CITY SPOTLIGHT:

YOUR GUIDE TO Tupelo, Mississippi

forest near Tupelo

Know Before You Go: About Tupelo

Before you go there, let us help you map out your journey to Tupelo, where fun awaits for the whole family.

Tupelo, Mississippi is best known as the birthplace of rock-’n’-roll legend, Elvis Presley, but there's even more to explore here. You can visit the cozy clapboard cabin where "The King" came into the world just a mile east of downtown, then visit the many other historic and cultural attractions Tupelo has to offer.

Fighting in the Streets

The Tupelo National Battlefield is along Tupelo’s Main Street, where more than 2,000 soldiers lost their lives or limbs during a significant Civil War battle in the streets of the city. Federal troops were expecting the city to fall easily, but the tough Confederate troops held firm, causing the Union soldiers to back off when they ran low on food and ammunition. The 1-acre park has monuments and commemorative cannons, but not a visitor’s center. Be forewarned—the cannons still hold some dangers today—if you put your face too close to peer inside, you might be stung by an angry hornet or bee nesting inside!

Pedal to the Metal

Rev your engine while meandering through downtown Tupelo. Check out the Tupelo Automobile Museum, which has more than 100 classic and antique cars that hail from across the country and Europe. It’s over 120,000 square feet of museum space showcases Elvis’s 1976 Lincoln Mark IV, as well as cars owned by other celebrities. Step into the GumTree Museum of Art to view works made from parking lot trash, paintings by local artists, and black-and-white photographs depicting details from the area's history. If you're in town on Mother's Day weekend, check out the museum's annual Gum Tree Festival.

Where the Buffalo Roam

You can see the majestic icon of the American west roaming freely at the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo. Take the Monster Bison Bus to wide open spaces where you can feed buffaloes, zebras, camels and giraffes just outside the bus window; you can also enjoy the park on open-air trollies or on a guided horseback ride. Kids will love the pony rides and the petting zoo, where they can make friends with goats, miniature cows and horses, and even a fallow deer. Don’t leave the park without seeing some slithering creatures in the reptile exhibit, and exploring a reproduction of a Chickasaw Indian village.

Eat It Up

If fresh farm-to-table food tops your dining desires, head to Kermit's Outlaw Kitchen. The restaurant is on the site of the former Kermit's bakery, which is where Elvis ordered his birthday cakes. Kermit's menu changes weekly to reflect the best of locally available meats, seafood and produce. Gulf shrimp, Murder Point oysters and hamburgers made from succulent pork are just a few of the tasty menu items. Down the street at Cafe 212, you can order a sandwich fit for a king. Try the Elvis-inspired hoagie, Blue Suede Grill, which features peanut butter, bananas and honey—bacon (optional, but totally worth it).

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Things to Do in Tupelo

We know the best things to do in Tupelo—the birthplace of Elvis Presley—and our guide will help you plan a great vacation.