Things to Do in Jackson, MS: Top Sights and Original 3, 5 & 7-Day Itineraries
Jackson, Mississippi's capital, is a city of music, literature and civil rights history. The powerful Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, the Eudora Welty House, the Mississippi Museum of Art, the artsy Fondren district, blues clubs and Southern soul food make it a rewarding stop along the Natchez Trace and the Mississippi Blues Trail.
This guide covers the best things to do in Jackson, MS, with itineraries for 3, 5 and 7 days, ideas for weekends, couples and families, local food, where to stay and how to get around.
Top things to see in Jackson, MS
Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
Moving national-level museum.
Museum of Mississippi History
Next door.
Eudora Welty House
Writer's home and garden.
Mississippi Museum of Art
Art and garden.
Fondren
Arts district.
LeFleur's Bluff State Park
Nature in the city.
Natchez Trace Parkway
Scenic road.
Medgar Evers Home
National monument.
Jackson, MS in 3 days: an original itinerary
1Day 1 · Museums
Spend the morning at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, one of the most powerful museums of its kind, telling the story of the movement through immersive galleries. Lunch downtown. In the afternoon, the adjoining Museum of Mississippi History, then dinner with soul food or catfish at a local favorite.
2Day 2 · Literature and art
Tour the Eudora Welty House and Garden, where the Pulitzer Prize-winning author lived for over 75 years. Lunch in the Belhaven neighborhood. In the afternoon, visit the Mississippi Museum of Art and its garden, then spend the evening in the Fondren district with galleries and restaurants.
3Day 3 · Civil rights history
Visit the Medgar Evers Home National Monument and the Smith Robertson Museum, Jackson's first public school for Black children. Lunch at a local diner. In the evening, catch live blues at a juke joint or club on Farish Street or in town.
Jackson, MS in 5 days
Follow the 3-day plan above, then add these two days:
4Day 4 · Nature
Explore LeFleur's Bluff State Park and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science with its aquariums and trails. Lunch nearby. In the afternoon, visit the Mississippi Children's Museum or the Jackson Zoo. The Natural Science museum's 300-acre park includes nature trails along the Pearl River and a large freshwater aquarium.
5Day 5 · Natchez Trace
Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway north to the Ross Barnett Reservoir and Cypress Swamp boardwalk. Picnic lunch. Return to Jackson for dinner. The Cypress Swamp loop is a short boardwalk through tupelo and bald cypress trees, often with turtles and herons.
Jackson, MS in 7 days
With a full week, keep days 1 to 5 and finish with:
6Day 6 · Vicksburg
Day trip to Vicksburg National Military Park, site of the decisive Civil War siege, and the riverfront murals. Lunch in Vicksburg. Return in the evening. Vicksburg is about 45 minutes west, and the park's 16-mile tour road passes monuments, trenches and the USS Cairo gunboat.
7Day 7 · Farewell
Breakfast with biscuits, last visit to a record store or gallery in Fondren, and a farewell dinner with fried catfish, tamales and pecan pie. Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport is about 15 minutes from downtown.
What to do in Jackson, MS on a weekend
Things to do in Jackson on a weekend? Saturday: Civil Rights Museum and History Museum. Sunday: Eudora Welty House and Fondren.
Mal's St. Paddy's Parade in March and the Mississippi State Fair in October.
What to do in Jackson, MS in the evening
In the evening, blues clubs and Fondren restaurants.
Live music downtown.
Jackson, MS for couples
For couples, Fondren galleries, the art museum garden and a Southern dinner.
Jackson, MS with kids
With kids, the Children's Museum, Natural Science museum and zoo.
What to eat in Jackson, MS
Fried catfish
Mississippi classic.
Hot tamales
Delta tradition.
Comeback sauce
Jackson's invention.
Soul food
Southern.
Pecan pie
Dessert.
Where to stay in Jackson, MS: best areas
Downtown
Museums.
Fondren
Artsy.
Ridgeland
Suburb.
Belhaven
Historic.
What to do in Jackson, MS when it rains
Things to do in Jackson when it rains? Museums, art museum and Children's Museum.
How much does a trip to Jackson, MS cost?
Expect $100–180 per night.
Practical tips for Jackson, MS
Best time to visit
March–May and October–November.
Getting around
Car recommended.
Our practical tips
- Allow time at the Civil Rights Museum.
- Try comeback sauce.
- Blues Trail markers.
- Book Welty House tours.
- Summer heat.
- Car for day trips.
Mistakes to avoid
- Summer humidity.
- Rushing museums.
- Walking unfamiliar areas at night.
- Mondays when some sites close.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Jackson, MS?
Civil Rights Museum, Welty House and Fondren.
Things to do with kids?
Children's Museum and Natural Science museum.
What is comeback sauce?
A Jackson dipping sauce.
Best time?
Spring and fall.