Meridian, Mississippi travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Meridian is a city in Mississippi. It was a titan of commerce of sorts during the Reconstruction era and up through the Great Depression, even after General Tecumseh Sherman had torched it, due to its being a hub to five major rail lines and manufacturing during its golden age. It is now a treasure trove for some of the architecture preserved from that period. Meridian is also noted for being the location of the US v. Cecil Price court case, where several Ku Klux Klan members were charged for the abduction and murder of three Civil Rights workers in 1964 in nearby Neshoba County, an event analogously portrayed in the film Mississippi Burning.

4 sights · 1 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Meridian

Historic districts

Among others, these city landmarks give credence to the nostalgic feel of yesteryear:

Highland Park

notable because it features the Dentzel antique carousel, which people wax sentimental over because supposedly it is the only one of its kind, with a double row of horses and things, in existence today. The park also has…

Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum

if you like old machines, you'll likely love this place, housed in a former foundry, with steam engines and implements for this and that.

Grave of the Gypsy Queen

if you're really wanting to get off the beaten track, you can find this peculiar grave of a Romany leader who led that nomadic community that somewhat descended upon Meridian of all places in the late 19th century.

Bonita Lakes Park

This park offers a great trail looping around a lake so that you can admire the Piney Woods while working off that slice of Mississippi Mud Cake or fried food frenzy. You may see deer or a statue of a merry-go-round hors…

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 91°F; winter lows dip to about 38°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jan and Jul. (climate data from nearby Gulf Coast)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
MEI Key Field / Meridian Regional Airport, Meridian — 4 mi away. Directions
PIB Hattiesburg Laurel Regional Airport, Moselle — 73 mi away. Directions
BHM Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Birmingham — 140 mi away (major hub). Directions

U.S. Interstate 20 begins at Kent, Texas and ends at Florence, South Carolina. U.S. Interstate 59 begins at New Orleans, Louisiana and ends at Wildwood, Georgia. U.S. Route 80 begins at Dallas, Texas and ends at Savannah, Georgia.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Sample 1-day itinerary

Day 1

Morning Highland Park, Grave of the Gypsy Queen, Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum
Lunch Harvest Grill
Afternoon Bonita Lakes Park, Historic districts
Dinner Weidmann's

Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

Map

Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

Get in

By car

By plane

Meridian Regional Airport has nonstop service on Silver Airways to Atlanta.

By train

Amtrak serves the city via its once-daily Crecent service between New York City and New Orleans. Meridan Union Station is centrally located at 1901 Front St.

See

See Historic districts

Among others, these city landmarks give credence to the nostalgic feel of yesteryear:

Maps

Threefoot Building, 601 22nd Ave, 16 story Art Deco building from 1929 whose financiers were ironically put out of business by the Great Depression thereafter, now commemorated indirectly with an annual Threefoot Arts Festival.
Riley Center, 2200 5th St, also known as the Grand Opera House from 1889, in late Victorian/Empire Romanesque style, with a distinctive proscenium that has the face of a lady.
Meridian Museum of Art, 628 25th Ave, formerly a Carnegie library from 1913, of which there were actually two in Meridian, one for whites and one for blacks, the latter no longer in existence. Aside from its attractive Carnegie design, the building houses an intriguing array of art exhibits.
Wechsler School, 1430 30th Ave, the first school to be built for African Americans with public funds in the state of Mississippi, it's now more or less a shell with broken windows and such.
E.F. Young Hotel, 2422 5th St, this was the only hotel where African Americans could stay prior to Civil Rights Movement changes

See Highland Park

notable because it features the Dentzel antique carousel, which people wax sentimental over because supposedly it is the only one of its kind, with a double row of horses and things, in existence today. The park also has a plaque and museum about Meridian-born country/blues star Jimmie Rogers, although the current operation of said museum seems to be questionable. Unfortunately the environs of this location can be a little sketchy.

📍 1720 Jimmie Rogers Memorial Dr⚠ Last checked Aug 2021 — confirm before you go

Maps