has an impressive history. It was initially built by Paramount Studios. The movie-making company built this theatre so that locals have a place to see real plays and the company’s movies.
Couples traveling during the weekend can also make the most of the Birmingham farmer’s market. It takes place on weekends and it can be one of the most inspiring shopping for healthy food experiences. Farmers come here from all over the state and the area of the city to sell their fresh produces. You can buy legumes and other types of homemade foods here to last for a week.
Google rating: 4.4/5.0
Address: 710 20th Street N, Birmingham AL 35203
Phone: 205-254-2000
Website: https://www.birminghamal.gov/
birmingham.ac.uk
Mobile
Mobile has a certain allure that keeps you guessing. Where a melting pot of people, flavors, cultures, and traditions come together to form a single voice to lead all of life’s celebrations. Join the jubilee and greet each day with enduring passion and soulful hospitality, because life is the ultimate gift. This is the living spirit. This is what they were created to do.
Fort Conde is also accessible from Mobile. This is not the original fort, but a smaller-scale replica. The French constructed Fort Conde in 1702. Its purpose was to aid in the protection of French colonies at the time. Since then, the fort has been remodeled and shrunk to make way for the new Mobile city. Visitors with children can see some of the most important weapons used by the French while stationed at the fort in 1702.
Funky, feisty, and celebratory. Historic, trendy, and happening Or it could be bright, cool, and cultured. When you have a vibrant 300-year history full of stories to tell and long-standing traditions to celebrate on a regular basis, you can call this coastal town a lot of things. Mobile, once known as the “Paris of the South,” has long been the cultural heart of the Gulf Coast, and you’ll find an authentic experience like no other in the southern United States.
Google rating: 4.3/5.0
Address: One South Water Street, Mobile, AL 36602
Phone: 251-208-2000
Website: https://www.mobile.org/
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Memphis
Memphis ranks 5th on the list of the best day trips from Mississippi. There are far too many world-class attractions to visit in Memphis in a single day. However, there are a few compelling reasons why so many people prefer to visit it over other cities. The first reason is excellent music. Memphis is known as the international home of blues music, so there are many great artists and venues to discover here. Beale Street is home to some of Memphis’ most popular blues venues, so starting your visit here is a must.
Other types of music fans will find other great venues to consider here as well. The Memphis Rock ‘n Soul Museum, for example, is a good place to learn about the history of music diversity in Memphis. Memphis’ harsh past is also worth exploring for a more authentic view of the city. Part of this difficult past can be traced back to the days of slavery prior to the Civil War. Several small museums and venues demonstrate how difficult those times were. Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum is one such location.
Visitors can even see various secret underground tunnels here. Slaves dug these tunnels as a means of escape. Such passages can be found beneath the museum’s main building. Memphis is unquestionably worth returning to. Good music, great food, and a rich history make day trips from neighboring states worthwhile.
Google rating: 4.2/5.0
Location: Tennessee
Phone: 888-633-9099
Website: https://www.memphistn.gov/
southerntrippers.com
The Mississippi River
The Mississippi River runs along the western border of Mississippi. It can provide a variety of one-day trips, ranging from riverboat cruises to fishing trips. Louisiana is one of the most interesting places to cruise down the river. You can use Baton Rouge as a starting point because there are a few boats in the area that specialize in short cruises. These types of day trips are ideal for families, particularly those living in Mississippi’s south-western region.
There is so much to consider along this great American waterway as it courses through 10 states—Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana—it would seem easy to overlook a few pieces. Yet, the connectivity of the river that drains 41 percent of the continental United States and carries more water than any other American river remains its most critical component. As the nation’s second-longest river, behind only the conjoining Missouri, the Mississippi provides drinking water for millions and supports a $12.6 billion shipping industry, with 35,300 related jobs. It’s one of the greatest water highways on earth, carrying commerce and food for the world. Half the nation’s corn and soybeans are barged on the section above the Ohio River confluence, known as the Little Mississippi.
Google rating: 4.0/5.0
Address: Mississippi
Phone: 202-347-7550
Website: https://www.americanrivers.org/river/mississippi-river/
britannica.com
nature.org
Baton Rouge
The LSU Museum of Art is regarded as the most important attraction in Baton Rouge. The LSU Museum of Art, located on the Mississippi River, is one of the best attractions for those looking for a day trip that will impress fine art tastes. This museum can be visited in a single day. A trip to the zoo, on the other hand, can be more interactive. Thousands of animals now call the Baton Rouge Zoo home. People come from all over the state, as well as neighboring states like Mississippi, to see the various animal species. This zoo’s most popular animals are monkeys and snakes. Made for those who appreciate vast open zoos with plenty of space for their guests, this is the location where most locals with kids who want a day out typically go.
Address: P.O. Box 1471Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Phone: 225-389-3000
Website: https://www.brla.gov/
universalcommercialcapital.com.vn
Lafayette
LaFayette, Alabama, the county seat of Chambers County in East Central Alabama, offers the ideal balance of rural and urban life. Maintain a leisurely lifestyle in the city limits, surrounded by natural beauty and historic architecture, while still enjoying the fast-paced activities of nearby Auburn/Opelika (30 miles), Montgomery (70 miles), Atlanta (80 miles), or Birmingham (120 miles).
LaFayette’s proximity, transportation options, access to outdoor activities and major sporting events makes it a perfect place to live, raise a family, do business or just visit. Vermilionville is the main attraction in Lafayette. This living museum is one of the best in Alabama and you can even check out local actors dressed up in traditional costumes to learn more about the history of Alabama. Ideally, those traveling to this museum also make time during the 1-day visit to stop at the nearby Acadian Village to learn more about the Cajun bayou community.
Google rating: N/a
Address: P.O. Box 8750 Alabama Avenue WestLaFayette, AL 36862
Phone: (334) 864-7181
Website: https://cityoflafayetteal.com/
hotels.cn
Alexandria
Alexandria is the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, and the ninth-largest city in the state of Louisiana. It is located on the south bank of the Red River, almost exactly in the geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area, which includes all of the parishes of Rapides and Grant. Pineville is its neighboring city. The population was 47,723 in 2010, a 3% increase from the 2000 census.
Alexandria is another excellent day trip option for those interested in learning more about the history of the South. This area was known for its large farms, which played an important role in US history. Within city limits, Kent Plantation House can be visited. The Alexandria Museum of Art is also a good stop for those who want to learn more about Alexandria’s history. It primarily features exhibits of local significance. However, the museum is only one of three large museum complexes that can take more than a day to visit. For those with limited time in the city who want to make the most of the great Louisiana weather, an adventure at the local Alexandria Zoological Park may be worth considering.
Location: Louisiana
Website: https://www.cityofalexandriala.com/
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