Natchez Trace Parkway

[asirimarco]

Has anyone traveled the Natchez Trace Parkway? We are wondering about going that way when we head south this year. Some things I've read about it make me wonder how practical it would be in the 40' Alfa towing the jeep.

[JudyJB]

I drove the part of it from Jackson, Mississippi, to Natchez, Mississippi, many years ago, and it was a two-lane, comfortable parkway, with easy pull-offs. I was just in a car, but it is one thing I would like to drive end-to-end in a motorhome someday. What did you read about it?

Here is the gov site with a photo of the parkway: http://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm

The Trace or ancient road itself is not what you drive on. The parkway follows alongside and you can get off at parking areas and walk the Trace itself.

I remember stopping at some Native AMerican burial mounds and a couple of museums and old cabins along the way. There is no camping inside the parkway, but there are towns with campgrounds along the way. There is a very nice National Military Park (battlefield) in Vicksburg if you want a side trip. Also, a sunken riverboat that was dug up in Vicksburg. Natchez itself is a very pleasant city with another national historical park. Very anti-bellum.

I'd be interested what you heard and what you experience if you do take this drive because it is on my list of places I really want to visit.

[BirdbyBird]

Driving the Parkway itself would be no problem. There are a couple of camping area (no E/W/S) along the Parkway. There are a few spots for larger rigs because we saw them but I think that they required unhooking their toads to fit. Others may remember better what they saw. Stopping an visiting the sections of original Trace along the way was educational and good for the imagination.....

When Carol and I drove south on it two years ago, we also stopped at some State or National Forest campgrounds that were not that far off the Trace. Don't remember the names of them right off but one had some really nice large sites the other not so much. Again even for the larger sites you would probably need to unhook to fit. PM CArol (Carolinagal) She has traveled the Trace several times and will probably remember more.

[Acadianmom]

I have driven from Natchez to just past Jacksonville. It's a nice leisurely drive at 50 MPH most of the way. I think part of the top end is 40 mph. That didn't bother me but would drive some people I know crazy. I didn't stop anywhere or camp.

Martha

[HorizonSeeker]

I am camped tonight and through the weekend at Merriwether Lewis National Park on the Trace. My neice is the senior attendant at this weekend's homecoming events. Hohenwald, the county seat for Lewis County (named for ol' Meriwether who died and is buried just up the road from my camp) is a small town where they still shut down the street this Friday for the homecoming parade. I drove down the trace from Nashville and it's a beautiful run but there is a little construction up near Franklin. This past March the goddess and I drove the entire trace from Nashville to Natchez and loved it. I drive a 24' class c and tow an HHR. There are a lot of rv camps just off the trace all along the way. I found a list at the Trace historical center. We didn't camp at either of the other 2 national parks on the trace but I can tell you that there are several pull through sites at Merriweather Lewis and I have seen some larger rigs camped here. I really love that the park service just replaced the rr/showers with all new facilities here and repaved all the sites which makes them very level. It is a very peaceful drive and holds lots of history. I recommend it at least once.

[Bethers]

I only did a small part of it - but highly recommend it and the part I was on would be easy to drive in your larger rig. It's on my list to do the entire way one day. Would love to follow you on it this year.

[cpatinjones]

I have driven the parkway many years ago by auto (all the way to Nashville), never by RV. It is a beautiful drive.

[Carolinagal]

Carol, I just wrote a long msg. recommending you take the Trace route. You won't be the only big rig with tow. and there are 3 free CG;s on the trace, the first two going south, I think you could get a site with no problem, especially the Merewether Cg. first one, near the bathroom in that Cg, is a map fo the whole route and historic sites. That is a really nice stop, and a district office for rangers there, and they could give you all the info you needed if map did not answer all your questions. 50 miles an hr., beautiful countryside, just a lovely drive and traffic is almost nil, most of the time.

I love this area and the history is wonderful, if you have any questions p. m. me and I will try to answer for you. There are plenty of CG's just off the Trace, if you want hook ups and easy to get right back on, State park CG's and private one, the map, list these also.

I hope this post, second time here and just gave up on the morning post.
CArol

[Liz]

I'll be traveling the Trace from Nashville south to 82 west to cross the MI River at Greenville. The AR gtg is just across the river there. Just sayin.'