HomeMississippiTupelo › Ballard Park

Ballard Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,597 Google reviews · Running trail in Tupelo, Mississippi · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Ballard Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Lit at nightScenicRestrooms

Sizable green space with athletic fields, a disc golf course & a skate park plus play equipment.

What runners say about Ballard Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1,597 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“That said, the park was very clean (including the bathrooms) and everything worked and was in good, working order on the playground.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“It was a great all around experience in a beautiful park with great people.”

I love it here. This is my go to relax spot where I can just enjoy the scenery, eat lunch, feed the ducks or whatever. It's refreshing if you have nothing to do but wanna get out of the house. It has plenty of restrooms to use as well as a couple of playgrounds for kids to run around.

★★★★★ — Jamarius , Dec 2023

They put on a great 4th of July show!🎆🎇 With just recently moving down here to MS I'm glad somewhere close had a firework show for the kids. I also love bringing the kids to the park and walking around the pond on any other day.

★★★★★ — Haley , Jul 2023

Very pleased with the new updates to Ballard Park! The playground is phenomenal and very inclusive. We also love to see the Christmas lights on the walk path every year. Definitely a great spot for the family.

★★★★★ — Brianna , Nov 2025

Loved the new addition to the park! And of course, we still love walking the loop and feeding all the cute little ducks!

★★★★★ — Tenn , Nov 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,597 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“It was a great all around experience in a beautiful park with great people.”

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🚻 Restrooms 3 mentions

“That said, the park was very clean (including the bathrooms) and everything worked and was in good, working order on the playground.”

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💡 Lit for night running 2 mentions

“We went for the festival of lights and had a great time it was fun for the kids and I.”

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Plan your run at Ballard Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
  • At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • Websitetupeloparksandrec.org
  • Phone+1 662-841-6440

Hours

Monday 6 am–10 pm
Tuesday 6 am–10 pm
Wednesday 6 am–10 pm
Thursday 6 am–10 pm
Friday 6 am–10 pm
Saturday 6 am–10 pm
Sunday 6 am–10 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Ballard Park

655 Rutherford Rd, Tupelo, MS 38801

Get directions

Running trails near Tupelo

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Hancock Park

4 ★★★★☆ 54 reviews

Tupelo, MS

75 miLit

1.7 miles away

Gumtree Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 107 reviews

Tupelo, MS

75 miLit

Athletic fields, green space, picnic areas & a kids' playground are the draw at this community park.

3.8 miles away

Music Bend Nature Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 46 reviews

Tupelo, MS

1 miShadedDog-friendly

Wooded 2.5-mi. walking trail passing by a creek where Elvis Presley reportedly swam as a boy.

5.0 miles away

Veterans Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,147 reviews

Tupelo, MS

ScenicDog-friendly

This lakefront park features an aquatic center, splash pad, disc golf, trails & a Vietnam memorial.

5.2 miles away

Plantersville Park

4 ★★★★☆ 21 reviews

Tupelo, MS

75 miLit

6.1 miles away

Trace State Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 364 reviews

Belden, MS

17 miLoopPavedScenic

Lakefront retreat & campsite with hiking trails, disc golf, water skiing & fishing.

7.7 miles away

All running trails in Tupelo, MS →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.