City
Clarksdale
Mississippi Delta birthplace of authentic American blues
Clarksdale isn't trying to impress anyone. This small Delta town just happens to be where the blues were born, where Robert Johnson supposedly sold his soul at the crossroads, and where you can still hear authentic music any night of the week. The streets are wide and quiet during the day, but come evening, the juke joints fill with locals and pilgrims alike. You'll find more musical history per square mile here than anywhere else in America. And the best part? It still feels real.
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Downtown Clarksdale is your best bet, though 'downtown' is a generous term for a few blocks around Delta Avenue and Sunflower Avenue. The Shack Up Inn on Hopson Plantation offers the most character - you'll sleep in converted sharecropper shacks that have hosted everyone from ZZ Top to Japanese blues tourists. Rooms run about $85-120 per night and include breakfast. For something more traditional, the Hampton Inn on State Street puts you within walking distance of Ground Zero Blues Club and the Delta Blues Museum. But here's the thing - Clarksdale is tiny. You're never more than five minutes from anywhere that matters. The Riverside Hotel, where Bessie Smith died and Ike Turner was born, closed for renovations but remains a pilgrimage site worth driving past.
Money-Saving Tips
- 1.Red's Lounge charges just $5 cover and beer runs $3-4 - cheaper than most city dive bars
- 2.Abe's Bar-B-Q combo plates feed two people for $12 if you're not starving
- 3.The Delta Blues Museum offers free admission for kids under 12 and military
- 4.Gas is typically 10-15 cents cheaper than Memphis or Jackson
- 5.Many blues trail markers and historic sites are completely free to visit
- 6.Local grocery stores sell tamales for $1 each - way cheaper than restaurants
Travel Tips
- •Download offline maps - cell service gets spotty in rural Delta areas
- •Bring cash for juke joints and small restaurants that don't take cards
- •Pack layers even in summer - air conditioning runs arctic in most buildings
- •Don't expect fast WiFi outside of chain hotels
- •Learn a few blues artists' names before you go - locals love talking music with knowledgeable visitors
- •The crossroads photo op gets crowded on weekends - go early morning for the best shots
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially in the downtown area where most attractions are located. Like any small Southern town, use common sense at night and stick to well-lit areas. The music venues are safe and welcoming to visitors.
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