Top of Mississippi Tour

The Magnolia State’s Northern Road Trip

From casinos to the King’s birthplace, northern Mississippi is busting with history, music, heritage, and outdoor adventure. Pack your itinerary with National Park sites, the Elvis Presley Birthplace, outdoor fun like fishing, golf, and waterskiing, and must-catch festivals like the Elvis Presley Festival and the Faulkner Festival. It’s all here at the top of the Magnolia.

Tunica Resorts

Set on the Mississippi Delta, Tunica Resorts is a lively town not unlike Laughlin, Atlantic City, or even Vegas.

Must See

If you’re the gambling type, Tunica Resorts features eight casinos in the area – ranging from Bally's Tunica to Tunica Roadhouse Casino, Horseshoe Casino Tunica, and Gold Strike Casino. Grab a drink and hit the tables in northern Mississippi.

Local Guide

Tunica Resorts is also set in an incredibly historic region of the country so be sure to make time for the Tunica RiverPark & Museum, Tunica Museum, or the Gateway to the Blues Museum & Visitor Center.

Other interesting stops include the Tate House, the Tunica Veterans Memorial at Rivergate Park, and maybe a spot on the rail Tunica Queen riverboat.

Outdoor

Tunica Resorts is also a big golf town. Check out the championship course at the Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club, or the Scottish-style course over at River Bend Links.

Horn Lake

Set roughly 25 miles northeast of Tunica Resorts by way of U.S. Route 61 or State Route 204, Horn Lake is set near the Tennessee border – and considered a southern suburb of Memphis along with Olive Branch.

Known as the Doorway To Mississippi, Horn Lake offers even more to do in northern Mississippi.

Must See

This historic city also offers a few structures from yesteryear. Check out some old haunts like the Original Bullfrog Corner, Old Hurt’s Store, Old Log Home, and the Latimer House.

Local Guide

Horn Lake is home to some interesting local Mississippi fare. Check out Memphis Barbecue Co., Boss Hog Bar-B-Q, Holiday Deli & Ham Co., Fill Your Belly, H T Ponder's, Captain JJ's Fish & Chicken, and Shipley Donuts.

Outdoor

Horn Lake is known as the Greenest City in Mississippi. Let them prove it to you by visiting one of 16 city parks, or even swinging by the North Creek Golf Course.

Ripley

Now let’s get to the scenic part of the tour. From Olive Branch, it’s a 65-mile drive to the next city of Ripley on U.S. Highway 78. You’ll pass through the Holly Springs National Forest before hooking north in Hickory Flat on SR 2.

Must See

Believe it or not, Ripley’s Old Town is a National Register Historic District. Be sure to see the Ripley Courthouse Square and Tippah County Courthouse, plus plenty of great architecture for the sighting. For everything else historic Ripley, check out the Tippah County Historical Museum.

Local Guide

Ripley is also an incredibly festive town and home to several notable natives. Celebrate the works of William Faulkner in early November for the annual Faulkner Festival.

And if you’re not traveling in the fall, be sure to catch First Monday Trade Day – one of the nation’s oldest flea markets, and held the weekend before the first Monday of the month.

Outdoor

Attention anglers! Covering 145 acres, Tippah County Lake is set just north of Ripley, and packed with bass, catfish, crappie, redear, and bluegill. Tippah Lake is also great for family picnics, or just catching some fresh air.

Tupelo

The significant city of Tupelo is found about an hour’s drive south of Ripley in northeastern Mississippi. Best known as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll legend Elvis Presley, this is King Country in its purest form.

Must See

This one’s obvious. The Elvis Presley Birthplace & Museum features the Elvis Presley Memorial Chapel, Elvis' childhood church, the "Elvis at 13" statue, and much more.

Tupelo doesn’t stop there with Elvis attractions. Check out Tupelo Hardware, the Tupelo Automobile Museum’s Elvis Exhibit, downtown’s Elvis statue, the Elvis Driving Tour, and summer’s own Tupelo Elvis Festival.

Local Guide

Once you’ve hit all the Elvis stops in town, make time for some National Park sites in Tupelo.

Those carrying a “Passport® To Your National Parks” can get their cancellation stamps at four spots in Tupelo: Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site (within the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area), Tupelo National Battlefield, Natchez Trace Parkway, and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail.

Outdoor

Tupelo is also surrounding by plenty of outdoor recreation. Make time for the Tombigbee State Park, Trace State Park, or even then nearby Tombigbee National Forest.