We hope you enjoy reading through our top ten reasons why you should cycle the Natchez Trace Parkway.
- National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.
- Commercial traffic is prohibited.
- Maximum speed limit for vehicles is 50 mph. The northernmost 14 miles of the Trace from milepost 428 to the northern terminus at milepost 442 vehicle speed is limited to 40 mph due to the abundant curves. The remaining 428 miles have a speed limit of 50 mph with the exception of two short sections in Tupelo, MS and Ridgeland, MS where the speed limit is also 40 mph. Ridgeland offers wonderful multiuse trails to take you out of town.
- Motorized traffic is generally very light.
- No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no cross traffic.
- The Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and billboards, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
- Trace historical and nature markers offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
- Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
- Numerous side trails take you past antebellum homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
- There are many “cycling friendly” B&Bs, Guest Houses and Cottages located along and near the Trace.
For knowledgeable experts and links for the Natchez Trace, please see the following:
- Natchez Trace Travel www.NatchezTraceTravel.com
- Visit Ridgeland Mississippi www.VisitRidgeland.com
- Vicksburg National Military Park www.nps.gov/vick/index.htm
Park service rangers patrol the parkway to provide safety for cyclists. Rangers can also assist cyclists when problems occur (accidents, bike damage, severe weather, etc.).
Emergency call number signs are also posted periodically on the Trace. Call 1-800-300-PARK (7275) for assistance.