Vicksburg is a great town to start your Mississippi Delta road trip adventure.
Start your Mississippi road trip adventure by crossing the iconic Vicksburg Bridge, which stretches across the mighty Mississippi River, connecting Delta, Louisiana, to the historic town of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
As soon as you hit Vicksburg soil, you’re stepping into a rich tapestry of American history, vibrant art scenes, and irresistible Southern cooking.
I will also be writing a road trip guide to exploring Mississippi, starting from Vicksburg, which you can read about here.
Here is my travel guide for visiting Historic Vicksburg, Mississippi:
Book your New Orleans trip with America As You Like It
I booked my trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, with America As You Like It, which handled all my travel arrangements and trip itinerary.
The team at America As You Like It is experienced in booking your perfect trip to the United States of America. Be sure to check them out.
Stay at the Oak Hall Bed and Breakfast
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Vicksburg, then be sure to check out the Oak Hall Bed and Breakfast property.
Nestled in the heart of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Oak Hall Bed and Breakfast offers a luxurious yet soulful retreat inside a beautifully restored 1910 Mission Revival mansion.
The property blends historic charm with boutique hotel comforts. Guests are treated to oversized king beds, private baths, smart TVs, and a stocked Butler’s Pantry for midnight snacks and breakfast.
Exploring downtown just moments away, Oak Hall delivers a warm, Southern welcome with a modern twist.
We stayed at one of the Airbnb units, which was perfect for sharing and would recommend it if you’re visiting the area.
Visit the Vicksburg National Military Park
Start your visit with a self-drive guided tour of the Vicksburg National Military Park, preserving the site of the pivotal Civil War Battle of Vicksburg, which lasted from March 29 to July 4, 1863.
The park also commemorates the broader Vicksburg Campaign and offers monuments, preserved battlefield sites, and informative exhibits.
Stop at the USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum
Don’t miss a visit to the USS Cairo Gunboat & Museum, located within the Vicksburg National Military Park, offering views of the Mississippi River.
The USS Cairo is a restored Union ironclad gunboat that tells a remarkable Civil War story.
In 1862, she helped the Union occupy Memphis by capturing Fort Pillow.
Today, she rests in the park alongside a museum that brings her dramatic history to life.
Walnut Hills Restaurant for the best fried chicken in town
When hunger hits in Vicksburg, make a move for Walnut Hills Restaurant.
A beloved local gem nestled inside a beautifully preserved historic home.
Step through the door and you’re instantly wrapped in Southern charm, from the warm hospitality to the scent of cornbread drifting from the kitchen.
Whether you go classic with a blue plate special (Selection of tender meats plus three soulful sides) or mix and match from the à la carte menu, every bite feels like a hug from the Deep South.
The standout for me? Has to be the fried chicken. Crispy, golden, and irresistibly juicy — it’s the kind of dish that makes you pause mid-bite just to savour the flavours.
Historic Downtown Vicksburg Attractions Passport
A great way to explore Historic Downtown Vicksburg is to pick up an Attractions Passport from Visit Vicksburg.
The City Attractions Passport is a free book the size of a traveller’s passport that allows Vicksburg tourists to collect stamps from museums, tour homes, and other landmark attractions around the city.
The passport contains useful information, maps and contact information for all the participating locations across Vicksburg.
Once you’ve collected five stamps or more in your Vicksburg passport, you can redeem a special prize from the Vicksburg Visitors Information Centre (Address: 52 Old Highway 27).
The passport is available to pick up for free from the Visitors Information Centre or participating locations such as Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum, Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum, Old Court House Museum, and Old Depot Museum.
So what are you waiting for! Start collecting your stamps and explore Historic Downtown Vicksburg.
Bohemia Cafe and Bakery
Bohemia Cafe and Bakery is located in Downtown Vicksburg and is a perfect spot for breakfast or a late lunch.
A Czech-style café where you will find wonderful baked goods such as bread, muffins, cookies, cupcakes and cakes all freshly baked on location and perfectly served alongside coffee.
I went for the chicken salad sandwich, which went down well with the freshly brewed coffee. A great spot in town for lunch if you’re looking for a place.
Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum
The Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum offers a fizzy slice of Americana where Coca-Cola was first bottled in 1894.
This charming museum, housed in a restored 1890s candy store, celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of Joseph Biedenharn, who revolutionised soft drink distribution by bottling Coke for the first time.
You can even see one of those very first Coca-Cola bottles on display in the museum, which was quite a highlight of the visit.
Using the Mississippi River from Vicksburg as a way to distribute bottles, making it accessible far beyond the traditional soda fountains.
Visitors can explore vintage bottling equipment, nostalgic advertising memorabilia, and the story behind the iconic contour bottle.
Vicksburg Civil War Museum
Step into the Vicksburg Civil War Museum and prepare to be transported through one of the most pivotal chapters in American history.
Located in the heart of downtown Vicksburg, this privately curated museum houses an astonishing array of Civil War and Reconstruction era artefacts.
Each piece of the collection has been verified by the founder, Charles Pendleton, who is normally on hand to answer any questions you may have about the museum.
From weaponry and uniforms to personal letters and photographs, the exhibits offer a deeply human perspective on the conflict and its aftermath.
Old Depot Museum
Housed in a restored 19th-century railroad depot, the Old Depot Museum in Vicksburg, Mississippi, offers a captivating blend of transportation history and Civil War storytelling.
Inside, visitors can explore intricate model railroad layouts, hundreds of scale models of ships, from Viking vessels to modern warships, and a stunning diorama of the Siege of Vicksburg that brings the city’s wartime past to life.
Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum
The Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum in Vicksburg offers a fascinating dive into the life, science, and history surrounding America’s most iconic waterway.
With interactive exhibits ranging from a 1,500-gallon aquarium filled with native river species to a detailed flood model that demonstrates how water flows and rises, the museum brings the Mississippi River’s story to life.
Visitors can explore the powerful legacy of the Great Flood of 1927 through immersive displays, including a replica tent used by displaced families.
One of the highlights is touring the Motor Vessel Mississippi IV, a retired towboat that lets you step inside the galley, pilot house, and engine room for a firsthand look at life on the river.
Old Courthouse Museum
The Old Courthouse Museum is more than just a striking architectural landmark; it’s a time capsule of Southern history.
Built in 1858 and designated a National Historic Landmark, this former Warren County courthouse has witnessed speeches from Jefferson Davis, visits from Ulysses S. Grant and Teddy Roosevelt, and even endured Union shelling during the Civil War.
Inside, the museum houses thousands of artefacts, including Confederate flags, antebellum clothing, Native American tools, and the tie worn by Davis at his inauguration.
From exquisite furniture to a Teddy Bear gifted by Roosevelt himself, each item tells a story of Vicksburg’s layered past.
Visit the H.C. Porter Gallery
Visit the H.C. Porter Gallery, which presents a contemporary Southern vision in historic downtown Vicksburg, Mississippi.
H.C. Porter is an internationally known painter, printmaker and photographer. This is her signature gallery.
Be sure to browse the large selection of prints which are available for purchase, take a part of the Vicksburg art and culture home with you.
Stop by the Attic Gallery
Stop by The Attic Gallery for 50 years, the gallery has featured Southern folk art, contemporary fine art, handmade pottery, glass, jewellery and many “blues” related items with funk mixed in.
Catfish Row Museum
The Catfish Row Museum provides a cultural heritage experience that showcases the unique and diverse aspects of Vicksburg from its music, history and storytelling to its vibrant food heritage, worship, and visual arts.
Vicksburg Riverfront Murals in Historic Downtown Vicksburg
Explore Vicksburg Riverfront Murals in Historic Downtown Vicksburg.
Robert Dafford’s 32 life-like pictorial murals depict periods of history in Vicksburg.
Also featured is an abstract mural by Vicksburg artist Martha Ferris, which was the first mural to be painted along the floodwall in 2001.
Lyrically and playfully, it recognises Vicksburg’s diversity: the river, the railroad, and the highway.
Facing the Mississippi River, you can see the new mural that now greets visitors cruising downstream.
A bright and large “Vicksburg, Mississippi” with highlights of the town within the letters, it’s rather bold and cool. Be sure to take a picture when visiting!
Dine with a view at 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill
Enjoy Dinner at 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill – This rooftop restaurant is focused on offering fresh spins on Southern cooking in a casual environment alongside stunning rooftop views with wonderful sunsets over the river. Be sure not to miss it.
My favourite dish of the evening has to be the shrimp and grits, the flavour was on point and a wonderful example of Southern cooking done right!
Thank you for reading my blog post about historic Vicksburg, Mississippi
Thank you for visiting my blog post and checking out my guide to historic Vicksburg.
Vicksburg is a fantastic city to travel to in Mississippi and one of the highlights on any road trip around the Deep South.
I hope all the above information has helped with your trip planning.
Have an amazing trip to Vicksburg, Mississippi.
This guide was put together in collaboration with TTM Agency UK, Visit Vicksburg and Visit Mississippi.
Be sure to check out my Mississippi road trip YouTube video guide
This trip was part of my Mississippi road trip adventure, and you can watch the video from this journey here, visiting historic Vicksburg:
