When I first moved to Tennessee, I was a little confused by this myself.
I figured there was only one Natchez Trace… Right?
Wrong!
In reality, there is a Natchez Trace Parkway and a Natchez Trace Park — similar, yet different.
The Natchez Trace park is actually the state park owned and operated by the State of Tennessee.
It is located in Wildersville, Tennessee (take exit 116 off I-40).
The park includes four lakes, a swimming beach, a 47 room resort inn and restaurant complex, cabins, group lodge, camping areas, picnicking sites, playgrounds, a ball field, a regulation pistol firing range, picturesque hiking trails, a wrangler camp, 250 miles of horse riding trails, a park store, and archery range. — Natchez Trace State Park
Park Named After The Parkway
There is some historical significance that links the Natchez Trace Parkway with the Natchez Trace Park.
>Natchez Trace State Park is named for the famous “Natchez to Nashville” highway, an important wilderness road during the early 18th century. A western spur of The Trace ran through a portion of what is now the park. The park was built as part of President Roosevelt’s “New Deal” program. The land was bought from residents who could no longer make a living farming the land because of extensive erosion problems.
Learn more about the Natchez Trace State Park, including restaurants, lodging (camping, cabins, inn), activities (boating, fishing, golfing, hiking, picnic facilities, playgrounds, sports fields, swimming), and more.
One of the most unique feature of the Natchez Trace State Park is that it is the home of the 3rd largest pecan tree in the world! The pecan tree is located in the state park 4 miles north of Interstate 40 on a paved road that makes a loop past the tree. There is a picnic shelter at the site. (Here’s the world’s largest pecan tree.)
More About Natchez Trace Parks
- A personal review of the Natchez Trace Park
- Other reviews of the Natchez Trace State Resort Park
- Reviews of the Natchez Trace Parkway itself
- All Tennessee state parks
- An interesting look at Kudzu inside the Natchez Trace park
We’ve lived in the Nashville area since 2001 — and all 3 of our houses have been situated relatively close to the Natchez Trace Parkway. To me, the ‘The Trace’ is a hidden gem of Nashville — a place to go when you want to get away from it all and be one with nature. I’ve hiked it, biked it, motorcycled it, walked it with my dogs, and driven my car on The Natchez Trace Parkway more times than I can count! This is where I share some of my favorite things to do along the Natchez Trace Parkway — which runs 444 miles from Nashville Tennessee to Natchez Mississippi and through parts of Alabama. When I’m not enjoying the beautiful outdoors along the Natchez Trace Parkway, you’ll find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).
