Mississippi Field Trips for Homeschoolers

Although it’s known as the “birthplace of music,” Mississippi homeschoolers will find even more than musical adventures as they crisscross the state. Whether you are a resident looking for a way to add some adventure into your homeschool routine or are car-schooling as you visit the area, you’ll find plenty of fun things to do in Mississippi. From Indian mounds to alligator farms, from women’s history to African-American history, homeschool students have multiple opportunities to enhance what they are learning with hands-on fun.

To help you locate fun day trips in Mississippi, we’ve organized them by geographical area. Plan out each of your learning adventures on this printable map of Mississippi from Time4Learning. Please make sure to contact each site before you plan your visit, as COVID-19 may have impacted their hours of operations. Plus, as a bonus, we’ve even included a free download of Time4Learning lesson tie-ins that might be the perfect supplement for each trip [at end of article]!

Homeschool Field Trips in the Hills Region

• Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum, Tupelo – Do you have a music lover in your homeschool? Then pack up the car and take it in the direction of Tupelo, MS. This is one of those day trips in Mississippi that could lead to discussions of multiple subjects, such as music appreciation, the history of rock and roll, and rural life in the early 20th century.

• Ingomar Mounds, New Albany – From a distance, it may look like a clump of trees, but when you drive up, you’ll discover you are at a 63-acre Native American mound site. The temple mound here is a type rarely found in NE Mississippi.

• Rowan Oak, Oxford – Want to make an outing but you are on a tight budget? The former home of Nobel Prize winning author William Faulkner has 28 acres of grounds that are free to roam with a house tour for only $5 per person. This would be a great tie in with a literature unit or even a general Mississippi unit, since most of Faulkner’s works were set in the state.

Homeschool Field Trips in the Delta Region

• Museum of the Mississippi Delta, Greenwood – The Museum of the Mississippi Delta focuses on the five “A’s”: art, archaeology, agriculture, antiques and animals. Things you will see when you visit include blacksmith tools, a life-size walkthrough diorama of a MS swamp, and a Civil-war era cannon.

• Tunica Riverpark and Museum, Tunica – There’s no better way to celebrate the majesty of the Mississippi River than here in Tunica. When considering family activities in Mississippi, don’t overlook this river overlook with nature trails and a chance to take a journey through the history of the area and view aquatic animals at the museum.

• Wright Center Art Gallery, Cleveland – Serving as the chief cultural center for the Delta region, this gallery sits on the campus of Delta State University. In addition to the many indoor exhibits which are ever-changing, you’ll also want to be sure to see the Mathews-Sanders sculpture garden on the campus, as well.

Homeschool Field Trips in the Pines Region

• Mississippi University for Women, Columbus – The perfect tie in with a Women’s History Month Unit Study would be a trip to the first college for women in the U.S. Founded in 1884, the university is where Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Eudora Welty got her degree. Campus tours are available Mondays through Fridays.

• Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, Brooksville – Wildlife viewing is the activity of the day at this destination. Looking for things to do with children in Mississippi? Noxubee has miles of nature trails, fishing opportunities, a chance to see alligators, and plenty of educational information in the visitor’s center.

• Wade Clock Museum, Starkville – In terms of unique field trip ideas in MS, this is a super one. It would make a great addition to lessons on time, simple machines, force, or motion. You’ll encounter over 400 timepieces from all over the world dating as far back as the 1700s.

Homeschool Field Trips in the Capital River Region

• Natchez National Historical Park, Natchez – This park is has three distinct sites you don’t want to miss: Fort Rosalie, an 18th century fortification built by the French; the William Johnson house, a home owned by a free African American businessman in the 1800s; and the Melrose Estate, a pre-civil war cotton plantation.

• Smith Robertson Museum & Cultural Center, Jackson – It doesn’t have to be Black History Month to find a reason to visit this historical treasure honoring the contributions of African Americans. Your homeschoolers will learn so much from this site, which was the first public school for African American students.

• Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg – The battle of Vicksburg helped determine the outcome of the Civil War. More than 1,400 monuments and markers honor those who fought on both the Confederate and Union sides of the war.

Homeschool Field Trips in the Gulf Coast Region

• Gulf Coast Gator Ranch, Moss Point – Explorable either by walking tour or via air boat, this is your family’s chance to get up close and personal with America’s most notable swamp-dwelling reptiles. Learn about wetlands and bolster your biology curriculum with new information on estuaries and marine wildlife.

• Hattiesburg Zoo, Hattiesburg – More than 80 species of animals from around the world reside at this wildlife center. The EdZOOcation center offers learning opportunities for all grade levels year-round, and there is even a dedicated “Home School at the Zoo School” curriculum-based adventure once a month.

• Infinity Science Center, Biloxi – Not many day trips in Mississippi offer such a variety of things to see as a visit to Infinity. Exhibits such as the Carnivorous Plants Conservatory, the Hurricane Prediction Lab, the Earth & Space Galleries and the Biome Boardwalk will keep your homeschoolers active and engaged all day long.