Drive America’s Highways as we head 38 miles north along the Great River Road—Mississippi Highway 1—from Greenville to Rosedale, a journey that threads through the heart of the Mississippi Delta. This stretch of road might not get the national spotlight like other scenic byways, but it delivers a quiet, contemplative drive through farmland, wetlands, and river towns steeped in history and charm.
Our journey begins in Greenville, just south of the junction with U.S. Route 278. Greenville itself is a city shaped by the Mississippi River—historically a hub for cotton trade, blues music, and Southern culture. If you’re starting from the center of town, consider a quick detour to the Trop Casino, or take a few moments to walk the levee overlooking the river near the Greenville RiverPark Amphitheater. Once you’re ready, we hop on Mississippi Highway 1 and head north.
The early stretch of MS-1 guides us through residential neighborhoods that give way to the rural fringes of town. Before long, we pass Winterville, home to the Winterville Mounds, a prehistoric Native American ceremonial site that dates back over a thousand years. It’s a must-stop for anyone interested in archaeology or the early history of the Lower Mississippi Valley. Just past Winterville, the road bends slightly northwest, offering long, flat views over cultivated Delta farmland and small clusters of cypress trees that mark the edges of oxbow lakes and backwater bayous.
As we near Lamont, MS-1 turns north again and soon intersects with Mississippi Highway 450. Here, the landscape opens up to wide agricultural fields dotted with irrigation systems and silos. We pass through the tiny community of Scott, then begin tracking the eastern shoreline of Lake Bolivar, a narrow oxbow lake cut off from the main river channel long ago. The route meanders gently northeast along the lake, a peaceful section with the water peeking through the trees on the west side of the highway.
After Lake Bolivar ends, the highway briefly curves east before resuming its northeast course toward Benoit. This small town is perhaps best known as the filming location for the 1956 movie Baby Doll, directed by Elia Kazan. The Benoit Gin Mill still stands, a quiet reminder of the region’s past economic lifeblood: cotton. At the intersection with MS-448, we turn north again, hugging the open fields and passing the junction with MS-446 just south of Lobdell.
The road continues its northern trek through Beulah, another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Delta community nestled between agricultural fields and wooded sloughs. While there may not be many amenities here, the stretch between Beulah and Rosedale is scenic in its own subtle way. Look for glimpses of Delta wildlife—herons, hawks, and the occasional deer—especially near the small lakes and creeks that dot the roadside.
Approaching Rosedale, the road turns northwest for the final push into town. As we enter from the southeast, we pass homes, local businesses, and signs of civic pride. Rosedale sits just a few miles from the river, and while not directly on the Mississippi’s banks, it has a deep connection to it. This is the town immortalized in the Delta blues classic “Traveling Riverside Blues” by Robert Johnson—who sang, “I’m going to Rosedale, got my rider by my side.”
The journey ends at the intersection with Mississippi Highway 8 in the heart of Rosedale. From here, MS-1 continues north, eventually reaching the junction with U.S. Route 49. But this segment—from Greenville to Rosedale—offers a tranquil, backroads drive along one of the quieter stretches of the Great River Road. If you’re after a break from interstates and fast traffic, this route delivers a glimpse into the soul of the Mississippi Delta.
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