Every May, communities across the country take a moment to recognize something worth celebrating — the visitors who choose to spend their time and money exploring somewhere new. In Starkville, National Travel & Tourism Week (May 3–9) is a chance to reflect on just how much that choice means for the city and everyone who calls it home.
This year’s national theme, Travel Powers the Economy, resonates deeply in Starkville. The numbers back it up.
Starkville’s Tourism Economy by the Numbers
Tourism Revenue
According to the most recent available data, visitors spent $197.9 million in Oktibbeha County, flowing into local lodging, dining, retail, transportation, and entertainment businesses. That spending also generates tax revenue that supports city services and community investments residents count on every day.
Lodging Sector
The lodging sector has seen particularly strong momentum. Year-to-date hotel revenue reached $11.2 million — a 22% increase over the prior year. Hotel occupancy climbed 16.6% year-over-year and revenue per available room rose 22.8%, reflecting steady demand and a healthy hospitality market.
Online Visibility
Online interest in Starkville as a destination is growing just as quickly. From March 2025 through March 2026, Visit Starkville’s digital platforms recorded 670,700 users (up 45.5%), 764,800 sessions (up 42.5%) and 1.1 million page views (up 27.7%).
Visitors Are Choosing — and Returning to — Starkville
What the numbers reveal isn’t just growth; it’s loyalty. Visitor data from the last six months shows that 71.7% of guests stay overnight, with an average stay of 1.3 days, and 52.6% are returning visitors. Starkville isn’t just attracting first-timers — it’s earning repeat trips.
That draw is powered by a diverse mix of experiences: Mississippi State University athletics, conferences, graduations, and campus events; a thriving downtown dining and retail scene; cultural programming; and year-round leisure travel from visitors who keep finding new reasons to come back.
Recognition That Reflects the Whole Community
Starkville’s momentum hasn’t gone unnoticed. Recent recognition includes being named Best Small Town by USA TODAY 10Best for the third consecutive year, winning Mississippi Magazine’s Best Farmers Market 2026, and the Mississippi Tourism Association’s Promotion of the Year 2025, receiving a Public Relations Association of Mississippi Award of Excellence, and seeing local partners named semifinalists in Garden & Gun’s Made in the South Awards.
Paige Hunt, director of tourism for Visit Starkville.
“Tourism success belongs to the entire community. From hotel and restaurant teams to event organizers, retailers, campus partners, and residents, it takes all of us working together to create the Starkville experience visitors remember.“
What’s Next for Starkville
The city’s next chapter of growth is already taking shape. The boutique Hotel Madeline is on the horizon, the emerging Crossroads District continues to generate energy, and downtown enhancements and expanded hospitality offerings are underway. Mississippi State University‘s growing focus on tourism, hospitality, and workforce development is also positioning Starkville as a destination, preparing the next generation of industry leaders.
For visitors and locals alike, the story of Starkville’s tourism economy is one of real impact — jobs supported, businesses sustained and a community shaped by the people who believe it’s worth the trip.
Ready to explore? Find upcoming events and plan your visit at starkville.org.
