Natchez Trace-is it worth it??

[studmuffin1]

We had thought about early Dec, to go down the Trace. Plan change, now thinking about spring. Is it worth going down the Trace in a 40 ft. MH, towing a car? Seems very low key, but does it keep you sort of interested?? Thanks, the wayward Muffin Man.

[ArtJoyce]

The times we traveled it we were going in the direction of the parkway. I would not go much out of my way to take it. It a very nice ride. Check on length limitation? I think you are fine, but there is a limit.

[wolfe10]

Can't address if it is worth it to YOU, but if not too much out of the way, we really enjoy it. Northern part is more picturesque, but have driven all of it several times in our DP's.

[seeg]

Great ride on a motorcycle. We didn’t see many RV’s. I liked to pull over and read the historical markers. May be more difficult with a MH and toad.

[Hurricane-TX]

Just my take, but it is a quiet drive on a country road. Like the Blue Ridge or Skyline or Selkirk loop, it's just a ride in the country. If you like that sort of thing, you'll like the Trace. If you don't, it will be a long long drive.

[wolfe10]

Originally Posted by RetiredbutWorking

Just my take, but it is a quiet drive on a country road. Like the Blue Ridge or Skyline or Selkirk loop, it's just a ride in the country. If you like that sort of thing, you'll like the Trace. If you don't, it will be a long long drive.

Well stated.

[twogypsies]

Here's the length limit:

https://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/rvs.htm

[Talloaks]

Pleasant drive (we also drove it in our 40' DP with toad, no issues). Got a little monotonous after a few hours although it is scenic. IIRC the speed limit is 45 most of the way and according to the signs it is tightly enforced. We did see evidence of that. We drove the entire length just because that was one of our goals. We spent a night in Tupelo MS, just off the Trace (Elvis' home town). Lots more peaceful than the interstate, I will say.

[momdoc]

It was easy and worth it for us.

[UTTransplant]

A number of historic sites are n the Trace or nearby. Stop a few places and walk on the original path. Stop by the Inn where Meriweather Lewis committed suicide. See the house built by Choctaw traders before they were herded to Oklahoma like animals.

[Isaac-1]

I have driven the trace several times over the decades, most recently covering the southern roughly 3/4 of it out of order in May in our 28 ft class A with TOAD, after not being on it for about 15 years. Overall I was somewhat disappointed in the condition of the roadway and the historic pull off sites, with many of the historic marker signs in rough shape and some missing entirely. Along much of the trace I would describe the pavement as being in fair shape at best, also there were many overhanging drooping limbs, particularly on the southern part of the trace. Some limbs in the lane were hanging down the 7-8 ft range in places turning the road into a slolom course, and being nearly impassible in our 11'5" tall coach in places. Even driving relatively slow I clipped 5 or 6 limbs and took one solid THUNK on the fiberglass cap, of course this was on a day with drizzling rain so the limbs were probably hanging lower than normal. I do know one limb I had to swerve into the ongoing lane to miss was hanging down below the top of my sideview mirror. I say this so you will be aware of what driving the trace in the spring may be like. As mentioned above most of the trace has a 45 mph speed limit, which does not make things as sedate as you might think in a class A motorhome due to the relatively narrow 11 ft wide lanes with no shoulders, and a fair number of bicycle riders on the trace, most 2 lane highways have 12 ft minimum lane width and don't have nearly as many bicycles sharing the road.


Having said that it can be a pleasant slow 400+ mile drive with the illusion of being in the middle of nowhere away from civilization and lots of interesting little pull offs, many of which are RV accessible, though after a while you do get tired of pulling off to read a sign standing in front of wall of trees that talks about something (trading post, etc) that once stood near here.

[PanJH]

Originally Posted by RetiredbutWorking

Just my take, but it is a quiet drive on a country road. Like the Blue Ridge or Skyline or Selkirk loop, it's just a ride in the country. If you like that sort of thing, you'll like the Trace. If you don't, it will be a long long drive.

That's what I thought too....

[larrydp]

Slow, relaxing drive with lots of interesting things along the way. I vote yes!!!

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

Here's the length limit:

https://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/rvs.htm

That's good info, but I've never heard of an RV being stopped for being over that limit. Just saying......