- Natchez Trace Parkway A 444-mile-long National Park featuring Beautiful Scenery and Historical Sites from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN.
- Adventure Awaits Drive, Pedal, Ride, Sightsee, Hike, Relax - Daytrip, Weekend or a Week
- Explore and Plan NatchezTraceTravel.com - Your Adventure Starts Here!
Parkway Road Construction
Explore NatchezTraceTravel.com
What is the Natchez Trace?
August 16, 2023:
A section of the Natchez Trace Parkway south of Tupelo, MS closed for road rehabilitation and paving between milepost 239.2 (intersection with MS Hwy 32) and milepost 256.9 (intersection with MS 6/US 278).
Update on December 14, 2023:
The closed section of Natchez Trace Parkway, from milepost 239.2 to milepost 256.9, has reopened to traffic.
Travelers should expect single-lane closures into Summer 2024. Work continues to add an additional layer of asphalt, add permanent striping, and grade the shoulder. Please Drive safe, the park way and remember to watch out for people working on the road. Visit www.nps.gov/natr for the most current information on detours and closures on the Parkway.
NatchezTraceTravel.com is a travel guide for both the Natchez Trace Parkway and the towns and areas located near the Parkway.
- Parkway Info:
- Nearby Lodging:
- Types of Trace Sites:
Scroll down the page to preview each section.
The northern part of the original Natchez Trace and the Natchez Trace Parkway (101 miles) travel through Middle Tennessee from Nashville to the Alabama state line.
The middle part of the original Natchez Trace and the Natchez Trace Parkway travel (33 miles) through northwest Alabama.
The southern part of the original Natchez Trace and the Natchez Trace Parkway (308 miles) travel through the state of Mississippi from the Alabama state line to Natchez.
Taking an overnight trip on the Trace without advance planning can be difficult, as lodging is limited in many areas and the park service does not permit advertising on the parkway. Plan ahead (or last minute) using NatchezTraceTravel.com:
Read our Top 10 Reasons to Bicycle the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Plus, information, elevation maps, videos, cyclist comments and reviews, trip photo galleries, food/market info, bike shop directory, advice and tips and a free biking the Trace itinerary planner.
When the weather is nice for riding we often see more motorcycles on the Trace than cars!
Check on upcoming Festivals & Events taking place along or near the Trace.
Every "place" on the website (parkway sites, off-Trace attractions, exit/access roads, towns, bike shops, restaurants, markets, gas stations and lodging) are part of our interactive mapping system.
Travel Guide
NatchezTraceTravel.com is also a travel guide for all things near Near the Trace. Info and a location map for 175+ Restaurants, Markets and Gas Stations. More than 30 Places to Stay. Also, Things to See and Do and Towns, Historic Villages and Cities.
The Natchez Trace Parkway has been designated as one of America's National Scenic Byways by the Federal Highway Administration. The most scenic of these byways are also designated as All-American Roads. The Natchez Trace Parkway is one of only 31 All-American Roads.
Started in the late 1930s, the modern Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444 mile-long, scenic road that generally follows the path of the Old Natchez Trace from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. The parkway is a federal park maintained by the National Park Service.
The Old Natchez Trace dates back to the early 1700s when sections were Indian footpaths and animal trails. In the late 1700s through the early 1820s traders from the Middle Tennessee and Kentucky areas ("Kaintuck Boatmen") floated their goods down the Cumberland, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to Natchez and then walked or rode horses up the Trace to return home.
Today, traveling on the Trace can easily be done with a car, truck, RV or motorcycle. Those looking for a more strenuous mode of transportation can pedal a bicycle. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
The maximum speed limit is 50 mph. If driving, please don't speed and always be aware that a bicyclist could be around the next bend of the Trace. State laws require motorists to give at least a 3-foot cushion while passing bicyclists.
