The 16-Mile Tour Road
A loop along the Union and Confederate lines, with state memorials all the way.
Vicksburg National Military Park
The 47-day siege that gave the Union the Mississippi River, with over a thousand monuments and a salvaged ironclad.
The Illinois Memorial and Tour Stops 2 and 3 have been closed for restoration; completion was expected in fall 2026. The national cemetery is closed to cars but open on foot, from the USS Cairo lot. Louisiana Circle is closed.Checked November 2, 2026 · Latest
Vicksburg's bluffs commanded the Mississippi, and Lincoln called it the key to the war. Grant besieged the city for 47 days until it surrendered on July 4, 1863, the day after Gettysburg ended. Residents lived in caves and ate mules and rats. The town did not widely celebrate the Fourth of July for generations.
A tour road follows the siege lines past more than 1,300 monuments, and the ironclad USS Cairo, raised from the Yazoo River in 1964, sits in its own museum.
- Best Time
- March–May and October–November
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Every day; visitor center hours vary
- Getting There
- About 45 minutes west of Jackson, Mississippi, on I-20.
What to See
1 of 4 are freeUSS Cairo Gunboat and Museum
A Union ironclad sunk by an electric torpedo in 1862, with sailors' belongings found on board.
Vicksburg National Cemetery
About 17,000 Union soldiers, most of them unknown, above the river.
Riverfront Murals
Painted floodwalls telling the town's story, downtown by the water.
Know Before You Go
- An entrance fee applies, and the park is cashless.
- Summer here is very hot and humid; go in the morning.
Where to Stay
Stay in Vicksburg, or come from Jackson or Natchez.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
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Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Southeast list.