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Road trip back in time along the Natchez Trace

Cruise this 444-mile historic drive from Natchez to Nashville.

  • 21
  • 30:23
  • 1,640 mi
  • $263
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Created by dennisbattern - December 2nd 2021

Historically used by bisons traveling north to find salt licks, the Natchez Trace is now a scenic drive from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Plan enough time to immerse yourself in the Southern beauty along the way. There are plenty of places on the side of the road to take in the view and to explore the history of the trail (which includes everything from Greco-Roman ruins to Native American earthworks), and the 50 mph speed limit forces you to experience the peace of life in the slower lane.

124 Hamlet Road, Branson, United States

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219mi 03h 59m
Photo of Hot Springs National Park
4.4

101 Reserve St, Hot Springs, AR, US

Hot Springs National Park

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220mi 04h 02m
Photo of Poverty Point Reservoir State Park
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1500 Poverty Point Pkwy, Delhi, LA, US

Poverty Point Reservoir State Park

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99mi 01h 44m
Photo of Emerald Mound
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91 Emerald Mound Rd, Natchez, MS, US

Emerald Mound

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As the second largest settlement of people north of Mexico, it's absolutely worth stopping to appreciate the Natchez mound builder Native Americans and their importance to the region. During your Natchez Trail road trip, pull over, stretch your legs and climb Emerald Mound in Natchez, Mississippi. There are some educational, interpretive panels to help you understand the significance of this fascinating tribe.

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12mi 00h 23m

116 S Canal St, Natchez, MS, US

The Pig Out Inn Bbq

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Then, fill up at The Pig Out Inn BBQ. This local, counter-service BBQ joint serves up delicious grub for hungry roadtrippers. They cook their meat on wood-fired stoves and you can wash down your meal with a nice cold beer.

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43mi 00h 54m
Photo of Windsor Ruins
4.5

15095 Rodney Road, Port Gibson, MS, US

Windsor Ruins

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Winding back roads, shaded by Spanish moss-draped trees take you to the secluded Windsor Ruins. The 23 columns are all that remain of what was once the largest antebellum Greek revival mansion in Mississippi. It was the main building on a 2,600 acre plantation that was occupied by both Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War, who used it as a signaling station, observation point, and hospital. However, the opulent structure didn't survive the war by much: it was in 1890 when smoldering cigar ashes lit a pile of carpentry debris on fire and eventually burned the whole place to the ground, leaving only the columns.

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10mi 00h 19m
Photo of Isabella B&B
5.0

1009 Church St, Port Gibson, MS, US

Isabella B&B

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83mi 01h 39m
Photo of Tupelo-Baldcypress Swamp
4.6

Canton, MS, US

Tupelo-Baldcypress Swamp

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Although the trace is no longer terrorized by highway bandits, you can still get your fill of danger at mile marker 122, where alligators lurk beneath the smooth surface of the Tupelo-Baldcypress Swamp. Walk the loop around the swamp and marvel at the the stately cypress trees with roots plunging into the still waters. In the summer, when the water is blanketed with algae, it seems as though you could step right onto it... but you may not want to once you look closer at that bumpy log and realize it's actually an alligator!

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63mi 01h 15m
Photo of French Camp B&B Inn
2.5

100 Robinson Drive, French Camp, MS, US

French Camp B&B Inn

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If the natural beauty and the rhythm of the road start lulling you to sleep, pull off at mile marker 180.7, where the log cabin village of French Camp offers four bed and breakfast cabins. Awake refreshed in the historical village, and view the cabins that were constructed in the 40s – the 1840s, that is. Experience life as it was in early America, except with the comforts of modern indoor plumbing.

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57mi 01h 06m
Photo of Bynum Mounds
3.5

Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo, MS, US

Bynum Mounds

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Just under 30 miles southwest from Tupelo, MS, you'll find the ancient Bynum Mound and Village Site just off the Natchez Trace Parkway at milepost 232.4. It's open to the public for free, and makes for a peaceful stroll before hitting the open road again.

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34mi 00h 39m
Photo of Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor's Center
4.5

2680 Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo, MS, US

Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor's Center

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The Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor's Center is a much-respected and much-beloved visitor center. There's also a small museum onsite, and the staff is very informative and friendly. Watch the video explaining the history and significance of the parkway, browse the bookstore, and plan your next stops!

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26mi 00h 37m
Photo of Pharr Mounds
3.0

Natchez Trace, Hazeldell, MS, US

Pharr Mounds

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No trip along the Natchez Trace is complete without nods to the Native American history imbued in the trail. Pharr Mounds is a collection of eight burial mounds where tribes buried their dead from 100-1200 C.E. It's now a major archaeological site, where firepits and artifacts have been excavated. Stop for a moment at milepost 286.7 and imagine the lives of the people who left their mark here nearly 2,000 years ago.

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97mi 01h 51m
Photo of Meriwether Lewis Site
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Natchez Trace Parkway, Hohenwald, TN, US

Meriwether Lewis Site

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What better way to honor one of the original adventurers of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Meriwether Lewis, than with a road trip to his memorial statue? The Natchez Trace was his last journey – he was killed by two gunshot wounds while staying in an inn by the side of the road, and the reason for his murder remains unclear to this day. Stop at mile marker 385.9 to see the monument dedicated to the man, and even visit a reconstructed version of the inn where he was killed.

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59mi 01h 20m
Photo of Natchez Trace State Park
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24845 Natchez Trace Rd, Wildersville, TN, US

Natchez Trace State Park

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Natchez Trace State Park is a gorgeous park to walk around. Do the "Cub Creek Trail": it's a lush little walk, and if you have time, hike the four miles around the beautiful Cub Lake. It's not a particularly busy state park, but on holidays you'll have some moderate crowds.

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86mi 01h 29m

8400 Hwy 100, Nashville, TN, US

Loveless Cafe

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Founded in 1951, Loveless Cafe at milepost 444 advertises hot biscuits, country ham, and air conditioning, so stop in for a filling Southern meal and to cool down after walking the trails. The family biscuit recipe is a guarded secret, so don’t even try sneaking one home for analysis. You can, however, buy a Loveless Cafe Bacon Sampler for all of your fried pork needs.

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20mi 00h 27m
Photo of Hermitage Hotel
4.5

231 6th Avenue North, Nashville, TN, US

Hermitage Hotel

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Once you reach Nashville, pull over for the night at the Hermitage Hotel. It's a historic beaux arts style building, and it's in a perfect location just across from the State Capitol and the Tennessee State Museum. There's free wifi and even fresh baked goods offered to guests. There's also free morning coffee, and afternoon apple cider and cookies. There's an onsite restaurant that specializes in Southern cuisine, too.

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0mi 00h 05m

222 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN, US

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

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11mi 00h 19m
Photo of Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens
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2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN, US

Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens

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116mi 01h 53m

170 West Mississippi Avenue, Grand Rivers, United States

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214mi 03h 44m

The Natchez Trace is a beautiful historic drive that's great really any time of year. However, it is especially gorgeous in fall with the foliage. The leaves change color in mid-October and last till about the beginning of November. Milepost 375.8 is a beautiful forested scenic point, the Swan View Overlook at milepost 392.5, Fall Hollow at milepost 391.9 and the Old Trace Trailhead at milepost 427.6 are some fantastic spots to pull over for some prime leaf-peeping.