Clarksdale
As well as being Quapaw basecamp, Clarksdale is steeped in history and its rich musical tradition makes it a must visit for road and river trippers…
Why Clarksdale?
Unique accommodations, great eating, down-home Delta blues in the juke joints, and the Delta Blues Museum make for a complete nature-cultural experience
Why Clarksdale?
Clarksdale is the home base of operations for Quapaw Canoe Company, and the ideal jump- place for your guided adventure through the watery wilderness of the Lower Mississippi River.
More blues musicians come from Clarksdale & surrounding Delta region than any other single place on earth. The main channel of the Mississippi River used to flow adjacent downtown Clarksdale, and it was once the center of a thriving Native American community of 2 – 3,000 known as Quiz-Quiz. There is evidence that Hernando de Soto and his conquistadors passed through this area during their 1540-42 ravage of the Southeast (and became the first Europeans to view the Mighty Mississippi River, which they called “The Rio Grande”). Jolliette & Marquette (1673), LaSalle (1681) and John James Audubon (1820) traveled this section of river.
Clarksdale, Mississippi, has become the world wide center for custom-guided access to the Lower Mississippi River. All roads lead to the river. Clarksdale is the center of a giant wheel from which all spokes emanate outwards and intersect the big river. We package all of our guided expeditions from here, and then shuttle “upstream” for “downstream” adventures. We go with the flow.
Things to do & see in Clarksdale
Many of our shuttles pass through Stovall Plantation where Muddy Waters lived for 25 years before migrating to Chicago. Other shuttles pass through the “Humber” site which was once the largest concentration of Native Americans outside of Cahokia (Charles Peabody, Harvard University, 1897).
At journey”s end our shuttle drivers Wesley Jefferson “The Mississippi Junebug” and Ellis Coleman (Super Chikan’s younger brother) pick us up and bring us back to home base.
Expeditions above Memphis are shuttled from Mud Island downtown Memphis, Dyersburg, Tennessee or New Madrid Missouri. Expeditions below Vicksburg are shuttled from Vicksburg, Port Gibson or Natchez.
The Visit Clarksdale website provides information on things to do, places to stay and eat, and upcoming events in Clarksdale, MS.
Accommodation in Clarksdale
Here is list of Clarksdale accommodations. You’ll see lots of cool new options in downtown Clarksdale. Also, there are many traditional mainstream choices out on highway 61, one mile or so from downtown, such as the Hampton Inn.
*Quapaw Canoe Company has a reciprocal partnership with the recently built “Travelers Hotel” — use MAYTHERIVERBEWITHYOU for a 10% discount. Also recommend the Auberge Youth Hostel — super cool — kind of like an upscale luxury version of a youth hostel, with youth hostel pricing in dormitory rooms. Run by a New Orleans couple who also run one there.
Click here for a full list of Clarksdale accommodation options
Juke Joint Camping 2025
Wednesday April 9th to Sunday April 13th, 2025
If you are interested in reserving a camping spot, please reply to this email with:
Number of people
Number of spots
Which nights you will be camping
We have 3 campsites this year: two next to Quapaw Canoe Company building and one across Sunflower River at Soldier’s Field. So there is plenty of room for all!
Click here for more info and how to book your place - choose from one of three centrally located sites.
