The Natchez Trace Parkway, a two-lane road with a yellow center line running between tall pines and hardwoods under a blue sky

Natchez Trace Parkway Road Trip: 3-Day Itinerary

444 miles (715 km), no fee, no trucks, 50 mph, and two construction closures to check first.

444 mi · 3 days · Easy
By

Status on 3 November 2026, from the National Park Service: the Parkway is open except for two construction closures. MP 159.5 to 165, from Highway 19/35 to Highway 12 in central Mississippi, closed on 2 November for road reconstruction until mid-2027, with a 7-mile (11 km) detour. MP 437 to 440, around the Double Arch Bridge near Nashville, is closed from April 2026 to May 2027 while the bridge gets a permanent barrier and fresh paint. The NPS also says a rehabilitation of the whole road is under way, so more closed stretches may appear. Read the NPS road and site status before you go.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is 444 miles (715 km) of National Park Service road from Natchez, Mississippi, to near Nashville, Tennessee. It follows the old Natchez Trace, a travel corridor used for thousands of years, and is built for a slow drive: 50 mph (80 km/h), commercial vehicles prohibited, no entrance fee, and bicycles share the lane. The NPS puts the driving time at least 10 hours end to end, so three days leaves you time to stop.

The one decision that matters is the direction. This page runs south to north, from Natchez to Nashville, for three reasons. The NPS counts mileposts from Natchez, so they rise as you drive and match every closure notice. The trip ends in Nashville, which has its own guide, 3 days in Nashville. And the closure at the Double Arch Bridge comes on the last miles, when you can simply leave at MP 437 and reach the end by road, instead of being the first thing that rearranges your day. Going north to south works just as well, starting at the Northern Terminus with the mileposts counting down, but then the Double Arch Bridge detour is the first thing you drive.

The Route on the Map

Each day in its own color, with the start and every night's stop numbered along the way.

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Route line: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), simplified.

Day by Day

3 legs and 2 nights on the way, each in a different place.

  1. The Emerald Mound sign in front of the grassy temple mound beside the Natchez Trace Parkway, under a cloudy sky
    Day 1

    Day 1: Natchez to Ridgeland, mounds and the Old Trace

    Natchez, southern terminus, MP 0toParkway Information Cabin, Ridgeland, MP 102.4

    Distance
    102 mi 165 km

    The first day is 102 miles (164 km), a little over 2 hours at 50 mph (80 km/h), so there is time for most of the sights. The Parkway starts at Natchez, and the first stop is Emerald Mound at MP 10.3, a short drive off the Parkway. The NPS says it is the second-largest Mississippian ceremonial mound in the United States, built between 1200 and 1600 C.E., 35 feet (11 m) high at its main level and about 60 feet (18 m) with the two small mounds on top.

    Mount Locust at MP 15.5 is the only stand, or roadside inn, left on the Parkway. The NPS says the historic house is closed for structural damage and the grounds are open five days a week (Wednesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday and Tuesday closed), so check the hours. Rocky Springs, at MP 54.8, is the campground nearest Natchez. The NPS says the water there is not drinkable now. After that the road runs through forest to the Jackson area, where the day ends at MP 102.4, near Ridgeland. The Parkway Information Cabin is closed indefinitely, but the parking lot is open for the Chisha Foka multi-use trail. Jackson is the town for the night, and weekday commuter traffic is heaviest on MP 87 to 105.

    Sleep
    Ridgeland or Jackson, Mississippi · Town

    Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0

  2. Day 2

    Day 2: Ridgeland to Tupelo, Cypress Swamp and the detour

    Parkway Information Cabin, Ridgeland, MP 102.4toParkway Visitor Center, Tupelo, MP 266

    Distance
    164 mi 263 km

    The longest day is 164 miles (263 km), about 3 hours 20 minutes at 50 mph (80 km/h) before stops, and it holds the detour. The first stop is Cypress Swamp at MP 122, where the NPS says the Pearl River once ran and water tupelo and bald cypress now stand in an abandoned river channel; the trail starts at the parking lot.

    At MP 159.5 the Parkway is closed to Highway 12 at MP 165. Northbound, turn left off the Parkway to MS-19/MS-35 north, drive 2.4 miles (3.9 km), turn right on MS-12 north, drive 5.6 miles (9 km) and take the second exit on the left to rejoin. That is a 7-mile (11 km) detour and is listed as closed until mid-2027. Kosciusko is at MP 160, and Jeff Busby Campground is at MP 193.1, with a picnic area and overlook. Bynum Mounds at MP 232.4 are the oldest mound site on the Parkway, from 100 BCE to 100 CE. The day ends at the Parkway Visitor Center, just north of Tupelo at MP 266, open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily and closed on Thanksgiving, 25 December and 1 January. Tupelo is the town for the night. Weekday commuter traffic is heaviest around MP 258 to 268.

    Sleep
    Tupelo, Mississippi · Town
  3. The Double Arch Bridge over Birdsong Hollow at milepost 438, a white concrete arch above a grassy field with red autumn trees in front
    Day 3

    Day 3: Tupelo to the Northern Terminus, Meriwether Lewis and the Double Arch

    Parkway Visitor Center, Tupelo, MP 266toNorthern Terminus, MP 444

    Distance
    178 mi 287 km

    The last day is 178 miles (286 km), and the NPS puts Tupelo to Nashville at 4 to 4.5 hours of driving. Elvis Presley's birthplace is in Tupelo, off the Parkway at 306 Elvis Presley Drive. It lists house, museum and chapel tickets from $12 for one attraction to $25 for all three, $20 for all three for seniors 60 and over, $10 for all three for children 7 to 12 and free for children 7 and under, with hours Monday to Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the ticket office closing at 3 p.m. Hours can change, so check. In the short days of late autumn and winter, a morning at the birthplace costs you the same hours you need for Tennessee, so choose one.

    North of Tupelo the stops are Pharr Mounds at MP 286.7, eight mounds from 2,000 to 1,800 years ago, and Colbert Ferry at MP 327.3 on the Tennessee River. In Tennessee the Meriwether Lewis site at MP 385.9 holds his grave and monument, a loop of a little over half a mile (0.9 km) that includes the Grinder's Stand site; the visitor center there is open seasonally and the NPS gives 1-800-305-7417 for hours. Fall Hollow (MP 391.9) and Jackson Falls (MP 404.7), a walk of roughly 900 feet (274 m) down a paved path, are the two waterfalls on the Parkway.

    The Double Arch Bridge (Birdsong Hollow, MP 438) carries the road 155 feet (47 m) above Highway 96 and is 1,848 feet (563 m) long. It is closed to cars until May 2027. Northbound, exit at MP 437 (the ramp is on the right), turn left on Highway 96 west and drive 3.5 miles (5.6 km), then turn right on Highway 100 east and drive 3.5 miles (5.6 km) to the Northern Terminus. From the end you can drive in and out as far as Big Tree Overlook at MP 440. Nashville is about 17 miles (27 km) from the end.

Permits

No permit is required

A drive needs no permit and the NPS charges no entrance fee, and no fee for its campgrounds. Camping on the Parkway is first come with no reservations and stays are limited to 14 consecutive nights. A permit is needed only for commercial bicycle tours and private groups of 8 or more, and commercial vehicles are not allowed on the Parkway.

The official permit page

Getting There and Back

How to reach the start of the Natchez Trace Parkway Road Trip, and how to get home from the end.

The start

Natchez, Mississippi, milepost (MP) 0. The NPS gives the southern entrance as Liberty Road, reached from US 61 (Devereux Drive) by Sergeant Prentiss Drive. If you are adding a city before the drive, our 5 days in New Orleans guide covers a city in the same region as the Parkway start; this page gives no distance, so check the route in your map app.

The end

The Northern Terminus, MP 444, on Tennessee Highway 100 about 17 miles (27 km) southwest of downtown Nashville; the NPS says to take I-40 west of Nashville to exit 192 (McCrory Lane) and drive about 5 miles (8 km) to the entrance. It is a one-way trip by car, so plan the way back to Natchez or New Orleans before you book: a one-way rental, or flights, which this page does not price.

Parking

Pullouts and lots at the stops are free. Where you sleep, check the parking rules when you book; this page names no hotels. The NPS says there are no sleeping accommodations or restaurants on the Parkway itself, only in the towns beside it, which you reach by one of its more than 800 access points; roads marked on the NPS map with ] [ on either side, such as Highway 45 near Tupelo and Highway 840 near Nashville, are not access points. The NPS pages checked list no fuel on the Parkway either, so fill the tank in Natchez, Jackson, Tupelo and Nashville, and do not count on the road for it. The NPS says cell service is not always available, so download the official map first. Free NPS campgrounds with tent and RV sites are at Rocky Springs (MP 54.8), Jeff Busby (MP 193.1) and Meriwether Lewis (MP 385.9).

Safety

  • Closures. Two stretches are closed to cars on 3 November 2026 and the NPS posts detours for both: MP 159.5 to 165 (State Highway 19/35 to State Highway 12), and MP 437 to 440 at the Double Arch Bridge. The NPS road and site status page is the only source this page trusts. Open it the evening before and the morning of each day, because the Parkway also closes for weather.

  • Night and deer. The NPS does not advise driving the Parkway at night. Deer cross at dusk and dawn, and if one crosses ahead there may be another behind it. Plan to reach each night stop in daylight, which in November to January means leaving by 9 a.m.

  • Speed and traffic. The limit is 50 mph (80 km/h) unless posted. Traffic is light, except on weekday commutes around Jackson (MP 87 to 105) and Tupelo (MP 258 to 268). The curves, hills and shade can hide cyclists, so pass them by changing lanes when the oncoming lane is clear.

  • Tall vehicles. The maximum height on the Parkway is 14 feet (4.3 m) and the maximum length including a trailer is 55 feet (16.8 m). The NPS lists lower clearances at some access roads, including Mangum Mound (MP 45), so RV drivers should read its RV page first.

  • Weather. Thunderstorms are common, the south of Mississippi is occasionally hit by hurricanes, and the NPS does not advise travel in heavy rain, ice, sleet, snow or strong wind. In summer, heat indices often pass 100 F (38 C), so keep water in the car.

  • Cycling. Bikes share the lane, which is 11 feet (3.4 m) wide, and the NPS says water is limited: most restrooms have potable water but there can be long stretches without it. Rocky Springs Campground water (MP 54.8) is not drinkable now. Cell service is not always available.

Natchez Trace Parkway Road Trip: FAQ

Is the Natchez Trace Parkway open right now?

Mostly, with two closures. On 3 November 2026 the NPS listed MP 159.5 to 165 closed for road construction, with a 7-mile (11 km) detour, until mid-2027, and MP 437 to 440 at the Double Arch Bridge closed until May 2027. Check the NPS road and site status page the evening before and the morning you drive.

How long does it take to drive the Natchez Trace Parkway?

At least 10 hours from Natchez to Nashville, according to the NPS, with a speed limit of 50 mph (80 km/h), so three days is a relaxed trip. The NPS gives Tupelo to Nashville as 4 to 4.5 hours, Tupelo to Jackson as 3.5 to 4 hours, and Tupelo to Natchez as 5.5 to 6.

Is there a fee to drive the Natchez Trace Parkway?

No. The NPS charges no entrance fee and no campground fees. Elvis Presley's birthplace in Tupelo is a separate attraction, with tickets from $12 for one attraction to $25 for all three, at the time of checking.

Which direction is better, Natchez to Nashville or Nashville to Natchez?

Both work. This page runs south to north because the mileposts count up from Natchez and match the NPS closure notices, the trip ends in Nashville, and the Double Arch Bridge closure comes on the last miles. If you are arriving from the south, the Natchez end is the more natural start.

Is there gas, food or a hotel on the Parkway?

The NPS says there are no sleeping accommodations or restaurants on the Parkway, only in the towns beside it, and the NPS pages checked list no fuel. Fill the tank in Natchez, Jackson, Tupelo and Nashville. Cell service is not always available.

Can I cycle the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Yes. It is a designated bicycle route and bikes share the lane, 11 feet (3.4 m) wide, with cars. The NPS says most riders come in spring and fall, water is limited between restrooms, and groups of 8 or more need a permit. It lists five bicycle-only campgrounds. Check the status page for closed stretches, because fines for entering them are up to $5,000.

Can I take an RV or a truck on the Natchez Trace?

RVs are allowed, up to 14 feet (4.3 m) high and 55 feet (16.8 m) long including a trailer, with lower clearances on some access roads. Commercial vehicles are prohibited, and the NPS allows only recreational hauling.

When is the best time to drive the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Spring and autumn. Summer heat indices often pass 100 F (38 C), winters are mild with lows that can fall below freezing, and the NPS says leaf color begins in middle to late October. The road is open all year, but daylight is short in winter and night driving is not advised.

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