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Mississippi National Parks
Scenic drives and the birthplace of the blues all await you in the Magnolia State. Come #FindYourPark in Mississippi.
National parks guide · Updated October 2026
Every NPS site in Mississippi
10
National Park Service sites in Mississippi
There are 10 National Park Service sites in Mississippi: two national battlefields, two national monuments, two national military parks, a national seashore, a national historical park, a parkway, and a national scenic trail. Tap any of them to jump to its details.
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National Park Service sites 10
Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site commemorates a significant engagement that took place during the American Civil War on June 10, 1864. The battle was part of General William T. Sherman’s campaign in the western theater and pitted Confederate forces under General Nathan Bedford Forrest against Union troops commanded by General Samuel D. Sturgis. Forrest’s brilliant tactics and leadership led to a Confederate victory in this battle.
The park includes interpretive markers, monuments, and displays that help tell the story of the battle and the key figures involved. More exhibits are at the nearby Brices Cross Roads Visitor & Interpretive Center in Baldwyn, and the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center at milepost 266 has more information.
The battlefield was established by Congress on February 21, 1929, during the presidency of Calvin Coolidge. It was transferred to the NPS in 1933.
Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
The Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument tells the story of the tragic events that led to the lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till in Mississippi in 1955. Till’s murder and his subsequent open-casket funeral in Chicago at the request of his mother brought national attention and was a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement in America.
The Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument consists of two units – one in Sumner and Glendora, Mississippi, and the other in Chicago, Illinois. While the park is being developed, visitors can learn more at the Emmett Till Interpretive Center in Sumner, MS and also the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago’s South Side.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Gulf Islands National Seashore was established in 1971 and protects the ecosystems, wildlife, and barrier islands on the northern Gulf of Mexico along the shores of Florida and Mississippi. It is America’s largest National Seashore at 160 miles long, and includes the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico from Cat Island in Mississippi to the Okaloosa Area in Florida.
Popular areas in Florida to visit are the beaches at Perdido Key, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa. In Mississippi, Cat Island, Ship Island, and Horn Island are popular. Boating, paddling, white sand beaches, camping, swimming, snorkeling, and diving are all things to enjoy here. Hike and bike paths are also available at some of the sites.
Each site is open seasonally depending on conditions, so be sure to check before you visit.
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
Medgar and Myrlie Evers were key figures in the civil rights struggle in the 1960s. The Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument is an NPS site that commemorates the fight for civil rights in America and memorializes the assassination of Medgar Evers who was murdered in the carport of the home in 1963.
Visitors can take Ranger-led tours of the home as scheduled. The site was authorized in 2019 and established as a national monument in 2020.
Natchez National Historical Park
Natchez (pronounced NATCH-ez) National Historical Park celebrates the historical and cultural heritage of Natchez, Mississippi. The park consists of three distinct units: Fort Rosalie, the William Johnson House, and the Melrose Estate. Each unit preserves a different aspect of Natchez’s rich history, from early colonial settlement to antebellum life.
Fort Rosalie, an early French fort, provides insights into the colonial history of Natchez. The William Johnson House, owned by a free African American in the pre-Civil War South, offers a glimpse into the unique experience of African Americans in the region. The Melrose Estate, an antebellum mansion, showcases the lifestyle and architecture of the wealthy plantation class of the 19th century.
Natchez Trace Parkway
The “Old Natchez Trace” is a historic corridor once used by the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians for traveling around the region. Later, it was used by many different groups to navigate the difficult terrain. Today, the Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile stretch of scenic drive that runs through Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee that marks the history of the region.
Other leisure activities along the parkway include camping, fishing, hiking, and enjoying nature. Popular stretches of the Parkway include Natchez to Jackson, Jackson to Tupelo, and Tupelo to Tennessee and beyond. The main Parkway Visitor Center can be found at milepost 266, while other centers are scattered along the Parkway. Check here for a complete list.
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
Five distinct trails make up the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and are administered by the Natchez Trace Parkway. These sixty miles of trail help visitors relive what it was like to travel the trail by foot and to promote the beauty of the region. The trails are the Potkopinu, Rocky Springs, Yockanookany, Blackland Prairie, and the Highland Rim. The Parkway and trails are free to visit. For trail maps and more information, click here.
Shiloh National Military Park
Shiloh National Military Park encompasses several sites and monuments throughout the area including Shiloh Battlefield, Shiloh National Cemetery, Shiloh Indian Mounds, Corinth Battlefield, and the Davis Bridge Battlefield. Visitors to the sites can tour the battlefields with a self-guided auto tour program, hop on a Ranger-led tour, visit the museums and interpretive centers, and also pay their respects at the National Cemetery that marks the graves of 4,000 soldiers. The Indian Mounds are what remains of a Native American town that existed about 800 years ago.
Tupelo National Battlefield
Tupelo National Battlefield commemorates the Battle of Tupelo, which took place from July 14 to 15, 1864, during the American Civil War. It was a pivotal engagement between Union forces under the command of General Andrew J. Smith and Confederate forces led by General Stephen D. Lee. The battle had significant strategic implications, as it was part of Union General William T. Sherman’s campaign to capture the city of Atlanta.
The park features a monument and wayside exhibits that provide insights into the battle, the soldiers who fought, and the impact of the war on the region. For ranger information, stop by the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center in Tupelo at milepost 266.
Vicksburg National Military Park
Vicksburg National Military Park commemorates one of the most pivotal and dramatic campaigns of the American Civil War. This historic park preserves the site of the Vicksburg Campaign, a military operation that spanned several months in 1863 and culminated in the Siege of Vicksburg. The park commemorates the strategic significance of Vicksburg and its ultimate surrender to Union forces, which severed the Confederacy and marked a turning point in the war.
The park features well-preserved battlefield sites, monuments, and historic structures as well as the U.S.S. Cairo Museum which showcases the remains of the U.S.S. Cairo, a Union ironclad warship that was sunk in the nearby Yazoo River and later raised and preserved. The park’s visitor center offers interpretive exhibits, films, and educational programs that provide a comprehensive understanding of the military strategy, soldiers’ experiences, and the profound significance of the Vicksburg Campaign.
Vicksburg National Military Park was designated on February 21, 1899 by President William McKinley.
Partners of the Park Service
NPS-affiliated sites in Mississippi
These sites aren’t run by the National Park Service, but they’re part of the NPS family through national trails and heritage areas.
Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area
The Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area encompasses a large portion of the Mississippi Delta in Mississippi, and celebrates the Delta’s vibrant cultural heritage, including its rich contributions to music, civil rights, agriculture, and more. The region is renowned for its pivotal role in the development of blues music, and visitors can explore numerous blues-related sites, such as the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale. Additionally, the heritage area is steeped in the history of the civil rights movement, with landmarks like the Emmett Till Historic Intrepid Center in Glendora and the Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden in Ruleville.
The Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area also offers experiences related to the agricultural history of the region, with a focus on the cotton industry, the Great Migration, and the unique culture of sharecropping. From scenic drives through the cotton fields to visits to heritage sites that tell the story of the Delta’s agricultural past, visitors can gain a profound understanding of the Delta’s contributions to American history.
Mississippi Delta NHA was designated by Barack Obama in 2009.
Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area
The Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area celebrates the unique cultural traditions, natural beauty, and historical landmarks of the region. It encompasses coastal communities, including Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula, and highlights the Gulf Coast’s contributions to maritime heritage, the seafood industry, and its resilience in the face of challenges like Hurricane Katrina.
Visitors to the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area can explore its vibrant coastal culture, including the Mardi Gras celebrations in Biloxi and the diverse cuisine that reflects the seafood-rich heritage of the Gulf Coast. The heritage area also offers opportunities to learn about the maritime history of the region, including shipbuilding, fishing, and coastal industries.
Mississippi Gulf Coast NHA was designated by Congress in 2004.
Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area
Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area pays tribute to the diverse communities and rich traditions that have shaped the character of this region. The area is known for its vibrant musical heritage, particularly in the realms of blues, gospel, and rock ‘n’ roll, and visitors can explore the birthplaces and landmarks of influential musicians like Elvis Presley in Tupelo and the Mississippi Blues Trail, which traces the roots of the blues genre. Live music performances and festivals celebrate the musical legacy of the Mississippi Hills.
Mississippi Hills also offers visitors context into the history of the Civil War, Native American heritage, and the contributions of African American communities through museums, historic sites, and cultural centers.
Good to know
Mississippi national parks questions
No. Mississippi doesn’t have a national park, but it does have 10 National Park Service sites, including Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site, Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, and Gulf Islands National Seashore.
There are 10 NPS sites in Mississippi: two national battlefields, two national monuments, two national military parks, a national seashore, a national historical park, a parkway, and a national scenic trail. Three more NPS-affiliated sites, like Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area, round out the list.
So far we’ve visited Vicksburg National Military Park.
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National parks in nearby states
There’s more to explore in these nearby states.
