Road Walking The Natchez Trace Parkway

I would also say that it's a relatively safe place to walk for the following reasons:

#1 There are very few cars which travel along the Natchez Trace, and if you stick to the northernmost end of the Trace (near Nashville), the speed limit is only 40 mph so you won't be dodging fast-moving vehicles the whole time.

#2. There are many bicyclists, motorcyclists, RVers, and joggers sharing the road with you. If you ever needed assistance (during daylight hours), a number of people would certainly lend a hand.

#3 The "locals" who tend to frequent the Trace for sightseeing and exercising purposes are, as a group, some of the nicest people you will ever meet. I've talked with lots of them on my bicycling trips throughout the years, and everyone has always been friendly and helpful.

Another good thing:
No matter where you're coming from, you can find plenty of places on the Trace to park your car while you walk.

So, on the next beautiful day when you're in the vicinity of the Natchez Trace Parkway (especially on the northern end), I'd encourage you to take a drive to out to the Trace... park your car... and enjoy the walk!

This trail [the Natchez Trace Parkway] may never be a serious footpath. Only 50% of the original Trace lay within the parkway corridor when it was created in 1938. 85% of that was destroyed by roadbuilding, leaving only 7.5% of the original Trace on protected National Park Service land. However, several through-hikers have had a good time roadwalking the parkway, which is totally unlike the turnpike-like parkways of the northeast. Think mellow country road, and you're close to the truth.
-- GORP