Free & Cheap Things to Do in Hattiesburg

Family & Kids

A compact, well-loved zoo in historic Kamper Park, home to giraffes, big cats, primates, and a walk-through aviary, plus a train, carousel, and (seasonally) the Serengeti Springs splash park. Easy to cover in a couple of hours, it's a reliable, affordable family outing and runs monthly Homeschool Days.

Address: 107 S 17th Ave, Hattiesburg, MS 39401

Tip: Buy online before 5am the day of your visit for the lowest price; the zoo is cashless. The train and carousel cost a little extra. Serengeti Springs water park is a separate seasonal ticket.

History & Culture

Housed in the only surviving WWII-era USO club built for Black servicemen, this free museum tells the story of African American military service from the Revolution to today through photographs, artifacts, and oral histories. The restored 1942 building on the historic Mobile Street district is itself a landmark of the segregation era.

Address: 305 E Sixth St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401

Tip: Free admission, Wednesday-Friday 10am-4pm and Saturday 12-4pm. Exhibits are self-guided, but free guided tours can be scheduled. Allow about an hour in the heart of the historic Mobile Street district.

History & Culture

A large free museum inside active Camp Shelby, 15 minutes south of town, tracing Mississippi's military history from early statehood through the Global War on Terror. Tanks, aircraft, and vehicles fill the grounds, while indoor 'Halls of Honor' galleries immerse visitors in each era — one of the South's best military collections.

Address: Bldg 850 Forrest Ave, Camp Shelby, MS 39407

Tip: Free, Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4pm. It's on an active military base — bring a valid photo ID and follow the Camp Shelby South Gate visitor procedures. Allow 2-3 hours for the full collection.

Parks & Nature

A 44-mile paved rail-trail running from Hattiesburg northwest to Prentiss, following an old railroad bed through pine forest, farmland, and small towns. Free for walkers, cyclists, and (on a parallel path) horseback riders, with trailheads, restrooms, and bike rentals near the University of Southern Mississippi end.

Address: 701 Carlisle-Gordon Dr, Hattiesburg, MS 39402

Tip: Free; rent a bike at the Hattiesburg (USM) depot trailhead if you didn't bring one. The first few miles from town are flat and shaded — great for a casual ride. Bring water in summer.

Shops & Downtown

Billed as Mississippi's tiniest museum, this free, ever-changing window display sits in an alley behind the Saenger Theatre downtown. Exhibits — quirky, sweet, or bizarre miniature scenes — swap out on the first of each month, surrounded by murals, a 'Pocket Theater' eyepiece showing short films, and a tiny gallery in an old newspaper stand.

Address: Town Square Park alley, Hattiesburg, MS 39401

Tip: Free and viewable any time — it's a window display, so day or night works. Exhibits change monthly. A fun two-minute stop while exploring downtown's murals and shops.

Arts & Culture

A self-guided downtown trail of more than 30 large-scale murals and public artworks, from Kelsey Montague's interactive #WhatLiftsYou dragonfly wings to walls transformed by visiting international muralists. Free to follow with a map or signage, it has turned the Hub City's downtown into one of the South's brightest street-art destinations.

Address: Downtown Hattiesburg, MS 39401

Tip: Free; grab the Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art map or follow the signs. The #WhatLiftsYou wings on the parking garage are the photo op. Best explored on foot over an hour or two.

Parks & Nature

A free, accredited public rose garden near the front entrance of the University of Southern Mississippi, planted in 1973. A semicircular layout of 32 beds holds more than 500 plants and dozens of rose varieties, peaking in spring and fall — a longtime campus tradition for graduation photos and an easy, fragrant stroll.

Address: 118 College Dr, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Tip: Free and open daily with free parking nearby. Late April-May and October are peak bloom. Don't pick the roses — there's a fine. A quick, pretty stop on the USM campus.