Natchez Trace Parkway: How To Enjoy It When You've Only Got An Hour
Jim and I have driven the entire length of the Natchez Trace Parkway -- from Tupelo Mississippi to Nashville Tennessee -- several times. (We have a friend who lives in Starkeville, Mississippi... enough said.)
In total, the Natchez Trace Parkway covers 101 miles in the state of Tennessee, and passes through 7 Tennessee counties: Davidson, Williamson, Maury, Hickman, Lewis, Lawrence, and Wayne (from north to south, respectively). It spans from mileposts 341 to 444.
Plus, I've biked the northernmost end of the Trace more times than I can count. Mostly I ride from the Garrison Creek parking area just past the Leiper's Fork exit (Hwy 46) -- all the way to the very end of the Parkway at Highway 100 in Nashville (near the Lovelace Cafe).
That's my favorite out & back biking route along the Natchez Trace -- roughly, from mileposts 427 to 440.
Did you know?... The Natchez Trace Parkway is rated one of the Top 10 Biking Routes in the country!
Mostly, these days we like to hop in the Jeep and ride. We turn around whenever the mood strikes us. And we stop & see whatever we feel like stopping and seeing. It's such a relaxing and leisurely drive.
Here are my tips if you want to see the Natchez Trace, but you only have a very short time to do so...
Auto touring the Natchez Trace Parkway is definitely worth it -- no matter how much time you actually spend there.
For the quickest trip, your best bet is to hop on at Highway 96 W (on the west side of Franklin). When you spot the huge expansion bridge overhead, you'll know you're there.
Then, when you reach the Natchez Trace Parkway itself, turn left again and ride south a few miles.
Just past the Leiper's Fork exit, there is a rest area with very clean public restrooms and a picnic area. It's on the left.
The best part: There, you can get a FREE printed full-color map that shows all of the places along the Trace that you might be interested in visiting -- on this trip, or on a future drive along the Natchez Trace.
If you're short on time, when leaving the rest area, just head back the same way you came on the Natchez Trace Parkway (north).
Only this time, go past the Franklin Hwy 96 exit where you first entered the Parkway, and take a quick ride across that big expansion bridge! What a feeling (...especially on a bicycle!).
Immediately past the bridge, there's a parking area, along with a few hiking trails. Plus, you can actually walk around and under the bridge itself!
When you're done taking pictures there, hop back on the Trace and continue north to the very end of the Parkway at Highway 100.
There's a really nice gas station (a Daily's Shell station) and BBQ restaurant (Bar-B-Cutie) there, as well as the Lovelace Cafe and its many shoppes.
So there you go... now you can say you've ridden the Natchez Trace Parkway!
(But if you ever get the chance, you've gotta come back and drive the Trace in the Fall.)
Did you know?...
The Natchez Trace Parkway is the 7th most visited place in the National Park System.
Leave a comment