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Things You Should Not Miss
1. Take a ranger guided walk of an area of interest. They can take you on walks of the trace, to Indian mounds, to a Civil War battlefield, to nature, and Meriweather Lewis. Check at the information centers or visitor center for a schedule of events.
2. Near the midpoint of the parkway is the official visitor
center
at Tupelo. Stop in there to see exhibits on the history of
the
area, a 12 minute film, browse through the bookstore, as well as to
orient yourself about the rest of your trip.
3. Bike or hike along the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail.
What is There Now
Visitor and Information CentersThere are three information centers along the parkway with the Park Visitor Center near Tupelo the official place to begin your visit, if your near Milepost 266. It's open year round from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Parkway Information Cabin at Milepost 102.4 is open daily as well, and the Meriweather Lewis Information Cabin is open on weekends (Milepost 385.9).
Natchez National Historic Park- (Milepost 0) Located in Natchez, Mississippi, this additional National Park unit tells the story of Nachez, Mississippi and its heritage as a town along the Mississippi River. Visit the Melrose Mansion or the Johnson house and take walking tours of the area. The Melrose Mansion tour does include a fee.
Tupelo and Brices Cross Roads National Battlefields - This area is filled with Civil War history, and although Tupelo and Brices Cross Roads are not the largest or most well known of the battlefields, they are well worth a visit for the civil war, or history buff, in general. The Tupelo battlefield is essentially lost to the sprawl of the city, but a monument and other markers help tell the story. At Brices Cross Roads, or actually nearby, there is a Visitor and Interpretive Center with a film.
Lodging
LodgingAlthough there are no Natchez Trace Parkway motels, hotels, and bed and breakfasts directly on the parkway, some of the most historic places nearby are inns that have been there for hundreds of years. The Mount Locust Inn and Plantation (Milepost 15.5) dates back to the 1780s, and although you can only visit and not stay there now, it used to cost travelers 25 cents per night. For lists of accommodations, check out the state tourism links below or your favorite online travel site.
Camping
One of the few services you can get, almost directly on the parkway are three campgrounds; Rocky Springs, Jeff Busby, and Meriweather Lewis. All three are available on a first come, first serve basis and they are free, but primitive without electricity, showers, or dump stations.
Rocky Springs (Milepost 54.8) - 22 campsites and trails through the old townsite of Rocky Springs.Jeff Busby (Milepost 193.1) - 18 campsites located at one of the highest points in Mississippi, 603 feet.
Meriweather Lewis (Milepost 385) - 32 campsites with ranger station at a site dedicated to the Lewis and Clark explorer.
There are many other public campgrounds just off the parkway that offer
additional services, including those that cater to bicyclists.
Check at the visitor center or the local chamber of commerce
sites for a list of those that might better fit your needs.
Natchez Trace Parkway Links
Natchez Trace ParkwayNatchez National Historic Park
Tupelo National Battlefield
Brices Crossroads National Battlefield
Alabama Travel
Mississippi Tourism
Tennessee Vacation
Nearby Attractions
Vicksburg National Military ParkShiloh National Military Park
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Details
The Natchez Trace Then and Now
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Natchez Trace Then |
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| The Mount Locust Inn and
Plantation
-
It only cost visitors 25 cents to stay there, and that included room
and
board. Even beats Motel 6 for pricing. It provided
lodging
for the boatman (known as Kaintucks) who walked over to the trace from
their time plying the Mississippi River and needed lodging.
Of
course, since this was the mid-1800s, and in the deep south, the Inn
and Plantation had a number of enslaved families. Visit the
Inn
and Plantation during your drive down the parkway and find out the
stories of those families and more. Photo above: Cut of the original Natchez Trace. Courtesy Library of Congress Photo Archives. |
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Natchez Trace Now |
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Historic Sites and Places to See Along the Way - Natchez National Historic Park (Milepost 0.0) Emerald Mound (Milepost 10.3) - Largest Indian mound along the parkway. The Mount Locust Inn and Plantation (Milepost 15.5) Sunken Trace (Milepost 41.5) - Part of the trail deepened over the years by foot travel. Rocky Springs (Milepost 54.8) - Abandoned town. Ross Barnett Reservoir (Milepost 105.6) Cypress Swamp (Milepost 122) - Boardwalk trail across a cypress swamp. Bynum Mounds (Milepost 232.4) Chickasaw Village Achaeological Site (Milepost 261.8) - No structures standing, but site includes access to the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. Tupelo National Battlefield (Milepost 260) Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center (Milepost 266) Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield (Milepost 280) Pharr Mounds (Milepost 286.7) Colbert Ferry (Milepost 387.3) Meriweather Lewis Monument (Milepost 385.9) The Tobacco Farm and Old Trace Drive (Milepost 401.4) Jackson Falls (Milepost 404.7)  Not Far off the Parkway Vicksburg National Military Park (photo above) Himochitto National Forest Shiloh National Military Park Nashville
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