Natchez Trace in November.

[NALSO]

We're planning to go south for the winter, following the Natchez Trace from Nashville to Natchez and beyond to Houston Tx.

What weather could we encounter?

What would be the best route to take from Natchez?

Thanks in advance,

[LibbyLA]

NALSO,

You could have anything from warm (even into the 80s) to cold, and everything in between, from one day to the next, and everything in between. You almost certainly won't see snow, but that's just about the only thing you can count on. Probably won't see freezing weather, either, but it's possible.

Relax, enjoy, get a map at the beginning, and check out the sights along the way. There are many historical places to visit. In places, you'll be able to see how deeply the early travelers wore down the trail.

Quite a few years ago, a friend and I made the trip up the Trace and back just after Thanksgiving and it was unseasonably warm that year.

Do beware of the speed limit. It's pretty stringently enforced. You probably won't want to go all that fast anyway since the roads are relatively narrow, curvy, and hilly in many places. Also, watch for wildlife, especially for deer early in the morning and in the evening. We saw a large group of gobblers on the northern part of the trail.

liz

[skigramp]

There is a very nice RV park on the west side of the Miississippi River at Nathez ... you can watch the barges go up and down the river right from your rig ...

There are some very interesting mansions within about 5 miles of Natchez ....

There is a cotton plantation with a working gin ... and orginal slave quarters about 15 miles upriver from Natchez on the Louisaina side ...

If you are a civil war buff the battlefield at Vicksburg is worth your drive there ...

We have stayed in Jackson, MS at three RV parks ...LeFleur Bluff State Park (quite good), Timberlake Campground at Ross Barnett Lake (excellent), and Swinging Bridge (minimal)

[Wayne M]

Out of Nachez to Alexandria, to Leesville, down through Deridder (stop at casino and spend money - very nice CG at the Casino) down to Beaumont and I-10 to Houston. Or, if you do not want the I-10 at all, pick up US-90 out of Beaumont to Houston.

Where in Houston are you headed? We live 40 miles South of there in Texas City, TX.

[NALSO]

Thanks for the info.

Are there any CG in Tennessee on the Trace, which you can recommend?

In Houston we will stock up at Costco and continue on to McAllen/Edinburg, for our winter stay.

[Bob and Inga]

Nalso,

Make sure to pickup the NP pamplet for the Trace, it highlights key points along the Trace by milepost. The NPS has 3 campgrounds along the Trace that are free, no hookups and first come first served. We stayed at two in 2010 when we drove it north.

We stayed in the Nashville area at one of the COE CG's, there are several. Check RVParkReviews.com. MS has some very nice SP's that are very reasonable. We stayed at 3 of them, Natchez SP $13, 50 amp, water, paved backin slab, Trace SP near Tupelo $14, 50 amp, water, sewer paved backin site and Tishomingo SP, $13, 30 amp, water, backin. Both Natchez and Trace SP's had been recently upgraded and are two of the better SP's we have been in.

Take your time going down the Trace. As others have mentioned there are tons of things to see and do along the way. We took 3 weeks including the time in Natchez and Nashville.

Bob

[Roger G]

Piney grove CG (COE) is just north of Tupelo along the trace and is very nice. The COE campgrounds along the Tenn-Tom Waterway are newer and very nice. Do not drive the trace after sundown unless you want to see what deer will do to fiberglass! That will be in the middle of deer season in Ms so most deer will be vacationing along the trace, we locals know, that's their road, we just get to use it! You will not see the first service station or billboard for the entire 400+ miles so fill up when you exit. More historical sites in the Tn section, there seems to always be a bridge washed out or being worked on in Al, most of Ms is fairly straight and just rolling hills. Leipers Fork Tn is the launching point for ALOT of bicyclist so I would avoid that area on sat or Sunday unless you like to see ALOT of bicyclist, if you stop in Tupelo, check out Elvis's birthplace. Leaves are going to fall early this year due to the drought so you will miss most of the color. Wish I was going with you, good luck.

[Roger G]

Just noticed the Tiffin logo, you will be close to Red Bay if you want to do the factory tour. Exit the trace on Hwy 25 s toward Belmont Ms, thru Belmont, left on Hwy 24( I think) just a couple of miles into Al and the plant will be to the left. Just a thought!

[powerboatr]

on the southern side of tupelo there is a USDA park ( davis lake) which is wonderful. its tight for longer rigs, but we did take a 40 foot fiver and a crew cab in just fine,


we spent two days on the trace from Alabama down to miss, could have spent three more

on the NPS site there is a link you can request a pamplet that guides you through the trace as well as a download or two

http://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm
http://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/index.htm
http://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/parkway-maps.htm

in the plan your visit page there is a link to download a list of campgrounds and what mile post they are near..

[TurtleKent]

Visit the Opry when passing thru Nashville. For the Christmas season they move the Grand Old Opry back to the Ryman Auditorium... which is a great venue... it's a trip down memory lane. Plenty of RV Parks nearby. And take your time cruising the Trace, about 400 miles and a beautiful drive. Have fun.

[Dave1956]

we just got off the Trace going north. we drove the entire Trace and loved every minute of it, hated to get back on interstate! We dry camped in the middle at one of the three pkwy campgrounds.
We stayed Jeff Busby CG, nothing special as far as sites go, but free and perfect for dry camping. It was great to take a long walk up to the over-look very quiet and peaceful!