A Little Less Conversation, A Little More About Mississippi

In Mississippi, the roads tell stories. From the Great River Road along the mighty Mississippi River to Highway 61's "Blues Highway" legacy, the state preserves beauty and progress with every mile. Interstates and scenic byways don't just connect cities—they connect eras, leading travelers through natural landscapes to remarkable achievements like the world's largest man-made beach and the hometown of rock 'n' roll legend Elvis Presley. Whether you're passing through or seeking a destination, Mississippi makes the journey part of the experience.

Where the Journey Is the Destination

Mississippi's scenic byways are more than picturesque drives—they're open-air museums where music, architecture, and innovation merge. The Great River Road National Scenic Byway stretches over 275 miles along the Mississippi River and stands as one of the state's crown jewels. It follows U.S. Highway 61, connecting historic towns and landscapes shaped by the ebb and flow of America's greatest river.

This route—known worldwide as the Blues Highway—has carried generations of travelers, artists, and dreamers. Stretching from Wyoming to New Orleans, the Mississippi section is celebrated for its impact on American music history. During the Great Migration, Highway 61 became a route of hope for thousands of African Americans leaving the Jim Crow South, seeking new beginnings in northern cities. Out of this journey came the music that changed the world.

Legend has it that Robert Johnson sold his soul at the crossroads of Highways 61 and 49 in Clarksdale. Muddy Waters left the Delta for Chicago after his first recordings along this very stretch. These monumental musicians and more carried Mississippi's sound to the national stage. Today, travelers following the Mississippi Blues Trail can visit the same juke joints, churches, and crossroads where the blues was born—all connected by the road that still bears its name.

Beyond Highway 61, Mississippi's byways reveal the depth and diversity of the state's landscapes. The Gateway to History Scenic Byway in Madison County honors early settlements like Livingston, where the original 1824 county seat has been replicated as a historic township with farmers' markets, organic gardens, boutiques, and a community center. The William Faulkner Scenic Byway winds 15 miles through Holly Springs National Forest, passing the same rolling hills and creeks that inspired Faulkner's legendary stories of Yoknapatawpha County. The Southern Gothic author's birthplace and grave lie just a short drive from the byway.

The Gulf Coast Scenic Byway, Mississippi Delta Great River Road Scenic Byway, Lower Mississippi Historic Scenic Byway, and others cut across the state. Every journey becomes an opportunity to travel through time, taking in landmarks and architecture alongside preserved natural beauty. Together, these highways link people, culture, and progress through every stretch of asphalt.

Mississippi Gulf Coast: The World’s Largest Man-Made Beach

Follow Interstate 10 or Highway 90 south, and the road opens up to a different kind of marvel—the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Between Biloxi and Pass Christian sits 26 miles of pure white sand that holds the record for being the largest man-made beach in the world.

Built in stages between the 1920s and 1950s, this engineering achievement began as a practical solution to a problem. Coastal erosion and storm surges threatened the highways running parallel to the Gulf, so in 1924, an act was signed by local leaders to build seawalls to protect the roads. The project was completed in 1928 for $3.4 million (approximately $26 million today) and resulted in an impressive human-made shoreline.

The Harrison County Shore Protection Project, supported by federal law in 1946, helped reconstruct the seawall and raise nearly 13 miles of coastline, creating an artificial beach that now stretches farther than any other on Earth. Kept flat, groomed, and free of encroaching vegetation, the beach both protected the communities along the coast and became a notable destination for tourists.

Today, the Gulf Coast continues to draw in visitors, with more than just the beach on offer for entertainment. Car enthusiasts come from across the U.S., as well as Australia, Canada, and Germany, for Cruisin' The Coast, an annual car show that draws thousands of vintage vehicles from around the world. Gulfport's Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, a national award-winning children's museum, satisfies the inquisitive nature of young and old alike. What began as a project to protect the highway proves that infrastructure can shape the culture surrounding it.

The King of Rock 'n' Roll & Tupelo

Travel north along U.S. Highway 45 to Tupelo, the small town that produced one of the biggest names in music history. In a two-room shotgun house built by his father for $180, Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935.

The King of Rock 'n' Roll's early life is preserved at the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum, now part of a 15-acre park that welcomes over 100,000 visitors each year. Listed on the Mississippi Blues Trail, the site includes the relocated Assembly of God church where Elvis first discovered Southern gospel. Visitors can sit in the same building where a young Elvis learned to play D, A, and E chords on guitar from the minister, Brother Frank Smith.

Tupelo's Elvis Presley Park shows how Mississippi honors its history while creating something worth experiencing today. Just as Highway 61 carried the blues north, Highway 45 carried a voice that would echo around the world.

What Makes Mississippi Moving?

Mississippi's roads continue to move people, ideas, sounds, and dreams. From the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, from Tupelo to Biloxi, these highways tell a century-long story of creativity, art, and innovation. Mississippi isn't just a place to drive through—it's a place where every mile is the experience.

Whether you're standing on the world's largest man-made beach, sitting inside Elvis Presley's childhood church, or driving along highways with views that inspired William Faulkner, remember that Interstate Signways made the signs that guided your way.