Major city · United States
TupeloTupelo, Mississippi
Give Tupelo one night, two if you want Brice's Cross Roads: the Elvis birthplace and a Parkway stop, not a base for north Mississippi.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), late Dec–Feb (cold, few events)
- Airports
- TUP · MEM · BHM · GTR
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Tupelo is a small northeast Mississippi city on the Natchez Trace Parkway, about 1 h 40 min by car from Memphis and 2 h 30 min from Birmingham. It is the Elvis Presley birthplace and a Parkway overnight stop. Almost everything worth seeing sits along Main Street or a short drive out; a car is close to essential.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Tupelo, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyTupelo is a low-risk small city; the real issues are heat, storms and driving after dark on two-lane roads.
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 662-841-6491 Tupelo Police (non-emergency) · 1-800-222-1222 Poison Control
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportTUP Tupelo Regional Airport (Contour Airlines to Nashville only; small and often the priciest option).
- Getting aroundA car is the practical choice: sights are spread over 8 km and buses are limited.A car is the practical choice: sights are spread over 5 mi and buses are limited.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–6
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner main$18–32
- Beerdraught in a bar$6–9
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi or rideshare3.1 mi taxi or rideshare$12–18
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum or birthplace admission$10–25
- Budget bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$65
- Mid-range bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$85
- High-end bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$110
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$240
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- TUP Tupelo Regional Airport (Contour Airlines to Nashville only; small and often the priciest option) · MEM Memphis International Airport (About 1 h 40 min northwest by car; the usual gateway) · BHM Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (About 2 h 30 min southeast by car) · GTR Golden Triangle Regional Airport (About 1 h 10 min south; flights to Atlanta)
Weather and climate
Tupelo: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
11°C52°F
0°C32°F
9 rd
Feb
14°C57°F
2°C36°F
9 rd
Mar
19°C66°F
6°C43°F
10 rd
Apr
24°C75°F
10°C50°F
9 rd
May
28°C82°F
15°C59°F
10 rd
Jun
32°C90°F
20°C68°F
9 rd
Jul
33°C91°F
22°C72°F
10 rd
Aug
33°C91°F
21°C70°F
8 rd
Sep
30°C86°F
17°C63°F
7 rd
Oct
24°C75°F
10°C50°F
7 rd
Nov
18°C64°F
5°C41°F
8 rd
Dec
12°C54°F
1°C34°F
9 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is the practical choice: sights are spread over 8 km and buses are limited. Downtown is walkable once parked. Ride-hailing exists but waits can be long; taxis are few. The Natchez Trace Parkway is a slow scenic road with no commercial traffic.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 45 min
Drive US-45 north then county roads, about 30 min
Small, quiet site with a visitor centre; pair it with Corinth.
Door to door: About 1 h
Drive MS-6 west, about 50 min
Square, bookshops and food; a better evening than Tupelo's.
Door to door: About 1 h
Drive US-45 north, about 50 min
Civil War earthworks and a walkable downtown.
Holly Springs, Mississippi
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
Drive MS-15/I-22 northwest, about 1 h 15 min
Antebellum houses; check opening days before driving.
Memphis, Tennessee
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h
Drive I-22 west, about 1 h 40 min
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there instead.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Downtown / West Main Street
Walk to the hardware store, restaurants and Cadence Bank Arena; the best base without a car in the evening.
Barnes Crossing / North Gloster
Chain hotels and the mall, 10 min drive north of downtown; free parking and easy I-22 access.
Elvis Presley Drive area
Motels close to the birthplace; convenient if the birthplace is your only stop.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $70–110 excl. bed
- Mid
- $110–180 excl. bed
- High
- $180+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Chain hotel room (Barnes Crossing)1 × 1 night × US$140 | US$140 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$130 | US$260 |
| Rental car, one day1 × US$55 | US$55 |
| Fuel, about 150 km of driving1 × US$15 | US$15 |
| Elvis Presley Birthplace admission2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$54 |
| Trip total≈ US$297 per person per day, bed included | US$594 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at the till. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Plate lunch or meat-and-three | $12–18 |
| Sit-down dinner main | $18–32 |
| Beer, draught in a bar | $6–9 |
| 5 km taxi or rideshare | $12–18 |
| Museum or birthplace admission | $10–25 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $10–25 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Summer heat and humidity: plan indoor stops midday, carry water.
- Tornado season runs roughly Mar–May; check forecasts and know your hotel's shelter.
- Some downtown restaurants close Sunday and Monday: check before you drive out.
- Ride-hailing can be scarce after about 21:00: book the return trip before you go out.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Tupelo Police (non-emergency)
- 662-841-6491
- Poison Control
- 1-800-222-1222
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
TupeloTupelo, Mississippi
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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Can you take me to this address?To this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Tupelo Police (non-emergency)662-841-6491
- Poison Control1-800-222-1222
Embassy
No embassies in Tupelo; consulates are in Atlanta, Houston or New Orleans. For passport help, contact your country's nearest consulate before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Memphis airport → Tupelo, one way by car: about 1 h 40 min, about 160 kmabout 1 h 40 min, about 99 mi
- Rideshare downtown → Barnes Crossing: $12–18
- Rental car, one day: from about $55 plus fuel
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Where is the restroom? — Where is the toilet?
- Do you take cards? — Can I pay by card?
- Could we get the check? — The check, please
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Tupelo. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), late Dec–Feb (cold, few events) · month by month →
- 4 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contracts for TUP, MEM and BHM with last-departure checks and a taxi fallback.
- Walking cluster for downtown Main Street with verified cutoffs for the birthplace, hardware store and arena.
- Parkway stop pages with fuel, food and restroom anchors between Tupelo and Iuka.
- Storm and heat fixtures so summer and spring arrivals can go green.