Discover Hattiesburg

Hattiesburg offers travelers a range of ways to explore: urban parks, long trails, art stops, sites of African American history and a diverse dining scene. If you’re looking for a hotel in Hattiesburg, you can plan your stay around the themes you’d like to explore. It’s also helpful to consider the type of experience you want: the Longleaf Trace is an expansive linear park, while the HBURG Public Art Trail focuses on numerous individual stops.

Parks, Trails and Outdoor Activities

The city maintains 29 parks, walking trails and recreational facilities for residents and visitors. The number of facilities may change. The Longleaf Trace is a 44-mile paved linear park for running, cycling, walking and horseback riding. It begins at an access point in Hattiesburg near the University of Southern Mississippi. The trail accommodates a variety of activities rather than being limited to just one. Trail conditions and access rules may change; check both before your visit.

The HBURG Public Art Trail offers a different way to explore: it includes more than 100 stops and can be explored on foot, by bicycle or by car. The number of stops may change. For geocaching, the Hattiesburg GeoTour has more than 40 caches; it was the first of its kind in Mississippi. The number of caches may also change. These offerings include both art stops and geocaches, while the Longleaf Trace is a long linear park.

Experience History and Culture

The African American Military History Museum offers educational programs and resources on history, art and STEM. A specific historical connection to music dates to 1936: Blind Roosevelt and Uaroy Graves recorded music in a studio in downtown Hattiesburg that was later recognized as foundational to rock ’n’ roll.

The 1964 Freedom Summer Trail commemorates people who were involved in the civil rights movement in Hattiesburg during the 1960s. At individual stops, visitors can listen to reflections from people who were directly involved in Freedom Summer activities. The audio content may be updated. The trail thus connects remembrance of the civil rights movement with the voices of people who were directly involved and can be heard at the stops.

Gardens, Dining and Cuisine

The All-American Rose Garden consists of 32 separate beds, each containing a different rose variety. Plantings may change. Its division into individual beds gives the garden a different layout from the art trail’s stops or the Longleaf Trace’s longer route.

The Hattiesburg Trail includes more than 30 participating restaurants, identified by a Hattiesburg Trail sign at the entrance. The number of participating restaurants may change. Hattiesburg’s dining scene includes fresh seafood, Cajun-inspired dishes and Southern classics, as well as burgers, steaks, food truck fare, vegan food and Thai cuisine. The restaurant mix changes over time.

Plan Your Arrival and Activities

Visitors can reach Hattiesburg by Amtrak on the Crescent Line between New Orleans and New York. Schedules may change, so check the service for your travel date. Pinebelt Blueways offers guided raft trips on the Leaf River or Bouie River during stays in Hattiesburg. Trips depend on availability and weather; take both conditions into account when planning a rafting trip.

For the broader travel overview: Forrest County.