15 Mississippi Carhop Burger Spots Serving True Retro Flavor
Cruising through Mississippi feels like a drive through burger history. Neon signs still hum over old highways, carhop stalls line small-town streets, and milkshake counters glow with the soft light of another era.
At these drive-ins, the routine hasn’t changed much: hand-patted patties hit the grill, buns toast to a buttery edge, and paper baskets fill with crinkle-cut fries. The air smells of nostalgia and char, and the sound of laughter blends with the low rumble of engines waiting for an order.
Each stop along the way carries a piece of the 1950s forward: simple, satisfying, and unmistakably local. These fifteen spots keep the tradition alive, proving the best burger stories are still told from behind the wheel.
1. Edd’s Drive-In (Pascagoula)
The neon sign flickers like a friendly wave from another decade, pulling you toward the smell of sizzling beef and salt on the air. Park under the glowing canopy, windows cracked, and you’ll hear orders shouted through the lot like familiar music.
Hand-patted burgers arrive wrapped in wax paper, buns warm and soft, cheese dripping just enough to make you forgive gravity. The fries? Golden, salty, and light enough to keep reaching back for more.
By the second bite, you’ll understand why Edd’s hasn’t needed to change a thing since 1953, it’s already perfect.
2. P.D.I. Phillips Drive-In (Laurel)
The sizzle hits first, the sound of a griddle that’s worked harder than some humans. Burgers here are seared to a crust, topped with onions and pickles, and tucked into toasted buns that carry the scent of butter.
P.D.I. has stood on 16th Avenue since 1948, serving generations from the same menu board. It started as a Dairy Queen before going independent, but the burgers never lost their charm.
You should grab a root beer float with your order. It’s the unofficial ritual of this Laurel landmark, and skipping it feels almost rude.
3. Velvet Cream “The Dip” (Hernando)
There’s something surreal about seeing a crowd line up under pink neon for burgers and shakes while cicadas buzz nearby. The scene feels both vintage and alive.
The burgers here come stacked, seasoned heavy, and pressed flat, but it’s the house sauce that seals the deal, sweet, smoky, and tangy all at once. Add a swirl of soft-serve for good measure.
I ate mine in the car with the radio on low, realizing halfway through that this was what summer’s supposed to taste like, messy, loud, and perfect.
4. Bill’s Hamburgers (Amory)
The grill scent hangs thick in the air, that blend of grease, smoke, and nostalgia that never quite leaves your shirt. You’ll spot the modest sign before the sound of spatulas hitting steel draws you in.
Each burger is hand-patted to order, flattened with the same rhythm since 1929. No frills, no lettuce, no fancy bun, just beef, mustard, onion, and pickle. Simplicity still rules here.
But do show up early. Locals start filling stools before noon, and when the grill cools, that’s it for the day.
5. White Trolley Cafe (Corinth)
The smell of onions caramelizing greets you before you even reach the door, a sensory nudge that something historic’s happening inside. The bright white tile, chrome stools, and the soft clink of glass Coke bottles complete the time warp.
The burger comes griddled to crisp perfection, cheese melting right to the edge, served in a red basket with old-school fries. It’s a meal that doesn’t need convincing.
By the time you’re halfway through, you realize this place isn’t retro by design, it’s just never stopped being itself.
6. Borroum’s Drug Store & Soda Fountain (Corinth)
Old marble counters and swivel stools give Borroum’s the air of a preserved photograph. But behind the nostalgia is one of the best burgers in Mississippi.
The Borroum family’s been running this joint since 1865, making it the oldest drugstore in the state. Their burger, however, feels timeless, seasoned beef on a toasted bun with a shake on the side.
I sat at the counter and watched teenagers and retirees eat the same meal with equal joy. That’s the kind of history you can taste.
7. Ward’s Original Location (Hattiesburg)
Old marble counters and swivel stools give Borroum’s the air of a preserved photograph. But behind the nostalgia is one of the best burgers in Mississippi.
The Borroum family’s been running this joint since 1865, making it the oldest drugstore in the state. Their burger, however, feels timeless, seasoned beef on a toasted bun with a shake on the side.
I sat at the counter and watched teenagers and retirees eat the same meal with equal joy. That’s the kind of history you can taste.
8. Bumpers Drive-In (Ackerman)
Before you see the sign, you’ll catch the scent of searing beef and fryer oil on the breeze. Pull in under the glowing canopy, speakers crackling with a familiar greeting. The vibe is easygoing, locals in pickup trucks, kids hanging from windows.
Their burgers arrive fast, wrapped tight in wax paper, with cheese melting over the edges. A thick milkshake or onion rings complete the ritual.
I ate mine in the driver’s seat, window open, thinking how few things stay this simple and this good.
9. Phillips Grocery (Holly Springs)
Inside an old railroad hotel, wooden walls creak as you order, giving the place its own quiet soundtrack. A century’s worth of photos line the walls, hinting at the stories that have passed through.
Phillips’ burger is legend. Hand-shaped patties are cooked on a seasoned griddle, topped with grilled onions and mustard. Every bite tastes like tradition, not nostalgia.
Sit by the front window around sunset. The light spills across your plate and the scent of the grill fills the room, pure Mississippi poetry.
10. Handy Andy (Oxford)
At lunchtime, the smell of barbecue smoke drifts down North Lamar like an invitation. The parking lot stays packed, and every car window seems rolled down to let the sound of laughter spill out.
The burger here is grilled over open flame, smoky and juicy with a slight char that makes you pause between bites. Fries come crisp, salted, and still steaming.
I came for the burger and stayed for the vibe. It’s the kind of local hangout that quietly defines a town.
11. Latham’s Hamburger Inn (New Albany)
You’ll notice the antique stools first, polished smooth from decades of regulars. There’s no pretense here, just the hum of conversation and the clatter of the flat-top.
Latham’s has been around since 1938, serving simple burgers that taste exactly as they should, griddled beef, melted cheese, and a bun that soaks it all in. The old Coca-Cola sign out front hasn’t changed either.
Tip: order the double and watch it vanish faster than you expect. There’s a reason locals guard this place like a secret.
12. Mamma’s Super Burgers (Vicksburg)
The neon “Super” sign still glows against the Mississippi dusk, catching your eye as you pass down Clay Street. Inside, it’s tight-knit and loud in the best way.
The patties here are hefty, cooked to a perfect crust, topped with layers of cheese, lettuce, and their special sauce that leans sweet and peppery. Every burger comes out in white paper, still hot to the touch.
Ate mine on the hood of my car, watching the streetlights flicker. Somehow, it felt like home.
13. Stamps Super Burgers (Jackson)
The first thing you notice isn’t the sign, it’s the smell of sizzling beef rolling through the air near Dalton Street. The crowd waiting outside tells you everything you need to know.
Each burger is massive, a hand-pressed patty that spills over the bun’s edges, juicy and smoky with a seasoning that lingers. The fries are thick-cut, golden, and unapologetically greasy.
Somewhere between bites, the conversation at the next table turns into laughter that feels contagious.
14. Burger Barn (Forest)
There’s a rhythm to small-town drive-ins like this one, trucks pulling up, windows rolling down, orders crackling through the speakers. The red awning flaps in the breeze, and everything smells faintly of char and butter.
The burger comes stacked, slightly uneven, with cheese melting into the bun. Nothing fancy, just honest flavor and a side of onion rings that could stand alone.
Bring cash and a friend with good taste. The best way to experience Burger Barn is unhurried, with conversation louder than the traffic.
15. Smacks Burger Shack (Taylorsville)
Smoke drifts from the back grill, carrying the scent of peppered beef and toasted buns across the lot. It’s the kind of place that feels alive even when it’s quiet.
Family-owned, Smacks leans into freshness, ground beef daily, crisp vegetables, and that hand-smashed patty sear that gives every bite its edge. Add a cold soda and call it complete.
There’s a kind of charm in the routine here. Watching locals nod to each other between orders, you feel part of something steady, simple, and right.