Mississippi National Parks Guide

Did you know that Mississippi is home to nine National Park Service sites? You’ll find Civil War battlefields, pristine white-sand beaches, scenic parkways, and more when you explore this history-rich state.

Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site

Image via Flickr by Ron Cogswell

Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site is located about 85 miles from Memphis, Tennessee, in northeastern Mississippi. It’s the site of the Civil War’s Battle of Brices Cross Roads, which was fought on June 10, 1864. The National Park Service maintains a 1-acre memorial within the battlefield grounds, but no visitor facilities are located at the site. It’s open from sunrise to sunset and is free to enter.

Gulf Island National Seashore

Gulf Island National Seashore, located in both Mississippi and Florida, is a vast area of land protected by the National Park Service. As a designated National Seashore, the site preserves the historical and natural resources of seven Gulf Coast barrier islands and a few mainland areas. The Mississippi portion of the National Seashore includes a Civil War-era fort, a bayou, and four barrier islands. The site is known for its fishing, and visitors are welcome to enjoy various other activities, such as biking, swimming, and kayaking, during their visit.

While most of the region is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the National Park Service periodically closes areas for restoration, so check the website when making your plans.

Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument

Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, a historic house museum in Jackson, is a unit of the National Park Service. Also known as the Medgar Evers House, the site was the home of Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers, who was assassinated in the home’s carport on the night of June 12, 1963. Evers’ death increased awareness of civil rights issues and became a catalyst for the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The museum is open by appointment only; call 601-977-7839 to schedule a tour.

Natchez National Historical Park

Natchez National Historical Park is located in the southwestern corner of Mississippi in Natchez. The park consists of a large preservation district and five National Park Service historical sites: the Melrose House, Forks of the Road, the William Johnson House, Fort Rosalie, and the Natchez Visitor Center. The historical sites maintained by the park service aim to supply visitors with an understanding of the region’s economic, social, and political development. They focus primarily on the periods immediately before and after the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Civil Rights Movement. Natchez National Historical Park is open year-round, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Natchez Trace Parkway

The Natchez Trace Parkway starts in Natchez and ends in Nashville, Tennessee. The National Park Service declared the roadway a National Scenic Byway in 1938, and the entire road is an official bicycle route. At 444 miles long, the parkway provides visitors with a scenic drive and many recreational activities, such as camping, hiking, and fishing. In addition, it commemorates the “Old Natchez Trace,” a wilderness road that was heavily traveled in the early 1800s and connected Natchez with the salt licks of central Tennessee. The road’s maximum speed limit is 50 miles per hour, and since no commercial vehicles are allowed, driving along it is an excellent way to leisurely explore the area.

Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail

The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail contains four sections in Mississippi and one in Tennessee. All five sections run parallel to the Natchez Trace Parkway, and they offer visitors the opportunity to explore wetlands, hardwood forests, swamps, and overlooks while learning about the area’s history. The trails encompass 67 miles of terrain, range in length from 3 to 25 miles, and are suitable for both hiking and horseback riding. It’s important to note that camping isn’t allowed, especially if you’re thinking about hiking one of the longer trails. That said, Mississippi has plenty of campgrounds in other areas you may enjoy.

Shiloh National Military Park

Shiloh National Military Park is located on the border of northeastern Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee. Two Civil War battles, resulting in over 23,500 casualties, occurred on April 6-7, 1862, and October 2-4, 1862. An interpretive center in Corinth, Mississippi, features exhibits and movies about the two battles. On the Tennessee side, a 12.7-mile driving tour around the battlefield has 22 optional stops, including homes of Civil War generals and parts of the Corinth Battlefield. Park grounds are open from sunrise to sunset, and the Visitors Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Tupelo National Battlefield

Tupelo National Battlefield is located in downtown Tupelo in northeastern Mississippi. The site commemorates the Battle of Tupelo, also known as the Battle of Harrisburg, which was fought July 4-5, 1864. The unit is maintained by the National Park Service and encompasses 1 acre of the battlefield site, and it’s also on the National Register of Historic Places. The Tupelo National Battlefield is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Vicksburg National Military Park

Located about 45 miles from Jackson in the central part of the state, Vicksburg National Military Park features a 16-mile driving tour and over 1,400 monuments and memorials honoring the veterans of the Siege of Vicksburg. In addition, the USS Cairo, one of the first ironclad American gunboats, is on display and open to the public at the park. The Vicksburg National Cemetery, where over 17,000 Union soldiers are buried, is located next to the USS Cairo. The entrance fee is $20 per car or $10 per person if you walk or bike into the park. It’s open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.

We here at Herrin-Gear INFINITI hope you enjoyed our list of Mississippi’s National Park Service sites and found it helpful. If you’d like more information about a place, or if you use this guide to explore the state and learn about its history, we’d love to hear about it. Just give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!