College Visit Guides

Drive guide · 2 days, 2 campuses

Jackson State and Alcorn State in 2 Days: A Mississippi College Visit Drive Trip

A parent-first plan for seeing Jackson State University and Alcorn State University in two days: how each school's campus tour works and where to request one, JSU's March-to-July tour season, four hotels from downtown Jackson to the Natchez riverfront, the drive down to Lorman, sibling stops at the Two Mississippi Museums and the Mississippi Children's Museum, and Jackson weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 31, 2026.

A paved plaza with a tall open timber-frame pavilion with a dark metal roof and a round medallion, two smaller pavilions with blue benches on either side, a round Gibbs-Green Plaza sign and a light pole with Jackson State banners, a red-brick building and autumn trees behind under a blue sky
Gibbs-Green Memorial Plaza on the Jackson State University campus in Jackson, Mississippi (December 2021). Photo: 2C2K Photography · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

Schools
Jackson State University (Jackson, MS) · Alcorn State University (Lorman, MS)
Days
2 days: Jackson State in Jackson on day 1, then Alcorn State on day 2 (about 1 hour 48 minutes southwest by car with no traffic).
Fly into
Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN), about 23 minutes from Jackson State and about 2 hours 2 minutes from Alcorn State by car with no traffic.
Best base
The Westin Jackson, downtown about 7 minutes by car from Jackson State and a 12-minute walk from the Two Mississippi Museums.
Car or no car
You need a car. Alcorn State is about 87 miles from Jackson State by road, in Claiborne County.
Registration
Request each tour on the school's own form: JSU's Tour JSU portal (at least two weeks ahead) and Alcorn State's campus tour request (two weeks ahead preferred).

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents bringing a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see two Mississippi universities: Jackson State University, home of the Tigers, and Alcorn State University, home of the Braves.

Jackson State is in the capital city, and Alcorn State is about an hour and 48 minutes southwest in Lorman. Check both athletics calendars for home games on your dates. The photo in this guide shows the Gibbs-Green Memorial Plaza on the JSU campus.

Why this order

  • Day 1: fly into Jackson, drive about 19 minutes to a downtown hotel and take a Jackson State walking tour, which lasts at least 90 minutes.
  • With extra time, the Two Mississippi Museums are about 7 minutes from Jackson State by car, and admission is free every Sunday.
  • Day 2: drive about 1 hour 49 minutes to Alcorn State for a campus tour, then drive about 2 hours back to JAN, or stay the night in Natchez, about 53 minutes from Alcorn.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
  • Jackson State's official campus tour season runs March through July each year, with guided walking tours led by the recruitment team and student ambassadors. Dates not shown as available in the scheduling system aren't open tour dates.
  • JSU requires pre-registration for every tour, and requests must go in at least two weeks ahead. A tour isn't confirmed until you get JSU's confirmation; reserve only one date, under the right form (Individual/Family or Group), or the reservations are automatically canceled.
  • Family tours at JSU are limited to nine people, and group tours can take up to 100.
  • Alcorn State asks you to fill out its campus tour request form, preferably two weeks in advance. Its Office of Admissions in Lanier Hall is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Jackson winters are mild: January averages about 57°F highs and 37°F lows at the airport, with about 5.4 inches of precipitation.
  • Spring is JSU's tour season and it's warm and wet: March averages about 69°F/46°F and April about 77°F/53°F, and April is the wettest month, with about 5.8 inches of rain.
  • Summer is hot: July and August both average about 92°F highs and 72°F lows, so plan walking tours with water and sun protection.
  • Fall is comfortable: October averages about 78°F highs and 54°F lows, and September is the driest month, at about 3.5 inches. JSU's tour season is March through July, so check its portal before planning a fall visit.

2. The suggested 2-day plan

  • Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, with campus points geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim and hotel points from the Expedia listings. Rush hour in Jackson adds time, so leave a cushion. Jackson State times are to the main campus off John R. Lynch Street, and Alcorn State times are to the campus in Lorman.

Arrival: fly into Jackson

  1. Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) → The Westin Jackson

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~19 min, 11.3 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  2. Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) → Homewood Suites Jackson Fondren

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~18 min, 10.4 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  3. Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) → Hampton Inn & Suites Jackson-Coliseum

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~19 min, 11.4 mi
    Driving
    Rental car
  • You'll want the rental car for both days: Alcorn State is a long drive from Jackson, and the hotels here all list parking on Expedia.

Day 1: Jackson State University

  1. The Westin Jackson → Jackson State campus (John R. Lynch St.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~7 min, 2.2 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  2. Homewood Suites Jackson Fondren → Jackson State campus (John R. Lynch St.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~11 min, 5.2 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  3. Hampton Inn & Suites Jackson-Coliseum → Jackson State campus (John R. Lynch St.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~7 min, 2.5 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  4. Jackson State campus (John R. Lynch St.) → Two Mississippi Museums

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~7 min, 2.4 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  5. Jackson State campus (John R. Lynch St.) → Mississippi Children's Museum

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~14 min, 5.5 mi
    Driving
    Drive
  • Wear comfortable shoes: JSU's walking tour lasts at least 90 minutes and includes a brief campus overview and a question-and-answer session. If your group needs a shorter tour, JSU asks you to tell them in advance.
  • Building access is limited on JSU tours, but you'll still see the campus with a recruiter or student ambassador.

Day 2: Alcorn State University, then fly home

  1. The Westin Jackson → Alcorn State campus (Lorman)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~1 hr 49 min, 89.4 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  2. Homewood Suites Jackson Fondren → Alcorn State campus (Lorman)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~1 hr 52 min, 88.3 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  3. Hampton Inn & Suites Jackson-Coliseum → Alcorn State campus (Lorman)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~1 hr 49 min, 89.1 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  4. Alcorn State campus (Lorman) → Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~2 hr 2 min, 98.4 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  5. Alcorn State campus (Lorman) → Natchez Grand Hotel & Suites

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~53 min, 39.7 mi
    Driving
    Drive (if you stay over)

  6. Natchez Grand Hotel & Suites → Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~2 hr 26 min, 124 mi
    Driving
    Drive (next morning)
  • Leave early: the drive from Jackson to Lorman is close to two hours with no traffic, and the return to JAN is about two more. A flight late in the day, or a night in Natchez, keeps the day from feeling rushed.
  • Alcorn State's virtual tour and campus map can help you get your bearings before you arrive.

3. Campus by campus

A paved plaza with a tall open timber-frame pavilion with a dark metal roof and a round medallion, two smaller pavilions with blue benches on either side, a round Gibbs-Green Plaza sign and a light pole with Jackson State banners, a red-brick building and autumn trees behind under a blue sky
Gibbs-Green Memorial Plaza on the Jackson State University campus in Jackson, Mississippi (December 2021). Photo: 2C2K Photography · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Jackson State University (Jackson, MS)

Where visits start
  • Request a tour on JSU's Tour JSU portal, choosing Family Tours or Group Tours. Pre-registration is required for all campus tours, with no exceptions.
  • JSU's official campus tour season runs March through July. Tours run Monday through Thursday, plus select Fridays and Saturdays, and availability shows in the scheduling system in real time.
  • Reservations are requests that JSU reviews within 24 to 48 business hours, and your tour isn't confirmed until you get a tour confirmation email. Submit at least two weeks ahead.
Visitor parking
  • Questions about where to park or meet? Email JSU Undergraduate Recruitment at recruitment@jsums.edu before your visit, or call the Director of Undergraduate Recruitment at 601.979.3132. The recruitment office is at 1342 West Pearl Street, and JSU's campus map shows buildings across campus.
Getting there
  • Jackson State is about 23 minutes by car from JAN with no traffic, by OpenStreetMap routing.
What to know
  • Want to meet with Athletics or the Sonic Boom of the South band? JSU's recruitment team doesn't schedule those meetings. Contact Athletics at (601) 979-2291 or the band at (601) 979-2141 before you reserve, and plan the meeting before or after your tour.
  • The Two Mississippi Museums, the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, are about 7 minutes from campus by car.
Contact
JSU Undergraduate Recruitment: recruitment@jsums.edu (Director of Undergraduate Recruitment: 601.979.3132). Office at 1342 West Pearl Street, Jackson, MS 39203; mailing address 1400 John R. Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39217.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: JSU: Tour JSU Registration (tour season and reservation rules) · JSU Undergraduate Recruitment: Contact Us · JSU: Campus Map

Campus

Alcorn State University (Lorman, MS)

Where visits start
  • Fill out Alcorn State's campus tour request form, preferably two weeks in advance.
  • Alcorn's tours let prospective students talk with current students and learn about campus life while visiting classrooms, residence halls and other spots on campus.
  • If no tour dates show on the request form for your dates, call the Office of Admissions at 601.877.6148.
Visitor parking
  • The Office of Admissions is in Lanier Hall. For questions about where to park or check in, call 601.877.6148 or email admissions@alcorn.edu before your visit.
Getting there
  • Alcorn State is about 1 hour 48 minutes by car from Jackson State and about 2 hours 2 minutes from JAN with no traffic, by OpenStreetMap routing.
What to know
  • Can't make it in person, or want a preview? Alcorn State offers a virtual tour and campus map.
  • Natchez, on the Mississippi River, is about 53 minutes from Alcorn by car if you'd rather stay the night than drive back to Jackson.
Contact
Alcorn State Office of Admissions (Lanier Hall): admissions@alcorn.edu, 601.877.6148. Alcorn State University, 1000 ASU Drive, Lorman, MS 39096-7500.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Alcorn State Admissions: Campus Tours · Alcorn State: Virtual Tour and Campus Map

4. Where to stay: downtown Jackson, Fondren, or Natchez near Alcorn

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickUpscale

The Westin Jackson

407 S. Congress St., Jackson, MS 39201

Why here

  • It's downtown, about 7 minutes by car from Jackson State, 19 minutes from the airport and a 12-minute walk from the Two Mississippi Museums with no traffic.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists an indoor pool, the on-site Estelle Southern Table restaurant, a bar, a spa, free WiFi in public areas and valet parking (surcharge). Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateMid-range

Homewood Suites by Hilton Jackson Fondren Medical District

2815 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's in Fondren, about 11 minutes from Jackson State and 18 minutes from the airport by car with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists free to-go breakfast, kitchens, an indoor pool, a 24-hour gym, free WiFi and free self parking. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Hampton Inn & Suites Jackson-Coliseum

320 Greymont Ave., Jackson, MS 39202

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about 7 minutes from Jackson State and 19 minutes from the airport by car with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists free full breakfast, a seasonal outdoor pool, a gym, free WiFi and free self parking. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateMid-range

Natchez Grand Hotel & Suites on the River

111 N. Broadway St., Natchez, MS 39120

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel near the Mississippi River as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about 53 minutes from Alcorn State by car with no traffic, for families who'd rather stay over after the Alcorn tour. JAN is about 2 hours 26 minutes away the next morning.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a free breakfast buffet, a seasonal outdoor pool, a bar and a 24-hour gym. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

One Jackson hotel covers both nights if you drive back from Alcorn: all three Jackson options are within about 11 minutes of Jackson State and under 2 hours from Alcorn. To skip the long drive back after the Alcorn tour, spend the second night at the Natchez Grand.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

At the hotels

The Westin Jackson lists its on-site Estelle Southern Table restaurant on Expedia, and the Homewood Suites, the Hampton Inn & Suites and the Natchez Grand all list breakfast included.

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

Two Mississippi Museums

222 North St., Jackson, MS 39201

The Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum share one admission, about 7 minutes from Jackson State by car and a 12-minute walk from The Westin. They're open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Mondays. Admission is charged, with youth and senior prices and free entry for children under 3, and it's free every Sunday; see the museums' hours and admission page.

Official page →

With siblings

Mississippi Children's Museum

2145 Museum Blvd., Jackson, MS 39202

A hands-on museum for kids, about 14 minutes from Jackson State by car, with the on-site Red Rocket Cafe. It's open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is charged per person, with children under 1 free, and all children must be with an adult; see the museum's visitor info page.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Booking the tours

  • JSU: request one date only on the Tour JSU portal, at least two weeks ahead, and wait for the confirmation before you book flights.
  • Alcorn State: send the campus tour request about two weeks ahead, and call 601.877.6148 if you have questions.

Flying in and out

  • JAN is about 19 minutes from the Jackson hotels here and about 2 hours 2 minutes from Alcorn State with no traffic, so book a later flight on the Alcorn day or stay over in Natchez.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Jackson International Airport station)

  • Spring: March averages about 69°F highs and 46°F lows and April about 77°F/53°F; April is the wettest month, at about 5.8 inches.
  • Summer: June averages about 90°F/69°F and July and August about 92°F/72°F.
  • Fall: September averages about 88°F/66°F, October about 78°F/54°F and November about 67°F/44°F.
  • Winter: December averages about 60°F/39°F and January about 57°F/37°F, with about 5 inches of precipitation a month.

Parent checklist

  • Request a Jackson State tour on the Tour JSU portal (March through July season, at least two weeks ahead).
  • Send Alcorn State's campus tour request, preferably two weeks ahead.
  • Want to meet JSU Athletics or the band? Call them before you reserve the tour.
  • Book flights into JAN and a rental car.
  • Book a hotel in Jackson, and decide whether to drive back from Alcorn or spend the second night in Natchez.
  • Pack comfortable walking shoes for both campus tours, plus water and sun protection for warm Mississippi afternoons.
  • After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

2 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (Jackson State University and Alcorn State University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: Jackson State University
  5. Jackson State University Athletics (official site)
  6. Jackson State University Athletics: Staff Directory
  7. Jackson State University Athletics: schedule of events
  8. NCAA Directory: Alcorn State University
  9. Alcorn State University Athletics (official site)
  10. Alcorn State University Athletics: Staff Directory
  11. Alcorn State University Athletics: schedule of events

Trip planner

Plan this trip

Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.

Which schools?
Driving or flying?

How the email works. Your plan appears right here on the page. If you add your email, we'll email you the full plan from hello@collegevisitguides.com, sent by our email provider, Resend. It isn't instant: a person reads each plan before it goes out, and it arrives once it's been reviewed. We store your request (your email, the trip, schools, dates and travel choice) privately to send it; we don't send or store the home city you type. If you tick the box, you'll also join our occasional newsletter, which is sent with Kit. Every email has a one-click unsubscribe link. Only if you use the route planner in your plan is the starting point you type there sent to our map provider, Geoapify, to plan the drive; we never store it. Privacy

Sources

All checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. Jackson State University: Tour JSU Registration (tour season, length and reservation rules)
  2. Jackson State University: Tour JSU (campus visit registration portal)
  3. Jackson State University Undergraduate Recruitment: Contact Us
  4. Jackson State University: Campus Map
  5. Alcorn State University Admissions: Campus Tours
  6. Alcorn State University: Campus tour request (official sign-up)
  7. Alcorn State University: Virtual Tour and Campus Map
  8. Expedia listing: The Westin Jackson (star class, address, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Jackson-Hotels-The-Westin-Jackson.h18411003.Hotel-Information)
  9. Expedia listing: Homewood Suites by Hilton Jackson Fondren Medical District (star class, address, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Jackson-Hotels-Homewood-Suites-By-Hilton-Jackson-Fondren-Medical-District.h49284683.Hotel-Information)
  10. Expedia listing: Hampton Inn & Suites Jackson-Coliseum (star class, address, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Jackson-Hotels-Hampton-Inn-Suites-Jackson-Coliseum.h41040.Hotel-Information)
  11. Expedia listing: Natchez Grand Hotel & Suites on the River (star class, address, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Natchez-Hotels-Natchez-Grand-Hotel-Suites-On-The-River.h1788807.Hotel-Information)
  12. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving profile
  13. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), foot profile
  14. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  15. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Jackson Intl AP, MS (USW00003940)
  16. Two Mississippi Museums (MDAH): Hours and Admission
  17. Mississippi Children's Museum: Visitor Info
  18. Jackson State Tigers Athletics: Calendar
  19. Alcorn State Braves Athletics: Calendar