Whether you’re a die-hard blues fan or just looking to explore the cultural roots of the South.
This journey to Mississippi promises unforgettable experiences and soulful tunes at every stop.
This Mississippi Blues Trail road trip offers a deep dive into the heart of the Mississippi Delta.
Celebrating the blues and its profound impact on the start of American music.
Here is my road trip travel guide to the Mississippi Blues Trail.
What is the Mississippi Blues Trail?
The Mississippi Blues Trail is a series of historical markers scattered throughout the state that tell the story of the blues.
It’s a series of over 200 markers across the state that celebrates the birthplace of blues music.
The trail covers everything from how the music started and who made it famous.
You can visit places like B.B. King’s birthplace, Clarksdale’s Crossroads, and where Elvis bought his first guitar.
It’s a chance to see where famous musicians lived, played, and shaped the blues, one of the most influential music styles in the world.
Within this guide, I will focus on the southern part of the Mississippi Blues Trail.
Start at the Gateway to the Blues Museum
My first stop along the South section of the Mississippi Blues Trail was the Gateway to the Blues Museum.
The museum goes into the roots of blues music.
We saw historical instruments, memorabilia, and interactive exhibits celebrating the musicians who helped define the genre.
It’s a great place to start for some insight into the history and impact of the blues.
Outside, you can find sections of the old railroads that transported cotton from the fields.
My favourite part of the museum was learning about how the Blues from Mississippi Impacted and inspired the new wave of Rock and Roll that hit the United Kingdom coast in 1958 with Cliff Richard, the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles.
Grab lunch at Airport Grocery
We stopped for lunch at Airport Grocery before heading to the Grammy Museum.
Airport Grocery offers a rustic atmosphere with a bluesy aesthetic. It has a full bar, pool tables, and comfortable, casual dining.
Airport Grocery is a great spot to try local classics, such as hot tamales, crawfish tails, fried pickles, fried catfish and fried okra.
There are loads of Mississippi dishes to try and enjoy here at the Airport Grocery.
Stop off at the Grammy Museum
Did you know that Mississippi has produced more Grammy winners than any other state in the US?
Big names like Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Britney Spears, and, of course, Elvis Presley all come from here, which is why the Grammy Museum is an integral part of the Blues Trail.
We toured the museum and explored the exhibits celebrating the history and impact of music legends.
It’s packed with fascinating displays about Grammy-winning artists and the music industry throughout the years.
You will also find interactive recording studios, musical instruments you can play and a dance floor.
Explore the city of Clarksdale
After arriving in Clarksdale, we checked in at the Travelers Hotel. This is a fantastic hotel to base yourself on while staying in the city.
The building used to house railway workers in the past and has now been transformed into a modern, stylish hotel with a beautiful rustic charm and beer on tap.
Clarksdale is an important stop on the Mississippi Blues Trail because it’s considered one of the blues’ birthplaces, with deep connections to legendary musicians.
This town is where you’ll find the famous Crossroads; It’s where Highways 61 and 49 meet,
Legend has it that blues musician Robert Johnson made a deal with the devil there to become the most terrific blues guitarist of all time.
According to the story, Johnson went to the crossroads one night with his guitar, and the devil tuned it for him, granting him incredible musical talent in exchange for his soul.
Whether you believe the tale or not (And the actual location), it’s an iconic part of blues folklore.
To learn more about the town, we took a walking tour to explore its history and role in shaping this genre of music.
Other great places to stop by our our Meraki Roasting Co. for a tasty cup of joe, Deek’s Mississippi Saxophones & Blues Emporium (Ask nicely if he will be open to a blues jamming session), and Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art for vinyl shopping.
After exploring Clarksdale, we headed to Ground Zero Blues Club, one of the top spots for live blues performances. Actor Morgan Freeman co-owns the club.
It’s a great spot to grab a rye whisky on the rock and listen to some great music. I was lucky enough to have Super Chiken perform a few of his songs while playing the Diddley bow.
Then we went across the road and enjoyed dinner at Hooker Grocer, a local diner known for its farm-to-table dining experience.
I highly recommend ordering the shrimp and grits here. It’s hard to find them prepared perfectly like they do in Mississippi.
Some of us went to the Bluesberry Café for even more live music in the evening until the sun went down. It was a great way to experience the community spirit through live music.
In the morning, be sure to head over to Grandma’s House of Pancakes for breakfast—this is a local favourite and a must if you’re visiting.
Take a visit to the B.B. King Museum
Located on the Mississippi Delta, the B.B. King Museum celebrates the life and legacy of B.B. King, one of history’s most influential blues musicians.
The museum is at B.B. King’s birthplace, once surrounded by Mississippi cotton fields.
At the entrance, a video takes you back to his early life, showing how everyday sounds, like the clanging of railway tracks and the noises of trains collecting cotton, inspired his music.
It gives you a real sense of how his environment shaped his unique sound.
Known as “The King of the Blues,” he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
King’s iconic songs, like “The Thrill is Gone,” helped shape the sound of modern blues and earned him worldwide recognition.
Our tour took us through his incredible journey, from his early life in Mississippi to becoming a global blues legend.
The exhibits include personal artefacts, instruments, and stories about his musical career.
My favourite part of the museum was the tour bus and stories from life on the road.
When the tour finished, we enjoyed a lunch of catfish and iced tea at the museum, one of his favourite local dishes that he loved to eat.
Tupelo, the next stop along the Blues Trail
After lunch, we returned on the bus, heading to Elvis Birthplace Museum and Tour.
After arriving in Tupedo, the first stop was visiting the Elvis Birthplace Museum.
This museum is dedicated to the early life of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock’ n’ Roll, and gives an intimate look at his humble beginnings.
The museum is located where Elvis was born in a two-room house.
Here, you can explore exhibits detailing his childhood, family life, and the influences that shaped his music career.
There’s also a memorial chapel, which has moved from its original location to the museum grounds.
Elvis started singing gospel in the chapel, which was the exact building where he used to sing.
You will also find a museum full of memorabilia and even the church Elvis attended, giving you a real sense of where he came from and how he became a global music icon.
After the tour, we checked in at Hotel Tupelo, a modern and comfortable hotel in the heart of the town. Be sure to check out Jobo’s, which has excellent food at the hotel bar.
That evening, we went to Queen’s Reward Meadery, a unique local meadery that crafts honey-based drinks.
We enjoyed plenty of tastings of their handcrafted meads, along with food, live music, and outdoor games. The chicken and waffles were fantastic.
It was a great way to end the day, taking in some local flavours and enjoying the lively atmosphere with a bit of music and good company.
We were on our final day of the Mississippi Blues Trail.
We had an early start to try and cram in a few more iconic sites.
Pass by the Tupelo Hardware Tour
Before leaving Tupelo, be sure to stop at the Tupelo Hardware.
This small, historic store holds a prominent place in music history because it’s where a young Elvis Presley bought his first guitar.
The legendary story goes that Elvis originally came in with his mother to pick out a birthday present.
Elvis wanted a toy shotgun; his mother tried to buy him a bicycle.
Tupelo Hardware had neither in stock, so after some persuasion, Elvis left with a guitar instead.
That decision, made in this very store, changed music history forever. And as they say, the rest is history.
It’s a must-visit for any Elvis fan, as you can walk around the same space that shaped the King of Rock’ n’ Roll’s future.
The shop has been around for over 100 years and still looks much like it did back then, with shelves filled with tools and supplies, but its connection to Elvis makes it unique.
Thank you for reading my blog post about the Mississippi Blues Trail
Thank you for passing by the blog and reading my article about the Mississippi Blues Trail.
I hope you found all the valuable information towards your trip planning.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me. I would be more than happy to help.
Have a fantastic trip exploring the Mississippi Blues Trail.
Don’t forget to watch my YouTube video about the Mississippi Blues Trail
