Out and Back Natchez Trace Bicycle Itineraries - Central Section: Jackson - Tupelo
The Central Section of the Natchez Trace Parkway (between Tupelo and Jackson) offers cyclists many "Out and Back" bicycle route options.
There are several towns located close to the Parkway:
- Mississippi: Ridgeland, Carthage, Kosciusko, French Camp, Houston, Tupelo
And, several "cyclist friendly" places to stay! Most will let you leave your vehicle with them while you bike for a few days.
Below are 2, 4, 6 and 8-Day Out and Back Itineraries. Some of the itineraries have an option to add another day (e.g. 3 days instead of 2 days).
We also have several "Out and Back" itineraries for biking on the Tanglefoot Trail®.
The Tanglefoot Trail® is a paved, 43-mile-long "Rails to Trails" route that runs between Houston, MS and New Albany, MS. The trail is very popular with cyclists, walkers and joggers.
For more information about the Tanglefoot Trail®, visit:
tanglefoottrail.com and www.natcheztracetravel.com/tanglefoot-trail.html
And, there are several "Out and Back" itineraries with some days on the Natchez Trace Parkway and some days on the Tanglefoot Trail®.
Natchez Trace Parkway only "Out and Back" Itineraries
Out and Back, 2-Day Itineraries (some have a 3rd Day option)
| Average miles/day biking on the Parkway |
Route Name and Link to Itinerary | Start and Finish Location | Turn Around Location | Optional 3rd Day? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20.9 | French Camp, MS to Kosciusko, MS back to French Camp, MS |
French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | yes |
| 20.9 | Kosciusko, MS to French Camp, MS back to Kosciusko, MS |
Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | yes |
| 36.5 | Ridgeland, MS to the Carthage, MS area back to Ridgeland, MS |
Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136) | yes |
| 36.5 | the Carthage, MS area to Ridgeland, MS back to the Carthage, MS area |
the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136) | Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | no |
| 48.9 | Houston, MS to French Camp, MS back to Houston, MS |
Houston, MS (milepost 230) | French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | yes |
| 48.9 | French Camp, MS to Houston, MS back to French Camp, MS |
French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | Houston, MS (milepost 230) | no |
| 60 | Ridgeland, MS to Kosciusko, MS back to Ridgeland, MS |
Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | yes |
| 60 | Kosciusko, MS to Ridgeland, MS back to Kosciusko, MS |
Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | no |
| 69.9 | Houston, MS to Kosciusko, MS back to Houston, MS |
Houston, MS (milepost 230) | Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | yes |
| 69.9 | Kosciusko, MS to Houston, MS back to Kosciusko, MS |
Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | Houston, MS (milepost 230) | no |
| 81 | Ridgeland, MS to French Camp, MS back to Ridgeland, MS |
Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | yes |
| 81 | French Camp, MS to Ridgeland,MS back to French Camp, MS |
French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | no |
Out and Back, 4-Day Itineraries (some have a 5th Day option)
| Average miles/day biking on the Parkway |
Route Name and Link to Itinerary | Start and Finish Location | Turn Around Location | Additional Overnight Stop | Optional 5th Day? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22.3 | French Camp, MS to the Carthage, MS area back to French Camp, MS |
French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136.4) | Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | yes |
| 22.3 | the Carthage, MS area to French Camp, MS back to the Carthage, MS area |
the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136.4) | French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | yes |
| 30 | Ridgeland, MS to Kosciusko, MS back to Ridgeland, MS |
Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136.4) | yes |
| 30 | Kosciusko, MS to Ridgeland, MS back to Kosciusko, MS |
Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136.4) | no |
| 40.5 | Ridgeland, MS to French Camp, MS back to Ridgeland, MS |
Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136.4) | yes |
| 40.5 | French Camp, MS to Ridgeland, MS back to French Camp, MS |
French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136.4) | no |
| 65 | Ridgeland, MS to Houston, MS back to Ridgeland, MS |
Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | Houston, MS (milepost 230) | Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | no |
| 65 | Houston, MS to Ridgeland, MS back to Houston, MS |
Houston, MS (milepost 230) | Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | no |
Out and Back, 6-Day Itineraries (some have a 7th Day option)
| Average miles/day biking on the Parkway |
Route Name and Link to Itinerary | Start and Finish Location | Turn Around Location | Additional Overnight Stop | Optional 7th Day? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Ridgeland, MS to French Camp, MS back to Ridgeland, MS |
Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136.4) Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) |
yes |
| 27 | French Camp, MS to Ridgeland, MS back to French Camp, MS |
French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136.4) |
no |
| 43.3 | Ridgeland, MS to Houston, MS back to Ridgeland, MS |
Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | Houston, MS (milepost 230) | the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136.4) French Camp, MS (milepost 181) |
no |
| 43.3 | Houston, MS to Ridgeland, MS back to Houston, MS |
Houston, MS (milepost 230) | Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100) | French Camp, MS (milepost 181) the Carthage, MS area (milepost 136.4) |
no |
Tanglefoot Trail® only "Out and Back" Itineraries
Out and Back, 2-Day Itineraries
| Average miles/day biking on the Tanglefoot Trail® |
Route Name and Link to Itinerary | Start and Finish Location | Turn Around Location | Optional 3rd Day? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.7 | Houston, MS to New Albany, MS back to Houston, MS |
Houston, MS (milepost 0) | New Albany, MS (milepost 43) | no |
| 43.7 | New Albany, MS to Houston, MS back to New Albany, MS |
New Albany, MS (milepost 43) | Houston, MS (milepost 0) | no |
Some days on the Natchez Trace Parkway and some days on the Tanglefoot Trail®
Out and Back, 4-Day Itineraries
| Average miles/day biking on either the Natchez Trace Parkway or the Tanglefoot Trail® |
Route Name and Link to Itinerary | Start and Finish Location | Turn Around Location | Additional Overnight Stop | Optional 5th Day? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46.3 | French Camp, MS to New Albany, MS back to French Camp, MS |
French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | New Albany, MS (milepost 43) | Houston, MS (milepost 230/0) | no |
| 46.3 | New Albany, MS to French Camp, MS back to New Albany, MS |
New Albany, MS (milepost 43) | French Camp, MS (milepost 181) | Houston, MS (milepost 230/0) | yes |
| 56.8 | New Albany, MS to Kosciusko, MS back to New Albany, MS |
New Albany, MS (milepost 43) | Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | Houston, MS (milepost 230/0) | yes |
| 56.8 | Kosciusko, MS to New Albany, MS back to Kosciusko, MS |
Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) | New Albany, MS (milepost 43) | Houston, MS (milepost 230/0) | no |
Out and Back, 6-Day Itineraries
| Average miles/day biking on either the Natchez Trace Parkway or the Tanglefoot Trail® |
Route Name and Link to Itinerary | Start and Finish Location | Turn Around Location | Additional Overnight Stops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57.9 | Ridgeland, MS to New Albany, MS back to Ridgeland, MS |
Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100-101) | New Albany, MS (milepost 43) | Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) Houston, MS (milepost 230/0) |
| 57.9 | New Albany, MS to Ridgeland, MS back to New Albany, MS |
New Albany, MS (milepost 43) | Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100-101) | Houston, MS (milepost 230/0) Kosciusko, MS (milepost 160) |