Why Motorcycle the Natchez Trace? The parkway is clean and smooth.

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

Reason #4: The parkway is clean and smooth. One motorcyclist said it was "like riding on a cloud".

The asphalt pavement on the Natchez Trace Parkway creates a very smooth ride.

The prohibition of commercial traffic on the Trace eliminates almost all heavy vehicle use. Heavy trucks tear up roads. Commercial hauling is also prohibited which means dump trucks and other vehicles that might throw trash/rocks/debris on the Trace are not allowed.

The park service does an excellent job of keeping the Trace clean of any trash, debris or tree limbs that fall on the Trace. No wonder the Trace is "like riding on a cloud"!

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

1. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
2. Traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
3. 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.
4. The parkway is clean and smooth. One motorcyclist said it was "like riding on a cloud".
5. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
6. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
7. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
8. Contrary to popular belief, there are gas stations, markets and restaurants near the Trace.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "motorcycle friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Why Motorcycle the Natchez Trace? No stop signs or stop lights.

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

Reason #3: 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 ride 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. Motorcyclists don't have to watch for cars driving across the Trace at high speeds. The picture here 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 motorcycle route:

1. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
2. Traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
3. 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.
4. The parkway is clean and smooth. One motorcyclist said it was "like riding on a cloud".
5. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
6. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
7. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
8. Contrary to popular belief, there are gas stations, markets and restaurants near the Trace.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "motorcycle friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Why Motorcycle the Natchez Trace? Traffic is generally very light.

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

Reason #2: Traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.

 Most of the parkway passes through sparsely and lightly populated areas. Because of this, combined with the 50 mph speed limit and the prohibition of commercial traffic, most of the traffic is done by people enjoying the Trace. The Natchez Trace Parkway is meant for recreational traffic. When the weather is nice there are often more motorcycles on the Trace than cars.

However, people do use the parkway to "commute" to work. Commute traffic is minimal through rural areas and very light near small towns located along the Trace. But, commute traffic is very heavy in the Tupelo and Jackson areas.

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

1. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
2. Traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
3. 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.
4. The parkway is clean and smooth. One motorcyclist said it was "like riding on a cloud".
5. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
6. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
7. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
8. Contrary to popular belief, there are gas stations, markets and restaurants near the Trace.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "motorcycle friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Why Motorcycle the Natchez Trace Parkway? Commercial traffic is prohibited.

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

Reason #1: Commercial traffic is prohibited.

The National Park Service prohibits commercial traffic on the Natchez Trace Parkway. This means motorcyclists don't have to worry about semi-trucks, dump trucks, delivery trucks, buses, etc.

For the most part the vast majority of motorized vehicles on the Trace are cars, pickup trucks and, of course,  motorcycles.

At each highway access point to the Trace there are "No Commercial Vehicle" signs posted on the on-ramps and on the Trace itself going both north and south. Any commercial vehicle that disregards these signs takes a huge risk of a heavy federal fine if a park ranger spots them.

The absence of large trucks makes the Natchez Trace Parkway an enjoyable motorcycle route. The only "large" vehicles you will encounter on the Trace are RVs and park service mowing and maintenance equipment. RVs are allowed on the Trace because they are "recreational" vehicles.

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

1. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
2. Traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
3. 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.
4. The parkway is clean and smooth. One motorcyclist said it was "like riding on a cloud".
5. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
6. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
7. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
8. Contrary to popular belief, there are gas stations, markets and restaurants near the Trace.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "motorcycle friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace.