Things to Do in Hattiesburg MS: Free, Family & Fall Picks

Last updated: October 5, 2026

Looking for things to do in Hattiesburg MS? This mid-sized city in Mississippi’s Pine Belt has more going on than most people expect. You can ride a 44-mile rail trail, visit a zoo, follow a civil rights audio tour, and catch live music downtown, all in one weekend. I compared what other travel guides cover, checked official pages for current hours and prices, and put the most useful options in one place.

Hattiesburg at a Glance

What Is Happening in Hattiesburg Right Now (October 2026)

October is a good month to visit. The city calls it the “greatest month to be a Hattiesburger,” and local news reports more than 240 events on the calendar. A few that stand out:

• Live at Five happens every Friday at 5 p.m. at Town Square Park.
• Brown Bag concerts run at The Commons at Gordon’s Creek, hosted by the Hattiesburg Arts Council.
• Trick or Treat on Main Street is on the last Monday of the month, which is October 26. Organizers expect about 2,500 trick-or-treaters downtown.
• The Lucky Rabbit, a vintage market, opens on Fridays this month for its “Luckyween” events. October is the only time of year it does that.
• Hattiesburg Saenger Theater has Colton Dixon and Micah Tyler on October 8, blues artist Robert Cray on October 25, and Larry Fleet on November 7.

FestivalSouth, the city’s big arts festival, ran June 4–27 this year. I could not find dates for 2027 yet.

Best Things to Do in Hattiesburg MS

1. Hattiesburg Zoo

The zoo sits in Kamper Park at 107 S 17th Ave. It opened on Easter Sunday in 1950, and it is still the most popular stop for families.

It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. between March and December. In January and February it opens only Friday to Sunday. It is closed on Mondays and on a few holidays, including Thanksgiving, Black Friday, December 24–25, and January 1–2.

Ticket prices on the zoo’s own website, when bought online in advance, are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $8 for children ages 2 to 12, plus tax. Kids under 2 are free. Prices go up on the day of your visit, and ticket sales end at 3:30 p.m. Some older websites still list a $5 ticket, but that looks outdated.

Extras cost more. The high ropes course runs Friday to Sunday, and an anteater and capybara feeding happens on Saturdays at 11 a.m.

2. Longleaf Trace

The Longleaf Trace is a paved, 10-foot-wide trail that runs 44 miles from Hattiesburg to Prentiss. It follows an old railroad line and opened in 2000. The speed limit is 15 mph, so it works for walkers, runners, and casual cyclists.

You do not need to ride the whole thing. One lodging site near the trail describes the ride from Mile 10 into downtown as roughly a 20-mile round trip. Reviewers say the first stretch out of Hattiesburg is mostly shaded. One also mentioned there were no restrooms in the first 10 miles of their ride, so plan ahead. Bike rentals are mentioned in visitor reviews, but I could not confirm current rental details, so call the trail office at 601-450-5247 first.

3. Downtown Hattiesburg: Art, Music and Vintage Finds

Downtown is easy to explore on foot, and you can fill half a day here.

• Hattiesburg Pocket Museum (119 W Front St) is tucked into an alley behind the Saenger Theater. It has a window display that changes often, plus tiny scenes and street art around it. It is outdoors, so there is no ticket line.
• The Lucky Rabbit (217 Mobile St) sells vintage, handmade, and upcycled items. Weekend hours are usually Saturday and Sunday, but follow its social pages because hours change.
• T-Bones Records & Café is a local favorite with a mural about Hattiesburg’s role in early rock and roll.
• Murals are all over downtown. One older blog counted over 40, but I could not confirm a current official number.

4. Freedom Summer Trail and the Sixth Street Museum District

This is the part of Hattiesburg that many quick “top 10” lists skip, and it is worth your time.

In 1964, Hattiesburg was the largest Freedom Summer area in Mississippi. The voter registration effort brought in more than 4,000 volunteers over two months. Today you can follow a free, self-guided driving tour with 16 stops and audio clips of oral histories. One stop is the Vernon Dahmer statue at the Forrest County Courthouse. Dahmer led the local NAACP chapter and paid poll taxes so others could vote.

For a walkable stop, go to the African American Military History Museum at 305 E Sixth St. The building was a USO club for Black soldiers stationed at Camp Shelby during World War II. Admission is free. It is open Wednesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. It is closed Sunday through Tuesday. Plan one to two hours.

Next door is the historic Eureka School, which Visit Hattiesburg lists as under renovation, so do not count on going inside.

5. Black Creek and De Soto National Forest

If you want a day outdoors, head south to Black Creek, which is Mississippi’s only National Wild and Scenic River. It runs through De Soto National Forest, a huge area of pine forest covering more than 500,000 acres.

Visit Hattiesburg points visitors to Black Creek Canoe Rentals and Okatoma Outdoor Post for canoe and kayak rentals. The Forest Service says primitive camping is allowed along the Black Creek Hiking Trail, but not overnight at the river landings. I did not find a reliable drive time from downtown, so check a map before you go.

6. Mississippi Armed Forces Museum

This free museum is at Camp Shelby (1001 Lee Ave W, Building 850). One family travel guide lists hours as Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Because it is on a military installation, confirm hours and entry rules before you drive out.

Free Things to Do in Hattiesburg

• African American Military History Museum
• 1964 Freedom Summer Trail and audio tour
• Hattiesburg Pocket Museum
• Downtown murals
• Longleaf Trace (I found no admission fee listed)
• Live at Five concerts at Town Square Park (October 2026)

Things to Do With Kids

Visit Hattiesburg suggests the zoo and Serengeti Springs for mixed ages. For toddlers it lists Shooting Stars Play Center and Kamper Park. On a rainy day, its list includes Updown Trampoline Park. The Longleaf Trace is also good for a family bike ride, since it is flat and paved.

Sample Plans

One day: Start at the zoo when it opens. Have lunch downtown, then visit the Pocket Museum and The Lucky Rabbit. End with a Friday evening concert at Town Square Park.

Weekend: Do the zoo and downtown on Saturday. Visit the Military History Museum after noon, then drive part of the Freedom Summer Trail. Save Sunday morning for the Longleaf Trace. Remember the museum is closed on Sundays.

One Thing I Could Not Confirm

The de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at Southern Miss is a major research collection with more than 200,000 books. However, a visitor review said it was not open to the public when they came. I could not find current public hours, so contact the university before planning a visit.

How This Was Researched

I read through several top-ranking Hattiesburg guides, then checked official sources for hours, prices, and history, including the zoo, the museum, the Longleaf Trace, Visit Hattiesburg, and the Forest Service. I also read recent local news for October 2026 events. Many guides I found were outdated, list prices that have changed, or skip the civil rights sites, so I tried to fill those gaps. Where I could not confirm a detail, I said so.

FAQ

What are the best things to do in Hattiesburg MS?

The most popular picks are the Hattiesburg Zoo, the Longleaf Trace, downtown’s Pocket Museum and murals, the Freedom Summer Trail, and the African American Military History Museum.

What are free things to do in Hattiesburg?

The Military History Museum, the Freedom Summer Trail, the Pocket Museum, and downtown murals are free. I found no listed fee for the Longleaf Trace.

How much does the Hattiesburg Zoo cost?

Online advance tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $8 for kids 2–12, plus tax. Kids under 2 are free. Day-of prices are higher.

How long is the Longleaf Trace?

It is 44 miles long, from Hattiesburg to Prentiss, and it is paved.

Is Hattiesburg good for families?

Yes. The zoo, parks, play centers, and the flat Longleaf Trace give families plenty to do.

When is the best time to visit?

October is full of events. I did not research weather data, so check the forecast for your dates.

Accuracy Note

This article is based on public information, including official attraction websites, tourism pages, Forest Service information, and local news. Hours and prices change, so confirm them before you go. If you spot anything outdated or incorrect, please let us know so we can update it.

Written and researched by Abdul Wahab, contributor at noblepenmagazine.