Travel Guide

​The Natchez Trace

The Natchez Trace is a historical trail that runs from Natchez, MS, to Nashville, TN. The middle of the Trace lands right in Tupelo. There are plenty of things to see along the Trace, including historical landmarks, buildings, and interesting nature spots. Closest to Tupelo is the Chickasaw Village site, a Confederate grave site, and a few hiking trails. You can view a full list of trail markers here. If you happen to be traveling a bit farther down the Trace, towards Natchez, my favorite landmarks are the Sunken Trace, Windsor Ruins, and the Historical Inn. Baby alligators are frequently spotted at the Sunken Trace, swimming alongside the giant bald cypress trees. All else aside, the Natchez Trace makes a lovely scenic route. Watch out for deer and coyotes if you are driving the trail at night.

 

Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo

My mother informed me that it is unusual to see a pasture of a hundred buffalo next to the local airport.  I genuinely thought it was normal. The Buffalo Park offers two different tours. The first tour lets you visit the farm animals, monkeys, snakes, birds, giraffes, sloths, and other animals. The second tour is a self-guided tour. You will be guided to drive your car directly through the pasture, and the buffalo, camels, and ostriches will come and harass you for food. You can purchase food for them at the front desk. Do not go without food. The ostriches will not let you pass otherwise.  

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The Toyota Factory Tour

Right outside Tupelo is a giant Toyota factory. They offer free tours of the facility. It is surprisingly very cool, even if you are not a fan of cars. They have lots of robots that help work on the cars. Link to schedule a tour: https://www.tourtoyota.com/#/main

 

The Elvis Tour

Tupelo is the birthplace of Elvis Presley. Die-hard Elvis fans come from overseas just to see what Tupelo has to offer. What we have to offer: the Elvis Birthplace museum, Elvis cutouts lurking in store windows, murals on the sides of buildings, and an Elvis statue in Fair Park. I put an LPS in his hand once. I probably was not supposed to do that, but I was 12, and it looked cool. If you have the Elvis cat LPS, make sure you bring him on your trip! (I wonder what Elvis would think about having a plastic cat designed after him...)

 

Other Things To Do

• Visit the Barnes Crossing mall and ride the carousel

• Go to Ballard Park and have a staring contest with the ducks

• Try an escape room

• Visit the trampoline park

• Go to the splash pad at Veterans Park

• Throw some bowls at the bowling alley

 

Restaurants

I asked the people of Tupelo what restaurants they recommend. This is what they said:

• Neon Pig: once rated the best burger in the United States

• D’ Cracked Egg: good breakfast food

• The Honey Baked Ham Company: they really do have good ham

• Blue Canoe: a popular locally-owned business known for its live music

• Woody’s: best steaks in town

• Dairy Kream: an old local’s favorite. highly recommended: the chocolate-dipped cone

• Finley’s: classic sandwich shop - try the orange squeeze!

• The Grill: burgers and things

• Park Heights: probably the most expensive place in town, but their food is good

• El Agave Mexican Grill: most recommended restaurant

• Just Love Coffee Cafe: fantastic breakfast and coffee

• Cafe 12: a coffee shop with delicious pastries and lunch options

• Funky Cones: ice cream in a warm, fluffy waffle

• Oishi Japanese Express: the chicken, rice, and vegetable combo is fantastic

• Vanelli’s: best buffet in town

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Make It A Road Trip!

Tupelo is located in the center of many popular tourist destinations.

Most of these places are 2 - 5 hours away, but if you plan on driving here,

they may be closer (or on the way!)

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Nearby Cities

These cities are popular tourist destinations. There are many things to do in them —far too many to list—but if you are interested in visiting one, there are many guides available online.

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• Oxford, MS (1 hour from Tupelo)

• Memphis, TN (2 hours from Tupelo)

• Nashville, TN (4 hours from Tupelo)

• Atlanta, GA (5 hours from Tupelo)

• Orange Beach, Alabama (5 hours from Tupelo)

• New Orleans, LA (5 hours from Tupelo)

 

Worth-The-Drive Destinations​

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• Sky Lake

Take a stroll over a lake filled with trees that can be traced back to the days of Pangaea. These trees, called the bald cypress, are some of the largest and oldest in the world. The trees at Sky Lake are thousands of years old and look right out of a fairytale. Walking down this boardwalk is a magical experience. It is a feeling you will feel nowhere else, and haunt you for years afterward. The address is: 090 Simmons Rd, Belzoni, MS 39038

 

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Approx. 6 hours away from Tupelo, this is one of the most famous parks in the United States. There are a ton of things to do here. The best place I know of is Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga - home to beautiful waterfalls, fairytale trails, and the glorious underground waterfall, Ruby Falls. At the peak of the mountain, you can view 7 states at once. Further down the road, Knoxville and Gatlinburg house fairytale-esque villages, Dollywood, and other tourist attractions.

 

• Dismal Canyons

Dismal Canyons is home to a species found in only a few places in the world: the bioluminescent dismalite. July is right in the middle of viewing season. Reserve a night tour here: https://www.dismalscanyon.com/