Laurel, MS

Laurel is a small city in Jones County, situated in the Pine Belt region of southeastern Mississippi, with a population of roughly 18,000. In recent years it has become widely recognized as the setting for the HGTV series "Hometown," and the city's historic downtown has experienced a notable revival in craft shops, restaurants, and restored early-twentieth-century homes. It lies about 90 miles southeast of Jackson, the state capital, and roughly 30 miles north of Hattiesburg, the nearest sizable hub.

The revitalized downtown is the heart of Laurel's identity, with a tree-lined Main Street filled with locally owned boutiques, antique stores, coffee shops, and the workshop and storefront of hosts Ben and Erin Napier. Visitors come to stroll past preserved early-1900s architecture, browse the small shops that have opened alongside the renovation boom, and dine at the restaurants that have grown with the town's visibility. The blocks around the hardware store featured on the show have become a focal point for first-time guests.

The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art is one of Mississippi's oldest art museums, founded in 1923 and housed in a Georgian-revival building near the city center. Its collection spans American and European paintings, Georgian silver, and Japanese ukiyo-e prints, and admission is free, making it a quiet cultural anchor for the area.

Just south of Laurel spreads the De Soto National Forest, the largest national forest in Mississippi, encompassing more than half a million acres of longleaf pine, hardwood bottoms, and clear-running creeks. Within a 30- to 45-minute drive, visitors can reach Black Creek Wilderness, the Tuxachanie Trail, and a network of campgrounds and swimming holes that offer a peaceful counterpoint to the small-city experience.

About 30 miles to the south, Hattiesburg serves as the nearest larger city, home to the University of Southern Mississippi and the Hattiesburg Zoo, along with a broader selection of dining and entertainment. Many guests staying in Laurel also make day trips along the Longleaf Trace, a 41-mile rail-trail that begins near Hattiesburg and winds south through pine forest.

For short-term rental owners, Laurel pairs an unusual brand recognition from a popular television series with a walkable, photogenic downtown and easy access to both Piney Woods outdoor recreation and the broader amenities of Hattiesburg. Travelers tend to arrive in couples, families, and design-minded visitors drawn by the "Hometown" appeal, and they often extend their stays to include the national forest or a longer drive down to the Gulf Coast beaches.