Planning Your Civil Rights Road Trip to the Deep South

In case you haven’t heard, I am no longer offering customized group civil rights tours through Freedom Lifted. (Read more in my latest update). But we're still deeply invested in your visits to this important, beautiful, and powerful region of the US. The history and culture of the South are unmatched.

You don’t need to get on a bus with us to make this journey—but a road map always helps. So here are our tips for planning travel to many Civil Rights Movement sites in the Deep South.  

Please note: My recommendations are not exhaustive. You should certainly mix and match according to the travel schedule, interests, and seasonal preferences. 

When to Go

To get the best weather and the fewest crowds, travel in February, September, October, or November. The weather is also lovely in March, April, and May, but there will be more crowds due to spring break, school field trips, and Civil Rights Movement–related anniversaries during those months. 

How to Get Around

The best way to travel through the South is by car. You can bring your own or fly into one of the key cities and rent one for the duration of your trip. These cities include Atlanta, New Orleans, Birmingham, Montgomery, Memphis, Jackson, or Nashville.

It’s possible to fly from place to place, but flights will only get you to major cities—not the many towns where grassroots campaigns took place. There are very few nonstop flights to the mid-size cities of the South (e.g., Memphis, Jackson, Montgomery and Birmingham); most flights to those cities will take you through Atlanta or Dallas. Despite the potential layover, I still recommend flying into one of the mid-size cities and renting a car since they’re generally closer to many major sites. 

Public transportation is notoriously sparse in the region, so you will absolutely want a rental car or car service once you land. Ride-sharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, are available in larger cities, and certainly to and from airports, but I would not depend on them for going into small towns or rural areas. 

It is possible to travel by bus from place to place since both Greyhound and Megabus serve the region; however, the schedules are extremely limited, and you will still want your own transportation once you arrive. There are very few passenger-train routes that will traverse the area. There are some Amtrak routes that go north to south (e.g., Memphis-Jackson-New Orleans), but it is impossible to travel east to west, or vice versa, by train. 

How Much Time to Spend

Many first-time visitors to the Deep South do not realize how vast the region is and expect to visit a number of sites in a short period of time. However, less is definitely more, and it is best if you give yourself plenty of time to cover the region. A trip to all of my favorite sites will take you two to three weeks by car, so plan accordingly. Or even better, plan more than one trip—each to a different region. 

Here is a breakdown of my recommended locations and how much time to allot for each:

Alabama: 5 to 7 Days

As the site of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, 16th Street Baptist Church, Tuskegee University, and the march to Selma, Alabama is a place full of Civil Rights history and historical sites. Since Atlanta is so close, it is easy to add on movement sites in Atlanta, where I recommend you spend one to two days. 

Birmingham: 1 to 1.5 Days

Here are some Civil Rights sites to see in Birmingham, offered by the city’s tourism bureau. 

Montgomery: 2 to 2.5 Days

There is so much to see and do in Montgomery. Here is the a suggested 3-day itinerary in Montgomery. The Equal Justice Initiative Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum are must-sees for anyone living in the United States. So be sure to plan at least an additional 3-4 hours just for these sites.  

Selma: 1 Day

Begin in front of Brown AME Church, headquarters and starting point of the 1965 marches. Follow the exact footsteps of protestors by walking from the church through town, via Martin Luther King St., turning right on Alabama St. then left on Highway 80 and over the Edmund Pettus Bridge. If it is open, visit the National Voting Rights Museum on the other side of the bridge and learn from Mr. Sam Walker. While you’re in town, support the work of The Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth, and Reconciliation.

Be sure to check out the Lowndes County Interpretive Center on your way back to Montgomery. Often overlooked, this site and Tent City, given its history, are two of the most fascinating places on the Civil Rights Trail. Selma is an hour from Montgomery, and Lowndes County is about halfway between each city. 

Tuskegee: 1 Day

Less than an hour from Montgomery, Tuskegee is definitely worth the trip: Get on Tuskegee University’s campus or visit the Tuskegee Airmen Museum. 

Mississippi: 5  to 7 Days

As the place where Emmett Till spent the last days of his short, significant life, Medgar Evers’ home, and the arguable birthplace of the blues, including bluesman Robert Johnson, Mississippi is required visiting for any Civil Rights enthusiast. 

Mississippi Delta: 1.5 to 2 Days

Some time in the Mississippi Delta is a must. Take your time visiting Fannie Lou Hamer’s Gravesite and Memorial Garden in Ruleville, Amzie Moore’s home in Cleveland, and the Emmett Till Interpretive Center in Sumner. The Emmett Till Memorial Project has mapped tour sites related to the life and murder of Emmett Till, in both the Delta and in Chicago. The interpretive center (linked above) also offers custom tours. There are also some notable Civil Rights sites near Greenwood. Of course, the Mississippi Blues Trail in the Delta is a must as well. 

Jackson: 1.5 to 2 DaysHere are Civil Rights sites in Jackson, compiled by the city of Jackson. Medgar and Myrlie Evers’ home is a must-see. Also, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is massive and requires at least three to four hours if you want to see it all. 

Other Mississippi Civil Rights Day Trips

• McComb: This Civil Rights Driving Tour was developed by local youth and adult community members.

• Hattiesburg: Follow the 1964 Freedom Summer Trail, compiled by the city of Hattiesburg.

• Natchez: Miss Lou Heritage Group and Tours provides tours of this area. 

• Oxford: Remembering the Events of 1962 on the University of Mississippi Campus is a walking tour that honors Civil Rights history there.  

Memphis and More: 3 or More Days

I know I am from Alabama, but I love Memphis. While there, make sure you see all five of the Memphis Civil Rights Trail sites as well as the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. And allow at least 3 hours for the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel.

From Memphis, it is easy to travel to Little Rock, Arkansas, where I recommend you spend one full day focusing on Little Rock Central High School. From Memphis, you can also go to Nashville, where you can spend a day with United Street Tours. 

From Jackson, Mississippi, you can travel to New Orleans in a little over three hours. We all know there is much to do in New Orleans, but for sites related to Black resistance, I recommend two full days, giving you time to check out Hidden History Tours and take a trip to the Whitney Plantation. 

Birmingham

• Dr. Martha Bouyer, owner of Out of the Box Travel Services, is a close colleague whom I highly recommend. She is a true educator-guide who uses primary sources in all of her presentations. Martha can arrange multiday travel throughout the South. Learn more about Martha’s work through the National Endowment of the Humanities’ "Stony the Road We Trod ..." | Exploring Alabama's Civil Rights Legacy.

• Mr. Barry McNealy, of Barry McNealy Tour Services, is a master guide who has given excellent in-depth tours to many of my tour groups. 

Montgomery

• Mr. Jake Williams, of My Montgomery Tours, is an expert on Montgomery and Selma. He can also take you to Marion and Lowndes counties. 

• Ms. Ann Clemons, of Triple E. Group Services, is someone we haven’t worked with yet, but we’ve heard good things and hope to connect with her in the future. 

• Ms. Michelle Browder, of More Than Tours, recently led a campaign to erect the Mothers of Gynecology statue in Montgomery, demonstrating that her work is, indeed, more than conducting tours. 

• Ms. Wanda Battle, of Legendary Tours, is the head of the tourism ministry at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King got his first job as a minister. Ms. Wanda offers an intimate experience that many of our past travelers still talk about today. 

Selma

• Ms. JoAnne Bland, of Journeys for the Soul, is a Civil Rights Movement veteran and will make memories for you and your group. She has an incredible personality and makes important connections to the work needed today. 

Memphis

• Ms. Carolyn Michael-Banks, of A Tour of Possibilities, is one of the best in the game. Let her company customize a tour of Memphis for you or your group.

Mississippi Delta

• Mr. Charles “Mac” McLaurin, a Civil Rights veteran, will be happy to lead you through the Delta and share personal stories of his time in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP). He served as Fannie Lou Hamer’s campaign manager. Reach out to us for Mr. McLaurin’s personal contact info.

Want to do more research to plan a trip on your own? Check out this padlet of all of our favorite resources.

Want to take a group down South for a multiday trip? Consider using our Civil Rights Tour Planning Guide to help you do it.  

If you are thinking about traveling to sites in the US related to the Civil Rights Movement, don’t wait to make it happen. Start planning now, as it will surely be a trip you will never forget.