Rankin brings together nature and history for travel planning. The Pearl River flows through Rankin County, which is also home to the Barnett Reservoir, covering 33,000 acres. There are also nature trails, parks with a range of recreational activities, and historic sites. This gives you several options to plan around: a park loop, time by the water, cultural history, or an event visit.

Nature between the river, reservoir, and trails

Rankin County is surrounded by national forests. Visitors can hike scenic nature trails in the county. There is also a botanical garden at the Barnett Reservoir. Trails and the garden offer a different focus from the river and reservoir: if you want to include nature in your trip, you can first decide whether you would like to hike, visit a garden, or plan time by the water.

Parks with a variety of activities

At Bright Park in Pearl, a paved loop trail runs for ⅔ of a mile through a wooded area and along a pond. The park is also a certified arboretum with 37 different tree species. Here, a specific walking route and a botanical focus go hand in hand. Other parks offer different experiences: Bobby Cleveland Park at Lakeshore offers swimming, while Pelahatchie Shore Park has an 18-hole disc golf course. You can choose these places based on the activity you want, rather than treating them as similar park visits.

Water activities and seasonal visits

Paddling trips are offered on Pelahatchie Creek. Check current providers and launch points before your trip. Shiloh Splash Park features an 8,700-square-foot splash pad and water cannons. The park operates seasonally, so check the current visiting dates in advance.

Events in Brandon

Brandon Amphitheater is the centerpiece of The Quarry, a 250-acre park. It is near downtown Brandon, between two Interstate 20 interchanges. Krewe de Roux includes an annual gumbo cook-off at Brandon Amphitheater. If you want to plan your trip around this event, check the current schedule. Brandon Opry features country music; check the current program before making plans.

Architecture and history

Hebron Academy (Rock Hill School), near Brandon in Rankin County, is a rare example of 19th-century vernacular masonry architecture in Mississippi. Rankin County Courthouse was built in 1924–1925, and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church dates from around 1925. Old Brandon Cemetery was established in the early 1830s and contains more than 1,000 graves. The Rankin County Confederate Monument in Brandon was erected in 1907. Together, these sites trace a timeline from the early 19th century through the 1920s.

Choose accommodation based on your reason for traveling

If attending a festival is the deciding factor, take its date into account when planning your travel dates. You can then search for hotels in Rankin that suit your specific travel plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Flowood, Pearl, Richland, Hinds, Harrison, Scott County, Claiborne, Panola.

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