Biking the Natchez Trace Parkway
South to North from French Camp, MS to the Tupelo, MS area - 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 north on the Parkway from French Camp, MS (milepost 180.8) to milepost 239.2 (beginning of Parkway road closure)
  • bike the Alternate Bicycle Detour Route around the road closure and back to the Parkway at milepost 256.7 (end of Parkway road closure)
  • bike north on the Parkway to the Tupelo, MS area
    Note: vehicle traffic is much higher in the Tupelo area (milepost 258 - 266) than in the rural areas. It is best to avoid Tupelo during morning and afternoon rush hour traffic if you can - or, shuttle (if you have a support vehicle) thru the Parkway from milepost 258 thru 266.
  • For more info about the detour, click here.
• 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 in French Camp, MS
  • Biking on the Parkway:
    during the day from milepost 180.8 to milepost 256, 262 or 276
    including 23.7 miles on a detour around a 17.5-mile road closure
  • After Biking on the Parkway:
    in the afternoon/evening in/near Tupelo, MS
• Links to complete Natchez Trace Parkway 442 Mile, South to North 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 and 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.

Downtown Karla Brown
Tours, Trips & Shuttles for Cyclists

Biking on the Parkway
(during the day from milepost 180.8 to milepost 256, 262 or 276)

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

RidewithGPS route of the Parkway from milepost 181 to milepost 276 that includes the following points of interest and guidance:
ridewithgps.com/routes/44076879
You can download the route to your phone!

• Milepost 180.8 - French Camp, MS
  Start of the Day on the Parkway - entrance MS Hwy 413
• Milepost 193.1 - Jeff Busby Park
  Top 30, Restroom, Hiking Trail, Scenic Overlook, Picnic Area
• Milepost 195 - MS Hwy 9 exit
  Market 100 feet south of Parkway
• Milepost 204 - US Hwy 82 exit
  Markets and Restaurants less than a mile east of Parkway
• Milepost 232.4 - Bynum Mounds
  Top 30, Indian History
• Milepost 233.2 - Witch Dance
  Restroom, Picnic Area, Hiking Trail
• Milepost 239.2 - Beginning of Parkway Road Closure/Detour
  Exit Parkway at the MS 32 intersection

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 256.7 (intersection with MS 6/US 278). The Marked Detour Route is NOT safe to bike. Note: the first 2.4 miles of the Alternate Bicycle Detour Route follows the Marked Detour Route on MS 32 - vehicle traffic could be high on MS 32 - after these 2.4 miles the Alternate Bicycle Detour Route veers off onto lightly traveled county roads.

• east of Milepost 256 - County Road 261 / Palmetto Road intersection
  Market on your left.
• east of Milepost 256.5 - County Road 261 / County Road 900 intersection
  End of the Day on the Parkway (if staying at Moon Lake Farm and biking unsupported) - turn left onto CR 900
  Follow their bicycle route to your overnight stay!
• Milepost 256.7 - End of Parkway Road Closure/Detour
  Return to Parkway at intersection with MS 6/US 278.
• Milepost 258-266 - Note: vehicle traffic is much higher in the Tupelo area (milepost 258 - 266) 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 260 - Main Street exit
  Market 0.4 mile east of Parkway
• Milepost 261.8 - Chickasaw Village Site
  Top 30, Hiking Trail, Indian History
• Milepost 262.5 - MS Hwy 178 (McCullough Blvd)
  End of the Day on the Parkway (if staying at a hotel on North Gloster Road or driving to Moon Lake Farm) - exit at MS Hwy 178 (McCullough Blvd) exit
• 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 266.0 - Parkway Visitor Center
  Top 30, Restroom, History/Nature Exhibit, Visitor/Info Center, Hiking Trail, Picnic Area, Bicycle Repair Station
• Milepost 266.1 - MS Hwy 145 exit
  Market and Restaurant 1.5 miles south of Parkway, Bicycle Shop 3 miles south of Parkway
• Milepost 269.4 - Confederate Gravesites and Old Trace
  Top 30, Civil War History, Old Trace
• Milepost 271 - MS Hwy 363 exit
  Market 0.8 miles west of Parkway
• Milepost 276 - Lee County Road 1303
  End of the Day on the Parkway (if staying at Grace On Trace Homestead) - exit at Lee County Road 1303 exit
  Follow their bicycle route to your overnight stay!

Bubba's Pampered Pedalers
Ace the Natchez Trace Bike Tour

After Biking on the Parkway
(in the afternoon/evening in/near Tupelo, MS)

Milepost 256.5 - County Road 900 and County Road 261 intersection near milepost 256.5 - Lodging with Bicycle Route from Parkway:

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 10.8 miles northwest from Parkway exit (biking south to north the recommended bicycle route from Parkway to Moon Lake Farm - County Road 900 and County Road 261 intersection near milepost 256.5) - RidewithGPS Route
Biking Supported: Either exit here, load up in vehicle and drive to Moon Lake Farm OR load up here and drive north on the Parkway to milepost 262.5 and exit (see below)
Food: Breakfast is not included. Guests may bring their own food to prepare if they wish - each suite has a microwave, mini-fridge and coffeemaker and there is a kitchenette area in the screened-in porch.
More Info:
Overview Description
Accommodations and Rates
Cyclist Amenities

Milepost 262 - Tupelo, MS just off the Parkway - Lodging, Camping, Bicycle Shop, Food and Featured Points of Interest Options:

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 Supported: Exit Parkway at milepost 262.5 onto McCullough Blvd and then drive west 6.5 miles.
Food: Breakfast is not included. Guests may bring their own food to prepare if they wish - each suite has a microwave, mini-fridge and coffeemaker and there is a kitchenette area in the screened-in porch.
More Info:
Overview Description
Accommodations and Rates
Cyclist Amenities

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

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

Featured Points of Interest:

• Parkway Visitor Center at milepost 266
  Information Center, bookstore, exhibits, short movie, restrooms, nature walk and offices. Open 9am to 4:30pm. Bicycle repair station.
• Elvis Presley Birthplace
  Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. Tour the home where the King of Rock & Roll began his musical journey to fame.

Milepost 276 - Baldwyn, MS about 13 miles north of Tupelo - Lodging with Bicycle Route from 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 north from Parkway exit (County Road 1303 at milepost 276) - RidewithGPS Route
Food: Breakfast is not included. Each suite has a kitchenette with mini-fridge, microwave and coffee maker. For an additional fee and with advance notice, dinner and/or breakfast meals can be provided. Please inquire for details.
More Info:
Overview Description
Accommodations and Rates
Cyclist Amenities

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