Biking the Natchez Trace Parkway
North to South from the Tupelo, MS area to Houston, MS - 17 Mile Closure/Detour

Overview Map:

• Lodging option(s) and bicycle route(s):
  to the Parkway for the night BEFORE biking this section
• Parkway Route and Alternate Bicycle Detour Route in Red:
  
  • bike south on the Parkway from the Tupelo, MS area (milepost 276, 262) to milepost 256.7 (beginning of Parkway road closure)
  • bike the Alternate Bicycle Detour Route around the road closure and back to the Parkway at milepost 239.2 (end of Parkway road closure)
  • bike south on the Parkway to milepost 230
  • For more info about the detour, click here.
• Lodging option(s) and bicycle route(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 in the Tupelo, MS area
  • Biking on the Parkway:
    during the day from milepost 276, 262 or 256 to milepost 230
    including 23.7 miles on a detour around a 17.5-mile road closure
  • After Biking on the Parkway:
    in the afternoon/evening in Houston, 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 276, milepost 266 and milepost 262)

Milepost 276 - Baldwyn, MS north of Tupelo - Lodging with Bicycle Route to Parkway:

Lodging:

Grace On Trace Homestead (north of Tupelo)
Vacation Rental - 2 Guest Rooms/7 Beds/Sleeps 10 - Country setting on 5 acres about 13 miles north of Tupelo.
Route: Bike or Drive 2.1 miles to Parkway (County Road 1303 at milepost 276) - RidewithGPS Route

Milepost 266 - Tupelo and Belden, MS - Lodging with Bicycle Route from Parkway, Camping, Bicycle Shop and Food:

Lodging:

Moon Lake Farm (west of Tupelo)
Vacation Rental - 2 Guest Rooms/2 Beds/Sleeps 4 - A 77 acre farm located 10 miles west of downtown Tupelo.
Route:
Biking Unsupported: Bike 12.7 miles to Parkway entrance (recommended bicycle route from Moon Lake Retreat to Parkway - Palmetto Road at milepost 256) - RidewithGPS Route
Biking Supported: Drive 6.5 miles to the Parkway at the McCullough Blvd entrance (milepost 262.5).

Campgrounds along/near the Parkway:

• Tupelo Bicycle-only Campground - The park service has a bicycle only, "primitive" campground near the Parkway Visitor Center (milepost 266). Free tent camping only for cyclists biking the parkway.

Campgrounds further from the Parkway (not easy/safe to bike to):

• There are other (private and state park) campgrounds in the Tupelo area that you can drive to from the Parkway. For info, go to www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/campgrounds-on-or-adjacent-to-the-parkway.htm

Bicycle Shop:

• Trails & Treads -
  Bicycle Shop 3 miles south of Parkway exit (milepost 266.1) onto MS Hwy 145 at 3870 Market Center Drive, Suite 200, Tupelo

Food:

• Numerous Tupelo Markets and Restaurants

Milepost 262 - Tupelo, MS - Lodging and Food:

Lodging:

Tupelo Hotels - There are several hotels located 1.5 to 3 miles of the Parkway (several on North Gloster Street about 2 miles from the McCullough Blvd exit at milepost 262). See: tupelo.net

Food:

• Numerous Tupelo Markets and Restaurants

Downtown Karla Brown
Tours, Trips & Shuttles for Cyclists

Biking on the Parkway
(during the day from milepost 276 to milepost 230)

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

RidewithGPS route of the Parkway from milepost 276 to milepost 230 that includes the following points of interest and guidance:
ridewithgps.com/routes/44034678
You can download the route to your phone!

• Milepost 276 - Lee County Road 1303
  Start of the Day on the Parkway (if previous night staying at Grace On Trace Homestead) - entrance Lee County Road 1303
• Milepost 271 - MS Hwy 363 exit
  Market 0.8 miles west of Parkway
• Milepost 269.4 - Confederate Gravesites and Old Trace
  Top 30, Civil War History, Old Trace
• Milepost 266.1 - MS Hwy 145 exit
  Market and Restaurant 1.5 miles south of Parkway, Bicycle Shop 3 miles south of Parkway
• Milepost 266-258 - Note: vehicle traffic is much higher in the Tupelo area (milepost 266 - 258) than in the rural areas. It is best to avoid Tupelo during morning and afternoon rush hour traffic. Traffic will still be high in Tupelo in the middle of the day. If you have a support vehicle, you might consider driving (rather than biking) thru this area.
• Milepost 266.0 - Parkway Visitor Center
  Top 30, Restroom, History/Nature Exhibit, Visitor/Info Center, Hiking Trail, Picnic Area, Bicycle Repair Station
• Milepost 261.8 - Chickasaw Village Site
  Top 30, Hiking Trail, Indian History
• Milepost 262.5 - MS Hwy 178 (McCullough Blvd) exit
  Market 0.3 mile west of Parkway, Restaurants 2+ miles east of the Parkway on North Gloster Road.
• Milepost 262.5 - MS Hwy 178 (McCullough Blvd)
  Start of the Day on the Parkway (if biking without a support vehicle and if previous night staying at a hotel on nearby North Gloster Road) - entrance MS Hwy 178 (McCullough Blvd)
• Milepost 260 - Main Street exit
  Market 0.4 mile east of Parkway
• Milepost 256.7 - Beginning of Parkway Road Closure/Detour
  Exit Parkway at the MS 6/US 278 intersection
  Do not bike on MS 6/US 278. Go to County Road 261 which starts here and goes directly south.

If you have a support vehicle you can drive around the closure on the park service's Marked Detour Route.

If biking unsupported, bike on the 23.7 mile-long Alternate Bicycle Detour Route and back to the Parkway at milepost 239.2 (intersection with MS Hwy 32). The Marked Detour Route is NOT safe to bike.

• Milepost 239.2 - End of Parkway Road Closure/Detour
  Return to Parkway at intersection with MS Hwy 32.
• Milepost 233.2 - Witch Dance
  Restroom, Picnic Area, Hiking Trail
• Milepost 232.4 - Bynum Mounds
  Top 30, Indian History
• Milepost 230 - MS Hwy 8
  End of the Day on the Parkway - exit at MS Hwy 8 exit - Houston, MS 4.5 miles west of Parkway
  Follow one of the recommended (that avoids most of busy Hwy 8) "Lodging" routes to your Houston overnight stay!

Cycle of Life Adventures
8 Natchez Trace Bicycle Tours

After Biking on the Parkway
(in the afternoon/evening near milepost 230)

Milepost 230 - Houston, MS 4 miles west of Parkway - Lodging with Bicycle Route from Parkway, Camping, Food and Featured Points of Interest Options:

Lodging:

Bridges-Hall Manor B&B
Bed & Breakfast - 5 Guest Rooms/6 Beds/Sleeps 11 - Built in 1884, this Victorian-era home located in town is 4 miles from the Parkway and 4 blocks from the Tanglefoot Trail®.
Route:
Biking Unsupported: Bike 4.4 miles west from Parkway exit (MS Hwy 8 at milepost 230) - RidewithGPS Route
Biking Supported: Exit Parkway at milepost 230 onto MS Hwy 8 and then drive west 4.5 miles.
Food: A full southern breakfast served. For dinner, there are several restaurants within walking distance.
More Info:
Overview Description
Accommodations and Rates
Cyclist Amenities

Daisy's on the Square Boutique Hotel
Bed & Breakfast/Small Hotel - 8 Guest Rooms/11 Beds/Sleeps 22 - 7 guest rooms (4 with in-room bike storage) and 1 family suite. On the Court Square and 3 blocks from the Tanglefoot Trail®.
Route:
Biking Unsupported: Bike 4.2 miles west from Parkway exit (MS Hwy 8 at milepost 230) - RidewithGPS Route
Biking Supported: Exit Parkway at milepost 230 onto MS Hwy 8 and then drive west 4.4 miles.
Food: Coffee is provided. On Tuesday thru Saturday mornings, guests receive a 15% discount for breakfast at the adjoining Gather Coffee & Brew diner. Nearby restaurants are open for dinner.
More Info:
Overview Description
Accommodations and Rates
Cyclist Amenities

Trailhead Bike and Bed
Vacation Rental - 4 Guest Rooms/8 Beds/Sleeps 16 - Gated, lodge style hotel with 4 bicycle themed guest rooms next to the southern terminus of the Tanglefoot Trail®.
Route:
Biking Unsupported: Bike 4.4 miles west from Parkway exit (MS Hwy 8 at milepost 230) - RidewithGPS Route
Biking Supported: Exit Parkway at milepost 230 onto MS Hwy 8 and then drive west 4.5 miles.
Food: Breakfast is not included. For an added charge, the kitchen and bar can be stocked upon arrival. Guests have use of a fully equipped outdoor kitchen. There are restaurants and markets within a few blocks.
More Info:
Overview Description
Accommodations and Rates
Cyclist Amenities

For all three of the places to stay in Houston:
Please follow the recommended bicycle route described on their Cyclist Amenities page and their RidewithGPS route in order to avoid heavy vehicle traffic on Hwy 8.

Campgrounds along/near the Parkway:

• Witch Dance Bicycle-Only Campground - The park service has a bicycle only, "primitive" campground at the Witch Dance site (milepost 233.2). Free tent camping only for cyclists biking the parkway.

Campgrounds further from the Parkway (not easy/safe to bike to):

• Stinkin Jim's Horse Park and Campground
  Located a few miles off the Parkway near Houston.

Food:

• Gather Coffee + Brew
  Open Tuesday thru Saturday for breakfast and lunch. Also, open Friday evening for dinner.
• Several Houston Restaurants

Featured Points of Interest:

• Downtown Houston is home to the southern terminus of the Tanglefoot Trail® (43-mile-long paved Rails to Trails route).
  Bicyclists, walkers and joggers can enjoy the trail while visiting Houston.
• Milepost 232.4 - Bynum Mounds
  Top 30, Indian History
• Houston, Mississippi - Houston is located 30 miles southwest of Tupelo and four miles west of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The land on which Houston resides was donated to the city by Judge Joel Pinson on the condition that it would be named for Sam Houston, a childhood friend. Houston hosts the annual spring and fall Mississippi Flywheel Festival in April and September.

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Parkway Map, Top 30 Favorite Sites and Nearby Lodging Map, Lodging Flyer