For one day in Meridian, MS, start in the compact downtown, visit the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, then spend the afternoon outdoors at Bonita Lakes. The route combines cultural stops with a large city recreation area, while the exact timing depends on museum hours and your travel connections.
- Downtown: Meridian’s centre is compact and walkable.
- Museum: The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Outdoor stop: Bonita Lakes has lakes, trails, and activities including fishing and biking.
- Arrival: Meridian Union Station serves Amtrak and Greyhound.
Start with downtown Meridian
Begin in downtown Meridian, a compact, walkable area with cultural attractions including The MAX. The city centre is about a 6-minute drive from Motel 6-Meridian, which offers rooms for exploring downtown Meridian.
Use the morning to get your bearings and spend time around the downtown streets before heading to a museum.
Choose a museum stop
The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, known as The MAX, is a downtown museum at 2155 Front Street. Its Tuesday-to-Saturday opening pattern makes it a practical centrepiece for a weekday or Saturday itinerary; it is closed Sunday and Monday. For more on the surrounding area, read what to know about downtown Meridian.
Admission is $14 for adults ages 18–64, $12 for students, seniors 65 and older, and military visitors with ID, and $8 for youth ages 6–17. Members, children under 5, and educators enter free. The MAX also offers free admission to everyone on the first Saturday of each month.
The museum is about five minutes from I-59 and I-20. Its small gated lot is described as best for visitors with limited mobility; additional parking is available at the historic bus station across Front Street, at 2000 Front Street, and on downtown streets.
The city’s Arts District Parking Garage at 712 24th Avenue offers free parking seven days a week and is accessible, with two elevators at the 23rd Avenue entrance.
For a closer look at the museum’s focus, read what to expect at the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience.
Add a park visit to the afternoon
Bonita Lakes is a city-owned recreation area with three lakes, nature trails, a jogging and walking track, biking, horseback-riding trails, and fishing. It gives the itinerary a change of pace after time downtown, with several ways to spend an afternoon outside.
Admission is free, but published opening times differ: Visit Meridian gives year-round hours of 7 a.m.–10 p.m., while Visit Mississippi lists daily hours of 5 a.m.–10 p.m. Drivers can reach the park from I-59/20 via Exit 154-A when travelling east or Exit 154 when travelling west, then take Highway 19 south; the park is on the right.
Bonita Lakes became the location of Mississippi’s first geocache in October 2000. For details focused on the outdoor area, see how to spend time at Bonita Lakes Park. Check the official sites for The MAX and Visit Meridian before you go for current hours and admission details.
Adjust the route for arrival and departure times
Let your transport schedule determine whether downtown or Bonita Lakes comes first. Meridian Union Station, at 1901 Front Street, serves Amtrak and Greyhound.
If you arrive by train, you can start with downtown before checking the museum’s opening days and planning the rest of your day. For a flight arrival, allow time for your journey before setting your sightseeing order.
Keep Bonita Lakes flexible if your available time is limited, since the itinerary works with either the park or the museum as your main stop.
FAQs
What can you do in Meridian in one day?
Spend time downtown, visit The MAX when it is open, and add Bonita Lakes for outdoor activities such as walking, biking, or fishing.
When is The MAX open?
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and closed Sunday and Monday.
Is Bonita Lakes free to visit?
Yes. Admission is free, though published opening times vary between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.