In Southern Mississippi, certain towns quietly choose to remain out of sight, tucked away in the folds of the landscape. Nestled between rolling hills, hidden by dense forests, or resting along winding rivers, they offer a tranquility untouched by time.
These places feel rooted, with their communities living at a pace dictated by nature rather than the world beyond. For those seeking quiet, solitude, or a taste of nostalgia, these towns offer a rare kind of welcome, where stillness feels like home.
25. Eagle Bend – Backwater Lake Settlement of Stilt Houses and Great Blue Herons
Eagle Bend supports around 180 seasonal and full-time residents who live in brightly painted cabins perched on pilings above an oxbow lake split from the Mississippi decades ago. Days pass fishing for largemouth bass, watching great blue herons stalk shallows, and grilling on decks that jut over the water.
Income comes from weekend renters, bait sales, and a modest marina that repairs outboards for every backwater from Lake Providence to Yazoo Pass. The lake’s horseshoe shape forms a watery moat, and only one paved road hugs the levee, lending a remote-island feel despite the mainland location.
Night skies glow with orange river sunsets that bleed into complete darkness, broken only by bobbing dock lights. Residents claim they can hear wings beat when bald eagles glide overhead—proof of just how quiet it gets.
Where is Eagle Bend?
Eagle Bend lies 20 miles northwest of Vicksburg, reached by following Mississippi 465 to a spur that climbs the main-line levee before dropping beside the cutoff lake. During flood season, the levee road may close, requiring a detour along gravel maintenance tracks that deter casual sight-seekers.
No public transportation or fuel stations exist past the levee gate, so visitors must arrive self-sufficient. That final barrier preserves Eagle Bend’s hush, ensuring only anglers, birders, and determined solitude-seekers make the trip.
24. Hermanville – Pine-Fringed Hamlet Along the Natchez Trace’s Quietest Stretch
Hermanville counts roughly 700 residents, making it the largest town on this list yet still decidedly tranquil. Travelers admire the century-old brick stores along Main Street, photograph rust-red barns against towering pines, and bike the adjoining Natchez Trace Parkway that sees far fewer cars here than nearer to Jackson.
Logging, small cattle farms, and a nursery specializing in longleaf pine seedlings anchor the economy. Thick pine stands dampen sound and perfume the air, while gravel roads weave through silviculture plots uncontested by traffic lights.
Even freight trains slow to a crawl, their whistles floating over dark woods. Dawn brings woodpecker drumming and little else.
Where is Hermanville?
The community sits in Claiborne County, 12 miles north of Port Gibson and two miles east of the Natchez Trace Parkway’s milepost 45. Access is via Mississippi 18, a gently curving two-lane road lined with pine straw.
Lack of major commercial development along this section of the Trace limits visitor numbers, and there is no public bus service. Those who navigate the last stretch discover a filling station with a single pump—and plenty of parking for solitude.
23. Redwood – River Confluence Hideaway Shadowed by Native Mounds
About 150 residents occupy Redwood, stretched along U.S. 61 where the Yazoo River meets the Mississippi. History fans explore Chickasaw Bayou earthworks from the 1862 Vicksburg Campaign and picnic on grass-covered Native mound sites rarely marked on tourist maps.
Farm services, bait shops, and a small aggregate yard tied to barge traffic supply modest employment. Adjacent floodplains and levee corridors create vast empty tracts, muting highway noise despite the nearby route.
Bald eagles wheel over the confluence, and winter fog curls above broad water, giving the place a frontier aura. Even locals admit nights are so still one can hear beavers slap tails a half-mile off.
Where is Redwood?
Redwood lies 11 miles north of Vicksburg on U.S. 61 but feels removed because levee setbacks push most buildings a quarter-mile from the highway. Drivers exit onto Old Highway 61, passing fields of sesame and sunflowers before seeing the first mailbox.
No commercial airport sits nearer than Jackson, so visitors rely on car travel or the occasional river landing for small craft. That modest inconvenience keeps Redwood peaceful while remaining within easy reach for those in the know.
22. Church Hill – Antebellum Steeples Amid Rolling Pastures
Roughly 200 people live along oak-lined lanes in Church Hill, a Jefferson County community defined by two antebellum churches: Christ Episcopal (circa 1858) and the Church Hill Presbyterian (circa 1820).
Horseback riders share the road with pickup trucks, and weekend visitors tour the steeples, picnic under spreading live oaks, or photograph historic cemeteries shaded by Spanish moss. Livelihoods come from cattle ranching, small-scale hay farming, and guided heritage tours.
Hills roll out like green corduroy, insulating the town from both river humidity and commercial sprawl. No strip malls, no gas station—just pastures, dogtrot houses, and the distant clank of horseshoes on barn floors. The result is a pastoral time capsule ideal for those craving quiet country air.
Where is Church Hill?
Church Hill rests 18 miles northeast of Natchez, accessible by State Route 553, a narrow ribbon that dips through hollows and past clapboard farmhouses. The Natchez Trace Parkway lies another seven miles east, yet few drivers exit for this side road, preserving the community’s silence.
With no public transport, arrival requires private vehicle or bicycle. That deliberate detour ensures the ringing of the church bell carries across fields unchallenged by modern clamor.
21. Valley Park – Bottomland Refuge Guarded by Cypress Swamps
Approximately 70 residents occupy Valley Park, their homes perched on stilts above Deer Creek and its seasonally flooded flats. Hunters flock here for mallards in winter, while bird-watchers scan dawn fog for prothonotary warblers, and paddlers ease jon boats through the cypress knees.
Farmhand jobs and hunting-lodge hospitality form the modest local economy, complemented by a small sawmill that shapes cypress planks for porch repairs. Dense wetlands on three sides and the Big Black River on the fourth create a natural moat that keeps traffic minimal.
Electric lines hum, yet cell reception drops quickly under the canopy, reinforcing the settlement’s tucked-away feel. Nights bring an amphibian symphony few city dwellers ever hear.
Where is Valley Park?
The village lies 30 miles northwest of Vicksburg, reached via Mississippi 27 and a final five-mile gravel spur that threads between flooded fields. During spring rains, water sometimes laps the road shoulders, discouraging casual visitors.
A small sign at the highway junction is the only hint of its presence. Those willing to navigate the last lonely mile cross a one-lane bridge before spotting porch lights reflected in black water.
20. Onward – Crossroads of Teddy Roosevelt Lore and Endless Farmland
Onward claims roughly 40 residents clustered around a vintage general store that sells “Original Teddy Bear” souvenirs honoring President Roosevelt’s 1902 bear-hunt camp nearby.
Visitors snap photos with the giant roadside teddy, explore the modest hunting-and-fishing museum inside the store, and watch combines harvest cotton and corn that stretch to every horizon. Agricultural services and seasonal guide work for duck hunters are the chief livelihoods.
The nearest traffic light is 15 miles away, and at night the only illumination comes from grain-elevator beacons blinking on the skyline. Flat, treeless terrain allows sunsets to linger, bathing the crossroads in pastel light. The emptiness feels deliberate, as if the prairie itself whispers for everyone to slow down.
Where is Onward?
Set at the junction of U.S. 61 and Mississippi 1, Onward lies 25 miles north of Vicksburg yet feels farther thanks to surrounding wildlife refuges and unbroken farmland. The town has no bus service; drivers exit the interstate and follow two-lane asphalt edged by cotton rows and rice checks.
During high-water seasons, alternate levee routes may be required, adding to the sense of removal. Still, a single gas pump beside the old store marks the spot for those determined to find it.
19. Fitler – Cypress-Rimmed Fishing Enclave at the Edge of Delta National Forest
Fitler’s population hovers near 100, a mix of lifelong river families and weekend anglers. Days revolve around casting for crappie in Ten Mile Bayou, photographing sunrise mist over Cox Lake, and swapping stories at the bait shop that doubles as a grocery.
Farm leases and seasonal guiding keep cash flowing, while cotton gins in Rolling Fork provide supplemental work. Thick cypress brakes, moist bottomland forest, and a tangle of oxbow lakes wall the community off from wider Delta traffic.
Cell service flickers, gas pumps are rare, and nighttime skies glow only with stars reflected in black water. Those who venture here claim the stillness is as prized as the fish fry.
Where is Fitler?
The hamlet lies on Mississippi 465, 15 miles south of the Delta National Forest boundary and 25 minutes west of Rolling Fork. Swamps flank the highway, narrowing the road to a ribbon between water and woods, which naturally discourages through traffic.
Reaching Fitler from Jackson involves nearly two hours of levee-lined back roads. That watery maze ensures the town stays hidden except to those seeking it.
18. Rodney – Near-Ghost Town Perched on the Loess Bluffs
Officially, fewer than a dozen full-time residents remain in Rodney, though weekend caretakers and history buffs swell the headcount now and then. Highlights include the Federal-style Presbyterian Church with cannonball scars from the Civil War and the weather-beaten Baptist Church draped in Spanish moss—both magnets for photographers.
There is no modern industry: only timber cutting on nearby private land and occasional film crews seeking an authentic 19th-century set. Seclusion stems from the town’s position atop the loess bluffs, well away from paved roads and shielded by dense hardwood forest.
Time seems paused; even the post office closed in 1966. Visitors quickly grasp why the only soundtrack here is wind through oaks and the echo of their own footsteps on brick ruins.
Where is Rodney?
Rodney hides in Jefferson County, roughly 10 miles off Highway 61 via a winding gravel road that dips through creek bottoms. Seasonal flooding from the Mississippi often cuts the final mile, demanding either a high-clearance truck or a patient detour.
Its bluff location once protected steamboat commerce; today that elevation simply ensures peace from highway noise. Expect a 30-minute crawl from the Natchez Visitor Center before the first church steeple appears.
17. Mayersville – Levee-Top Hamlet Overlooking Endless Delta Backwaters
Roughly 350 people call Mayersville home, their houses scattered along Issaquena County’s sweeping river levees. Sight-seers stop for sunset photographs where the earthen wall meets mile-wide backwaters and for catfish dinners at the lone café, while anglers launch jon boats into nearby Old River Chute.
Local jobs revolve around county offices, row-crop farming, and levee maintenance crews who monitor seasonal high water. The town feels miles from anywhere because the levee blocks outside noise and views, leaving only sky, fields, and the distant hum of barges.
Evening brings a hush broken by tree frogs and the rhythmic thump of trains on a faraway trestle. For visitors, the main activity is simple: stroll the crown of the levee and watch the Mississippi spill into endless cypress bottoms.
Where is Mayersville?
Mayersville sits in far-western Mississippi, about 45 road miles north of Vicksburg along Highway 1. The levee and surrounding swampy backwaters isolate it from fast routes, and GPS directions often send drivers along narrow county lanes lined with cane brakes.
Reaching town requires a slow cruise on the Great River Road, punctuated by farm-machinery traffic and occasional deer crossings. That lack of direct interstate access keeps Mayersville wrapped in its own quiet world.
16. Buckner – Peaceful Landing Between the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers
Buckner’s serenity comes from its quiet position where the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers meet. This small river town remains a haven for wildlife photographers, kayakers, and anyone looking to disconnect from the demands of modern life. The people of Buckner rely on agriculture, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing to make a living, but most residents enjoy a life of simplicity.
With rows of cotton and soybean fields extending in every direction, the town offers an unbroken vista, with light breezes stirring the cypress trees and rustling the leaves of towering oaks. The days pass at a slower pace, and the evening sunsets bathe the land in golden hues.
The town’s small port on the Mississippi River offers just enough access for commercial shipping, but most of the riverfront is untouched, leaving a place of quiet beauty for the rare visitor who finds their way here.
Where is Buckner?
Buckner sits at the confluence of the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers, south of Vicksburg and west of Rolling Fork. Reached by a winding gravel road, the town is nestled between the Mississippi River’s floodplain and rich farmland.
The nearest major highway is a 45-minute drive away, adding to its sense of isolation. Only those on the lookout for adventure or a quiet retreat find this hidden spot.
15. Stanley – A Quiet Hamlet Nestled Among Cane Breaks and Wetlands
Stanley, a town of fewer than 50 residents, is a place where the rhythm of the land takes precedence over everything else. Located in the heart of Mississippi’s wetlands, it is known for its cane breaks, dense wetlands, and seasonal wildlife migrations that draw birdwatchers and hunters alike.
During the harvest season, the town comes alive with the hum of tractors and the scent of freshly tilled soil. For most of the year, however, Stanley maintains a gentle pace with local farmers working the land and people enjoying their evening on front porches.
The absence of noise pollution and the lack of any real commercial development creates a peaceful atmosphere, allowing residents to live in harmony with their surroundings. The town embodies the true spirit of rural Mississippi.
Where is Stanley?
Stanley sits in the middle of Mississippi’s wetland area, easily reachable by narrow country roads from nearby towns like Mound Bayou and Shelby. The area’s vast wetlands often flood during heavy rains, making some parts of the town impassable.
Visitors must take the quiet backroads to find this sleepy hamlet. The local economy depends largely on agriculture, with soybean and rice fields bordering the town on all sides.
14. Tolarville – Small Community Surrounded by Farmland and Wildlife Refuges
Tolarville is a hidden gem, where the rhythm of life is defined by the changing seasons and the distant hum of farming equipment. A town of around 100 people, it is nestled between endless rows of cotton and soybean fields, and its quiet roads are rarely touched by tourists. The local economy revolves around farming, with a small sawmill and a bait shop providing extra support during hunting and fishing seasons.
The nearby wildlife refuges make Tolarville an excellent spot for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Migratory birds fill the sky in the fall, and hunters quietly stalk the fertile wetlands that surround the town. The beauty of the area lies in its simplicity, where time moves at the pace of the seasons.
While the small town offers little in the way of modern conveniences, it’s this very seclusion that makes Tolarville so attractive to those seeking solitude and a slower pace of life.
Where is Tolarville?
Tolarville is located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, just 15 miles south of Greenville. The town is nestled between large tracts of farmland, which form a natural boundary, making it difficult to access without driving along narrow, unmarked roads.
The nearest major highway is U.S. 61, but travelers must take a series of small, local roads to reach Tolarville, which remains hidden from passing motorists. The town feels remote, and visitors must plan ahead, as services are limited in the area.
13. Lorman – A Town Between History and the Quiet of Nature
Lorman is a quiet town that has seen its fair share of history. Founded in the mid-1800s, this small community is located in a peaceful valley surrounded by the lush forests of Claiborne County. Today, Lorman has fewer than 300 residents, with many living on farms that grow cotton, corn, and soybeans.
The town’s isolation is part of its charm. Lorman’s proximity to the Natchez Trace Parkway offers a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life, making it a popular stop for travelers on the historic route. The area’s scenic beauty is punctuated by the rolling hills and forested lands that have remained largely untouched over the years.
Visitors can expect to find an idyllic and slow-paced lifestyle in Lorman, where the only rush is the gentle flow of the nearby creek.
Where is Lorman?
Lorman is located just off the Natchez Trace Parkway, about 14 miles south of Port Gibson. The small community is nestled among thick woods and farmland, accessible only by backroads that wind through the Mississippi countryside.
Although Lorman is near the Parkway, it feels far removed from the main road, providing a peaceful retreat for those who venture off the beaten path. There are no major commercial developments in the area, which adds to the town’s secluded and quiet charm.
12. Holly Bluff – A Quiet Place Surrounded by Cypress and Wetlands
Holly Bluff, with fewer than 100 residents, lies deep in the Mississippi Delta, where vast cypress swamps and oxbow lakes form a sanctuary for wildlife. The town’s peacefulness is punctuated only by the call of birds and the occasional splash of a fish breaking the surface of the nearby water.
This tiny community has no major industries—just a handful of homes, a few local stores, and small farms. The area’s natural beauty and the serenity of the wetlands surrounding Holly Bluff make it a perfect spot for hunting and fishing enthusiasts who are drawn to the region’s unique landscape.
The slow pace of life here allows residents and visitors alike to fully immerse themselves in nature. The town’s isolation offers a perfect break from the pressures of the outside world.
Where is Holly Bluff?
Holly Bluff is located in the Mississippi Delta, about 20 miles south of Yazoo City. The town is accessible via U.S. Highway 49, followed by a series of smaller county roads that lead to the town’s secluded location.
While the town is tucked away in a remote corner of the Delta, it remains a peaceful and welcoming destination for those willing to venture off the main highways and explore the region’s rural beauty.
11. New Africa – Small but Proud, Amid Cotton and Cattle
New Africa, a small community nestled in the Mississippi Delta, is known for its proud heritage and tight-knit community. The town was established during the early 1900s as a place for African Americans to settle and build a prosperous life. Today, with fewer than 100 residents, New Africa remains a place where family and tradition take precedence.
Farming, particularly cotton and cattle, forms the backbone of the local economy, and much of the town’s charm comes from its rural setting. The area’s flat, expansive fields stretch to the horizon, offering a sense of peace and quiet that is hard to find in more developed areas.
The community’s deep-rooted history and its serene, rural atmosphere provide an authentic experience of Mississippi’s agricultural heartland.
Where is New Africa?
New Africa is located approximately 10 miles east of Greenwood, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. The town is nestled among farmland and is accessible via a series of country roads that wind through the expansive cotton fields.
The town’s isolation and limited services make it a hidden gem for those seeking a quiet retreat. Visitors must plan their trip carefully, as the town is far from major highways and urban centers.
10. Mayersville – Levee-Top Hamlet Overlooking Endless Delta Backwaters
Roughly 350 people call Mayersville home, their houses scattered along Issaquena County’s sweeping river levees. Sight-seers stop for sunset photographs where the earthen wall meets mile-wide backwaters and for catfish dinners at the lone café, while anglers launch jon boats into nearby Old River Chute.
Local jobs revolve around county offices, row-crop farming, and levee maintenance crews who monitor seasonal high water. The town feels miles from anywhere because the levee blocks outside noise and views, leaving only sky, fields, and the distant hum of barges.
Evening brings a hush broken by tree frogs and the rhythmic thump of trains on a faraway trestle. For visitors, the main activity is simple: stroll the crown of the levee and watch the Mississippi spill into endless cypress bottoms.
Where is Mayersville?
Mayersville sits in far-western Mississippi, about 45 road miles north of Vicksburg along Highway 1. The levee and surrounding swampy backwaters isolate it from fast routes, and GPS directions often send drivers along narrow county lanes lined with cane brakes.
Reaching town requires a slow cruise on the Great River Road, punctuated by farm-machinery traffic and occasional deer crossings. That lack of direct interstate access keeps Mayersville wrapped in its own quiet world.
9. Rodney – Near-Ghost Town Perched on the Loess Bluffs
Officially, fewer than a dozen full-time residents remain in Rodney, though weekend caretakers and history buffs swell the headcount now and then.
Highlights include the Federal-style Presbyterian Church with cannonball scars from the Civil War and the weather-beaten Baptist Church draped in Spanish moss—both magnets for photographers.
There is no modern industry: only timber cutting on nearby private land and occasional film crews seeking an authentic 19th-century set. Seclusion stems from the town’s position atop the loess bluffs, well away from paved roads and shielded by dense hardwood forest.
Time seems paused; even the post office closed in 1966. Visitors quickly grasp why the only soundtrack here is wind through oaks and the echo of their own footsteps on brick ruins.
Where is Rodney?
Rodney hides in Jefferson County, roughly 10 miles off Highway 61 via a winding gravel road that dips through creek bottoms. Seasonal flooding from the Mississippi often cuts the final mile, demanding either a high-clearance truck or a patient detour.
Its bluff location once protected steamboat commerce; today that elevation simply ensures peace from highway noise. Expect a 30-minute crawl from the Natchez Visitor Center before the first church steeple appears.
8. Fitler – Cypress-Rimmed Fishing Enclave at the Edge of Delta National Forest
Fitler’s population hovers near 100, a mix of lifelong river families and weekend anglers. Days revolve around casting for crappie in Ten Mile Bayou, photographing sunrise mist over Cox Lake, and swapping stories at the bait shop that doubles as a grocery.
Farm leases and seasonal guiding keep cash flowing, while cotton gins in Rolling Fork provide supplemental work. Thick cypress brakes, moist bottomland forest, and a tangle of oxbow lakes wall the community off from wider Delta traffic.
Cell service flickers, gas pumps are rare, and nighttime skies glow only with stars reflected in black water. Those who venture here claim the stillness is as prized as the fish fry.
Where is Fitler?
The hamlet lies on Mississippi 465, 15 miles south of the Delta National Forest boundary and 25 minutes west of rolling Fork. Swamps flank the highway, narrowing the road to a ribbon between water and woods, which naturally discourages through traffic.
Reaching Fitler from Jackson involves nearly two hours of levee-lined back roads. That watery maze ensures the town stays hidden except to those seeking it.
7. Onward – Crossroads of Teddy Roosevelt Lore and Endless Farmland
Onward claims roughly 40 residents clustered around a vintage general store that sells “Original Teddy Bear” souvenirs honoring President Roosevelt’s 1902 bear-hunt camp nearby.
Visitors snap photos with the giant roadside teddy, explore the modest hunting-and-fishing museum inside the store, and watch combines harvest cotton and corn that stretch to every horizon. Agricultural services and seasonal guide work for duck hunters are the chief livelihoods.
The nearest traffic light is 15 miles away, and at night the only illumination comes from grain-elevator beacons blinking on the skyline. Flat, treeless terrain allows sunsets to linger, bathing the crossroads in pastel light. The emptiness feels deliberate, as if the prairie itself whispers for everyone to slow down.
Where is Onward?
Set at the junction of U.S. 61 and Mississippi 1, Onward lies 25 miles north of Vicksburg yet feels farther thanks to surrounding wildlife refuges and unbroken farmland. The town has no bus service; drivers exit the interstate and follow two-lane asphalt edged by cotton rows and rice checks.
During high-water seasons, alternate levee routes may be required, adding to the sense of removal. Still, a single gas pump beside the old store marks the spot for those determined to find it.
6. Grace – One-Store Co-op Town Lost in a Sea of Soybeans
Grace houses roughly 60 people, anchored by a cooperative general store that doubles as post office, café, and gossip hub. Travelers stop for plate lunches, then wander past the towering grain elevator and rusted rail spur once vital to cotton shipments.
Today, agronomy services and seasonal farm labor dominate employment, with crop-dusting planes buzzing like dragonflies overhead. The town fades into 30,000 acres of soybeans, creating a green ocean that muffles outside sounds and offers unbroken sky for meteor-watching.
Abandoned shotgun houses and a long-silent depot lend an air of gentle desolation. Visit in late July and the cicada chorus competes only with distant irrigation pumps.
Where is Grace?
Grace sits in Bolivar County along Mississippi 1, about 12 miles south of Rosedale on a stretch of road few tourists travel. Flatland isolation means the next grocery store of any size is over 20 minutes away.
Drivers reach Grace by following levee routes from Cleveland or Greenville, passing only grain bins and cotton modules. With no interstate access and limited signage, the town remains a speck many motorists miss entirely.
5. Valley Park – Bottomland Refuge Guarded by Cypress Swamps
Approximately 70 residents occupy Valley Park, their homes perched on stilts above Deer Creek and its seasonally flooded flats. Hunters flock here for mallards in winter, while bird-watchers scan dawn fog for prothonotary warblers, and paddlers ease jon boats through the cypress knees.
Farmhand jobs and hunting-lodge hospitality form the modest local economy, complemented by a small sawmill that shapes cypress planks for porch repairs. Dense wetlands on three sides and the Big Black River on the fourth create a natural moat that keeps traffic minimal.
Electric lines hum, yet cell reception drops quickly under the canopy, reinforcing the settlement’s tucked-away feel. Nights bring an amphibian symphony few city dwellers ever hear.
Where is Valley Park?
The village lies 30 miles northwest of Vicksburg, reached via Mississippi 27 and a final five-mile gravel spur that threads between flooded fields. During spring rains, water sometimes laps the road shoulders, discouraging casual visitors.
A small sign at the highway junction is the only hint of its presence. Those willing to navigate the last lonely mile cross a one-lane bridge before spotting porch lights reflected in black water.
4. Church Hill – Antebellum Steeples Amid Rolling Pastures
Roughly 200 people live along oak-lined lanes in Church Hill, a Jefferson County community defined by two antebellum churches: Christ Episcopal (circa 1858) and the Church Hill Presbyterian (circa 1820).
Horseback riders share the road with pickup trucks, and weekend visitors tour the steeples, picnic under spreading live oaks, or photograph historic cemeteries shaded by Spanish moss. Livelihoods come from cattle ranching, small-scale hay farming, and guided heritage tours.
Hills roll out like green corduroy, insulating the town from both river humidity and commercial sprawl. No strip malls, no gas station—just pastures, dogtrot houses, and the distant clank of horseshoes on barn floors. The result is a pastoral time capsule ideal for those craving quiet country air.
Where is Church Hill?
Church Hill rests 18 miles northeast of Natchez, accessible by State Route 553, a narrow ribbon that dips through hollows and past clapboard farmhouses. The Natchez Trace Parkway lies another seven miles east, yet few drivers exit for this side road, preserving the community’s silence.
With no public transport, arrival requires private vehicle or bicycle. That deliberate detour ensures the ringing of the church bell carries across fields unchallenged by modern clamor.
3. Redwood – River Confluence Hideaway Shadowed by Native Mounds
About 150 residents occupy Redwood, stretched along U.S. 61 where the Yazoo River meets the Mississippi. History fans explore Chickasaw Bayou earthworks from the 1862 Vicksburg Campaign and picnic on grass-covered Native mound sites rarely marked on tourist maps.
Farm services, bait shops, and a small aggregate yard tied to barge traffic supply modest employment. Adjacent floodplains and levee corridors create vast empty tracts, muting highway noise despite the nearby route.
Bald eagles wheel over the confluence, and winter fog curls above broad water, giving the place a frontier aura. Even locals admit nights are so still one can hear beavers slap tails a half-mile off.
Where is Redwood?
Redwood lies 11 miles north of Vicksburg on U.S. 61 but feels removed because levee setbacks push most buildings a quarter-mile from the highway. Drivers exit onto Old Highway 61, passing fields of sesame and sunflowers before seeing the first mailbox.
No commercial airport sits nearer than Jackson, so visitors rely on car travel or the occasional river landing for small craft. That modest inconvenience keeps Redwood peaceful while remaining within easy reach for those in the know.
2. Hermanville – Pine-Fringed Hamlet Along the Natchez Trace’s Quietest Stretch
Hermanville counts roughly 700 residents, making it the largest town on this list yet still decidedly tranquil. Travelers admire the century-old brick stores along Main Street, photograph rust-red barns against towering pines, and bike the adjoining Natchez Trace Parkway that sees far fewer cars here than nearer to Jackson.
Logging, small cattle farms, and a nursery specializing in longleaf pine seedlings anchor the economy. Thick pine stands dampen sound and perfume the air, while gravel roads weave through silviculture plots uncontested by traffic lights.
Even freight trains slow to a crawl, their whistles floating over dark woods. Dawn brings wood-pecker drumming and little else.
Where is Hermanville?
The community sits in Claiborne County, 12 miles north of Port Gibson and two miles east of the Natchez Trace Parkway’s milepost 45. Access is via Mississippi 18, a gently curving two-lane road lined with pine straw.
Lack of major commercial development along this section of the Trace limits visitor numbers, and there is no public bus service. Those who navigate the last stretch discover a filling station with a single pump—and plenty of parking for solitude.
1. Eagle Bend – Backwater Lake Settlement of Stilt Houses and Great Blue Herons
Eagle Bend supports around 180 seasonal and full-time residents who live in brightly painted cabins perched on pilings above an oxbow lake split from the Mississippi decades ago.
Days pass fishing for largemouth bass, watching great blue herons stalk shallows, and grilling on decks that jut over the water. Income comes from weekend renters, bait sales, and a modest marina that repairs outboards for every backwater from Lake Providence to Yazoo Pass.
The lake’s horseshoe shape forms a watery moat, and only one paved road hugs the levee, lending a remote-island feel despite the mainland location. Night skies glow with orange river sunsets that bleed into complete darkness broken only by bobbing dock lights.
Residents claim they can hear wings beat when bald eagles glide overhead—proof of just how quiet it gets.
Where is Eagle Bend?
Eagle Bend lies 20 miles northwest of Vicksburg, reached by following Mississippi 465 to a spur that climbs the main-line levee before dropping beside the cutoff lake. During flood season, the levee road may close, requiring a detour along gravel maintenance tracks that deter casual sight-seers.
No public transportation or fuel stations exist past the levee gate, so visitors must arrive self-sufficient. That final barrier preserves Eagle Bend’s hush, ensuring only anglers, birders, and determined solitude-seekers make the trip.
