Oxford (Mississippi)

Oxford is a historic, picturesque town in North Central Mississippi. With its scenic town square, acclaimed restaurants, unique boutiques, oak-shaded neighborhoods, and friendly people, Oxford is the model Southern town. Named after Oxford, England, in hopes of attracting a university, the town was selected as the home of the University of Mississippi in 1848, which dominates life here today.

Understand

Oxford is the home of the University of Mississippi, affectionately known as Ole Miss, and is in Lafayette County, outside the Oxford city limits. It also served as the inspiration for Nobel Prize winner William Faulkner's fictional Jefferson (Lafayette County being Yoknapatawpha), the locale of many of his novels. Oxonians and University members like to describe the town with the motto "We may not win every game, but we never lose a party." Locals, partially jokingly, refer to the Square as the "Center of the Universe." Many residents see Oxford as a small town New Orleans, calling it the Little Easy. It is widely known throughout the South for its Southern charm, Old South feel, party atmosphere, and its beautiful women, whom even Hugh Hefner called the finest in the world. Oxford is also considered a literary center with many writers calling it home. Also being home to the Ole Miss School of Law and a federal courthouse, it is often said that everyone in Oxford is a "lawyer, writer, or both." As if to prove this point, famous author John Grisham, an Ole Miss Law alum, still owns a house in Oxford and visits frequently.

The Square is the center of downtown and is the main location for the town's best restaurants, shops, bars, and scenery (of the Old South architecture and gorgeous Southern belles). Chain restaurants, a Walmart Supercenter, and other national retailers are located on the fringes of town. However, most locals are staunchly anti-chain. They actively protested the arrival of Applebee's and the Walmart Supercenter, even voting out the old mayor because she did not do more to stop it. Therefore, to truly enjoy Oxford, you must visit the Square and eat and shop at locally-owned establishments. Otherwise, you are wasting your time visiting and are missing out if you only come for a football game. Immerse yourself in the town to see why Reader's Digest proclaimed, "If Oxford didn't exist, it would have to be invented."

As National Geographic Traveler magazine wrote, "Sophisticated little Oxford is waiting for you."

Get in

By plane

The closest airports with airline service are in Memphis, 70 miles to the north, and Tupelo, 45 miles to the east. Memphis is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and is thus the preferred airport. Tupelo has daily flights to Memphis and Atlanta.

University-Oxford Airport, also known as Clegg Field, offers service to private planes, including jets. The airport has a 5,600-foot runway with a terminal and aviation full-services.

By train

For passenger service, the nearest Amtrak stops are on the City of New Orleans line in Memphis and Greenwood, Mississippi. The train will take you to Chicago or New Orleans.

By car

Major highways in the area are as follows:

  • North-south - State Highways 7, 9, 315 and 331
  • East-west - State Highways 6,30,314,328 and 334
  • Highway 6 - Connects with Interstate 55

From Memphis or Jackson (Miss.) take I-55 to Batesville and exit MS Hwy 6 East. Take the Old Taylor Rd. or Coliseum Dr. exits to access the University. Exit at South Lamar Blvd. to get to the Square and downtown. Oxford is approximately 25 miles from Batesville. It takes about an hour and 15 minutes to travel to Oxford from Memphis, about 2½ hours from Jackson, and about 45 minutes from Tupelo. A shorter route from Memphis and Jackson is Hwy 7, but this road is two-lane. However, from the eastern suburbs of Memphis, it is faster to take Hwy 78 to Hwy 7. From downtown, the airport, and Southaven, I-55 to Hwy 6 is faster.

By bus
  • Greyhound bus service to Oxford was suspended. The closest Greyhound bus stop is in Tupelo.

Get around

The public transportation is called the O-U-T. It has several lines that run through all of the major points around town. The best way to get around is by foot, as Oxford is a beautiful town to walk and parking is scarce downtown and on campus. The second best way is by car. Once you find a place to park on campus, stay there and walk everywhere you want to go. The same applies to downtown. Once you figure out how to navigate the square (it will take awhile) and the surrounding one-way streets, you can find a place to park by cruising the back alleys. If you park illegally, you will get an expensive ticket.

Do not drink and drive as the cops keep a watchful eye on the byways, not to mention you are risking your life and the lives of others. You can avoid this by walking home, hitching a ride (it's easy to find a ride from a friendly stranger on the Square), or calling a cab.

Taxi

Car rental

Limousine service

Oxford is a certified Bicycle-Friendly Community. There are many bike paths open to the public; however, many car drivers are not fans of cyclists. It is best to stick to sidewalks and watch when crossing intersections.

Bicycle
  • LOU Pathways. This organization is in charge of developing the pathways system in the Oxford area. Its website includes numerous maps and ride advice.
  • Oxford Cycling Club. The local bike club maintains maps and organizes rides such as the Double Decker Spring Ride and the Clear Creek Challenge.

See

Oxford is an historic town best seen by foot. Begin with the antebellum buildings on campus, the Courthouse Square, and Rowan Oak. Soak up the town and meet some of the locals while you are at it!

  • The Historic Oxford Courthouse: Located in the heart of the city, the Square. Burned by federal troops in 1864, it was rebuilt after the war and is scheduled to undergo an extensive restoration. Visitors are allowed to browse the building on their own. The courtroom upstairs is a step back in time.
  • 🌍 Rowan Oak, ☏ +1 662 234-3284. Old Taylor Road. The home of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner. This historic home and grounds located just blocks from the Square. Faulkner even wrote part of a novel on the wall of his bedroom, later uncovered during a renovation. Walking tours available. Free admission on Wednesdays, $5 on other weekdays (donations always accepted). Entrance to the grounds is free, open until sunset. 
  • Oxford Cemetery, Here are buried such notables as William Faulkner and LQC Lamar, Confederate Ambassador to Russia, and Mississippi's only US Supreme Court Justice. Tradition calls for visitors of Faulkner's grave to leave a pint of whiskey, though scotch is what he would prefer.
  • The Grove, on the campus of the University of Mississippi. During the early Spring it has the appearance of a nicely manicured park, but during football season it turns into the most revered tailgating locale in all of college football. Sports Illustrated rates tailgating in the Grove, a multi-acre green space in the heart of the Ole Miss campus, as one of America's premier college events, placing it No. 3 on a list of 100 things to do before graduating. Bring your "refreshments" and your Sunday best. See the "Cope" section below for an important rule while tailgating.
  • Southside Gallery, 150 Courthouse Square (on the square), ☏ +1 662 234-9090. An intimate collection of changing art pieces located in the heart of Oxford, The Square. Free admission. This is a nice stop if you are browsing the Square during the day or if you are waiting on a table at night. 
  • 🌍 University Museum, 5th & University Avenue, ☏ +1 662 915-7073. Tu-Sa 9:30AM-4:30PM, Su 1-4PM, closed most University holidays. Features Greek and Roman antiques, 19th-century scientific instruments, the Theora Hamblett collection, a growing Southern folk art collection, and other temporary exhibits. There is an unpaved natural trail that leads from the museum parking lot to Rowan Oak (Faulkner's home). It is an easy walk that will give you a glimpse of an old-growth Mississippi forest, and it will also give you an idea of the jungle that the first settlers here had to clear in order to build their plantations. 
  • Ole Miss Blues Archives, University of Mississippi Campus, +1 662 915-7753. The world's most extensive collection of blues recordings and related material. If you are a blues enthusiast, this is a must-see. B.B. King recorded a live album (Live at Ole Miss) in the Grove.
  • The Lyceum, The first building on the Ole Miss campus. Seen as a symbol of the University. Used as a Confederate hospital during the Civil War. The front columns contain bullet holes from the integration of James Meredith. Stop by the Chancellor's office located on the first floor, and someone will be glad to give you a tour of the beautiful building. Even the friendly Chancellor loves to meet visitors.
  • Ventress Hall, a 19th-century Victorian building on the edge of The Grove. Originally used as a library, now the home of the College of Liberal Arts. Inside is a huge stained glass window depicting a battle scene from The War(unless otherwise specified, "the war" in the deep South means the one taking place between 1861 and 1865). The window was commissioned by the Delta Gamma Sorority from the Tiffany Glass Company to honor the University Greys, a company comprised completely of Ole Miss students that suffered 100 percent casualties at the battle of Gettysburg. The turret contains a winding staircase filled with graffiti over 100 years old. Legend has it that William Faulkner got intoxicated, climbed to the top of the turret, and began shouting "Hotty Toddy" — the school's unofficial cheer. However, this is likely merely a legend, but a darn good one. A member of the staff inside would be happy to give you a brief tour.
  • 🌍 Center for the Study of Southern Culture (Barnard Observatory). Another antebellum building on campus that was built to house the world's largest telescope. It is widely believed among locals that the telescope was being shipped during the war when it was captured by Yankee troops and sent to Northwestern University. However, it is more likely that the University could no longer afford to pay for the telescope after the war began, and Northwestern bought it instead. The building was never used as an observatory and is now home to the Center for the Study of Southern Culture and hosts small exhibits. (updated Oct 2020)
  • Confederate Cemetery. behind Tad Smith Coliseum on the Ole Miss campus. It is the resting place of more than 700 Confederate dead, mostly from the Battle of Shiloh. University buildings were used as hospitals and headquarters of both Union and Confederate forces between 1862 and 1865. All those buried here perished on the grounds of the University. While many names are known (they are etched on a monument in the center of the cemetery) most buried here are unknown soldiers. Union dead were once buried here as well, but long ago moved to a national cemetery. One of Oxford and Ole Miss' lesser known sites, it is a must-see for Civil War Buffs. (updated Oct 2020)
  • UM Department of Archives and Special Collections. A must for any Faulkner afficianado. It's in the J.D. Williams Library, and houses over 300 manuscript collections, the William Faulkner Collection, University archival collections, Mississippi State documents, and in the Mississippi Collections over 20,000 volumes of Mississippiana. It is moving soon to the beautifuly restored and historic Bryant Hall. 

Do

Oxford features a regular rotation of notable speakers, art exhibits, plays, musical productions, conferences and concerts in the Grove. The Ford Center has a regular rotation of a variety of performing arts. The Lott Leadership Institute sponsors well-known speakers, such as Supreme Court justices, senators and royalty. Past speakers include John McCain, Antonin Scalia, and the King of Jordan. The Ole Miss events calendar has a list of most upcoming events. The biggest event of the year, other than football games, is the Double Decker Arts and Music Festival. A favorite of many is the weekly Thacker Mountain Radio Show, where area musicians perform in front a live audience. If culture isn't your thing, the area features several golf courses, the huge Sardis Reservoir, a few state parks and recreation areas, and a couple of day spas.

  • Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 100 University Ave, ☏ +1 662 915-2787. A performing arts center featuring a range of performances from classical and popular artists, noted speakers and theatrical performances. The grounds also include a memorial rose garden and a smaller sculpture. 
  • The Thacker Mountain Radio Show. A weekly live-broadcast, which takes place in Oxford's Off-Square Books. Part Austin City Limits, part Prairie Home Companion, this eclectic show is the perfect representation of the down-home-hip character of Oxford. Each week the radio show features the Thacker Mountain house band and other well-recognized authors reading from and signing their latest work. Attracts a crowd of visitors and locals. Great pre-dinner or pre-happy hour entertainment. 
  • Big Truck Theater, Taylor, MS. This variety show is sort of Austin City Limits meets Taylor Grocery. Early in the night individual performers go on stage. Later, a 10-piece band comes out and livens the place up. You can find it next to Taylor Arts just down from Taylor Grocery.
  • Grand Oaks, 1603 Grand Oaks Boulevard (at the Country Club of Oxford), ☏ +1 662 236-3008. Enjoy the beautiful outdoors as you play this 18-hole golf course. It is undergoing an extensive renovation as a Fazio-designed course. 
  • University Golf Club, College Hill Rd.-147 CR 1056, ☏ +1 662 234-4816. The University Golf Club is maintained by the Landscape Services Department at the University. The course is an 18-hole, par 72 golf course and a driving range. 
  • Malco's Oxford Studio Cinema, 1111 Jackson Ave W, ☏ +1 662 236-3000. This movie theater features rocking-chair stadium seating and is the host of the annual Oxford Film Festival in February. 
  • Mallard Pointe Golf Course, 3037 State Park Road, Sardis, ☏ +1 662 487-2400, toll-free: +1-888-TEE-MISS (833-6477). A public 18-hole golf course just outside of Oxford in the beautiful John Kyle State Park. This has been ranked as one of the great public courses to play by several golf publications. For Ole Miss students M-Th, it's less than $17 including cart. For weekend visitors, it's about $45. 
  • 🌍 John W. Kyle State Park, 4235 State Park Road, Sardis, ☏ +1 662 487-1345. Features 20 air-conditioned cabins, furnished with basic kitchen equipment and bed and bath linens. All of the cabins are near the water, have fire places and accommodate up to four people. There are 2 cabins on the Mallard Pointe Golf Course. Each of these cabins consists of 4 bedrooms, and they're equipped much the same as the other cabins. Reservations are required. 
  • 🌍 Puskus Lake Recreation Area, ☏ +1 662 236-6550. About 10 miles east of Oxford on Highway 30. The Puskus Lake Recreation Area is a lovely place to enjoy the natural beauty of the Holly Springs National Forest. Those looking for an alternative to crowded, concrete recreation areas will delight in Puskus Lake's natural beauty and quiet setting. Its remote setting, convenient to Oxford, provides a perfect atmosphere for camping, fishing, hiking and relaxing. 
  • Sardis Lake/Clear Creek, Sardis (8 Miles North on Highway 314), ☏ +1 662 563-4531. The Sardis Lake area offers a wide variety of recreational activities such as camping, fishing, boating, skiing, picnicking, and more. There are 32 sites available with electricity, picnic tables, grills, water hookups, etc. Campground is open year round. Reservations must be made in advance. 
  • Upper Sardis Wildlife Management Area (Lafayette County — from the intersection of Hwy. 7 and Hwy. 30 at Oxford go 12 miles east on Hwy. 30 to sign on the right saying Headquarters), ☏ +1 662 234-6125. This 42,274 acre wildlife refuge provides a natural habitat for many species. Game hunted are deer, dove, duck, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turkey and woodcock. (updated Jun 2020)
  • 🌍 Wall Doxey State Park, 3946 Highway 7 South, Holly Springs (25 miles north of Oxford), ☏ +1 662 252-4231, . Offers an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities in a setting rich in natural beauty centered around a 60-acre, spring-fed lake. Day use $4/vehicle and $.50 per person over 6 people. (updated Jul 2018)
  • The Lyric Theatre, 1006 Van Buren Avenue, ☏ +1 662-234-5333. The Lyric Theatre opened as a silent movie theatre in 1913. After extensive renovations, the Lyric Oxford opened its doors on the Oxford Square and now provides the North Mississippi Region with a premier live music and event venue. The proximity of Oxford to Memphis, New Orleans, St. Louis, and Nashville makes it an easy stop for touring musicians and bands. 

Major special events
  • The Blues Symposium, on the Ole Miss Campus, Contact Greg Johnson at +1 662 915-7753. Learn about Mississippi and the blues. Birthplace of the music and the artists. Admission is free.
  • The Oxford Film Festival, ☏ +1 662 236-6429, fax: +1 662 236-6988, . This four-day annual film festival held in February features shorts and films by regional film makers alongside high profile independent films. 
  • Oxford Conference for the Book, ☏ +1 662 915-5993, fax: +1 662 915-5814, . Contact Ann Abadie. Since its inauguration in April 1993, the conference has celebrated books, writing and reading; it has also dealt with practical concerns on which literary arts depend. Admission is free. 
  • The Double Decker Arts Festival, ☏ +1 662 234-4680, toll-free: +1-800-758-9177, . Courthouse Square. A daylong celebration of music, food, and arts on Oxford's historic square. Mingle with painters, potters, and woodworkers. Sample entrees from Southern chefs. Enjoy an eclectic blend of music including jazz, funk, blues and rock 'n' roll. Admission is free. 
  • The Fourth of July Celebration in Oxford, A day-long event filled with patriotic speeches, music, food, children's activities, and an Independence Day parade. The festivities come to an end with a free concert at Oxford University Stadium featuring the Oxford Community Band, followed by a fireworks display. Skip the entertainment in the Grove beforehand, or at least picnic far from the stage. They allow everyone that thinks they have talent to perform.
  • Annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference, ☏ +1 662 915-5993, fax: +1 662 915-5814, . Contact Ann Abadie. A popular literary event that includes six days of lectures and discussions by scholars and dramatic readings from the works of William Faulkner. Celebrate at Rowan Oak, once the home of the famous writer. 

Learn

The University of Mississippi is a comprehensive research university and is home to a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa. It is listed in The Student Guide to America's 100 Best College Buys and The Student Guide to America's Best College Scholarships. UM ranks 50th on Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine's list of best college buys for in-state tuition and 46th for out-of-state tuition. Also in town is a branch of Northwest Mississippi Community College.

Work

By far the major employer is the University of Mississippi, but other employers include FNC, Inc. (a banking systems and data/analytics management firm) and many local banks. Oxford is also a regional healthcare center with constantly growing healthcare facilities. A variety of jobs are may be found at the Baptist Memorial Hospital - North Mississippi. The free Daily Mississippian and the daily Oxford Eagle have updated help wanted ads.

Buy

You will find a variety of locally-owned shops downtown where you can purchase designer clothing, custom crafted pottery by Gail Pittman and McCartys of Merrigold, Mississippi, local artwork, local music albums, and a variety of other upscale wares. The shopping magazine Lucky features Oxford as a small town with big city shopping. Most stores will allow their customers to have charge accounts, which makes it convenient for students to send the bill home for payment.

  • Hinton & Hinton, 135 Courthouse Square (on the Square), ☏ +1 662 234-0691. A men's store featuring designer clothing in the traditional style and outdoor gear. 
  • Landry's, 302 South Lamar Boulevard, ☏ +1 662 281-0846. Located just off the square down from Square Books on South Lamar, Landry's is a family owned and run business that carries fine men's clothing, accessories, and has friendly service. 
  • Lilly Pad, 128 Courthouse Square (on the Square), ☏ +1 662 238-2900. Fraternity, sorority, and other personalized gifts. They also offer Yankee candles, Vera Bradley luggage, Department 56 collectibles, and trendy beaded jewelry. 
  • Midtown Farmer's Market, ☏ +1 662 234-6447. May-Sep: Sa 7AM-11AM, W 2:30PM-5:30PM. The market is on the north side of the Mid-town Shopping Center parking lot on North Lamar Boulevard. It is staffed and run by volunteers and is restricted to farmers, producers and bakers who grow or use products produced in Mississippi. 
  • Mississippi Madness, 141 Courthouse Square (on the Square), +1 662 234-5280, +1-866-234-5280. Features a variety of cooking accessories, Mississippi designer pottery, and Mississippi-made gourmet foods. Pick up some Knock-You-Naked margarita mix made by Fat Mama's Tamales in Natchez.
  • Mustard Seed Antique Emporium, 1737 University Ave, ☏ +1 662 281-8004. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. A multi-dealer mall featuring antique furnishings, collectibles, decorative accessories, vintage clothing and jewelry. Voted "Best Place To Find Antiques" in the state in the July/August 2007 issue of Mississippi Magazine. 
  • Neilson's Department Store, 119 Courthouse Square (on the Square), ☏ +1 662 234-1161. Oldest continuously running department store in the South and offers the latest in every department. You'll find clothing, shoes, and accessories for the whole family, as well as home furnishings and gifts. Neilson's also carries Clinique and Estee Lauder cosmetics. Features all the typical department store items, but specializes in personal service. 
  • Oxford Floral Company, 1103 Jefferson Avenue, ☏ +1 662 234-2515. M-Sa 8AM-5:30PM. Antique furnishings and collectibles, estate silver, accessories, unusual gifts, fine china, crystal, and floral arrangements. Voted "Best Place To Find A Perfect Gift" in the July/August 2007 issue of Mississippi Magazine. 
  • Oxford Tattoo Company, 1151 Frontage Rd, ☏ +1 662 281-8226. M-Sa 2PM-11PM. A tattoo studio offering full custom body art located at the corner of S. Lamar Blvd. and Hwy 6. 
  • Rebel Rags, 2302 West Jackson Avenue (Inside the Goose Creek Mall), ☏ +1 662-234-RAGS (7247), toll-free: +1-877-281-REBS (7327). M-Sa 9AM-7PM and Su 1PM-6PM. Rebel Rags has a full selection of items devoted strictly to Ole Miss attire and personal items. Customers can buy anything from Ole Miss caps to jeans to t-shirts to autograph footballs to bean bags. Product lines include Tommy Hilfiger, Cutter & Buck, Adidas, Russell, Heritage Pewter, Champion, Gear, Soffee, Team Jeans, Little King and many more popular brands. 
  • Square Books, 129 Courthouse Square (on the Square), ☏ +1 662 236-2828. Locally-owned bookstore that has been rated as the best independent bookstore in the nation. The New Yorker described it "as good as or better than any in New York." Frequent signings by prominent authors. Look inside the cover of your favorite book, as it may be signed. They also operate Off Square Books, a discount bookstore that is on the Square but in a separate building. In addition, they have a children's bookstore also located separately on the Square. 
  • Taylor Farmers Market, Town Square Lane, Plein Air Neighborhood (from Hwy. 6, take Old Taylor Road for 8 miles, follow the signs. From Hwy. 7, take Hwy. 328 about 5 miles, veer right on Cutoff Road and follow signs), ☏ +1 662-832-8727. Sa 9AM-1PM. 8 miles from downtown Oxford, the Taylor Farmers Market is a celebration of local food, art and live music each Saturday June through October. Adjacent to the 2008 Southern Living Idea House and local shops and restaurants, the Taylor Farmers Market is fun for the entire family, with plenty of shade and green space to romp in or spread out a picnic blanket. free. 
  • The Kaleidoscope, 2305 E Jackson Ave Suite 201, ☏ +1 662-234-6722. M-F 10AM-5:30PM. Fun, funky, fashionable clothing and accessories. The only place in Oxford to find the brand Free People. 
  • Therapy, 136 Courthouse Square (on the Square), ☏ +1 662 281-1197. Fine shoes, cosmetics, apparel, and accessories. 
  • University Sporting Goods, 105 Courthouse Square (on the Square), ☏ +1 662 234-1736. The store is a must-stop for Ole Miss apparel, running shoes, and t-shirts. University Sporting Goods also does screen printing for t-shirts. 
  • Village Tailor, 145 Courthouse (on the Square), ☏ +1 662 234-8217, . M-Sa 10AM-5:30PM. Designer women's clothing and accessories. 

Eat

For a town of only 20,000 (35,000 when school is in session), Oxford is blessed with a wide variety of dining choices. Home to the Southern Foodways Alliance, Oxford has evolved into a "mecca....which draws professional food scholars as well as amateur eaters" according to Food & Wine writer, Pete Wells. City Grocery is recommended for upscale fine dining. For more casual fare, you can't go wrong with Boure or Ajax. For a true Mississippi experience, you must eat at Taylor Grocery.

Budget
  • Abners Famous Chicken Tenders (2 blocks from the Square). Great chicken tenders. Wall-to-wall sports memorabilia. Great sweet tea. It has now developed into a small chain with locations throughout Mississippi and the Memphis area. This is the original Abners and was started by former Ole Miss football player, Abner White. Great for a quick lunch. 
  • Bottle Tree Bakery A quaint coffee and pastry shop in the morning. A sandwich place in the afternoon. Known throughout town for their wonderful breads, muffins and pastries. Has been featured on the Food Network and Oprah, who loves their apple pie.
  • B's Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Q, 825 College Hill Road (Sky Mart), ☏ +1 662 236-1562. Daily 9AM-10PM. Smoked tenderloin, chicken, Cornish hens, quail, ribs, pork tenderloin, beef brisket, hot wings, sides. Great place to pick up some barbeque for tailgating before football or baseball games, though you'll need to place any large order ahead of time. Although it's inside the BP gas station, don't let that fool you. It's some of the finest barbeque around. Any leftover 'Q is sold at a deep discount late at night. 
  • Handy Andy, 800 North Lamar Boulevard, ☏ +1 662 234-4621. M-F 6:30AM-8:30PM, Sa 7AM-8:30PM. Specializing in great BBQ, sandwiches, ribs, and salads. Don't miss the peach and apple fried pies! One of the most popular spots in town. The crowd comes not for the atmosphere, which is definitely no-frills, but for the great food at cheap prices. Try the steak sandwich, but you can't go wrong with the great barbeque (still hickory smoked when most famous Memphis places have switched to gas smokers) or the hamburgers made they way they were 50 years ago. The banana pudding is some of the best you'll ever eat, and you can't beat the price at 97 cents per serving. 
  • McAlister's Deli, 1515 University Avenue, ☏ +1 662 234-1363. Great soup and sandwich shop. While it has now grown into a corporation with locations in 18 states and growing, Oxford is home to the original McAllister's Deli, still located in an old, converted gas station on University Avenue. Scenes in the movie Heart of Dixie were filmed here. Everything on the menu is good, but the sweet tea made them famous. Sandwiches and other fare less than $10. 
  • Newks Express Cafe, 1309 University Avenue, ☏ +1 662 513-5303. The atmosphere is very upscale and hip. Exceptional menu including soups, salads, pizza, and toasted sandwiches. Owned by the same family that opened the very first McAllister's Deli. 
  • Pizza Den, 499 Heritage Drive, ☏ +1 662 234-5537. M-F 11AM-11PM, Sa Su noon-11PM. Pizza Den has moved to a new location and has the same menu used by Pizza Bob to make this a favorite eating establishment among generations of Ole Miss students and Oxford residents. The restaurant is operated by Pizza Bob's five children and the same equipment used at the old location is being implemented at the new location. Menu items include pizza, spaghetti, and sandwiches. The sandwiches are out-of-this-world good, and the stromboli is a local favorite. The wait for your food is notoriously long, even when they don't appear to be busy. 
  • Heartbreak Coffee, 265 North Lamar Boulevard, ☏ +1 662 513-0905. Located right off the Square, Uptown is a perfect place to meet up with friends to have a cup of joe and hang out. High Speed Internet available. 
  • Tienda Y Taqueria, University Ave. (behind Oby's). Super-authentic, fresh Mexican cuisine at rock bottom prices. Mexican food that Mexicans eat.

Mid-range
  • Ajax Diner, 118 Courthouse Square (on the square), +1 662 232-8880. Soul Food with a little spice in a funky atmosphere. Mattie's Mom's Meatloaf is a local favorite. Fried Oyster Poboy is highly recommended. Excellent chicken and dumplins as well as veggie plates and fried pickles. Was a favorite lunch spot for Eli Manning in his college days. Voted Oxford's best "plate lunch", "lunch", and "casual dining". Entrees $8-15. Reservations not accepted.
  • BBB (Big Bad Breakfast), 719 North Lamar Boulevard, ☏ +1 662 236-2666. The best breakfast in town, a great, truly Southern joint serving on-site smoked breakfast meats, local eggs and cheese, fresh made jellies and jams, and locally ground grits. Try the Big Bad Breakfast plate or enjoy one of the other Southern literary-named dishes. Open for breakfast and lunch. Reservations not accepted. 
  • Boure, 110 Courthouse Square, ☏ +1 662 234-1968. A moderately-priced offshoot of City Grocery, featuring contemporary and traditional items. Try the French Dip. Entrees $10-20. 
  • Proud Larry's, 211 South Lamar Boulevard, ☏ +1 662 236-0050. M-Sa 11AM-10PM. Downtown. Hand-tossed pizza, grill food, pasta specials, salads. When you step into Proud Larry's, you know instantly by the look of the building and the aroma of fresh bread that you have really found a unique place to dine. You can't beat their hand tossed pizza (the Mediterranean is exceptionally good), pasta dishes, salads, and burgers. Their spinach and artichoke dip is a must before every meal! By day, "Larry's" is a great place for a hot meal. By night, it becomes a true Oxford hotspot featuring great live music, including local and regional bands - such as North Mississippi All-Stars - as well as occasional surprises such as Elvis Costello. 
  • Taylor Grocery (Taylor Grocery), 4 County Road 338, Taylor (8 miles south of Oxford), ☏ +1 662 236-6363, . This may well be the best catfish place in the world. Rustic atmosphere in a historic former grocery in the arts community of Taylor, about 10 minutes south of Oxford. Menu includes steaks, pork, and chicken, but well known for its fried catfish. Live bluegrass and blues. Brown Bag (bring your own alcohol) is a must. Be prepared to wait for at least 30 minutes to an hour, but it's well worth it. Locals bring their own drinks and tailgate outside on the front porch. An art gallery is close by, as well as sculptor's and potter's shops, which you can browse while waiting for your table. Down the road is Taylor Creek Farm, where you can find fresh flowers, herbs and eggs, and they welcome folks to tour the gardens during the summer. Just steps away Big Truck Theater hosts Mississippi-rooted music, and they will notify you when your table at Taylor is ready. You are encouraged to brown bag there as well. It is customary to sign the Taylor Grocery guest book as well as the walls, so bring your Sharpie. Such notable signatures on the walls of Taylor Grocery include Archie, Eli, and Peyton Manning, Deuce McAllister, Barbara Walters, Jimmy Buffet, Elvis (though no confirmation on authenticity), and a number of literary greats. Head south on Old Taylor Road for about 8 miles. When you think you are lost, the road will end, and you'll see the place. Featured in Southern Living and many other publications. Open Th-Su from 5PM until they decide to close. No reservations, and they frequently quit taking names by 7PM on the Friday of football weekends. 

Splurge
  • City Grocery, 152 Courthouse Square (on the square), +1 662 232-8080. Upscale dining in the New Orleans tradition. Good wine list. Famous for their "shrimp & grits." Probably the most well-known restaurant in Oxford. Chef John Currence was nominated for the prestigious James Beard award, the highest national award a chef can receive. Entrees $20-30. Reservations not available home football weekends, seat upon arrival.

Drink

Cold beer is not sold in Oxford, except for bars and restaurants. Either purchase your cold beer at the county line on Hwy 6 or Hwy 7 as you are coming into town, or ice it down. An often told myth is that Oxford does not sell beer cold because the mayor once owned the local icehouse. Open containers are also not allowed in the city limits, but as long as you pour it in a cup, you are fine. If a cop sees a beer can or liquor bottle, he will pour out all of your supply. However, if you have it in a cup, you will not be bothered unless you are extremely unruly. This especially applies to the Ole Miss campus and The Grove. Just keep it in a cup and pour discreetly. Due to antiquated Southern laws, the Ole Miss campus is wet on liquor only (no beer allowed), except east of Gertrude Ford Boulevard (the old railroad bed), where both liquor and beer are allowed. In any case, alcohol is not allowed in plain view and must be kept in a cup.

Remember, bars in Oxford close early. Monday-Wednesday they close at midnight. Thursday and Friday they close at 1AM. They close at midnight on Saturdays except on game weekends, when they are open till 1AM. Still, most bar goers don't go home and go to bed but instead head to the infamous "late-nights," parties at someone's home or apartment. Despite police efforts to crack down on late-nights, they are still going strong, sometimes numbering into the thousands of partiers. Word spreads about the location of late-nights earlier in the night at the bars. Be sure to secure your beer or liquor for the late-night before you go out, because they will have stopped selling by the time the bars have closed (midnight most days, Sunday it's a "dry" city).

The Chevron at University and South Lamar, called "Chicken-on-a-Stick" because of the drunk food it serves by the same name, is a very popular stopping point between the bars and the late-nights and has achieved legendary status. Several other convenience stores carry the same food minus the tradition. If you are too drunk to drive and have no other way home, you can almost always find a ride at Chicken-on-a-Stick (the Chevron) just after the bars close.

The City Grocery Bar, or "The Grocery," is located above its namesake restaurant and tends to attract a mix between locals, writers, lawyers, and older college students.

One place to hear live music is Proud Larry's, where local and regional artists perform frequently.

  • The Library Sports Bar, known as the "Sports Bar", is an addition to the Library Bar & Grill and fills the void of a true sports bar on the Oxford Square. At the corner of 11th Street and Van Buren - just down from the original Library Bar & Grill. The Library attracts a younger crowd as it is 18-and-up.120 South 11th Street, +1 662 234-1411. It l features talented local bands and entertainment at night. During the day, you can stop by and say hi to Johnny "D" to have lunch and a drink.

Sleep

While Oxford has no luxury hotels yet, two boutique hotels are under construction just off the Square. One, (The Ava, under construction just off the Square on Jackson Ave., next to the pedestrian/bike bridge) will feature a spa and fine dining. Until they are built, the closest you will get to luxury is to stay at a bed and breakfast. Oxford has a large number of hotel rooms for a town of its size. However, if you are coming for a game weekend, nearly all the rooms are presold as a package deal for the season. Occasional rooms do open up though, but chances are slim. The next closest town with motels is Bruce (24 miles) Batesville (25 miles) to the west, Holly Springs (30 miles) to the north, Pontotoc (20 miles) to the east, Grenada (40 miles) to the south, and Senatobia (40 miles) to the northeast. Many visitors choose to stay in downtown Memphis in order to experience Beale Street and only come in for the game, or they stay in Tunica at a casino. However, it can be very difficult to get in, out, or around Oxford on Game Day. A viable option is to rent an RV in Memphis and stay on campus for free. You can park your RV and walk wherever you need to go the whole weekend. If you are staying in Oxford, the Graduate Hotel and the Inn at Ole Miss are the most highly recommended because of the quality of the rooms, the services, and the great locations.

Bed & Breakfast
  • Cart Barn Inn @ Yoda Creek, 07 CR 256, Bruce, ☏ +1 662-983-7829, . A luxury inn 20 minutes south of Oxford in Bruce on the Yoda Creek Golf Club property. Amenities include hot Southern breakfast, luxurious spacious bedrooms with private bath, flat screen satellite tv, high speed internet,plush linens, mini fridge, microwave, bottled water, large porch w/grill and firepits, swings, table and chairs, courtyard and gazebo overlooking Yoda Creek Golf Course, swimming pool. 
  • The Nests BnB and Events, 81 County Road, ☏ +1 662-801-9369, . Close to Oxford, is a quaint cottage in the country. Horses, porches,shade trees, and peace & quiet abound on the quintessential country lane known as Camp Hopewell Road. Accommodations include two bedrooms, 1 Bath with a private entrance and a pool. Just 7 miles from downtown Oxford, the Empty Nest is about a 10 minute drive from the Oxford Square. 
  • Puddin' Place, 1008 University Avenue, ☏ +1 662 234-1250. This historic home features antiques and interesting mementos. They offer two rooms and serve a gourmet breakfast. Walking distance to the Square and Campus. 

Cabins & cottages
  • Hightower Properties of Oxford, LLC, 307 Jackson Ave W Ste. 6, ☏ +1 662-883-0068. A variety of condos, townhouses, and private residences for short-term (2 days to 2 months) rentals. Football and other special event weekends, plus many available year-round. 
  • John W. Kyle State Park, 4235 State Park Road, Sardis, ☏ +1 662 487-1345. 20 air-conditioned cabins, furnished with basic kitchen equipment and bed and bath linens. All of the cabins are located near the water, have fire places and accommodate up to four people. Additionally, 2 cabins are located on the Mallard Pointe Golf Course . Each of these cabins consist of 4 bedrooms and equipped much the same as the other cabins. Reservations are required. 
  • Wall Doxey State Park, 3946 Highway 7 South, Holly Springs, MS (25 miles north of Oxford), ☏ +1 662 252-4231. Features nine air-conditioned cabins offering forest or lake views. Accommodating four to seven persons, cabins are equipped with bed and bath linens and feature screened porches and fireplaces. Reservations are strongly recommended. 

Motels and hotels
  • Comfort Inn Oxford, 1808 Jackson Ave W, ☏ +1 662 234-6000, fax: +1 662 281-0101. This hotel offers 49 rooms with one king or two queen sized beds. The one-room suites are equipped with hair dryers, coffee units, sofa beds, a large desk, and a seating area. A spacious executive suite offers an in-room jacuzzi. All rooms include microwaves, refrigerators, irons and ironing boards, and data port telephones. 
  • Graduate Hotel, 400 N Lamar Blvd, ☏ +1 662 234-3031. Located within walking distance of the Courthouse Square. The hotel is equipped with a restaurant, lounge, meeting facility, and outdoor pool. It is one of the best moderately-priced places to stay because of its great location. Consider this and the Inn at Ole Miss first. 
  • Hampton Inn, 110 Heritage Dr, ☏ +1 662 232-2442. Clean fresh comfortable rooms standard with coffee maker, iron and ironing board, data port and complimentary in-room movie channel. Enjoy complimentary local calls and no surcharge for using a calling card. Guests also enjoy the following complimentary items: hot breakfast or takeout breakfast bags (M-F), high speed internet access in every room, Wi-Fi in the lobby, meeting rooms and public areas, coffee and tea in the lobby 24 hours a day, and USA Today copies M-F. Hampton also offers a 24-hour front desk, message and fax service. One of the newest and nicest moderately-priced hotels. 
  • Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 112 Heritage Dr, ☏ +1 662 236-2500, toll-free: +1-866 270-5110, fax: +1 662 236-7987. Hotel offers 67 rooms including 34 suites. A deluxe continental breakfast, guest laundry, and a fitness center available. Rooms include 2 two-line telephones, voice mail, data ports, coffee maker, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, work desk, and ceiling fan. The suites also include microwaves, refrigerators, wet bar, and sleeper sofa. A newer hotel and one of the better in Oxford. 
  • Inn at Ole Miss, Alumni Dr (Ole Miss Campus), ☏ +1 662 234-2331, toll-free: +1-888-486-7666. The Inn at Ole Miss is on the Ole Miss campus right across from the beautiful Ole Miss Grove. 91 rooms and two suites are available. A free continental breakfast, outdoor pool, and conference facilities are offered. A new all-suite tower is under construction. If you can get a room here, this is the best place to stay in town because of the value and location. 
  • Ole Miss Motel, 1517 University Ave, ☏ +1 662 234-2424. If you are having an affair, this would be the place to meet your mistress. In fact, this motel was featured in the early 1990s comedy flick The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag as the scene of an affair and murder. Despite its limited services, it has a good location close to the Square and offers the nostalgia of a Route 66 motor inn. However, word may spread in church that your vehicle was seen in the parking lot, causing severe damage to your reputation. 
  • Super 8 Motel, 2201 Jackson Ave W, ☏ +1 662 234-7013. 114-room hotel on Jackson Ave. close to Wal-Mart. Guest rooms and amenities include clock/radio, coffeemaker, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, and 25 inch television with Direct TV, free local calls, super start breakfast. Jacuzzi rooms, Executive 2-room suites, and microwaves/refrigerators available. 

Stay safe

Oxford is a very safe town, with the court dockets mostly full of minors-in-possession, public drunks, and DUIs. Oxford Police are always nearby and allow little slack for disruptive behavior. The town is safe to walk at any time of night, with only the most basic precautions necessary.

Cope

Game Day

Oxford is very crowded on football game days. Football is a religion here, and fall Saturdays are the sabbath. Therefore, expect heavy traffic, hotels that fill months in advance, and no available reservations at restaurants. The Grove opens for tailgating at 6PM Friday night, but the crowds can overwhelm security as early as 4PM Friday night, and all the good spots in the Grove will be gone by 8PM. Most tailgating is concentrated in the Grove, but it takes place everywhere on campus. The Circle, next to the Grove, has more of a family atmosphere. Officially, liquor but not beer is allowed in the Grove, but all alcohol must be kept in a cup and out of plain view.

  • Alcohol Policy. The university policy on alcohol is very complicated and enforcement of it is even more so. Liquor is legal on all the campus and beer on the part of campus east of Gertrude Ford Boulevard. However, all alcohol must remain out of plain view at all times. Keep it in a cup or in your cooler. While beer is illegal in the Grove, the police will not confiscate it if you keep it in a cup. Police are allowed to search unattended coolers, so keep it at a tent that is attended at all times or put a lock on it. Bottom line: keep your alcohol out of plain view and under your control, keep your behavior in check, and you won't be bothered by the police. And don't even think about drinking and driving.
  • Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Where the three-time national champion Ole Miss Rebels play football. For online ticket sales and a seating chart, visit the Ole Miss Ticket Office. The stadium is officially alcohol-free, but many fans sneak in a flask, and drinking in the club levels and suites is completely ignored. Expect extensive body searches at the visitor and student gates. If you enjoy being molested by a security guard of the same sex, you're in heaven. At the other gates, security generally just looks inside purses and bags.
  • Game Day Info from the University. Including tailgating and stadium rules, traffic info, and parking info.
  • RV information. The university provides free gravel RV lots at the Old Taylor Road and the Coliseum Drive exits off of the Hwy 6 bypass. Overflow RV parking is available at the intramural fields, accessed by the Coliseum Drive exit (turn left at the four-way stop). Paved lots with hookups including cable TV are available, but they must be purchased for the whole season. The University officially does not allow RV parking before Friday afternoon, but in reality, they allow parking in the gravel lots days in advance. People are known to never move their RVs from one Saturday to the next. A private RV park with full amenities is available in town. Many choose to stay at the more spacious and scenic Sardis Lake, which offers a plethora of cheap RV parking with full hookups in a tree-shaded environment. It is located between Oxford and Batesville, 15 to 20 minutes from town.
  • RV information. Cart Barn Inn @ Yoda Creek has Rv parking. kay@cartbarninn.com ☏ +1 662-983-7829, 20 minutes south of Oxford down hwy 7 to hwy 9w to Bruce.

Churches

If your weekend visit to Oxford necessitates a visit with the Deity, there are many local worship options. Some of these houses of worship have enough historic value to warrant a purely secular visit any day of the week. True to its Deep South locale, Oxford is replete with Baptist and Methodist churches, but other faiths are by no means left out in this cosmopolitan university town. Here is a very small sampling of Oxford's larger and historic religious buildings and bodies:

Baptist
  • Antioch Primitive Baptist Church, South 15th Street. Sunday services are at 10:30AM. This congretation was organized in 1836. The congregation has been meeting in the current building since 1949. 
  • First Baptist Church (SBC), 800 Van Buren Avenue, ☏ +1 662 234-3515. Sunday services are at 8:30AM, 9:45AM and 11AM. The congregation was founded in 1842 and the original church structure was burned by Union troops in 1864. Current site was obtained in 1881 and the current building was completed in 1952. 
  • Second Baptist Church (MBC), 611 Jackson Avenue, ☏ +1 662 234-7868. It was organized by former slaves in 1869. The roots of this faith community stretch back to Baptist and Methodist ex-slaves who built a brush arbor on the edge of the old Pegues Plantation near the current church structure immediately after emancipation. 

Catholic
  • St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (Roman Catholic), 403 University Avenue, ☏ +1 662 234-6073. Catholic presence in Oxford dates back to antebellum times when small numbers of Catholic residents and students at the University relied on visiting priests for spiritual sustenance. St. John's was founded in the 1930s as a mission of Water Valley's St. Patrick's parish. The original church building (a simple neo-classical structure constructed in 1943) and its adjoining rectory/parish hall, played host to federal troops sent to quell the riots surrounding the integration of the University in 1962. These buildings were later declared structurally unsound and were razed in 2003 for the construction of a new church building on the same property. Masses are celebrated on Sundays at 8:30AM, 11AM and 5PM.

Episcopal
  • St. Peter's Episcopal Church (ECUS), 113 South 9th Street, ☏ +1 662 234-1269-. Organized in 1851, this was the original seat of the first Episcopal bishop of Mississippi, making this building the pro-cathedral (i.e. preliminary cathedral) for the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi. First resident pastor was Frederick A.P. Barnard, originally a faculty member at Ole Miss, eventually the university's chancellor and, later, president of Columbia University. The building was completed in 1860 and was the only religious structure within the town limits of Oxford to survive the burning of the town by Union troops in 1864. William Faulkner was a parishioner. Sunday services are at 7:45AM, 9AM, 11AM and 5:30PM. There is a Spanish language service at 7PM.

Methodist
  • Old Burns Church/Belfry Building, Original Building - West Jackson Avenue. Oxford's first African-American church, organized by former slaves in 1869 as Sewell Chapel, it was renamed Burns Methodist-Episcopal Church in 1900. An original wood frame structure was replaced in 1910 by the current brick building. The current congregation moved to a modern structure in 1973 on the corner of Molly Barr Road and Washington Avenue. After the congregation moved out, the 1910 building served for a time as an office for author John Grisham. Grisham donated the building for use as a Civil Rights museum. The congregation's current church building is located at 600 Molly Barr Road. Sunday worship service is at 11AM.
  • Oxford-University Methodist Church (UMC), University Avenue, ☏ +1 662 234-5278. Founded in 1836 as Oxford Methodist-Episcopal Church, the congregation was served by a circuit-riding minister who made regular stops in Oxford for services. The church's first building was on Van Buren Avenue and the congregation went through two more structures on Jackson Avenue before purchasing the current site in 1936. Services began at the current site in 1937 and the current brick sanctuary was completed in 1950. Famous parishioners have included Charles B. Galloway and L.Q.C. Lamar.

Presbyterian
  • College Hill Presbyterian Church (PCA), College Hill Road, ☏ +1 662 234-5020. The church was founded in 1835. The building, built using slave labor and bricks fired on the grounds, was completed in 1846. It is the oldest church building in the Oxford area. During the Civil War, the surrounding community of College Hill was invaded by Union General Sherman and his troops in 1862, who occupied the grounds of the church and used the church building for sleeping quarters. William Faulkner was married here in 1929. The original structure and furnishings remain remarkably unchanged. The pulpit, pews and pew gates are original to the structure. The only major structural changes to the original structure were: 1) the addition of a veneer of modern brick which covers the structure's original exterior bricks (though the original brickwork is still viewable at a view points on the east side of the church exterior where some of the modern bricks were purposefully left un-mortared and can be temporarily removed to "peek" at the original bricks beneath), 2) the modern addition of office space in the rear of the structure, and 3) the removal of the building's slave galley (a balcony reserved for slaves to sit in during church services). The exterior doors which once led to the galley, however, still remain, floating ominously above the main entrance to the church, sans stairs.
  • First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 924 Van Buren Avenue, {{phone|+1 662 234-1757}. The first Presbyterian congregation in the town of Oxford was organized in 1837 by early settlers of Scottish descent. The church's original 1847 wood frame building fell casualty to the flames of 1864 (when the courthouse, its square and other buildings and homes in town were burned by federal troops). The current building was built in 1881. Sunday worship services are at 8:30AM and 11AM.

Unitarian-Universalist
  • Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Oxford, 31 County Road 198, ☏ +1 662 513-0970. An intergenerational community that fosters spiritual growth through free thought and respect for personal beliefs. Visitors of all faiths and beliefs are welcome. Services are Sundays at 11AM, and children of all ages are welcome with childcare provided during the service (from 10:50AM -12:15PM.)

Mormon
  • Oxford Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3501 S Lamar Blvd, Worship service at 10AM. Visitors are welcome.

Go next
  • Memphis-- The closest major city, known for Graceland, Beale Street, great music, and a revitalized downtown
  • Tunica-- The South's gambling mecca featuring a dozen large casino resorts
  • Tupelo--The birthplace of Elvis Presley
  • Clarksdale--The location of the famous Crossroads intersection of Highway 61 and 49 is known for its Delta blues and famous blues musicians
  • Natchez--The historic rivertown with the South's grandest collection of antebellum homes
Routes through Oxford
Greenville ← Batesville ←  W  E  → Pontotoc → Tupelo


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