Natchez Trace Bicycle Itinerary - North to South, 12 Days
On this Natchez Trace Parkway Bicycle Itinerary cyclists will bike North to South for 12 days from the Northern Terminus (milepost 442 - Nashville, TN) to the Southern Terminus (milepost 0 - Natchez, MS).
Ride Stats for entire 12-day itinerary.
- Does not include miles to/from Parkway for lodging.
- Currently, there is a 17.5-mile-long closure on the Parkway with a detour. For details on how to bike or drive around the closure, see Day 6 below.
17.5 miles of Parkway closed - current status:
- Total Miles on Parkway, Multi-Use Path and Road Detour: 451.2
Average miles per day: 37.6 - Total Elevation Gain:
15,971 feet (avg. 35.4 feet/mile) - Total Elevation Loss:
16,499 feet (avg. 36.6 feet/mile)
0 miles of Parkway closed (no detour):
- Total Miles on Parkway and Multi-Use Path: 446
Average miles per day: 37.2 - Total Elevation Gain:
15,751 feet (avg. 35.3 feet/mile) - Total Elevation Loss:
16,281 feet (avg. 36.5 feet/mile)
Day 1 - Nashville, TN (Northern Terminus at milepost 442) to Fly / Santa Fe, TN (milepost 416)
Ride Stats for Day 1
- Miles on Parkway: 26.7
- Elevation Gain:
1,964 feet (avg. 73.6 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 8.6% - Elevation Loss:
1,802 feet (avg. 67.5 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -6.9%
- Route Overview Map for Day 1 (Route along the Parkway and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 442 to Milepost 416
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day near the Parkway at Milepost 416
Day 2 - Fly / Santa Fe, TN (milepost 416) to Hohenwald, TN (milepost 385.9)
Ride Stats for Day 2
- Miles on Parkway: 29.9
- Elevation Gain:
2,091 feet (avg. 69.9 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 8.8% - Elevation Loss:
1,988 feet (avg. 66.5 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -8.0%
- Route Overview Map for Day 2 (Route along the Parkway and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 416 to Milepost 385.9
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day near the Parkway at Milepost 385.9
Day 3 - Hohenwald, TN (milepost 385.9) to Collinwood, TN (milepost 355) or Threet, AL (milepost 341)
Ride Stats for Day 3
milepost 385.9 to milepost 355:
- Miles on Parkway: 31
- Elevation Gain:
1,415 feet (avg. 45.6 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 4.7% - Elevation Loss:
1,282 feet (avg. 41.4 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -3.8%
milepost 385.9 to milepost 341:
- Miles on Parkway: 45.3
- Elevation Gain:
1,614 feet (avg. 35.6 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 4.7% - Elevation Loss:
1,879 feet (avg. 41.5 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -3.8%
- Route Overview Map for Day 3 (Route along the Parkway and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 385.9 to Milepost 341
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day near the Parkway at Milepost 355 and Milepost 341
Day 4 - Collinwood, TN (milepost 355) or Threet, AL (milepost 338) to Tishomingo, MS (milepost 307) or Belmont, MS (milepost 303)
Ride Stats for Day 4
milepost 355 to milepost 307:
- Miles on Parkway: 48.1
- Elevation Gain:
1,442 feet (avg. 30.0 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.9% - Elevation Loss:
2,029 feet (avg. 42.2 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -6.1%
milepost 355 to milepost 303:
- Miles on Parkway: 52.7
- Elevation Gain:
1,764 feet (avg. 33.5 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.8% - Elevation Loss:
2,214 feet (avg. 42.0 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -6.3%
milepost 338 to milepost 307:
- Miles on Parkway: 30.9
- Elevation Gain:
1,201 feet (avg. 38.9 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.9% - Elevation Loss:
1,376 feet (avg. 44.5 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -6.1%
milepost 338 to milepost 303:
- Miles on Parkway: 35.7
- Elevation Gain:
1,559 feet (avg. 43.7 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.9% - Elevation Loss:
1,603 feet (avg. 44.9 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -6.4%
- Route Overview Map for Day 4 (Route along the Parkway and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 355 to Milepost 303
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day near the Parkway at Milepost 307 and Milepost 303
Day 5 - Tishomingo, MS (milepost 307) or Belmont, MS (milepost 303 or 293) to Tupelo, MS (milepost 276, 266 or 262)
Ride Stats for Day 5
milepost 307 to milepost 276:
- Miles on Parkway: 31.9
- Elevation Gain:
1,330 feet (avg. 41.7 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.2% - Elevation Loss:
1,378 feet (avg. 43.2 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -6.5%
milepost 307 to milepost 266:
- Miles on Parkway: 41.8
- Elevation Gain:
1,578 feet (avg. 37.8 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.4% - Elevation Loss:
1,724 feet (avg. 41.2 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -6.7%
milepost 307 to milepost 262.5:
- Miles on Parkway: 45.3
- Elevation Gain:
1,659 feet (avg. 36.6 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.4% - Elevation Loss:
1,788 feet (avg. 39.5 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -6.6%
milepost 303 to milepost 276:
- Miles on Parkway: 27
- Elevation Gain:
1,061 feet (avg. 39.3 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.3% - Elevation Loss:
1,227 feet (avg. 45.4 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -4.8%
milepost 303 to milepost 266:
- Miles on Parkway: 36.9
- Elevation Gain:
1,331 feet (avg. 36.1 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.4% - Elevation Loss:
1,593 feet (avg. 43.2 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -4.9%
milepost 303 to milepost 262.5:
- Miles on Parkway: 40.5
- Elevation Gain:
1,440 feet (avg. 35.6 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.4% - Elevation Loss:
1,686 feet (avg. 41.6 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -4.9%
milepost 293 to milepost 276:
- Miles on Parkway: 17.5
- Elevation Gain:
765 feet (avg. 43.7 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.4% - Elevation Loss:
708 feet (avg. 40.5 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -2.9%
milepost 293 to milepost 266:
- Miles on Parkway: 27.5
- Elevation Gain:
1,042 feet (avg. 37.9 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.5% - Elevation Loss:
1,082 feet (avg. 39.3 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -3.1%
milepost 293 to milepost 262.5:
- Miles on Parkway: 30.9
- Elevation Gain:
1,143 feet (avg. 37.0 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.5% - Elevation Loss:
1,167 feet (avg. 37.8 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -3.0%
- Route Overview Map for Day 5 (Route along the Parkway and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 307 to Milepost 262
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day near the Parkway at Milepost 276, 266 and 262
Day 6 - Tupelo, MS area (milepost 276, 262 or 256) to Houston, MS (milepost 230)
Currently (starting on August 16, 2023), there is a 17.5-mile closure on the Natchez Trace Parkway just south of Tupelo.
- These 17.5 miles between milepost 256.7 and milepost 239.2 are projected to be closed thru the spring of 2024.
- Below are 3 different options (2 different detour options and 1 no detour route after the closed area reopens) for Day 6 based on the status of the road project/closure/detour.
If you have a support vehicle – we highly recommend driving around the closure on the park service's Marked Detour Route.
NatchezTraceTravel.com has created an Alternative Bicycle Detour Route that is 23.7-miles-long around the 17.5-mile-long closure:
- 21.3 of the bicycle detour miles are on lightly traveled county roads. 2.4 miles at the very southern end are on MS Hwy 32 which has a lot of car and truck traffic and not much shoulder.
- A 1,500-foot section of County Road 101 is gravel. Fortunately, CR 101, like most of the bicycle detour route is fairly flat.
- Dogs also like lightly traveled country roads – several have been reported. You might want to take an air horn to scare dogs away.
- A few street signs at intersections are missing – follow our directions and RideWithGPS cues. There are no detour road signs for the bicycle route.
- If you don’t have a support vehicle – AND
if you don’t feel comfortable biking in traffic for 2.4 miles - OR
encountering dogs along the way - OR
are directionally challenged you should consider:
- Obtaining a ride around the closure. Check with the Tupelo Cycling club: Tupelo Cycling Facebook page.
OR
- We have another detour that goes around this 17.5-mile-long closure AND goes around all of Tupelo - avoids biking on the Parkway between milepost 266 and 230. This detour takes cyclists off the Parkway to the popular Tanglefoot Trail® and down to Houston, MS. - For more information about the closure, Marked Detour Route, Alternate Bicycle Detour Route including a map, click here.
Ride Stats for Day 6
(17.5 miles of Parkway closed - current status - 23.7-mile-long Detour around Closure):
milepost 276 to milepost 230:
- Miles on Parkway (29.1 miles) and Road Detour (23.7 miles): 52.8
- Elevation Gain:
1,719 feet (avg. 32.6 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 4.1% - Elevation Loss:
1,814 feet (avg. 34.4 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -2.9%
milepost 262.5 to milepost 230:
- Miles on Parkway (15.5 miles) and Road Detour (23.7 miles): 39.2
- Elevation Gain:
1,340 feet (avg. 34.2 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 4.0% - Elevation Loss:
1,338 feet (avg. 34.1 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -2.4%
Click Here to View Day 6 (including Detour around 17.5 Miles):
- Route Overview Map for Day 6 (Route along the Parkway/Detour and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 276 to Milepost 230
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day near the Parkway at Milepost 230
Ride Stats for Day 6
(17.5 miles of Parkway closed - current status - Detour around Tupelo on the Tanglefoot Trail®):
from milepost 276 to downtown Houston, MS:
- Miles on Parkway (10.3 miles) and Road Detour (69.7 miles): 80
- Elevation Gain:
2,399 feet (avg. 30.0 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.6% - Elevation Loss:
2,497 feet (avg. 31.2 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -4.3%
from milepost 266 to downtown Houston, MS:
- Miles on Parkway (0.4 miles) and Road Detour (69.7 miles): 70.1
- Elevation Gain:
2,135 feet (avg. 30.5 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.6% - Elevation Loss:
2,136 feet (avg. 30.5 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -4.3%
Click Here to View Day 6 (including Detour around Tupelo on the Tanglefoot Trail®):
- Route Overview Map for Day 6 (Route along the Parkway/Detour and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 276 to downtown Houston
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day in Houston
- Lodging options along the route in case you want to split this longer (net 22 more miles compared to other detour option and net 38 more miles compared to Parkway route with no detour) route into two days
Ride Stats for Day 6
milepost 276 to milepost 230:
- Miles on Parkway: 46.6
- Elevation Gain:
1,360 feet (avg. 29.2 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 4.2% - Elevation Loss:
1,455 feet (avg. 31.2 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -2.8%
milepost 262.5 to milepost 230:
- Miles on Parkway: 33
- Elevation Gain:
983 feet (avg. 29.8 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 4.0% - Elevation Loss:
981 feet (avg. 29.7 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -2.1%
milepost 256 to milepost 230:
- Miles on Parkway: 25.7
- Elevation Gain:
828 feet (avg. 32.2 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 3.9% - Elevation Loss:
796 feet (avg. 31.0 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -2.1%
Click Here to View Day 6 (no detour!):
- Route Overview Map for Day 6 (Route along the Parkway and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 276 to Milepost 230
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day near the Parkway at Milepost 230
Day 7 - Houston, MS (milepost 230) to French Camp, MS (milepost 181)
Ride Stats for Day 7
- Miles on Parkway: 48.9
- Elevation Gain:
1,555 feet (avg. 31.8 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 4.9% - Elevation Loss:
1,478 feet (avg. 30.2 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -4.7%
- Route Overview Map for Day 7 (Route along the Parkway and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 230 to Milepost 181
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day near the Parkway at Milepost 181
Day 8 - French Camp, MS (milepost 181) to Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) or the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136.4)
Ride Stats for Day 8
milepost 181 to milepost 160:
- Miles on Parkway: 20.9
- Elevation Gain:
543 feet (avg. 26.0 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 3.1% - Elevation Loss:
542 feet (avg. 25.9 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -2.2%
milepost 181 to milepost 136.4:
- Miles on Parkway: 44.5
- Elevation Gain:
827 feet (avg. 18.6 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 3.1% - Elevation Loss:
851 feet (avg. 19.1 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -2.2%
- Route Overview Map for Day 8 (Route along the Parkway and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 181 to Milepost 136.4
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day near the Parkway at Milepost 160 and Milepost 136.4
Day 9 - Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) or the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136.4) to Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100)
Ride Stats for Day 9
milepost 160 to milepost 100:
- Miles on Parkway (including 5.5 miles on Multi-Use Path): 60.0
- Elevation Gain:
1,092 feet (avg. 18.2 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 2.4% - Elevation Loss:
1,158 feet (avg. 19.3 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -2.1%
milepost 136.4 to milepost 100:
- Miles on Parkway (including 5.5 miles on Multi-Use Path): 36.5
- Elevation Gain:
806 feet (avg. 22.1 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 2.6% - Elevation Loss:
843 feet (avg. 23.1 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -2.3%
- Route Overview Map for Day 9 (Route along the Parkway and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 160 to Milepost 100
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day near the Parkway at Milepost 100
Day 10 - Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) to Raymond, MS (milepost 79 or 76)
Ride Stats for Day 10
milepost 100 to milepost 79:
- Miles on Parkway: 22.4
- Elevation Gain:
722 feet (avg. 32.2 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 3.8% - Elevation Loss:
782 feet (avg. 34.9 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -2.3%
milepost 100 to milepost 76.3:
- Miles on Parkway: 25.2
- Elevation Gain:
778 feet (avg. 30.9 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 3.8% - Elevation Loss:
880 feet (avg. 34.9 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -2.3%
- Route Overview Map for Day 10 (Route along the Parkway and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 100 to Milepost 79
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day near the Parkway at Milepost 79
Day 11 - Raymond, MS (milepost 79 or 76) to Port Gibson, MS (milepost 41-39)
Ride Stats for Day 11
milepost 79 to milepost 41-39:
- Miles on Parkway: 40
- Elevation Gain:
1,333 feet (avg. 33.3 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 3.5% - Elevation Loss:
1,473 feet (avg. 36.8 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -3.1%
milepost 76.3 to milepost 41-39:
- Miles on Parkway: 37.2
- Elevation Gain:
1,271 feet (avg. 34.2 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 3.5% - Elevation Loss:
1,372 feet (avg. 36.9 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -3.1%
- Route Overview Map for Day 11 (Route along the Parkway and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 79 to Milepost 39
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day near the Parkway at Milepost 41
Day 12 - Port Gibson, MS (milepost 41-39) to Natchez, MS (Southern Terminus at milepost 0)
Ride Stats for Day 12
- Miles on Parkway: 41.4
- Elevation Gain:
1,798 feet (avg. 43.4 feet/mile)
Maximum Grade: 5.3% - Elevation Loss:
1,824 feet (avg. 44.1 feet/mile)
Minimum Grade: -3.4%
- Route Overview Map for Day 12 (Route along the Parkway and Routes to/from Lodging at start and end of the Day)
- Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites, and Exits with Services Nearby Along the Way from Milepost 41 to Milepost 0
- Lodging, Featured Points of Interest and Food at the end of the Day near the Parkway at Milepost 0
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