The Natchez Trace Parkway

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by Mr.Goodbar

Check the website https://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm for the latest info. Some pull off areas close to remove storm damage.

• Check road conditions before you leave on a trip.
• Know that the Parkway's lanes are narrower than normal roadways and that the road has little to no shoulder for most of the route.
• Watch for bicyclists as they have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. Share the road and give at least 3 feet of space when passing.
• Watch for wildlife on the road, especially in the morning and evening.
• If driving a recreational vehicle (RV) be alert to areas closed to RVs. Visit our recreational vehicle page https://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/rvs.htm for more information.

Their RV page lists 6 different pulloffs that are closed to RV's ALL the time. The page also list bridge heights.


If you intend to stay at the Thousand Trail CG at mp 380 (private) 800-288-7245, DO NOT FOLLOW YOUR GPS, FOLLOW THE CG WEBSITE DIRECTIONS FOLLOWING A GPS WILL EXIT YOU RIGHT INTO AN 11'0" UNDERPASS, WITH VERY LITTLE TIME TO REACT, AS EVIDENCED BY A/C PARTS LAYING BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.


It is best to get off at Meriwether Lewis Monument turnoff and get on TN20 and take Napier Road road from Summertown.

Great info! Thanks for the post!

[Kluffinator]

When you exit at the Northern Terminus and looking for a place to camp there is a nice state park about 20 miles west near Dickson, Montgomery Bell SP. Nice golf course. Or if you want to head towards Chattanooga, Henry Horton SP is a consideration. Also a nice GC.

[Down South]

I live about 40 miles from the Trace on the Natchez end and ride my motorcycle on it often. I've only been as far as Tupelo though. I made that a 2 day trip when I went to Tupelo to stop at all of the historic attractions that I wanted to stop at.
It's a very nice and scenic drive. The speed limit is 50 mph and they do patrol it regular. It seems many times that I'm riding the trace, the rangers have someone pulled over.
Keep your speed down and enjoy the ride.

[Dadeoo]

We wanted to drive the Trace earlier this week. The entire length of it was closed due to downed trees and ice. Three days.

[Down South]

Originally Posted by Dadeoo

We wanted to drive the Trace earlier this week. The entire length of it was closed due to downed trees and ice. Three days.

I could imagine the tree damage due to the recent ice storm. We are still in cleanup mode around here too.

[jacwjames]

I am in the process of planning a trip out west, and the Natchez Trace Parkway is an option as far as route.

Anyone drive this recently, any updates on condition. I went to the link listed but want actual observances.



Thanks.

[00 Buckshot]

Thanks for sharing.

[ArtJoyce]

Originally Posted by jacwjames

I am in the process of planning a trip out west, and the Natchez Trace Parkway is an option as far as route.

Anyone drive this recently, any updates on condition. I went to the link listed but want actual observances.



Thanks.

We just got off the NTPW about 12 days ago. We drove from Jackson MS. About MP 100 to the northern end near Nashville MP 444. All was goo except around MP 262 it closed for about 3 miles. They do a nice job detouring you. Check the NP web site. I cut and pasted the detour instruction and email to myself.

We did spend the night at the two northern camp grounds at about MP 195 and 375. Nice campgrounds.

Do drive with your lights on if it's a sunny day. Lots of trees and shadows and sunny spots. It can be hard to adjust your eyes. We almost had a head-on as someone started to pass another car about 200 feet ahead of us in the other direction. We ended up going about 4-5 feet off the pavement to avoid their near death experience. Had grass and sod up on the Toad.

[jacwjames]

Well, after a couple months of going over the rig I will be hitting the road tomorrow and decided to go ahead an try the Natches Trace Parkway. I'm not in a hurry and will be stopping at any interesting sites along the way. I'm hoping to be able to spend my first night at a campground the north end tomorrow.

My final destination is Utah but figure heading south may be the way to go this time of year. I'll be watching the weather and may detour to Big Bend National Park in Texas first.



Wish me luck.

[jacwjames]

Well, I got to the north section of the NTPW road yesterday by about noon. I wasn't in a hurry so I just started driving south. Very little traffic and so far just 2 bicycles that I had to contend with. The route is scenic it that the road just rambles through heavily wooded areas with the occasional farm land popping up every once in a while.

The first night I decided to stop and stay at the Merryweather Lewis campground, when I pulled in there were plenty of sites open but RV's kept streaming in even after dark. Sites were plenty large enough and most were pull through.

Got up this AM and started driving by ~9:30. There was detour was pretty long and maginally marked. It took out on a major 4 lane road and I missed the exit to get off (I think I was passing a large crane at the time). Knew something was off so I stopped and looked at the map posted on the website. Had to turn around and go back about 7 miles, not a big deal. Got it figured out and back on the detour and paid attention to signs.

Got down to another campground near Eupora and stayed at the Jeff Busby campground, this one much smaller then the previous but had plenty of open sites when I stopped but by night fall it had filled up. One plus was that the site I got had a large pile of firewood begging for a campfire so I made it so and spent ~4 hours watching the flames and using my tablet to look at my next days drive and places to stop.

Weather is suppose to be turning cold so I'm keeping an eye on it and using that to help with my decision making process.

So far so good.

[jacwjames]

Well, I finished driving the entire length of the Natchez Trail PW. I can mark it off my bucket list. Overall traffic was minimal. The drive was leisure. I got turned around at one of the detours but good news was I found diesel for $3.24. Going to be cold tonight, I'm going to suck it up and not turn on the heat. I'll monitor my tanks via a remote temp sensor. If it gets below freezing I'll flip on the furnace.



Now headed for TX.

[twogypsies]

Thanks for the trip report. Wish more would do this!

[Fanukalum]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

Thanks for the trip report. Wish more would do this!

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