Rollin’ and Tumblin’: Hotels on the Mississippi Blues Trail

“It all started in the Delta. Rock ‘n’ roll, funk, punk, hip-hop, metal – even deep house, psy-trance and Nintendocore. You can trace the origins of pretty much every modern musical genre back to the blues. Of course, blues fans already know that. And you might also know that the birthplace of the blues makes for one heck of a road trip, with site after site on the officially designated Mississippi Blues Trail providing spine tingles to diehard blues fans and fascinating musical insights to casual visitors. Get your mojo workin’ with these five hotels on the Mississippi Blues Trail.

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The Holy Moly Blues Central, Clarksdale
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Deep in Coahoma County, Clarksdale has grown up around its blues roots. Home to legends from Muddy Waters to Sam Cooke, there are several Mississippi Blues Trail markers in the town, including the Devil’s Crossroads, where, according to legend, Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil. In Downtown Clarksdale, the Holy Moly Blues Central is within a five-minute walk of most of the markers and venues.

If you want to see more hotels in Clarksdale, visit our Clarksdale hotels page.

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The Lofts at 517, Greenville
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Back in the 1940s and 50s, whether you wanted to watch a Delta blues legend or see the best jump blues bandleader of the day, Nelson Street in Greenville was the place to go. These days, Greenville is home to the Mississippi Blues Convention, which exists to celebrate the Delta’s musical history and culture. In the old Sears building, the Lofts at 517 is very much part of this culture. Stay in one of these boutique hotel rooms and apartments, and your finger is on the town’s pulse. Come in September to catch the Delta Blues festival.

If you want to see more hotels in Greenville, visit our Greenville hotels page.

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Hilton Garden Inn, Tupelo
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Rock ‘n’ roll became the heir to the blues, and the genre’s early exponents perfectly understood the connections to the established rhythms of the Delta. And that included the King himself, who grew up in Tupelo surrounded by the blues. Staying at the Hilton Garden Inn, you can visit the modest house where Elvis Presley was born, his childhood church and Shake Rag, the African-American neighbourhood that influenced Elvis’s early career. With a restaurant and pool, the nearby Hilton is a great base for soaking up the history and blues culture of Tupelo. Catch live jazz, R&B or blues performance before grabbing a dough burger from Johnnie’s Drive-In.

If you want to see more hotels in Tupelo, visit our Tupelo hotels page.

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Shadowlawn Bed & Breakfast, Columbus
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Let the Mississippi Blues Trail markers guide you through Columbus’s many vibrant neighbourhoods. Stay at the charming Shadowlawn Bed & Breakfast in its imposing colonial building, which is part of the Columbus trail, to experience genuine southern hospitality. Plus, you’re just a couple of blocks away from the Queen City Hotel where B.B. King, Louis Armstrong and James Brown all once stayed. You’ll find blues, R&B and gospel performances all over the city, and in June there’s the Catfish in the Alley festival.

If you want to see more hotels in Columbus, visit our Columbus hotels page.

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Edwardian Inn, Helena, Arkansas
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It’s worth crossing the Mississippi River just into Arkansas for a slice of Helena’s Delta Blues history. Most famous for America’s longest-running radio show, ‘King Biscuit Time’, which has broadcast blues music to the Delta since the 1940s, Helena was vital to blues artists and fans both sides of the river. The impeccable Edwardian Inn with its beautiful period décor and excellent food plays a role in local history. Discover Mississippi Blues Trail markers in the town, and catch King Biscuit Time at the Delta Cultural Centre.

If you want to see more hotels in Helena, visit our Helena hotels page.”