ITINERARY
MI 14th Annual Dr. Joyce M. Dixon HBCU College Tour
📅 Dates: Sunday, March 30 – Friday, April 4, 2025
🚌 Departing From: Flint, Michigan
🎓 Visiting: Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, Grambling State University, Southern University, and Xavier University of Louisiana
🌍 Cultural & Educational Stops: National Civil Rights Museum, Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Whitney Plantation, Swamp Tour, and more.
🗺️ Day 1: Sunday, March 30, 2025 – Departure & Travel to Memphis, TN
🚍 Route: Flint, MI → Memphis, TN (650 miles, ~10.5–11 hours)
📍 Key Stops: Lunch break, dinner stop, and hotel check-in
Schedule
6:30 AM – Check-In & Departure (Flint, MI)
Location: To be announced
Students load buses, meet chaperones, and receive itineraries and tour shirts.
7:00 AM – Depart for Memphis, TN
Travel through Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Rest stops every 2.5–3 hours for bathroom breaks and snacks.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – Lunch Stop (Indianapolis, IN Area)
Fast-food/rest area with multiple dining options.
6:30 PM – Dinner Stop (Near Memphis, TN)
(Golden Corral or a similar buffet-style restaurant).
8:00 PM – Hotel Check-In (Memphis Area)
Students receive room keys and settle in.
9:00 PM – Evening Meeting & Curfew
Review next day’s schedule and tour expectations.
Lights out by 10:00 PM for an early morning start.
🗺️ Day 2: Monday, March 31, 2025 – Memphis, TN → Jackson, MS
🚍 Route: Memphis, TN → Jackson, MS (210 miles, ~3.5 hours)
📍 Key Stops: National Civil Rights Museum, Jackson State University
Schedule
6:30 AM – Wake-Up & Breakfast at Hotel
8:00 AM – Depart for National Civil Rights Museum
8:30 AM – 10:30 AM – National Civil Rights Museum Tour
Address: 450 Mulberry St, Memphis, TN
Experience historical exhibits at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
10:30 AM – Depart for Jackson, MS
Travel via I-55 S (~3.5-hour drive).
1:30 PM – Lunch Stop (Jackson, MS)
Quick meal near JSU campus.
2:30 PM – 5:00 PM – Jackson State University Tour
Address: 1400 John R. Lynch St, Jackson, MS
Campus tour, admissions presentation, Q&A with students.
5:30 PM – Dinner at Mama Hamill’s Soul Food or Golden Corral
7:00 PM – Hotel Check-In (Jackson Area)
9:00 PM – Evening Debrief & Curfew
🗺️ Day 3: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 – Jackson, MS → Alcorn State → Grambling, LA
🚍 Route: Jackson, MS → Alcorn State University → Grambling, LA (~250 miles, 5 hours total)
📍 Key Stops: Alcorn State University, Grambling State University, dinner and evening activity
Schedule
6:30 AM – Wake-Up & Breakfast
7:30 AM – Depart for Alcorn State University
Travel via US-61 S (~1.5-hour drive).
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Alcorn State University Tour
Address: 1000 ASU Dr, Lorman, MS
Campus tour, financial aid session, student panel.
11:30 AM – Lunch On Campus or Near Alcorn State
12:30 PM – Depart for Grambling State University
Travel via I-20 W (~3-hour drive).
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Grambling State University Tour
Address: 403 Main St, Grambling, LA
Tour of campus, athletic facilities, and Eddie G. Robinson Museum.
7:00 PM – Dinner in Ruston, LA
Options: Chili’s, Applebee’s, local eateries.
8:30 PM – Evening Activity
Bowling at Excalibur Family Fun Center (Ruston, LA) or a local movie theater.
10:30 PM – Hotel Check-In & Lights Out
🗺️ Day 4: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 – Grambling, LA → Baton Rouge → New Orleans
🚍 Route: Grambling, LA → Baton Rouge, LA → New Orleans, LA (~300 miles, 6 hours total)
📍 Key Stops: Southern University, Whitney Plantation, dinner in New Orleans
Schedule
6:30 AM – Wake-Up & Breakfast
7:30 AM – Depart for Southern University (Baton Rouge, LA)
Travel via I-49 S & I-10 E (~2.5-hour drive).
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Southern University Tour
11:30 AM – Lunch on Campus or Nearby
12:30 PM – Depart for Whitney Plantation
Travel via I-10 E (~1-hour drive).
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM – Whitney Plantation Tour
Guided tour about slavery history and Louisiana plantations.
5:00 PM – Hotel Check-In (New Orleans, LA)
7:00 PM – Steamboat Natchez Dinner Cruise
OR large-group restaurant (Mulates, Court of Two Sisters).
9:30 PM – Hotel Curfew & Lights Out
🗺️ Day 5: Thursday, April 3, 2025 – New Orleans, LA
📍 Key Stops: Xavier University, Swamp Tour, Masquerade Ball
Schedule
7:00 AM – Wake-Up & Breakfast
8:00 AM – Depart for Xavier University
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM – Xavier University Tour
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Swamp Tour
1:30 PM – Lunch in Downtown New Orleans
Options: Riverwalk Outlet Food Court or French Market.
3:00 PM – French Quarter Cultural Exploration
7:00 PM – Masquerade Ball
Venue: TBD, semi-formal attire.
10:00 - 11 PM – Hotel Curfew
🗺️ Day 6: Friday, April 4, 2025 – Return to Flint, MI
🚍 Route: New Orleans, LA → Flint, MI (~950 miles, ~16 hours)
Schedule
6:30 AM – Wake-Up & Breakfast
7:30 AM – Depart for Flint, MI
Lunch & dinner stops along the way.
10:00 PM – Arrival in Flint, MI
Family pick-up at designated location.