Tupelo's parks and trails: Ballard Park's lake and walking trail, Veterans Memorial Park, Fairpark's splash pad and the Natchez Trace. Parks: 662-841-6440.

Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Tupelo’s Parks and Recreation page and its 2020 Hometown Retirement Guide (PDF), Visit Tupelo’s outdoors guide and the National Park Service pages for the Natchez Trace Parkway and Tupelo National Battlefield.

The Tupelo Department of Parks and Recreation runs 22 parks and athletic facilities, according to the city’s own guide. The two big ones are Ballard Park on West Main Street and Veterans Memorial Park on North Veterans Memorial Boulevard. Tupelo is also the headquarters of the 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway, so a national scenic trail runs through the city.

Who to call

  • Tupelo Parks and Recreation: 655 Rutherford Road, 662-841-6440, city parks page
  • Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center: Milepost 266, 2680 Natchez Trace Parkway, 662-680-4027
  • Tupelo National Battlefield: 2083 Main St., 1-800-305-7417
  • Emergency in a park: call 911

City parks

Park Where What is there
Ballard Park (153 acres) 2629 W. Main St. 3-acre lake, 2.75-mile walking trail, cross-country trail, skate park, disc golf, an accessible playground, sand volleyball, pavilions, the Tupelo City Museum
Veterans Memorial Park (206 acres) 800 N. Veterans Memorial Blvd. Tupelo Aquatic Center, three disc golf courses (an 18-hole course is free), four-field softball complex, splash pad, half-mile trail, playground, Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica, F-105 Thunderchief display
Rob Leake City Park (34 acres) 17 lighted tennis courts, outdoor basketball court, two lighted athletic fields, splash pad, half-mile trail, playground
Fairpark 71 Troy St., downtown Free splash pad and playground next to City Hall
Dot Cooper Kelly Park 906 Fillmore Drive 12 lighted outdoor pickleball courts, free to use
Tupelo Bark Park (1 acre) Large and small dog areas, watering station, the 2.5-mile Music Bend Trail

Acreage and facilities are from the city’s 2020 guide; addresses and the newer details (Ballard Park’s accessible playground, the free pickleball courts) are from Visit Tupelo. Call 662-841-6440 to confirm hours before you go; the city does not publish park hours online.

Accessibility: Visit Tupelo says Ballard Park has wheelchair-friendly play structures, and Veterans Memorial Park and Gumtree Park have ramps and paved paths.

Trails

  • Ballard Park walking trail: 2.75 miles around the lake, plus a cross-country course, the city’s guide says.
  • Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail: a footpath along the parkway in and around Tupelo. Start at the Parkway Visitor Center, open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Rangers on duty hand out maps.
  • Natchez Trace Parkway: Visit Tupelo describes the 444-mile parkway as a draw for cyclists and hikers. It is a two-lane road with no shoulders in many places, so ride with care.
  • Heritage trails: free, self-guided routes past murals, neon signs and Civil Rights, Civil War and Chickasaw sites, with digital maps on Visit Tupelo.
  • Elvis’ Tupelo Self-Guided Bicycle Tour: a free route from Johnnie’s Drive-In to Fairpark and Tupelo Hardware Company, from Visit Tupelo.

National park sites in the city

Tupelo National Battlefield, 2083 Main St., marks the July 1864 Battle of Tupelo. The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset every day, the National Park Service says. Questions go to the Parkway Visitor Center, about six miles north.

Lakes and state parks nearby

  • Tombigbee State Park, 264 Cabin Drive, about six miles south of Tupelo: fishing, kayaks and paddleboards on the lake, disc golf and trails. Run by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.
  • Elvis Presley Lake and Campground, 272 Road 995: a lake of nearly 330 acres for fishing, boating and kayaking, free to enter, Visit Tupelo says.
  • Trace State Park, 2139 Faulkner Road, Belden: boat and paddleboat rentals and RV sites.

Swimming is not allowed at Tombigbee State Park or Elvis Presley Lake, according to Visit Tupelo. Anyone who fishes needs a Mississippi fishing license from MDWFP.

What this means for you

  • For a long walk, go to Ballard Park; for a splash pad downtown, Fairpark.
  • Ask at the Parkway Visitor Center for trail maps before you hike the Trace.
  • Sports leagues and summer camps are booked through Parks and Recreation, 662-841-6440.

Related: things to do this month, farmers markets and getting around Tupelo.

Frequently asked questions

What is the biggest park in Tupelo?

Veterans Memorial Park, at 206 acres, is the largest city park in the city’s own list. It has the Tupelo Aquatic Center, softball fields, three disc golf courses, a splash pad and a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Where can I walk or run in Tupelo?

Ballard Park, 2629 W. Main St., has a 2.75-mile walking trail around a 3-acre lake. The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail runs through the city near the Parkway Visitor Center, and Veterans Memorial Park and Rob Leake City Park each have a half-mile trail.

Is there a splash pad in Tupelo?

Yes. Fairpark, 71 Troy St. downtown, has a free splash pad and playground, and the city also lists splash pads at Veterans Memorial Park and Rob Leake City Park.

Where can I play pickleball in Tupelo?

Dot Cooper Kelly Park, 906 Fillmore Drive, has 12 lighted outdoor pickleball courts that are free to use, according to Visit Tupelo.

Is there a dog park in Tupelo?

Yes. Tupelo Bark Park has separate large and small dog areas, a watering station and access to the 2.5-mile Music Bend Trail, according to the city.