You may know Tupelo, Mississippi, because it's the birthplace of Elvis Presley, but his hometown has plenty of surprises beyond its most famous son. During my 24-hour visit, I thoroughly enjoyed embracing all things Elvis, from touring his tiny childhood home to walking in his footsteps through downtown. What delighted me more was discovering how much more there is to Tupelo.
This northeastern Mississippi city is a gateway to the Natchez Trace Parkway and Scenic Trail, a destination for Civil War history, and home to an energetic food and live music scene. You can cram the highlights into a day, but Tupelo is better suited for a weekend or a two-night stay, especially if you want time to explore beyond the King.
Discover Elvis Presley’s Humble Beginnings
Begin at the Elvis Presley Birthplace, where the centerpiece is the two-room white house where Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935. His father, Vernon, built the home with help from relatives and a $180 loan. One room was both the living area and bedroom, while the other was the kitchen. My guide, Lexe, pointed out that the stove, used by Elvis’s mother, Gladys, and an icebox, owned by the family, are two original pieces in the home.
Elvis grew up in a close-knit community with a rich mix of musical influences. When Elvis was 2 years old, his family began attending the Assemblies of God church. It was moved from nearby Adams Street to the birthplace grounds. My guide Judy said, “his love of music was born in this little white church.” Inside, a 15-minute multimedia presentation recreates a spirited 1940s Pentecostal service. The immersive video projected across three walls brings the church to life as gospel music fills the small sanctuary.
The grounds of the 15-acre Elvis Presley Park are open 24 hours a day. The complex also includes a museum, memorial chapel, statues and landscaped grounds. I only had an hour when I visited late in the afternoon. That’s enough time to tour the church and home, then wander the grounds, but I’d suggest planning for 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours to thoroughly enjoy the birthplace. Before leaving, pause on the church steps. From there, you can see how the walkways connecting the church and house form the shape of a guitar.
Follow Elvis’ Footsteps Through Downtown
Elvis’ Tupelo Driving Tour is a fun thing to do in Tupelo that links 15 landmarks significant to Elvis' childhood. Several are close together in downtown Tupelo, making it easy to turn part of the driving tour into a walk, as I did.
One of its best-known stops is the former Tupelo Hardware Company. In 1946, Gladys brought Elvis to the store to pick out a bicycle, but he eyed a 22-caliber rifle. They compromised on a bike for $7.90. That purchase for his eleventh birthday helped kick off his legendary rise to fame.
At the Lee County Courthouse, Elvis once sang on a WELO radio program hosted by Mississippi Slim. He watched westerns at the Lyric Theatre and, according to local lore, stole his first kiss in the balcony. Built in 1912, the theater was one of the few downtown buildings to survive Tupelo’s destructive 1936 tornado.
As you wander downtown, you can’t miss the more than 20 oversized instruments on the Elvis Guitar Trail. Each one has a different design, adding pops of color to the historic downtown district.
Stand Where Elvis Returned as a Star
Fairpark sits on the site of the former Tupelo fairgrounds, where Elvis’ story came full circle. In 1945, a 10-year-old Elvis performed “Old Shep,” placing fifth in a talent competition. On September 26, 1956, he returned to the same fairgrounds as one of the biggest entertainers in the U.S.
Thousands of fans crowded around the stage for his two homecoming shows. Elvis donated proceeds to help purchase his birthplace and surrounding land for a park. After another Tupelo performance in 1957, he contributed money toward a youth recreation center.
Don’t miss seeing the "Elvis' Homecoming Statue" at Fairpark. Based on Roger Marshutz’s photograph known as "The Hands," the sculpture shows Elvis leaning forward and reaching toward the crowd, capturing the energy of the 1956 concert.
On September 26, 2026, Tupelo will celebrate the concert’s 70th anniversary with Elvis ’56: The Homecoming Concert. The free Fairpark event will feature live music and an Elvis tribute artist recreating the historic performance of hits ranging from “Heartbreak Hotel” to “Love Me Tender” and “Hound Dog.”
Explore Two Civil War Battlefields
While in Tupelo, you can visit two Civil War battlefields. Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site is about 15 miles north of downtown. The one-acre memorial marks the area where Confederate and Union forces clashed on June 10, 1864. Although substantially outnumbered, Confederate troops led by Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest defeated the larger Federal forces commanded by General Samuel Sturgis.
The memorial site has no visitor center, but you can do an eight-mile driving tour for a broader look at the battlefield. Stops mark where the first shots were fired, battle lines formed and the Federal retreat unfolded. Next to the main memorial, Bethany Historic Cemetery has graves dating to before the battle. Fighting swept over the cemetery, damaging graves and destroying the church and nearby William Brice house. More than 3,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or reported missing in the Confederate victory. But the battle distraction helped Union troops protect the railroads supplying General William T. Sherman’s advance toward Atlanta.
If you’re only visiting the monument and cemetery, plan on spending 15 to 20 minutes. If driving the eight-mile route, you’ll need a couple of hours. If you have an hour, drive east from the memorial on Mississippi Highway 370 for 1 and a half miles to see the marker for the first shots fired. That’s what I stopped on my way back to the memorial, including walking around the historic cemetery.
One of the most interesting aspects of the battle is the role of the United States Colored Troops (USCT). Over 1,200 black soldiers were critical in the Battle of Brice's Cross Roads as they covered the retreat of white soldiers fleeing Confederate forces.
The USCT also played a pivotal role in the Battle of Tupelo (also called the Battle of Harrisburg), fought several weeks earlier, from July 14 to 15, 1864. Tupelo National Battlefield is a much quicker stop. The one-acre site on West Main Street commemorates the battle that, like the Battle of Brice's Cross Roads, helped the Union successfully protect supply lines during Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign.
Hike or Drive Along the Natchez Trace
Tupelo is one of the main gateways to the Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile scenic drive running from Nashville, Tennessee, to Natchez, Mississippi. The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail, a 440-mile forest trail, runs roughly parallel to the two-lane parkway in five distinct sections. Both the parkway and scenic trail follow a hunting and trade corridor used for centuries by Native American tribes including the Natchez, Chickasaw and Choctaw. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it was used by European settlers and traders. During the Civil War, soldiers marched, camped and fought along the Natchez Trace, including near Tupelo.
I headed to the Chickasaw Village Site at milepost 261.8 before 8 a.m. Interpretive signs explain how Chickasaw people lived in villages with rounded winter homes, rectangular summer houses and defensive forts.
The site also provides access to the Blackland Prairie section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. I followed the quiet path through the forest, over boardwalks, across railroad tracks, and along and across the Parkway. A four-mile round-trip hike connects Chickasaw Village with Old Town Overlook. Short on time, I turned around after a mile, then drove to the overlook at milepost 263.9. From the parking area, walk downhill on the trail for a view of the creek.
The Chickasaw Heritage Center is slated to open near the village site in spring 2027. The museum is sure to be a fun thing to do in Tupelo, with interactive exhibits. Plans also include reconstructed traditional structures, archaeological sites, native gardens and connections to the Blackland Prairie section of Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. The center will present Chickasaw history and culture from the Chickasaw people’s perspective.
Make Hotel Tupelo Your Base
Hotel Tupelo is an ideal base for an overnight or weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at this Wyndham hotel that’s a AAA Three Diamond Designated property. It’s within walking distance of Fairpark, downtown restaurants, and several Elvis tour sites.
Despite looking like a renovated brick warehouse, the hotel is relatively new. Designed to fit into the surrounding historic district, Hotel Tupelo was built on the site of a clothing warehouse torn down years ago. My room had a high ceiling for a loft-like feel, generous storage space, and extra touches, like an umbrella and clothes steamer. The hotel also has complimentary street parking and loaner bicycles, and it is pet-friendly. Jobos is its inviting bar and restaurant off the lobby.
Upon check-in, I was offered a sample of Pucker Up, a mead made with Mississippi honey by Queen’s Reward Meadery. It’s Mississippi’s First meadery. If you have time, pop into this tasting room that’s less than ten minutes from Hotel Tupelo.
Other suggested places to stay:
Enjoy Dinner and Live Music at Blue Canoe
Spend an evening at Blue Canoe, a casual restaurant and music venue nicknamed “Tupelo’s Loudest Living Room.” With items like fried black-eyed peas and grilled salmon BLT, the menu is filled with creative twists on Southern favorites. It also showcases local and touring musicians.
While noshing on the open-faced catfish sandwich, my toes were tapping and shoulders swaying to the lively music coming from the Cathead Stage. Save room for the blueberry doughnut bread pudding. It’s every bit as indulgent as it sounds.
Other indulgences to try in town include a white cheddar pimento cheese sandwich at Café 212, a latte and decadent dessert from Crave, and a doughburger from Johnnie’s Drive In, just like Elvis did. Try to snag the Elvis booth.
Tupelo will always be the birthplace of Elvis Presley, but its appeal goes beyond the King. Music history may bring you here, while the battlefields, Natchez Trace adventures, downtown discoveries and Southern flavors will make you glad you stayed.
