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.
1922 Merlin Drive, Jefferson City, MO, United States
1922 Merlin Drive, Jefferson City, MO, United States
Clarksville, TN, United States
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
8700 Gulf Pines Dr, Milton, FL, US
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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.
