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Plan Your Trip

Traveling to Clarksdale is fairly easy from Memphis by car. Here’s a simple guide:

From Memphis to Clarksdale

  • Distance: About 76 miles
  • Drive Time: About 1 hour 20–30 minutes
  • Main Route:
    Take US Highway 61 South from Memphis directly into Clarksdale.

Suggested Route

  1. Leave Memphis heading south on US-61
  2. Pass through:
    • Robinsonville
    • Tunica
    • Friars Point
    • Lula
    • Lyon

Arrive in Clarksdale

Many travelers recommend taking Highway 61 because it gives you the true Mississippi Delta experience. The scenery changes from city skyline to open Delta farmland and cotton fields.

Travel Tips

  • Arrive Thursday if possible to avoid traffic and secure parking.
  • Bring lightweight clothing — August in Mississippi is very hot and humid.
  • Comfortable walking shoes are essential for downtown festival areas.
  • Many outdoor areas offer limited shade, so bring sunscreen, bottled water, and portable fans.
  • Families are welcome, and many daytime activities are kid-friendly

Where to Stay

Hotels and unique blues-themed lodging book up quickly during festival weekend, so reserve early.

Clarksdale – Best for Blues Culture & Downtown Music

Clarksdale has the most unique lodging options if you want the full Delta blues experience.

Boutique & Blues-Themed Stays

  • Shack Up Inn — One of the most famous Delta stays. Rustic cotton gin shacks turned into blues lodging near Hopson Plantation. Great atmosphere for music lovers.
  • Travelers Hotel — Stylish downtown boutique hotel within walking distance of live music venues and restaurants. Frequently recommended by visitors.
  • Clark House Inn — Historic bed-and-breakfast with Southern charm in a quiet residential area near downtown. 

The Official Hotel of the Sunflower Festival

  • Quality Inn Clarksdale — Reliable chain hotel option close to downtown.

Vacation Rentals

  • The Holy Moly — Historic downtown apartments inside a restored Masonic Temple building. Good for longer stays or groups.

The Governors Mansion in Clarksdale Mississippi. A Step Back in Time— Historic entire 6 bedroom mansion VRBO site

Hotels Near Lula, Mississippi

  1. Isle Casino Hotel Lula – A Caesars Rewards Destination

Hotel
(610) 241-1627

Address: 777 Isle of Capri Parkway, Lula, MS 38644
Phone: (610) 241-1627 (hotel listing) / (662) 363-4600 (main hotel line)

Simple Details:

  • Full-service hotel and casino on the Mississippi River.
  • More than 150 guest rooms and suites.
  • Casino with slots and table games.
  • On-site restaurants and seasonal outdoor pool.
  • Popular lodging option for visitors to the Mississippi Delta.
  1. Delta Inn

Hotel
(870) 572-7915

Address: 1207 US Highway 49, West Helena, AR 72390
Phone: (870) 572-7915

Simple Details:

  • Budget-friendly motel located about 13 miles from Lula.
  • Free Wi-Fi.
  • Outdoor swimming pool (seasonal).
  • Rooms include microwave and refrigerator.
  • Parking available for RVs, buses, and trucks.

Lula – Quiet & Rural Delta Stay

Lula is a much smaller Delta town with limited lodging, but it’s close to Clarksdale and Tunica.

  • Isle of Capri Casino Hotel — The best-known lodging option near Lula with casino access and river views. The Delta Blues Museum also mentions it as a lodging option for Clarksdale visitors.
  • Delta Inn — Budget motel option in nearby West Helena, Arkansas, not far from Lula and Clarksdale.

Best Historic Charm: Clark House Inn

Here are a few looks at the types of accommodations you’ll find in the Delta:

Things To Do While You’re There

Explore Blues History

  • Delta Blues Museum — A must-visit museum featuring blues legends, historic exhibits, instruments, and Delta music history.
  • The Hopson Plantation Headquarters & Commissary.

 At one time one of the largest cotton farming operations in the Delta. Produced the first cotton crop from planting to baling entirely by machinery.

Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art, Inc Specializes in regional blues CDs and artwork.

The Tutwiler Arts Project-W.C Handy first heard the blues while waiting for a train at the Tutwiler Depot. Resident artists have revitalized the town.

Eat Local Delta Food

  • Hooker Grocer & Eatery 316 John Lee Hooker Ln— Popular for Southern food, catfish, and live music atmosphere.
  • Ground Zero Blues Club 0 Blues Alley 
  • The Rest Haven Restaurant 419 State Street (Hwy 61) 
  • Abe’s Bar-B-Q Drive In 616 State Street (HWY 61) 
  • Stone Pony Pizza 226 Delta Avenue
  • MS Wings 849 S State St 
  • Ramon’s 535 Oakhurst Avenue –Family-run seafood and italian restaurants, casual and cost atmosphere 
  • Red’s Lounge 398 Sunflower Ave–Junk joint famous for raw, real Delta blues music
  • The Dutch Oven 100 Blues Alley–A popular Amish bakery and cafe known for its fresh baked goods,sandwiches, and comfort food.
  • Yazoo Pass 207 Yazoo Avenue–Espesso Bar, Bistro and Bakery

Best Travel Route to Clarksdale

Drive South on Highway 61. You’ll travel through: 

Tunica (45 minutes south of Memphis)

You will pass Tunica, Robinsonville, Lula, Lyon, and Coahoma before reaching Clarkdale.The scenery changes from city skyline to open Delta farmland and cotton fields.

Travel Tips

  • Arrive Thursday if possible to avoid traffic and secure parking.
  • Bring lightweight clothing — August in Mississippi is very hot and humid.
  • Comfortable walking shoes are essential for downtown festival areas.
  • Many outdoor areas offer limited shade, so bring sunscreen, bottled water, and portable fans.
  • Families are welcome, and many daytime activities are kid-friendly.

Nearby Attractions

While visiting the Delta, consider exploring:

  • The Mississippi Blues Trail markers
  • Historic Highway 61
  • Local juke joints and music venues
  • Riverfront Delta scenery