Partnered Post | Images provided by Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau | Doughnuts at Connie's Fried Chicken

On the Road

End Summer in Tupelo, Mississippi

By: The Local Palate

Copy to clipboard

In search of one last adventure before school starts? Look no further than Tupelo, Mississippi. With attractions that highlight the city’s unique culture–like the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Natchez Trace Parkway–to three distinct shopping districts and accommodating hotels, imagine what you can do there.

A statue commemorating Elvis Presley’s 1956 homecoming concert in Tupelo. Photo by Molly Lincoln.

The city is home to more than 160 restaurants just waiting to satisfy your cravings. Start the day with breakfast at a Tupelo institution: Connie’s Fried Chicken serves up fluffy biscuits topped with golden fried chicken and creamy white gravy. Because breakfast deserves dessert too, try the deep-fried blueberry donuts.

After a fun-filled morning of exploring Tupelo, eat like the king at Johnnie’s Drive-In, Tupelo’s oldest restaurant and a favorite of young Elvis. Sit in the Elvis booth and feast on burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Johnnie’s is a stop on both the Elvis’ Tupelo driving tour and the Elvis’ Tupelo self-guided bicycle tour.

Celebrate the memories your family has made in Tupelo with dinner at Romie’s Grocery. Sip sweet tea on the patio while enjoying hand-cut steaks, Mississippi catfish, or grilled burgers while tapping your toes to live music. It is almost required in the birthplace of the king of rock ‘n’ roll.

For a sweet nightcap, stop by Crave, Tupelo’s dessert cafe, for a skillet cookie. This decadent dish is a chocolate chip cookie baked in a skillet, topped with ice cream, and drizzled with chocolate and caramel for the ultimate sweet ending to a great day.

Let your mouth water by following #tupelofoodie on Instagram and Twitter. Visit EAT at tupelo.net to explore all of the options in the city where anything is possible.