Emerald Mound
Stanton, MS
The second-largest ceremonial mound in the United States, built by ancestors of the Natchez people around 1300. Climb the stairs to the flat top; it is a short signed detour off the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Emerald Mound is a Mississippian ceremonial mound on the Natchez Trace Parkway near Stanton, Mississippi, about 16 kilometres north-east of Natchez. It is considered the second-largest earthwork of this era in the United States, after Monks Mound in Cahokia, Illinois. The site covers about eight acres (roughly 3.2 hectares); the base measures about 235 by 133 metres.
The Plaquemine culture built the mound between about 1250 and 1600 CE on a natural hill, piling earth up along the sides. Archaeologists see the builders as ancestors of the historic Natchez, who used the place as their main ceremonial centre. Next to the large platform, a smaller mound stands at the west end. The National Park Service stabilised the site in 1955, and it has been a National Historic Landmark since 1989.
A path leads from the car park to the platform. The stairs built earlier have, according to one source, been removed; please check the current condition of the path and the climb with the National Park Service before you go.
- Nearest town
- Stanton, MS
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 31.6357, -91.2475
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–March, May, September and December. Hot in June–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Natchez State Park CampgroundCampsite3 mi from Emerald MoundTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowers
- Lee Estates RV ParkMotorhome stopover5 mi from Emerald MoundMotorhomes
- Motorhome stopoverMotorhome stopover12 mi from Emerald MoundMotorhomes
- Motorhome stopover · Port GibsonMotorhome stopover18 mi from Emerald MoundMotorhomes
- St Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge CampgroundCampsite22 mi from Emerald Mound
All campsites in Mississippi · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Emerald Mound?
Emerald Mound is in Stanton, MS, at GPS 31.6357, -91.2475. It is about 11 mi from Natchez.
Can you camp near Emerald Mound?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Natchez State Park Campground, about 3 mi away; within 25 mi there are 5 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Emerald Mound?
Emerald Mound is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Vicksburg to Natchez: battlefields, ruins and mounds.
What is there to see near Emerald Mound?
Places worth a stop nearby: Historic Downtown Natchez (11 mi), Windsor Ruins (22 mi), Vicksburg National Military Park (54 mi) and Audubon State Historic Site (Oakley House) (57 mi).
When is the best time to visit Emerald Mound?
The most pleasant months are usually April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–March, May, September and December. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)