Ten small towns on the Mississippi line, halfway between Memphis and the Tennessee River — where America's most famous sheriff kept the law, the Rockabilly Highway runs through downtown, and lunch is a slugburger.
Established in 1823 and named for Judge John McNairy, McNairy County sits in southwest Tennessee along the Mississippi state line, about 90 minutes east of Memphis. The county seat is Selmer, where US Highway 45 — the Rockabilly Highway — runs straight through a historic downtown of murals and music heritage.
This is small-town Tennessee at its most genuine: courthouse squares, farmers markets, state park wilderness, a legendary sheriff's story Hollywood borrowed, and festivals nearly every month of the year.
Sheriff Buford Pusser's true story happened on these roads, and his Adamsville home is now the most personal lawman's museum in America.
The Buford Pusser story →One of the Civil War's defining battlefields is minutes from the county line — and McNairy County is where smart visitors eat, stay, and keep exploring.
Visiting Shiloh →A Depression-era burger that became a point of local pride. Crisp, humble, and genuinely ours.
What's a slugburger? →Boardwalk over the wetlands, a fire tower above the treetops, and miles of trails in the county's wild southwest corner.
Places to go →US-45 carries the county's music story — murals in downtown Selmer, the Trail of Music Legends, and the Rockabilly Highway Revival every June.
The music story →From the Revival to the Stampede Rodeo, the Broomcorn Festival, the fall Quilt & Craft Trail and downtown's Harvest Festival.
Events calendar →Start with the Travel Guide for ready-made itineraries — a classic day trip, a trail-and-lake weekend, and the Walking Tall Trail. Browse where to eat, where to stay, and what's on while you're here. Getting here is easy: US-45 runs north–south through the county, and US-64 crosses east–west, with Memphis, Jackson, and the Tennessee River country all within an easy drive.
Keep exploring: Buford Pusser · Shiloh National Military Park · The Slugburger · County History · Travel Guide