Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? National Park Service designates NTP as a bike route.

The 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Why bike the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Reason #1: The National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.

"visitors can experience this National Scenic Byway and All-American Road through driving and biking"
www.nps.gov/natr/

The U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain roads as All-American Roads or National Scenic Byways based on one or more archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities. The Natchez Trace Parkway is one of only 151 designated roads.

The park service has "bike route" signs posted at regular intervals along the entire length of the parkway.  These signs encourage motorists to "share the road" with cyclists.

Park service rangers patrol the parkway to provide safety for cyclists. Rangers can also assist cyclists when problems occur (accidents, bike damage, severe weather, etc.). Emergency call number signs are also posted periodically on the Trace: 1-800-300-PARK (7275).

The park service also provides five "bicycle only" campgrounds along the parkway for cyclists who want to camp. If you don't want to camp you can find a nearby, comfortable bed and breakfast through the Natchez Trace Bed and Breakfast Reservation Service.

This is just one of 10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route:

1. National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.
2. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
3. Maximum speed limit for cars is 50 mph.
4. Motorized traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
5. No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no need to worry about cross traffic.
6. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
7. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
8. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace.