If you’ve ever watched an episode of HGTV’s “Home Town,” you may have noticed trains in various scenes around the city. Most are freight trains, but Amtrak trains have also appeared in the footage. Indeed, Laurel, Mississippi, the location of the show, has an active Amtrak station if you want to visit the quaint town.
Trains on Amtrak’s Crescent route stop in Laurel three times each week (service is currently reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic). You can board the Crescent in major cities including New Orleans, Birmingham, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City. Depending on your starting location, you may need to take a train to New Orleans and transfer to the Crescent there. (For reference, the train travel time from New Orleans to Laurel is about three hours).
Once in Laurel, the walkable downtown area is across the street from the Amtrak station, so it is easy to walk to shops and restaurants seen in the HGTV show. For lodging, a Quality Inn & Suites is about a 20-minute walk away from the station and Super 8 is 30 minutes away on foot. Don’t forget to check out Airbnb listings as well. (Note that we may receive commission if you book a hotel through Amtrak Guide).
We recommend following all public health guidelines and planning a trip when it is deemed safe to travel. Note that June, July, August and September are typically the hottest months in Laurel (source), so choose other times to visit if you want to avoid temperatures over 85 degrees.
Visit Amtrak.com and start the booking process to view prices and schedules.
Amtrak Guide 