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26 Fun Things To Do In Jackson, Mississippi with Kids
What Is Jackson Mississippi Known For
Jackson is the state capital of Mississippi. This capital city is rich in United States history, from the civil war to the civil rights movement and its tradition of music including blues, gospel, folk, and jazz.
Jackson has a lot going for it, but you might not immediately think of this city when you think about a family getaway. There are lots of fun things to do in Jackson Mississippi for you and the kids and here is a list of them below.
Best Time to Visit Jackson Mississippi
October to March
The months spanning from October to March are said to be the best months to visit Jackson. During these months, the extreme heat has subsided and the annual Hurricane season has ended, making for a safer and more enjoyable visit.
May to July
Although it’s much hotter in Jackson from May to July, you’ll find many more tourists in Jackson during this time. This is mostly because of Summer break, but also because there are tons of warm weather activities to experience in Jackson during these months of the year. The average temperatures during this time are between 73°F and 91°F, making it a great time of year to visit the Pearl River or any other water attractions.
Where To Stay In Jackson Mississippi with Kids
We stayed at LeFleur Bluff State Park for 2 nights which is an RV park as well as Homewood Suites Jackson for 2 nights.
Usually, we stay at mix of both places to give all our readers an idea of what it is like to visit places whether you have an RV or not. We understand that we have readers who RV as well as readers who prefer hotels.
Our site at LeFleur Bluff State Park was amazing. It has lots of trees and right on the lake. We were able to put our hammock up and hang out in it, as you can see Aiden below reading in the hammock. I love RV parks with plenty of trees!
Other Places to Stay In Jackson Mississippi
Jackson has several hotels that are perfect for families. These hotels range from high-end to budget-friendly, but the one thing they all have in common is that they make a great hub for your family on your Jackson Mississippi vacation.
RV Park
Hotel
- Hilton Jackson
- The Westin Jackson
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Jackson
- Hampton Inn and Suites Jackson Coliseum
- Residence Inn Jackson The District at Eastover
Things To Do In Jackson Mississippi
Jackson has so much to offer families. From history to nature, live music, and more, the city has something for the entire family to enjoy.
Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum highlights the Mississippi Civil Rights movement and the impact it had on the state and the country. Highlighting the strength and sacrifices of the movement’s participants, the museum offers eight interactive galleries focusing on the history of systematic oppression of black people in Mississippi and how those same people worked to throw off their cultural chains.
Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
Mississippi Children’s Museum
Promoting imagination and a joy of learning, the Mississippi Children’s Museum’s mission is to deliver an inspiring experience that ignites a love of learning in children to last a lifetime. This interactive museum is all about allowing children to explore and learn in a hands-on environment.
Old Capitol Museum
The Old Capitol Museum is located in the old capitol building. This museum explores the history of the building during its tenure as the seat of Mississippi’s government.
Visitors can learn about some of the state’s most sweeping legislative actions such as the 1839 Married Women’s Property Act, its secession from the Union in 1861, and the crafting of the 1868 and 1890 state constitutions.
Mississippi Museum of Art
The largest art museum in the state, the Mississippi Museum of Art has been a community-supported institution for over 100 years. Visitors can see exhibits, events, and The Art Garden all year long. Even better, admission is free except for some special ticketed events.
Eudora Welty House and Garden
Explore the home and gardens of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty. The home was restored by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History after her passing in 2001 and is open for tours.
Exhibits chronicle the history of Eudora and her writings, and special events offer an even more intimate look at the property and the woman who lived there.
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
Devoted to exploring the natural world in both the present and the past, the museum offers more than 200 living species in their 100,000-gallon aquarium network. Visitors can see native reptiles, fish, and amphibians, along with a wall featuring fossil specimens such as Zygorhiza, Mosasaurus, and a giant sloth. The museum also offers The Preschool Discovery Room for interactive fun and two miles of outdoor walking trails.
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center
Stepped in the history of black Mississippians right down to the foundation, the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center is located in Jackson’s first public school building for African-Americans. Named after a former slave who later became the first black Alderman in Jackson, the museum tells the stories of everyday lives and culture of African-Americans living in the South from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center
International Museum of Muslim Cultures
For eighteen years, the International Museum of Muslim Cultures has featured exhibits and programs of national and international significance to the public. Highlighting the faith and life of Muslim culture, the museum boasts such exhibitions as Muslims with Christians & Jews: Exhibition of Covenants & Coexistence, Legacy of Timbuktu: Wonders of the Written Word, and Moorish Spain: Its Legacy to Europe and the West.
International Museum of Muslim Cultures
Mississippi Agricultural & Forestry Museum
Visitors can learn all about the history of Mississippi’s agriculture and forestry at this museum. Featuring permanent exhibits, a living history farm, an entire authentic crossroads town, and a forestry study area, the museum offers a variety of learning opportunities from artifacts to special events.
Mississippi Agricultural & Foresty Museum
Oaks Museum House
Combining the history of The Oaks House and the natural beauty of the Jackson area, the Oaks Museum House offers visitors the chance to tour this historic structure and walk the beautifully maintained grounds. It’s a tranquil destination combining history and nature in equal measure.
The Jackson Zoo
Established in 1919, the Jackson Zoo exhibits over 120 species and around 250 individual animals from around the world and the region itself. In addition to viewing its collection of animals, Jackson Zoo also offers special events like the Freedom Ranch Wildlife Outreach “Birds of Prey” and Terry Vendeventer’s Living Reptile Museum, offering visitors a closer look at some animals along with an educational experience.
601 Escape Rooms
Get the entire family’s brains racing with riddles, clues, and excitement at 601 Escape Rooms. This family-fun adventure features three different escape rooms, one of which is a kids’ escape room for ages 6 to 12. Escape the Lost Cabin, take part in a Prison Break, or challenge your escape chops in Swan Song an advanced escape room designed to test your mental limits.
Museum of Mississippi History
Visit the Museum of Mississippi History in the heart of downtown Jackson to explore more than 15,000 years of history. Interactive exhibits, educational programs, and hundreds of artifacts all chronicle the state’s history from ancient times to the present day.
Let’s Roam Jackson
Offering historical and heritage guided tours, scavenger hunts, cultural tours, and more, Let’s Roam Jackson is a fun way to explore the area that the entire family will love.
Crazy Dash Digital Adventure
Explore Jackson a little differently with Crazy Dash Digital Adventure. A remote guide takes your and your family to ten spots around Jackson. At each stop, you’ll have to answer a quiz question, photograph yourself performing an outrageous task, and then send it to your guide.
Each trip is unique with the remote guide staying with visitors throughout the tour and giving special challenges based on their experiences.
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame
A must for sports lovers, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame tells and preserves the stories of Mississippi’s greatest athletes and coaches. Explore exhibits and memorabilia highlighting the stories of famous athletes like Jerry Rice, Brett Favre, Walter Payton, and Archie Manning.
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame
Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
You might not think of classical music and opera when you think of Mississippi, but that’s what you’ll find at the award winning Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. This professional orchestra offers a variety of concerts ranging from orchestral pieces to visiting solo artists, operas, and more.
Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
Fondren District
The Fondren District has a variety of things to do in Jackson Mississippi with kids. Entertainment spaces, art galleries, local shopping, cafes, bakeries, and restaurants all await visitors to this cute, quirky Jackson district.
LeFleur’s Bluff State Park
Families can enjoy camping, fishing, picnicking, and nature trails in this 305-acre park. The vibrant, natural beauty of Mississippi is on full display here, and it makes a great place to embrace Mother Nature as a family. RV sites are spacious and shaded, with many right on the lake. There’s even a nine-hole golf course.
Mississippi Petrified Forest
Take a stroll with the family through a forest 36 million years in the making. This six-block nature trail is lined with petrified logs and offers scenic views of the beautiful forest that surrounds the trails. The forest has an earth science museum to teach visitors all about the petrification process and they even have a campground.
Greenwood Cemetery
This historic cemetery is full of history and amazing headstones, markers, and architecture. Established in 1823, the cemetery is still in use today. This 22-acre cemetery boasts gorgeous landscaping featuring magnolias and wisteria and offers a peaceful stroll through the past.
Russell C. Davis Planetarium
The Russell C. Davis Planetarium is one of the largest in the USA. Visit this huge facility with a 60-foot projection dome that projects stars, planets, and scenes from the sky at certain points from any viewpoint on Earth. Visitors can learn all about the things we see in the sky and far beyond with entertaining and educational shows the entire family will love.
Buddy Butts Park
Buddy Butts Park is one of the most unique things to do in Jackson Mississippi. This park is home to the largest small-scale model ever built. Constructed by the US using Italian and German Prisoners of war, this model represents 41% of the USA, showing over 15,000 miles of rivers and surrounding countryside across 200 acres.
While you’re there, you’ll also find biking trails, a go-kart track, a driving range, hiking trails, and more.
New Stage Theatre
Families can head to New Stage Theatre and take in any of the variety of shows it has to offer. The theater is home to a variety of plays and musicals and hosts various events, as well.
Street Art
If you love street art and murals, then you’ll love this map – Jackson Public Art Map. We followed it around downtown and found so many beautiful murals. We took photos at too many to count. Make sure to pack your camera and tripod when you go, you’ll need it!
Outlets of Mississippi
A short drive southeast of Jackson takes you to Outlets of Mississippi. This absolutely massive outlet center has every imaginable store including high-end names like Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, COACH Factory, Micahel Kors, Gap Factory Store, and Under Armour just to name a few.
The center also has a great dining area, and even a Mississippi Development Authority office offering helpful travel and sight-seeing advice.
Where to Eat in Jackson Mississippi
In addition to amazing things to do in Jackson Mississippi, there are also amazing places to eat. Jackson is home to some of the best food (and ice cream) you’ll find anywhere. The selection ranges from Japanese flavors to barbecue, deli eats, and more.
The Pig & Pint
Broadstreet Baking Company
Hal & Mals
Dumbos on Duling
Saltine
Is Jackson MS Worth Visiting?
From Jackson Zoo to the Mississippi Petrified Forest, tons of museums, cultural spots, dining, and even shopping, there are so many things to do in Jackson Mississippi, you’re sure to find something the entire family will love.
