Mississippi College Towns Road Trip: Oxford • Jackson • Starkville 7-Day Cultural & Collegiate Journey Through the Magnolia State

Darley Newman poses in front of a welcome mural to Oxford, Mississippi, located in the alley off North Lamar Boulevard behind the Square, near The End of All Music.

DAY 2 — Oxford: Campus Traditions, Literature & Music

University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)

Ole Miss blends iconic SEC spirit with deep American history. A campus walk highlights beloved traditions and key landmarks that shape the Oxford experience.

The Lyceum
The university’s oldest building (1848) and architectural centerpiece. Its white columns symbolize academic tradition and Southern history.

The Circle (University Circle)
The historic campus core surrounded by stately buildings and oak trees. A gathering space for students for over a century.

Ventriss Hall
A historic academic building on the Circle that houses key administrative and classroom spaces at the heart of campus life.

The Grove (All-American Drive)
Perhaps the most famous tailgating destination in college football. On game days, chandeliers hang from tents, silver trays replace folding tables, and Southern hospitality is on full display.

Walk of Champions Arch (All-American Drive)
Celebrates Ole Miss athletic achievements and frames a dramatic entrance toward the stadium.

James Meredith Statue (near The Lyceum)
Honors the first African American student admitted to Ole Miss in 1962 — a pivotal moment in Civil Rights history.

Rebel Row
A lively stretch of student-centered shops and gathering spots near campus that captures Ole Miss’s everyday college-town energy.

Vaught–Hemingway Stadium
The iconic home of Ole Miss Rebels football, where SEC game days transform campus into one of the South’s most celebrated traditions.

Darley Newman walks the bricked path to Rowan Oak, the historic Oxford home of William Faulkner, framed by the tall cedar trees that line the entrance.

Day 3 (Morning): Midtown & Downtown Oxford

·       Good Day Café (Midtown) — Oxford, MS

Neighborhood café vibes

·       The Lyric Oxford — (Downtown) 1006 Van Buren Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655

Historic theater turned music venue featuring concerts, events, and a lively calendar.

·       Neilson’s Department Store — (Downtown) 119 Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS 38655

An Oxford institution and one of the oldest department stores in the South.

·       Proud Larry’s — Downtown Oxford (The Square area)

Beloved local venue known for live music nights and a classic college-town vibe.

Instagrammable Moments

·       Greetings from Oxford mural — Downtown Oxford

·       Here in Spirit mural (Princess Hoka, Chickasaw princess) — Downtown Oxford

·       The Red Phone Booth — Downtown Oxford

·       Faulkner Statue — Downtown Oxford

·       Pocket Park — Downtown Oxford

DAY 3 (Afternoon)— Travel to Jackson

Drive Oxford to Jackson (~2.5 hours). Arrive in Mississippi’s capital city — a hub of museums, music, and culinary innovation.

Suggested Hotel

·       The Westin Jackson — 407 South Congress Street, Jackson, MS 39201

Evening: Food & Live Music

·       Iron Horse Grill — 320 West Pearl Street, Jackson, MS 39203

Blues Trail landmark with live performances and the Mississippi Music Experience upstairs.

·       Hal & Mal’s — 200 South Commerce Street, Jackson, MS 39201

Classic Jackson venue known for live shows and an energetic local crowd.

Darley Newman stands with civil rights activist Hezekiah Watkins inside the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, pointing to his mugshot on the museum’s wall—an arrest photo taken when he was jailed as a teenager for participating in the Freedom Rides.

Darley Newman with Tim Orey, Jackson Run Club, on the Museum Trail, enjoying a sunny break along the scenic path that connects Jackson’s cultural landmarks.

DAY 5 — Jackson: Soulful Escapes: Play, Shop & Explore

·       Brent’s Drugs (Breakfast) — 655 Duling Avenue, Jackson, MS 39216
Retro soda fountain charm with a strong sense of place — a Jackson classic.

·       Hen & Egg (Lunch) — 126 Keener Avenue, Jackson, MS 39216
Chef Nick Wallace’s celebrated restaurant blending Southern tradition with refined culinary artistry. Expect locally sourced ingredients and elevated takes on Mississippi classics.

The Block at Fondren — Jackson, MS (Fondren District)

·       Highball Lanes — Fondren District, Jackson, MS

·       The Pearl — Jackson, MS (cocktail/tiki-style bar noted in production outline)

·       The Station — Fondren District, Jackson, MS

·       The Yard — Fondren District, Jackson, MS

·       Capri — Fondren District, Jackson, MS

·       Campbell’s Bakery — Jackson, MS (tea cookies and local legacy)

Belhaven Town Center — Jackson, MS (Belhaven area)

·       Fertile Ground Beer Co. — Jackson, MS

·       Elvie’s — Jackson, MS

·       Good Bar — Jackson, MS

·       Polito Osteria — Jackson, MS

·       Wing Mouth — Jackson, MS

·       Mayday Ice Cream — Jackson, MS

·       Cultivate Coffee Project — Jackson, MS

·       Poppy Pies Pizzeria — Jackson, MS

·       Spectrum Sip — Jackson, MS

·       Welcome to Jackson mural — Jackson, MS

Darley outside the legendary Dark Horse Tavern in Starkville—where live music, local flavor, and good stories always meet.

DAY 6 — Starkville: MSU Traditions, Archives & Downtown Color

Mississippi State University (MSU)

75 B.S. Hood Road, Mississippi State, MS 39762

In Starkville, campus traditions are part of daily life — and MSU’s libraries hold nationally significant collections that bring American history to life.

·       Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library — Mitchell Memorial Library, 395 Hardy Road, Mississippi State, MS 39762

Houses one of the most significant Civil War collections in the country.

·       Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana — Mitchell Memorial Library, 395 Hardy Road, Mississippi State, MS 39762

Rare Abraham Lincoln documents and artifacts.

·       Campus traditions & spirit: Bully statue (MSU mascot) in The Junction; MSU sign on stadium; Hail State letters; The Drill Field

·       MAFES Cheese Store & Warehouse — 925 Stone Boulevard, Mississippi State, MS 39762

A beloved campus institution producing “Edam” cheese and muscadine ripple ice cream.

Nightlife & Live Entertainment

·       Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern — 206 East Main Street, Starkville, MS 39759

Classic college-town venue known for open mic nights and a laid-back Starkville scene (and pizza).

Day 7 (contd.)

Depart from Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR) for convenient access to Starkville or return to Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) if extending time in the capital.

Airports

·       Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR) — 2080 Airport Road, Columbus, MS 39701

·       Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) — 100 International Drive, Jackson, MS 39208

From Nobel Prize-winning literature and SEC traditions to Civil Rights landmarks and soulful kitchens, Mississippi’s college towns are cultural anchors of the American South. This Travels with Darley road trip connects three dynamic communities shaped by education, resilience, creativity, and hospitality.

Trip Overview

Recommended Pace: 7 days / 6 nights | Route: Oxford → Jackson → Starkville | Typical Drive Times: Oxford→Jackson (~2.5 hrs), Jackson→Starkville (~2 hrs)

DAY 1 — Arrival in Oxford

Arrive in Oxford, a celebrated college town where independent bookstores, historic architecture, and live music meet the traditions of the University of Mississippi.

Suggested Hotel

·       Graduate Oxford — 400 North Lamar Boulevard, Oxford, MS 38655

Evening Orientation

·       The Square (Courthouse Square) — Downtown Oxford (around Courthouse Square)

Oxford’s walkable downtown hub: a courthouse square ringed with restaurants, shops, galleries, and venues. It’s the perfect first-night stroll to get a feel for the town’s energy.

Where to Eat & Drink

·       Saint Leo — 922 East Jackson Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655

Modern Italian, stylish setting

·       The Coop (Graduate Oxford rooftop) — Oxford, MS

Sunset views and cocktails

Darley Newman poses with campus tour guide Julia Case; an Ole Miss student ambassador whose upbeat energy makes Darley want to return to college.

Day 2 (contd.)

Literature & Music Highlights

·       Square Books — 160 Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS 38655

A nationally recognized independent bookstore and the heartbeat of Oxford’s literary scene. Explore all four Square Books locations (Square Books, Jr.; Off Square Books; Rare Square Books) and connect the store’s story to the Thacker Mountain Radio Hour.

·       Rowan Oak — 916 Old Taylor Road, Oxford, MS 38655

The historic home of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner. Built in 1844, this Greek Revival house sits on 29 wooded acres. Visitors can see Faulkner’s handwritten notes on the walls and experience the quiet landscape that shaped his fiction.

·       Faulkner Alley — Downtown Oxford (near The Square)

A narrow, mural-lined passageway connecting Oxford’s literary legacy to today’s downtown creativity.

·       William Faulkner’s gravesite — St. Peter’s Cemetery, 400 North 16th Street, Oxford, MS 38655

A pilgrimage stop for readers from around the world.

·       End of All Music — 103 North Lamar Boulevard, Oxford, MS 38655

An independent record store that captures Oxford’s music identity, celebrating Mississippi’s deep musical heritage — from blues and folk to indie rock. Look for unique Mississippi finds and local stories.

·       Thacker Mountain Radio Hour — Oxford / special tapings vary

A live literary and music broadcast that showcases the town’s signature blend of authors and musicians (often connected to Square Books).

·       Live show recording (example): Henricks Venus, Water Valley, MS

Darley Newman with Joe Stinchcomb of Oxford’s Good Day Cafe, showcasing the café’s famous Smashburger.

Darley Newman stands in front of Reshonda Perryman’s The City with a Soul mural in Jackson, Mississippi, celebrating the city’s rich history in civil rights, literature, and art.

DAY 4 — Jackson: Civil Rights, Colleges & Creative Neighborhoods

Jackson’s story is layered — anchored by higher education, shaped by Civil Rights history, and energized by restaurants, murals, and nightlife.

Colleges & Campuses

·       Jackson State University (public HBCU; alma mater of Walter Payton) — 1400 John R. Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39217

·       Millsaps College (private liberal arts college) — Jackson, MS

·       Belhaven University (private university) — Jackson, MS

·       Tougaloo College (private HBCU) — 500 West County Line Road, Tougaloo, MS 39174

·       Other institutions: Mississippi College School of Law, Hinds Community College — Jackson area

Civil Rights & Museum District

·       Two Mississippi Museums — 222 North Street, Jackson, MS 39201

Home to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History. Plan time for immersive exhibits and compelling storytelling that places Mississippi at the center of national change.

·       Mississippi Civil Rights Museum (within Two Mississippi Museums)

A cornerstone stop for understanding Freedom Riders, organizing efforts, and pivotal Mississippi moments.

·       Museum Trail — Museum Boulevard (downtown Jackson museum corridor)

A scenic walking and biking corridor that connects major cultural institutions and invites visitors to experience the city actively — popular with runners and locals.

From the Kitchen to the Stage

·       Mississippi Blues Trail markers — Outside Iron Horse Grill & Hal & Mal’s

Follow the Blues Trail through downtown and pair heritage with live performances.

·       Iron Horse Grill — 320 West Pearl Street, Jackson, MS 39203

Restaurant + live music with the Mississippi Music Experience upstairs.

·       Hal & Mal’s — 200 South Commerce Street, Jackson, MS 39201

Iconic Jackson hangout mixing food, music, and local character.

·       Cathead Distillery — 422 South Farish Street, Jackson, MS 39201

Craft spirits and a modern Mississippi-made story (great for tastings and behind-the-scenes content).

Darley Newman stops at Brent’s Drugs in Jackson, Mississippi, a classic soda fountain known for its retro charm, comfort food, and old-fashioned milkshakes.

DAY 5 (Evening)— Travel to Starkville

Drive Jackson to Starkville (~2 hours). Arrive in an SEC town known for Bulldog pride, creative districts, and surprising presidential archives.

Suggested Hotel

·       The Hotel Chester — 101 North Jackson Street, Starkville, MS 39759

Evening: The Cotton District

·       The Cotton District — University Drive area, Starkville, MS 39759

A lively, walkable neighborhood with European-inspired architecture, murals, and an easygoing nightlife scene — one of Starkville’s signature experiences.

·       The Older Brother — Cotton District

·       The Two Brothers — Cotton District

·       Bin 612 — Cotton District

·       The Landing — Cotton District

·       Bulldog Burger — Cotton District

Darley Newman with Dr. Anne Marshall at the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at Mississippi State University, where they explore Grant’s legacy and the history preserved within the museum’s exhibits.

Darley Newman with Dr. Susannah Urul inside the Lincolniana collection at Mississippi State University, discussing the legacy of Abraham Lincoln amid historic portraits and artifacts.

DAY 7 — Downtown Starkville & Departure

Downtown Starkville

·       Storybook Stairs mural by Deborah Mansfield — Downtown Starkville (Yellow Brick Road theme)

·       Downtown shops and local storefronts — Main Street area, Starkville, MS

·       TASTE Italian Kitchen — Starkville, MS