Northern entrance of the Natchez Trace Parkway

The Natchez Trace Parkway begins in Natchez, Mississippi, passes through the northwest corner of Alabama, and ends just south of Nashville, Tennessee, a 444-mile stretch of road. It follows as closely as possible to the route of an old trail known as the Natchez Trace, which saw its hey-day in the early- to mid-1800s. Though most of the route passes through rural areas, the Parkway does get you close to the major cities of Jackson and Tupelo.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is open to private passenger vehicles and motorcycles only. There are no stop lights or stop signs on the entire stretch of road, though there are plenty of exits that lead to towns where travelers can purchase gas and food and find hotels, bed and breakfast inns, and private campgrounds. The speed limit is 50 MPH. There are no fees to drive on the Parkway.

As you travel the Natchez Trace Parkway you will pass more than one hundred pullouts. Some offer an opportunity to go for short walks or to explore historical buildings. Others simply mark the spot where a historical event took place or a building once stood. Information panels tell the story. There are also three campgrounds, dozens of picnic areas, and public restrooms. There are five additional campgrounds for bicyclists only. Most all attractions are outdoors and are open from sunrise to sunset. There are four Visitor Centers that have set operating hours, though most are open daily. For the latest schedule, check out the National Park Service’s Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Attraction and visitor facility locations on the Parkway are referenced by Mile Post (MP) numbers. Mileage is tracked from 0 at the southern entrance to 444 at the northern entrance. You will see the mile posts along the Parkway just as you see mile posts on Interstates and other highways.