Family biking the Natchez Trace in late December to raise money.

From December 24 to December 31, Miranda Muir (age 10), Marybeth Hamilton, and Stuart Muir, are riding their three-person bike down the Natchez Trace 444 miles from Nashville, Tennessee, to Natchez, Mississippi.

Their goal is to raise $5000 for Bikes Not Bombs. This grassroots organization takes in more than 5,000 bikes each year and re-uses them in innovative youth programs, international development projects, and its vocational training/retail shop. Its international program has shipped more than 40,000 bikes since 1984 to Nicaragua, South Africa, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Tanzania, Ghana and other countries to establish micro-enterprises in bicycle sales and appropriate technology.

For information and photos of their trip, please follow their blog at:  noelonthenatchez.blogspot.com

America’s Best Idea: National Park Getaway

National Park Service News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 24, 2010

Contacts:
Terry Wildy, Natchez Trace Parkway, Terry_Wildy@nps.gov, 662-680-4017
Elise Cleva, NPS Headquarters, elise_m_cleva@nps.gov, 202-208-6843

Natchez Trace Parkway
America’s Best Idea: National Park Getaway

 TUPELO, Miss. – “It’s not so important where you end up; what’s important is the road that takes you there.” This tidbit of conventional wisdom rings doubly true when one’s destination is, in fact, a road. This week’s travel article in the National Park Getaway series takes you to the Natchez Trace Parkway—a National Scenic Byway and an All-American Road that is so much more than an artery for transportation.

 “The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile drive through exceptional scenery and 10,000 years of North American history,” says Superintendent Cameron Sholly. “It commemorates a historic travel route used by American Indians, settlers, and future presidents.  Visitors can not only walk in the footsteps of Meriwether Lewis, Andrew Jackson, and U.S. Grant, but also can enjoy numerous recreational opportunities along the Trace.  It offers something for everyone.”

 A bias-cut from the eastern border of Louisiana through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, the Natchez Trace Parkway runs from jazz territory to the epicenter of country music in Nashville. The Trace’s
 programming—demonstrations of the dulcimer, pioneer days, and more—helps visitors appreciate the musical and other dimensions of the region’s rich cultural heritage.

 The Trace will dazzle your eyes as well as your ears, whether with spring blossoms or fall foliage. Ride on horseback, hike, bike, or boat past redbuds and dogwoods abloom in pink, purple, and white, or past maples, hickories, and other hardwood trees ablaze with yellows, oranges, and reds.

Scenic driving is always an option, of course, as is camping—a stationary way to enjoy the Trace!

What do you need to take on a Natchez Trace Parkway biking trip?

For this topic I sought an expert's opinion. Jerry Dusterhoff, an avid cyclist who has written books and blog articles about his numerous bicycle trips, was more than willing to offer his expertise on this topic.

In April of 2010 Jerry and several of his cycling friends biked the Trace (Follow this link to view pictures of their trip.).

90% of the information is based on his recommendations. For more information about Jerry and his cycling books, please see: Acyclist Publishing

The article covers the following areas:

• Your Bicycle's Needs
• Food and Water
• Clothing and Personal Items
• Maps, Phone Numbers and Important Information

The amount of information is fairly extensive. To view the complete article please go to Biking the Trace Tips @ NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Which Direction to Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Which direction should you bike the Natchez Trace: North to South or South to North?

Some cyclists start in Natchez and bike north to Nashville while others start in Nashville and bike south to Natchez. What are some of the factors to consider when making the decision about which direction to bike?

Uphill or Downhill - the northern half of the Trace is hillier and has a higher elevation. Elevation at the northern terminus is 710 feet and the elevation at the southern terminus is 160 feet. So, there is approximately 550 feet more descent than ascent going North to South - an average of only 15 inches a mile! The more important question is: if you are biking the entire Trace, do you want to bike the hilliest section at the beginning or end of the trip.

Prevailing Wind - generally the wind flows west to east. The Trace actually goes southwest to northeast so biking South to North will put the wind at your back more often than in your face.

RV Traffic - the only large vehicles that you will encounter on the parkway are recreational vehicles. Commercial traffic is prohibited so you won't see semi-trucks. Most of the time RV traffic is light. But, in the fall there are a fair number of RVs heading south for the winter. And, in the spring the same RVs are heading back north for the summer. Ideally, you would like to bike on the opposite side of the road. So, a fall bike trip would be best going South to North and a spring bike trip would be best going North to South.

Logistics - this can be a determining factor for those biking without a support vehicle. How will you arrive at your starting point and how will you get from the end of your trip back to your vehicle or back home? This is something we can help you think through the possibilities.
 
We can help you talk through these factors and decide which direction is best for your cycling group. Call us at 800.377.2770.
 
Click here for more Biking the Natchez Trace Parkway Tips.

Fall Foliage on the Natchez Trace Parkway

It won't be long until the leaves start turning colors. Fall foliage color along the northern half of the Natchez Trace Parkway (Tupelo, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee) is generally at or near its peak from mid-October to the first week of November. South of Tupelo to Natchez, MS fall colors usually arrive mid to late November.

Shown below is a slide-show of fall pictures taken during the 2008 and 2009 fall seasons from the northern terminus of the Trace south to the Tennessee River crossing in Alabama.

For additional fall pictures from 2008 and 2009 and hopefully from 2010 go to NatchezTraceTravel.com's Fall Season Natchez Trace Pictures.

Natchez Fall Pilgrimage of Antebellum Homes

Twenty-three Natchez antebellum mansions, all private residences, open their doors to visitors during the annual two-week fall pilgrimage that runs from October 1st thru October 15th.

Hostesses welcome visitors to three homes each morning and your choice of three or four more each afternoon. Tickets to any of the three home tours are $24 and tickets to any of the four home tours are $32. Tickets can be purchased at the Natchez Visitors' Center.

Four of the homes on the fall tour are bed and breakfasts that work with the Natchez Trace Bed and Breakfast Reservation Service:

• Oak Hill Inn Bed and Breakfast
• The Burn Bed and Breakfast
• Pleasant Hill Bed and Breakfast
• Brandon Hall Plantation Bed and Breakfast

When attending the Fall Pilgrimage you will want to stay at one of these B&Bs or one of the other fine Natchez Bed and Breakfasts.

For more information about the Natchez Fall Pilgrimage of Antebellum Homes see Natchez Pilgrimage Tours.

Bed and Breakfasts with Swimming Pools along the Natchez Trace Parkway

The southeast and particularly the Natchez Trace Parkway corridor that passes through Middle Tennessee, Northwest Alabama and from Northeast Mississippi to Southwest Mississippi has been experiencing a very hot summer. Weather forecasts say the month of August will continue to see temperatures in the mid/high 90s and even breaking the 100 mark occasionally.

So, how about staying at a bed and breakfast that has a swimming pool! The Natchez Trace Bed and Breakfast Reservation Service works with four B&Bs that have outdoor, in-ground swimming pools. One in Tennessee, one in Alabama and two in Mississippi.

Creekview Farm Retreat Bed and Breakfast, located 3 miles from milepost 416 in the Fly community, has a swimming pool behind the innkeeper's farmhouse. 150 yards away from the B&B, guests are welcome to use the pool. (picture of swimming pool unavailable at press time)

Riverside Cottage Bed and Breakfast is located 12 miles east of milepost 320 between Cherokee and Tuscumbia, Alabama. A large, in-ground swimming pool and spa tub are reserved for guests' private use. Near the bluff overlooking the Tennessee River are several tall trees providing shade for the picnic area and hammock. Bring your boat - a public boat ramp is half mile away!

Rosswood Plantation Bed and Breakfast is located 2.5 miles east of milepost 30 in Lorman, Mississippi. An in-ground swimming pool sits behind the house on the exact spot where the original kitchen house was located. The kitchen house was the only structure destroyed during a skirmish between the North and South.

The Burn Bed and Breakfast is located in Natchez, Mississippi just a couple of miles from the southern terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The shaded patio overlooks a two acre garden and brick walkways which give way to camellias, azaleas, and dogwoods, and the swimming pool.

Give us a call at 800.377.2770 to stay at any of these B&Bs.

Windsor Ruins - Port Gibson / Alcorn, Mississippi

Photo by Janie Fortenberry
Photography with a Southern Accent
Vicksburg, Mississippi

People from all over the world travel to see the ruins of Windsor Plantation. Built just before the Civil War, Windsor was one of the largest plantations in the area. Windsor Ruins is located west of Port Gibson, Mississippi along ancient Rodney Road and north of Alcorn State University on Mississippi Highway 552.

Legend says that from a roof observatory, Mark Twain watched the Mississippi River in the distance. Leading up to the Battle of Port Gibson in the spring of 1863, confederate troops used the roof observatory as a lookout as Grant's army crossed the Mississippi River. After the battle the mansion was used as a Union hospital and observation post, thus sparing it from being burned by Union troops. Unfortunately, in 1890 a house guest left a lighted cigar on the upper balcony and Windsor burned to the ground. Everything was destroyed except 23 of the columns, balustrades and iron stairs.

A 32 mile "loop route" along Mississippi Highway 552/Rodney Road and the Natchez Trace Parkway will take you past Windsor Ruins, Canemount Plantation, Bethel Church and Port Gibson the town that U.S. Grant called "too pretty to burn".

For additional pictures and information about Windsor Ruins, the town of Port Gibson and biking the Windsor Ruins Loop please see NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Church Hill, Mississippi

The rural community of Church Hill, Mississippi is located at the intersection of Mississippi Highway 553 and Church Hill Road just a few miles from the Natchez Trace Parkway and about 15 miles north of Natchez. The area is named after Christ Church, circa 1790, which sits atop a terraced hill. Across the intersection is a wooden country store built around 1837. The store was closed in the late 1990s. It also functioned as the Church Hill, MS post office.

The Church Hill Loop is 22 miles long - 12 miles along Mississippi Highway 553 and 10 miles along the Natchez Trace Parkway from milepost 10.3 to milepost 20.

Antebellum plantations line both sides of Highway 553, including Springfield Plantation where Andrew Jackson and Rachel Robards were married in 1791. All of the properties are privately owned and not open to the public. Christ Church and the plantations are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Church Hill Loop is popular with bicyclists. Highway 553 and the Natchez Trace Parkway are lightly traveled. Best place to park is at Mount Locust on the Trace at milepost 15.5.

For additional pictures, information and maps please see NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Nashville's Trace

On June 3, 2010, The Tennessean wrote an article about the state of Tennessee's newest tourism trail called "Nashville's Trace". The trail follows the 102 mile section of the Natchez Trace Parkway through Tennessee.

"Nashville’s Trace, the third of 16 self-guided driving trail in the Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways program, was announced today during a ceremony at the Loveless Barn, near the northern terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway."

Click here to read the entire article.

Spring flowers and trees along the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Spring has sprung along the length of the Natchez Trace Parkway. During the month of April our staff and several of our guests who have traveled the Trace and lodged overnight at area bed and breakfasts have taken a collection of spring pictures.

We inserted several of the best into the following video:

For location information about these and additional spring pictures please go to NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Food and Gas near the Natchez Trace Parkway in Tennessee

We often hear people say that there are no gas stations, markets or restaurants near the Natchez Trace Parkway. It is true that none are located "right on" the Trace. But, there are plenty of places just off the Trace to "fuel up" your vehicle and yourself! You only need to know where to find them.

Along the 100 mile-long section of the Trace that passes through Tennessee there are markets within 2 miles or less at eight of the ten major exits. Bicyclists traveling without a vehicle can easily bike to these markets for a quick snack or for a lunch break.

Most of the markets are decades old and are well known in the local community. In fact, one is 120 years old. Most have gas pumps and all offer sandwiches and other items like pizza, ice cream, plate lunches, etc. Play the video for a quick look at the markets.

Click on these articles to learn more about the markets, including how far and which direction they are from the Trace, their address, services provided and some pictures.

• Milepost 444 - Tennessee Highway 100 (northern terminus)
• Milepost 428 - Tennessee Highway 46 (Leiper's Fork)
• Milepost 416 - Tennessee Highway 7 (Fly)
• Milepost 408 - Tennessee Highway 50 (Shady Grove / Duck River)
• Milepost 386 - Tennessee Highway 20 (between Hohenwald and Summertown)
• Milepost 370 - US Highway 64 (between Waynesboro and Lawrenceburg)
• Milepost 354 - Collinwood, Tennessee
• Milepost 351 - Tennessee Highway 13 (Collinwood)

Tennessee Highway 100 (northern terminus) - Food and Gas near the Natchez Trace Parkway

A Shell Station / Bar-B-Cutie is located 50 feet east of the northern terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway on Tennessee Highway 100. The historic Loveless Cafe restaurant is next door!

Shell Station / Bar-B-Cutie offers travelers gas, snacks, beverages and sandwiches. Their address is:
8456 Highway 100
Nashville, TN

Loveless Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. Their address is:
8400 Highway 100
Nashville, TN

To view a map of this exit that pinpoints nearby Natchez Trace attractions please see the Tennessee Highway 100 exit map. A handy printout to have when traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway is the Gas, Water and Markets list from NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Tennessee Highway 46 (Leiper's Fork) - Food and Gas near the Natchez Trace Parkway

Leipers Fork Market is located .8 miles east of the Natchez Trace Parkway on Tennessee Highway 46. Exit the Trace at milepost 428 towards the Leiper's Fork Historic District.

Leipers Fork Market offers travelers gas, snacks, beverages and sandwiches. The market's address is:
4348 Old Hillsboro Road
Leiper's Fork, TN

A little further north on Old Hillsboro Road (highway 46) takes you into the the Leiper's Fork Historic District.  Three restaurants and several antique stores, art galleries and bookshops await.

• Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant
  Breakfast, lunch and dinner, everyday. Snacks and beverages. Gasoline.
• Country Boy Restaurant
  Breakfast and lunch, everyday.
• Joe Natural's
  Bakery and cafe - organic fare

To view a map of this exit that pinpoints nearby Natchez Trace attractions please see the Tennessee Highway 46 exit map. A handy printout to have when traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway is the Gas, Water and Markets list from NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Tennessee Highway 7 - Food and Gas near the Natchez Trace Parkway

Fly's General Store is located 1.7 miles southeast of the Natchez Trace Parkway on Tennessee Highway 7. Exit the Trace at milepost 416 towards Columbia, Tennessee.

At this exit the communities of Fly, Santa Fe and Bethel are just east of the Trace, the rural area of Primm Springs, TN is just west of the Trace and the city of Columbia, Tennessee is 15 miles east of the Trace.

Fly's General Store offers travelers snacks, beverages and sandwiches. The market's address is:
5661 Leipers Creek Road
Santa Fe, TN

4.9 miles from the same exit you will also find Nett's Grocery & Deli to the east in the Bethel community. From Highway 7 turn left on Leipers Creek Road. Bethel and Nett's will be down the road a couple of miles on the left. Nett's serves breakfast Monday-Saturday, lunch everyday and dinner Tuesday-Saturday. Snacks, beverages and gas are also available.

Nett's Grocery address is:
4356 Skelley Road (just off Leipers Creek Road)
Santa Fe, TN

To view a map of this exit that pinpoints nearby Natchez Trace attractions please see the Tennessee Highway 7 exit map. A handy printout to have when traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway is the Gas, Water and Markets list from NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Tennessee Highway 50 - Food and Gas near the Natchez Trace Parkway

Malibu 1 Stop Market and Duck River Market are located 1 mile west of the Natchez Trace Parkway on Tennessee Highway 50. Exit the Trace at milepost 408 towards Centerville, Tennessee. Both markets offer gas, snacks, beverages, pizza and sandwiches.

At this exit the town of Centerville, Tennessee is 15 miles west of the Trace and the city of Columbia, Tennessee is 15 miles east of the Trace.

Malibu 1 Stop Market's address is:
4261 Highway 50 East
Duck River, TN

Duck River Market's address is:
4230 Highway 50 East
Duck River, TN 


To view a map of this exit that pinpoints nearby Natchez Trace attractions please see the Tennessee Highway 50 exit map. A handy printout to have when traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway is the Gas, Water and Markets list from NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Tennessee Highway 20 - Food and Gas near the Natchez Trace Parkway

Andrew's Circle 6 Market is located 1.3 miles east of the Natchez Trace Parkway on Tennessee Highway 20. Exit the Trace at milepost 386 towards Summertown, Tennessee.

At this exit the town of Hohenwald, Tennessee is 8 miles west of the Trace and the town of Summertown, Tennessee is 15 miles east of the Trace.

Andrew's Circle 6 Market offers travelers gas, diesel, snacks, beverages, ice cream and sandwiches. The market's address is:
2768 Summertown Hwy (TN Hwy 20)
Hohenwald, TN

Additional markets, gas stations and restaurants can be found 8 miles to the west in Hohenwald.

To view a map of this exit that pinpoints nearby Natchez Trace attractions please see the Tennessee Highway 20 exit map. A handy printout to have when traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway is the Gas, Water and Markets list from NatchezTraceTravel.com.

US Highway 64 - Food and Gas near the Natchez Trace Parkway

From the Natchez Trace Parkway offramp at milepost 370 onto US Highway 64 West you can see Greg's Natchez Trace Store to the right just .3 miles west of the Trace.

The city of Waynesboro is 12 miles west of the Trace and the city of Lawrenceburg is 17 miles east of the Trace.

Greg's Natchez Trace Store offers travelers gas, diesel, snacks, beverages and sandwiches. Bicyclists will appreciate the market's location so close to the Trace.

To view a map of this exit that pinpoints nearby Natchez Trace attractions please see the US Highway 64 exit map. A handy printout to have when traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway is the Gas, Water and Markets list from NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Collinwood - Food and Gas near the Natchez Trace Parkway

The town of Collinwood, Tennessee straddles the Natchez Trace Parkway at milepost 354. The Wayne County Welcome Center sits a couple hundred yards west of the Trace exit near the center of the downtown area. Collinwood offers several markets, restaurants and even a couple of grocery stores within a couple miles or less from the Trace.

East of the Trace you will find: GG's Market - gas, diesel, snacks, beverages, sandwiches and pizza .7 miles @ 1271 Railroad Bed Road West of the Trace you will find: the Dragonfly - coffees, smoothies, muffins/brownies and free wi-fi .1 miles @ 100 Second Avenue Hasti-Mart - gas, snacks, beverages, sandwiches .2 miles @ 100 Broadway Street Chad's Family Restaurant - breakfast, lunch and dinner .2 miles @ 100 E. Depot Street Road House Market - gas, snacks, beverages, sandwiches, plate lunch .7 miles @ 501 Highway 13 South MeMe's Kitchen - breakfast, lunch and dinner 1.7 miles @ 927 Highway 13 South

To view a map of this exit that pinpoints nearby Natchez Trace attractions please see Collinwood Welcome Center exit map. A handy printout to have when traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway is the Gas, Water and Markets list from NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Tennessee Highway 13 - Food and Gas near the Natchez Trace Parkway

From the Natchez Trace Parkway offramp at milepost 351 onto Tennessee Highway 13 you can see 4 Mile Market to the right just .1 miles east of the Trace.

The town of Collinwood, Tennessee is 4 miles north of this exit (thus the name of the market) and Florence, Alabama is 28 miles south.

4 Mile Market offers travelers gas, diesel, snacks, beverages, sandwiches and pizza. Road weary cyclists will appreciate the market's location so close to the Trace.

Other gas, snack and dining options near this exit include several markets and restaurants to the north in Collinwood. To view a map of this exit that pinpoints nearby Natchez Trace attractions please see Tennessee Highway 13 exit map.

A handy printout to have when traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway is the Gas, Water and Markets list from NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Natchez Trace Parkway Maps

The Natchez Trace Parkway map provided by the National Park Service is an excellent tool for planning your trip and is a handy companion while you travel on the parkway.

The map shows all 90+ official stops along the Natchez Trace as well as several major attractions located nearby. A short explantation of each stop is included on the back of the map.

This video shows sections of the map going from milepost 0 (Natchez, MS) to milepost 444 (Nashville, TN).

To download map PDF files or have a map mailed to you, go to: http://www.natcheztracetravel.com/natchez-trace-parkway-maps.html

Yeoman's in the Fork - Leiper's Fork, Tennessee

One of the "newer" businesses in the Leiper's Fork Historic District sells some of the "oldest" items you can find. Yeoman's in the Fork specializes in rare books from America's Colonial period and historic documents signed by our country's founding fathers.

Yeoman's in the Fork is located at 4216 Old Hillsboro Road in a historic building, originally built in 1881, that has been restored on more than one occasion. A fire in the 1930s destroyed part of the front of the building. Later, the house was turned around 180 degrees, the "now" back of the home was rebuilt and in 1949 square pillars saved from a house fire in nearby Franklin were added to the front of the structure.

Today, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Visiting the building and store is like taking a peak back into our rich past. You'll even find old Ben Franklin taking a rest on the front lawn!

The store's motto is "The Small Town Bookshop With Uptown Books"

From their website, www.yeomansinthefork.com:

Just like you, we collect rare books. We know that every title page, deckled edge, and colophon is slightly different, making each book and its journey through time incredibly unique. By collecting and sharing them, we are furthering the spread of knowledge and halting the destruction of these pieces of our past.

Also like you, we are fascinated by history. We have a particular passion for American history, so we specialize in works important to the United States, like the Declaration of Independence and early presidents. These documents can give us detailed insights into the patriots that shaped our country and the revolutionary ideas they brought to life.

Leiper's Fork and Yeoman's in the Fork are located about a mile and a half from the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway. Exit the Trace near milepost 428 onto Tennessee Highway 46 and go east. Turn left at the "T" and Yeoman's in the Fork will be up ahead on the left. Within a short walk you will also find restaurants, art galleries, antique shops and a lawnchair theater in historic Leiper's Fork.

Yeoman's in the Fork
4216 Old Hillsboro Road
Franklin, TN 37064
615.983.6463
Mike Cotter, Director of Operations
www.yeomansinthefork.com

Tennessee Crossroads video about the Natchez Trace Parkway

The popular Nashville public television program Tennessee Crossroads featured the Natchez Trace Parkway on one of their programs. They created a video of the program that you can see here.

10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route.

The 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Why should cyclists consider biking the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Listed below are what we think are the top 10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route. After you read these articles you will understand why hundreds of people bike the entire length of the Trace and why thousands bike a section or enjoy a day bike on the Trace each year.

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. 

Now that you are interested in biking the Natchez Trace Parkway go to NatchezTraceTravel.com's Biking the Natchez Trace Parkway  for information about:

• Bikes Routes and Elevation Maps
• Bike shops near the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Books about Biking the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Drinking Water and Markets
• Safety Rules and Recommendations
• Weather on the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Shuttle Services for the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Public Transportation near the Natchez Trace Parkway

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? Bed and breakfasts along and near the Trace.

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

Reason #10: There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace.

Taking an overnight trip on the Natchez Trace without advance planning can be somewhat difficult, as the Park Service does not permit any advertising, either in the form of signs or in literature at their visitor's centers. Also, through the rural areas where the Trace passes there are very few hotels located within a few miles bike ride of the Trace.

Fortunately, there are bed and breakfasts located up and down the Trace that are a short bike ride away. Some innkeepers, who are further away, will come and pick you up if you don't have a support vehicle.

The bed and breakfasts are very "cyclist friendly". The innkeepers have been known to go out on the Trace during bad weather to pick up cyclists. They will often let cyclists use their laundry facilities. And, they provide a safe place to store your bicycles overnight.

The Natchez Trace Bed and Breakfast Reservation Service can help you locate the perfect spots to make your overnight stays a memorable part of your trip. They can help you plan your itinerary and provide tips passed on from other cyclists as to shuttles, routes, lunch stops, terrain, etc.

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. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? Side trails: antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns

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

Reason #9: Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.

Cyclists can bike off the Natchez Trace onto numerous country back roads where you will see a slice of  the modern day south and remnants of what the south looked like before the Civil War when the area was known as the "Old Southwest".

As we have pointed out in a couple of our other "Ten reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route" the Trace for the most part travels through rural areas of Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. It is easy to bike off the Trace onto lightly traveled back roads.

There are several "loop routes" where you can start your ride on the Trace, bike on the Trace, exit the Trace onto a back road, bike past interesting sites and attractions, re-enter the Trace, and bike back to where you started.

For example, 15 miles north of Natchez you can start your bike route at Mount Locust on the Trace, bike south on the Trace for about 5 miles, exit onto Mississippi Highway 553, bike over to Emerald Mound, continue north on 553 past several antebellum homes, the historic town of Church Hill and Springfield Plantation (where Andrew and Rachel Jackson were married), back to the Trace and bike five miles south back to Mount Locust.

Glen Wanner's book Bicycling the Natchez Trace describes in detail several loop routes and other cycling routes located close to the Trace.

Many of the major "off the Trace" attractions, like Windsor Ruins (pictured above), Shiloh National Military Park, Elvis Presley's Birthplace and Vicksburg National Military Park are mentioned on NatchezTraceTravel.com with a description, pictures, directions from the Trace and a locator map.

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. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every 20 miles.

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

Reason #8: Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.

The national park service maintains restroom facilities at 16 of their 95 attractions along the Trace. When you are biking on the Trace there will usually be a park service restroom within twenty miles or less. There are a few stretches where they are spaced further apart.  

Most of the stops on the Trace that have restroom facilities also have a picnic area located in a nearby, shaded area. For cyclists packing a lunch or snack these are great places to stop.

Just off the Trace cyclists can find markets where they can purchase beverages, snack foods and in some cases sandwiches and other cooked foods. Go to NatchezTraceTravel.com to view a list of Gas, Water and Markets near the Natchez Trace Parkway.

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. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? Historical and nature attractions along the way.

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

Reason #7: All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.

As cyclists bike the Natchez Trace there are an abundance of things to see and do. Take a short rest break at a waterfall, skip rocks on a wooded creek, see a section of  the "Old Trace", view an Indian burial mound, read about an historical event, take a short walk along a self-guided trail, take in the view of a scenic overlook, see rivers that frontier travelers either forded across or paid to ferry across, visit a once thriving town that no longer exists, visit a 200 year-old inn, see some pivotal Civil War battlefields...

The parkway offers 95 "sights to see" along the length of the Trace. 26 are along the 102 mile-long Tennessee section of the Trace, 7 are along the 31 mile-long Alabama section of the Trace and 62 are along the 310 mile-long Mississippi section of the Trace.

Many of the stops are also picnic areas and have water/restroom facilities.

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. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? Scenery is awesome.

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

Reason #6: Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.

The parkway is a long and narrow national park all the way from Natchez to Nashville. The width of the parkway land varies but is usually around 3-400 yards. For the most part (95+%) the parkway goes through rural areas passing through forests, farmland and state parks.

The park service prohibits advertising on the Trace. Even the on/off ramps are void of advertising.

No utility poles lining the road, no billboards or adverting signs - just beautiful scenery to enjoy as you bike along.

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. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? No stop signs or stop lights.

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

Reason #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.

You could bike the entire length of the Trace without ever stopping! What is most important about the absence of stop signs and stop lights is there is no cross traffic. Cyclists don't have to watch for cars driving across the Trace at high speeds. The picture above shows a typical off ramp.

Access to the Trace from highways and major roads is provided by an on ramp that intersects with the Trace at a 90 degree angle. Cars entering the Trace must stop before turning onto the Trace (i.e. no merging ramps where the car enters the Trace at a high rate of speed).

There are some very lightly traveled back roads that don't have on/off ramps onto the Trace. The back road has a stop sign at the Trace intersection.

If you are looking for a highway or road that accesses the Natchez Trace Parkway go to NatchezTraceTravel.com at the following links:

• Tennessee Natchez Trace Parkway Access / Exit Highways 
• Alabama Natchez Trace Parkway Access / Exit Highways 
• Mississippi Natchez Trace Parkway Access / Exit Highways 

There you will find, for each highway, the parkway's milepost number, nearby towns and cities and a map of the highway/Trace intersection and nearby attractions, towns and bed and breakfasts.

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.