Biking the Natchez Trace Parkway
North to South from French Camp, MS to Raymond, MS

Overview Map:

• Lodging option(s) and Bicycle Route(s):
  to the Parkway for the night BEFORE biking this section
• Parkway route in Red:
  bike south 103.5 or 106.1 miles on the Parkway from French Camp, MS (milepost 180.8) to Raymond, MS (milepost 79 or 76)
  5 of the miles are on the Multi-Use Path in the Ridgeland, MS area. Vehicle traffic is much higher in the Jackson Metro area (milepost 105 - 88) than in the rural areas. In the Ridgeland area (milepost 105 to 100 where vehicle traffic is the highest) we highly recommend biking on the Multi-Use Path that parallels the parkway in order to avoid heavy car traffic in the area. For a map and info, go to: Multi-Use Path
• Bicycle Route(s) and Lodging option(s):
  from the Parkway for the night AFTER biking this section
• Below the Overview Map:
  click on Points of Interest categories (food, restrooms, etc.) to add them to the map
• Click on any of the Points of Interest for more info.
• Click on any of the Routes:
  Parkway in Red, lodging routes in other colors - to view a preview and detailed route

Below the Overview Map:

• Information and Links:
  
  • Before Biking on the Parkway:
    in the morning at French Camp, MS
  • Biking on the Parkway:
    during the day from milepost 180.8 to milepost 76/79
  • After Biking on the Parkway:
    in the afternoon/evening in/near Raymond, MS
• Links to complete Natchez Trace Parkway 442 Mile, North to South Itinerary Routes that this one day route is part of

Before Biking on the Parkway
(in the morning near milepost 180.8 - French Camp, MS)

Lodging (night before) options with Bicycle Route to Parkway, Camping, Food:

Lodging:

French Camp B&B
Bed & Breakfast - 4 Guest Rooms,3 Cabins/13 Beds/Sleeps 20 - The French Camp community is steeped in early Trace history.
Route: Bike 1,700 feet to Parkway entrance (MS Hwy 413 at milepost 180.8) - RidewithGPS Route

Campgrounds along/near the Parkway:

• Jeff Busby Park - The park service has an RV and tent campground at the Jeff Busby site at milepost 193.1. Free RV and tent camping.

Food:

• Council House Restaurant - Part of the French Camp Historic Village (located behind the Huffman Cabin Gift Shop). The restaurant is open on Monday from 11am to 2pm, Tuesday thru Thursday from 11am to 7pm and Friday and Saturday from 11am to 8pm.
• Lost Gringos Coffeehouse - A full service specialty coffee shop that also provides ice cream treats, Italian sodas and teas. The unbelievable atmosphere is the perfect break from your trek on the Natchez Trace.
• Also a market located 0.1 mile west of the Parkway.

Cycle of Life Adventures
8 Natchez Trace Bicycle Tours

Biking on the Parkway
(during the day from milepost 180.8 to milepost 76/79)

Along/Near the Parkway - Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites and Exits with Services Nearby:

RidewithGPS route of the Parkway from milepost 180.8 to milepost 76 that includes the following points of interest and guidance:
ridewithgps.com/routes/42569112
You can download the route to your phone!

• Milepost 180.8 - French Camp Historic Village
  Top 30, Restroom, Old Trace, History Exhibit, Restaurant
• Milepost 180.8 - MS Hwy 413
  Start of the Day on the Parkway - entrance MS Hwy 413
• Milepost 160.0 - Kosciusko Information Center
  Restroom, Picnic Area, History/Nature Exhibit, Visitor/Info Center, Bicycle Repair Station
• Milepost 159 - MS Hwy 35 exit
  Several Markets and Restaurants within 0.5 mile north of Parkway
• Milepost 154.3 - Holly Hill
  Restroom, Picnic Area
• Milepost 146 - MS Hwy 429 exit
  Restaurant 0.5 miles west of Parkway
• Milepost 135.5 - MS Hwy 16 exit
  Markets 1.4 miles west of Parkway
• Milepost 123.8 - Ratliff Ferry Road exit
  Market/Restaurant 0.5 mile east of Parkway
• Milepost 122.6 - River Bend
  Top 30, Restroom, Picnic Area
• Milepost 122.0 - Cypress Swamp
  Top 30, Hiking Trail, Nature Area
• Milepost 105.6 - Reservoir Overlook
  Top 30, Scenic Overlook, Multi-Use Path Entrance
• Milepost 105.6 - Multi-Use Path
  To avoid heavy vehicle traffic on the Parkway we highly recommend biking on the Multi-Use Path that parallels the Parkway for 5 miles.
• Milepost 103 - Old Canton Road exit
  Markets and Restaurant 0.4 mile south of Parkway
• Milepost 102.4 - Parkway Information Cabin at Ridgeland
  Restroom, Picnic Area, access to Multi-Use Path, Bicycle Repair Station
• Milepost 102 - US Hwy 51 exit
  Restaurants 0.5 mile north of Parkway
• Milepost 100.7 - Choctaw Agency
  Exit the Multi-Use Path - turn left into the Choctaw Agency parking area and back to the Parkway - turn right onto the Parkway to continue biking south. Note: the Multi-Use Path continues further south of Choctaw Agency - do not continue on the path as there is no easy access to the Parkway south of Choctaw Agency.
• Milepost 89 - Pinehaven Drive exit
  Market and Restaurant 0.5 mile south of Parkway, Clinton Visitor Center 0.2 mile north of Parkway
• Milepost 89 - Clinton Visitor Center
  Restroom, Visitor/Info Center
• Milepost 82.5 - Sam Herring Road / Airport Road exit
  Springridge RV Park 6.7 miles northeast of Parkway
• Milepost 79 - Raymond, MS
  End of the Day on the Parkway:
  
  • exit at MS Hwy 467 exit - Raymond, MS 2.7 miles east of Parkway
  • or, bike further on the Parkway to milepost 76.3 if staying at Mamie's Cottage B&B at the Dupree House

After Biking on the Parkway
(in the afternoon/evening near milepost 76/79 - Raymond, MS)

Milepost 79 - Raymond, MS 3 miles east of the Parkway - Lodging with Bicycle Route from Parkway, Camping, Food and Featured Points of Interest Options:

Lodging:

The Porter House at Raymond
Vacation Rental - 2 Guest Rooms/3 Beds/Sleeps 6 - Awarded the Mississippi Heritage Trust Award of Excellence, the Porter House is located in Raymond's historic district.
Route: Bike or Drive 3.3 miles east of Parkway exit (MS Hwy 467 at milepost 79) - RidewithGPS Route
Food: No hot breakfast provided. There is a coffee bar with coffee, breakfast bars, and waters. There is a guest book with local restaurants and a grocery store within walking distance.
More Info:
Overview Description
Accommodations and Rates
Cyclist Amenities

Mamie's Cottage B&B at the Dupree House
Bed & Breakfast - 2 Guest Suites/4 Beds/Sleeps 7 - This 1840s cottage won an Award of Merit from the Mississippi Heritage Trust.
Route: Located adjacent to the Parkway (cyclists can walk their bikes off the Parkway (at milepost 76.3) 150 yards to the B&B). - RidewithGPS Route
Food: Full southern breakfast is served in the Dupree House. If cycling without a support vehicle, host will send information about nearby restaurants and will pick-up dinner for you. They also are happy to provide transportation to downtown Raymond restaurants or Gibbes Store.
More Info:
Overview Description
Accommodations and Rates
Cyclist Amenities

Campgrounds further from the Parkway (you can bike to):

• Springridge RV Park - Mainly for RVs, but some cycling tent campers have camped there. Call ahead 601.924.0947 to make sure they can accommodate you.
  
  • If you have a support vehicle, you can drive to Springridge RV Park. Exit right off the Parkway onto I-20 at milepost 87.
  • If you don't have a support vehicle, you can bike to the Sam Herring / Airport Road exit at milepost 82.5. And then bike 6.7 miles to Springridge RV Park. Here is a Google Map link of the route in “bicycle mode”.

Food:

• Raymond Markets and Restaurants
• Gibbes Old Country Store - Located in the unincorporated village of Learned (8 miles south of Raymond), Gibbes Old Country Store serves dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. If you don't have a vehicle, see if your hosts can help you travel to Learned.

Featured Points of Interest:

• Raymond, Mississippi - Construction of a courthouse was begun at the center of the town square in 1857 and completed in 1859. The Battle of Raymond was fought by Confederate and Union soldiers near Raymond on May 12, 1863 as part of General Ulysses S. Grant's Vicksburg Campaign. Construction of a water tower was begun in 1903 in the center of the town square and it remains a key identifying structure of Raymond.
• Raymond Military Park - On May 12, 1863, 10,000 soldiers from Ulysses S. Grant's Union army encountered 3,000 Confederate soldiers near Raymond, MS. After the Battle of Raymond was over 1,000 wounded soldiers from both armies were taken to a local church and the courthouse and cared for. Part of the battlefield has been preserved by the Friends of Raymond, a non-profit historic preservation organization, as the Raymond Military Park.