Game Day Weekend in Tupelo

Staying in Tupelo for the big game? Here's your guide to how to get the most out of your game day weekend in the All-America city.

Whether you’re cheering for the Dawgs, the Rebels, or the away team, Tupelo is positively the place for SEC Weekends in Mississippi. Just an hour’s drive from both Ole Miss and Mississippi State, Tupelo offers accommodating stays, delicious dining, and a full weekend experience that rivals any college town. Here's your guide to getting the most out of your game day weekend in the All-America City.

Transportation

Tupelo is just a short, 90-minute drive from Memphis International Airport (MEM). Tupelo Regional Airport (KTUP) also offers direct flights from Nashville, TN, and Dallas, TX. Car rental options in Tupelo are available through Budget, Enterprise, Mobyl, and Hertz.

Hotel Tupelo

Where to Stay

With over 2,200 rooms, Tupelo offers a curated selection of hotels where comfort meets Southern hospitality. Here are a few lodging options:

Hotel Tupelo - Tupelo’s first boutique hotel embraces the Rock ‘N’ Roll culture inspired by Elvis Presley, with sophisticated design. The property includes 79 guest rooms and suites, private event spaces, dog-friendly accommodations, and a fitness center, as well as one of Tupelo’s trendiest bars and eateries, Jobos.

Fairfield Inn & Suites - This Barnes Crossing District location features thoughtfully designed guest rooms and suites that let you work and relax, free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel to stay connected, and fitness facilities with a pool and exercise room. You'll find it easy to settle into their vibrant lobby with spaces to gather, relax, and work.

Holiday Inn & Suites Tupelo North - Guests are just minutes away from many of Tupelo’s top attractions, including the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum, Huntington Bank Arena and Conference Center, Tupelo Aquatic Center, Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo, and the Oren Dunn City Museum. This location offers access to a variety of shopping, dining, entertainment, and local history for visitors to enjoy.

For full list of available accommodations, click here.

Woody's Tupelo

Where to Eat

Tailgating is a huge aspect of the college game day experience, but there is no shortage of amazing culinary options in Tupelo. The city’s chefs are constantly upping the bar when it comes to creativity, flavor, and locally sourced dishes. Here are a few top selections:

For breakfast before the drive

Brick & Spoon Tupelo
Location: 1201 North Gloster Street

Brick & Spoon offers build-your-own Bloody Marys, Mimosas, and other unique cocktails. Enjoy their all-day breakfast or brunch menu that includes everything from traditional breakfast items to shrimp and grits and breakfast tacos. Catch live music each Saturday and Sunday over brunch.

Connie’s Chicken
Location: 821 South Gloster Street

Connie's is known for their mouthwatering chicken 'n' biscuits smothered in white gravy. If chicken isn't your thing that early in the day, don't worry, they've got you covered. Enjoy their legendary blueberry donuts made fresh every morning.


Jobos
Location: 108 East Main Street

Located at Hotel Tupelo, this surf-and-turf restaurant offers daily breakfast and a special brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday. The Butter Burger is a crowd favorite!

For the post-game wind down

The Grill at Fairpark
Location: 343 East Main Street

The Grill features daily market-fresh fish specials and has a wide variety of brunch choices on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., complete with a Bloody Mary Bar! Enjoy bar fare, everyone's favorite appetizers, and quintessential seafood and steak dishes.

Woody’s Tupelo
Location: 619 North Gloster Street

Located in the historic Rex Plaza for over 30 years, Woody's Tupelo is one of Tupelo's most satisfying and award-winning dining experiences. Enjoy some of the best steak and seafood in Northeast Mississippi, in a relaxing and rustic atmosphere.

Bulldog Burger Company
Location: 311 South Gloster Street

Bulldog Burger Co offers handcrafted burgers, loaded fries, and specialty milkshakes that hit the spot after a long day of cheering. Grab a seat on the patio, order a local craft beer, and, relive the game's best plays with your crew

For full list of available eateries, click here.


Event Zona and Trampoline Park

Activities

Tupelo offers a wide range of exciting activities to boost your game day weekend. Whether you want to roam with buffalo, feel the beat of our live music scene, or shop Downtown’s local shops and boutiques, Tupelo has you covered. Here is a shortlist of activities you cannot miss.

Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum - The most significant landmark of Tupelo's modern history is a modest, two-room house where the King of Rock 'N' Roll was born on January 8, 1935. From this humble beginning, Elvis Presley began his swift rise to become the world's most popular entertainer. The house, built by his father with $180, draws over 100,000 visitors each year worldwide and is part of the 15-acre Elvis Presley Park. The home is a Mississippi landmark and the centerpiece of the park, which also includes a museum that chronicles his life, "Elvis at 13" statue, Elvis' childhood church, and more.

Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo - Home to more than 260 animals, the park includes a variety of rides and tours such as the petting zoo and Chickasaw Indian Village exhibit. Hop in your car, purchase a food bucket, and explore the drive-through experience that puts you up close and personal with the park’s residents.

Queens' Reward Meadery - Mississippi's first and only meadery makes small-batch meads with 100% Mississippi honey. Enjoy a tasting or sample one of their delicious mead slushies, the perfect way to beat the Mississippi heat during football season.

Barnes Crossing District - A regional mall and strip centers in the surrounding area provide over 1.5 million square feet of retail space that is still growing. The Mall at Barnes Crossing is a super-regional mall located northeast of Downtown Tupelo. It is home to over 90 specialty shops, five anchor stores, an eight-screen Cinemark movie theater, and a 600-seat food court.

Event Zona & Rebound Trampoline Park - There's a little bit of everything at this family entertainment center: bowling, laser tag, inflatables, bumper cars, arcade games, and concessions.


For a full list of available activities, click here.

So whether you're cheering for the Bulldogs, Rebels, or even the visitors, make Tupelo your game day home base.

Book your stay, plan your weekend, and enjoy the ride.

See you in Tupelo 🎸

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