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Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Mississippi.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Mississippi using data from . Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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Tripadvisor

1 / 30

#30. Jones Park

- Rating: 4.4/5 (142 reviews)
- City: Gulfport
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2 / 30

#29. Bay Saint Louis Beach

- Rating: 4.5/5 (65 reviews)
- City: Bay Saint Louis
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3 / 30

#28. Medgar Evers Home

- Rating: 4.6/5 (101 reviews)
- City: Jackson
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4 / 30

#27. Red Bluff

- Rating: 4.3/5 (38 reviews)
- City: Foxworth
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5 / 30

#26. Lauren Rogers Museum of Art

- Rating: 4.8/5 (158 reviews)
- City: Laurel
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6 / 30

#25. Bluff Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (247 reviews)
- City: Natchez
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7 / 30

#24. Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum and Interpretive Center

- Rating: 4.5/5 (297 reviews)
- City: Vicksburg Missi
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8 / 30

#23. Golden Nugget Casino

- Rating: 3.8/5 (722 reviews)
- City: Biloxi
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9 / 30

#22. Gulf Islands National Seashore

- Rating: 4.5/5 (343 reviews)
- City: Ocean Springs
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#21. Front Beach

- Rating: 4.3/5 (85 reviews)
- City: Ocean Springs
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#20. Natchez Visitor Center

- Rating: 4.6/5 (854 reviews)
- City: Natchez
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#19. Historic Natchez Cemetery

- Rating: 4.7/5 (546 reviews)
- City: Natchez
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13 / 30

#18. Biloxi Bay Bridge

- Rating: 4.7/5 (231 reviews)
- City: Biloxi
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14 / 30

#17. Gold Strike Casino

- Rating: 4.0/5 (821 reviews)
- City: Tunica
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15 / 30

#16. Boomtown Casino Biloxi

- Rating: 3.6/5 (766 reviews)
- City: Biloxi
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16 / 30

#15. University of Mississippi

- Rating: 4.7/5 (359 reviews)
- City: Oxford
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#14. Island View Casino

- Rating: 3.9/5 (681 reviews)
- City: Gulfport
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18 / 30

#13. Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel

- Rating: 3.7/5 (549 reviews)
- City: Biloxi
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19 / 30

#12. The Natchez Trace Parkway

- Rating: 4.6/5 (149 reviews)
- City: Natchez
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20 / 30

#11. New Palace Casino Point Cadet

- Rating: 4.4/5 (459 reviews)
- City: Biloxi
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21 / 30

#10. Biloxi Lighthouse

- Rating: 4.2/5 (523 reviews)
- City: Biloxi
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#9. Windsor Ruins

- Rating: 4.6/5 (309 reviews)
- City: Port Gibson
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#8. Mississippi State Capitol

- Rating: 4.6/5 (284 reviews)
- City: Jackson
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#7. St. Mary Basilica

- Rating: 4.8/5 (494 reviews)
- City: Natchez
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25 / 30

#6. Biloxi Visitors Center

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,383 reviews)
- City: Biloxi
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26 / 30

#5. Hard Rock Casino Biloxi

- Rating: 4.0/5 (1,882 reviews)
- City: Biloxi
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27 / 30

#4. Natchez Trace Parkway

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,785 reviews)
- City: Tupelo
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28 / 30

#3. Biloxi Beach

- Rating: 3.9/5 (1,169 reviews)
- City: Biloxi
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29 / 30

#2. Horseshoe Casino

- Rating: 4.2/5 (12,141 reviews)
- City: Tunica
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30 / 30

#1. Beau Rivage Casino

- Rating: 4.3/5 (2,510 reviews)
- City: Biloxi
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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