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Mississippi Fall Foliage Train Rides

Published: September 11, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Mississippi’s fall is a slow-blooming tapestry—amber sweetgums, crimson sumacs and blackgums, burnished hickories, and the golds of river-bottom cottonwoods stitched among evergreen pines.

The colors don’t shout like New England; they glow. And one of the most relaxing ways to take them in is by train. While Mississippi doesn’t have a dedicated fall excursion railroad, two Amtrak routes cross the state end to end, offering days’ worth of window-seat scenery with zero driving stress: the City of New Orleans and the Crescent.

Amtrak

Here’s how to turn either (or both) into a rewarding fall foliage ride, including what you’ll see, when to go, how to book, and where to hop off for short, leaf-rich detours.

City of New Orleans

Mississippi stops: Greenwood, Yazoo City, Jackson, Hazlehurst, Brookhaven, McComb.

What you’ll see: From the Tennessee line down to Louisiana, the City of New Orleans rolls through a cross-section of Mississippi landscapes. North of Greenwood, the Delta’s broad fields are punctuated by sloughs and cypress-lined bayous.

Between Yazoo City and Jackson, the train skirts the Big Black River and its bottomland hardwoods—prime places to spot maple, sweetgum, blackgum, and sycamore turning in late October and November.

South of Jackson, the route follows the Pearl River corridor through mixed pine-hardwood forests, then dips into gently rolling hills toward Brookhaven and McComb. On good years, this stretch is dotted with scarlet dogwoods and maroon sumac against longleaf pine.

Best timing for color: In northern Mississippi, peak often hits in the last week of October into the first week of November. Central Mississippi tends to peak the first two weeks of November.

In the southwest, color can linger into mid or even late November. Weather swings move the window by a week either way; if you’re aiming for depth of color in the Jackson-to-Yazoo City segment, early November is a safe bet.

Daylight planning: To actually see the foliage, plan your ride so the Mississippi segment falls in daylight. The City of New Orleans typically runs through Mississippi in the late morning to afternoon in one direction and late afternoon to evening in the other, depending on current timetables.

Check Amtrak’s schedule for your date and choose a leg that keeps you in-state during the day. A Greenwood-to-Jackson or Jackson-to-McComb segment makes an easy daytime sampler.

Onboard experience: The City of New Orleans usually uses double-deck Superliner coaches and includes a lounge car with panoramic windows—ideal for leaf-peeping and photography. Coach seats are comfortable, and there’s a café for snacks. Aim for a window seat on the sun-shaded side if you’re serious about photos, and bring a lens cloth to cut window glare.

Leaf-peeping stop pairings:

Greenwood and Yazoo City: West of both towns you’ll find Delta wildlife refuges with fall color in the bottomlands, including Panther Swamp and Hillside National Wildlife Refuges. Expect longer drives, but the mix of cypress knees, oxbow lakes, and turning hardwoods is uniquely Mississippi.

Jackson: LeFleur’s Bluff State Park puts lakeside color five minutes from the station. The Natchez Trace Parkway, with multiple overlooks and short trails, is a top-tier fall drive and hike right in the metro.

Brookhaven and McComb: Brookhaven is a gateway to the Homochitto National Forest (particularly pretty around Meadville), and McComb sits minutes from Percy Quin State Park, where lake edges and hardwood pockets turn reliably.

Sample ride ideas:

Morning Greenwood to Jackson: 2–3 hours through the Delta and Big Black River country. Lunch and a short hike in Jackson.

Midday Jackson to McComb: 1.5–2 hours through Pearl River bottoms and pine-hardwood hills. Walk the lakeshore at Percy Quin and catch a later train back.

The Crescent

Mississippi stops: Meridian, Laurel, Hattiesburg, Picayune.

What you’ll see: The Crescent cuts across the state’s eastern and southern tiers, an area defined by rolling hills, river valleys, and longleaf pine forests. Around Meridian, you’ll pass mixed hardwood stands that go golden-bronze in early November. Between Laurel and Hattiesburg, look for river crossings and sandy-bottom creeks with maple, sweetgum, and tupelo turning along the banks.

South of Hattiesburg, the train brushes the edges of De Soto National Forest, where pockets of hardwoods light up between tall pines. Near Picayune, live oaks draped in Spanish moss mingle with late-turning gums along the Pearl River corridor.

Best timing for color: Eastern-central Mississippi tends to peak in early to mid-November; farther south (Hattiesburg to Picayune) often waits until mid to late November, sometimes lasting into early December in cool, dry years.

Daylight planning: The Crescent often passes through Mississippi during daylight in both directions. If you want a focused foliage ride, Meridian-to-Hattiesburg makes a satisfying 1.5–2.5 hour segment packed with river scenery; Hattiesburg-to-Picayune offers a quieter, pine-forward ride with splashes of color in the bottomlands.

Onboard experience: The Crescent uses single-level equipment with large windows and a café car. You won’t get the double-deck lounge views, but sightlines are still good. Pick a window away from direct sun when possible, and sit a few rows back from the car ends to minimize reflections.

Leaf-peeping stop pairings:

Meridian: Bonita Lakes Park brings shoreline trails, reflections, and easy access. For a deeper forest feel, Bienville National Forest lies west, and Clarkco State Park is a short drive north.

Laurel: Oak-lined streets and city parks show off Mississippi’s urban fall palette. Grab lunch downtown and stroll before your next train.

Hattiesburg: The Longleaf Trace rail-trail runs through hardwood corridors that glow in November. Paul B. Johnson State Park south of town adds a scenic lake framed by mixed forest.

Picayune: The Crosby Arboretum is a gem in any season, with boardwalks and native plant collections that shine in fall color.

When to go: A Mississippi fall color calendar

North (roughly Greenwood and points north): Late October to early November.

Central (Yazoo City, Jackson, Meridian): Early to mid-November.

South (Hattiesburg, McComb, Picayune): Mid to late November; some years into early December.

Cool nights and dry weather intensify color; warm, wet autumns can mute it. Local tourism sites and state parks often share weekly fall color updates; check a few before you book.

Expectations, set right

Mississippi’s fall color is more nuanced than mountainous states, but it’s also longer-lived and less crowded. You’ll see stretches of deep green pines punctuated by glowing hardwoods, especially along rivers, lakes, and lowlands. The train lets you watch the palette shift mile by mile without worrying about directions or traffic.

The Takeaway

If you’ve dreamed of a low-stress leaf-peeping escape, Mississippi’s two Amtrak routes make it easy. Ride the City of New Orleans for Delta horizons and river-bottom golds; choose the Crescent for rolling hills, longleaf forests, and creekside color.

Time your trip for early to mid-November up north and mid to late November down south, build in a stop or two for short hikes, and let the rhythm of the rails carry you through the season.

Before you go, confirm current schedules and station services—then sit back, sip something warm, and enjoy Mississippi’s understated autumn show from the best seat in the house.