Natchez Trace Parkway is a scenic highway that is recommended for millions of tourists and local visitors. It is a 444-mile recreational roadway that covers three states named Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. This parkway is renowned for its historical significance and scenic beauty. It is a popular place for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. You can also enjoy bicycling with your family and friends at this particular location.
There are lots of transportation options suggested for group travelers to travel to the Natchez Trace Parkway. Some of them opt for charter buses in Mississippi, whereas some travel through private vehicles for a particular journey. The parkway was managed by the National Park Service. You can travel to the parkway in spring, summer, and fall.
The parkway was constructed by the Federal Government of the United States in 1938. It is mainly essential for historical preservation, public beauty, scenic recreation, culture, and education. The construction was recommended as part of a New Deal-era project. It was started by the United States government in 1930.
Now, in this blog, we will discuss the trip planning and tour guide of the Natchez Trace Parkway with its nearby attractions.
Trip Planning and Guided Tour for Natchez Trace Parkway
You can plan a trip to a Natchez Trace Parkway in different steps. The first step is to decide the route direction if you are traveling from Nashville to Natchez. Secondly, you can select a trip duration for a particular journey. After that, you can plan a type of transportation to travel to the Natchez Trace Parkway. The fourth step is to book a particular destination for a trip. It can be a hotel, cabin, historic inn, campground, etc.
After booking a destination, you can plan your stops by using mileposts for locating nearby attractions. Nashville is recommended as the starting point for a particular trip. After reaching a particular stop, you can select an activity to enjoy during the journey. The activity can be hiking, birdwatching, photography, camping, and so on. The essentials to be packed before traveling to the Natchez Trace Parkway with your group members are binoculars, rain gear, sunscreen, and hiking shoes. You can also pack printed or offline maps, which is mainly important for spotty services. An essential item, like bug spray, should be packed in the bag if you are traveling in the summer season.
If you are traveling to the Natchez Trace Parkway, then you must check weather alerts and park alerts for safety purposes. The group travelers are suggested to pack their bags with hand sanitizers, toilet paper, and a water bottle for proper health & hygiene. You must stay hydrated while traveling in hot weather conditions. The group travelers must be aware of snakes, mosquitoes, and other wild animals. You should drive safely on Cypress Swamp and Sunken Trace. It is because these places are shorter, which can become slippery or muddy after the rainy season.
Top Tourist Attractions Near the Natchez Trace Parkway
The nearby attractions, which are located along this scenic highway, are as follows:
1. Rock Spring Trail Near Natchez Trace Parkway
Rock Spring Nature Trail is a scenic trail located in Alabama. It is an educational and family-friendly destination, which is ideal for nature lovers, casual hikers, birdwatchers, road trippers, and amateur photographers. This charming and easy loop trail is directly adjacent to the Natchez Trace Parkway. It is equipped with spring-fed pools, shaded woodland paths, beaver dams, and ponds, etc. You can enjoy hiking, bird watching, photography, and other activities in this place. The Rock Spring Nature Trail is open seven days a week. You can travel to this scenic trail between sunrise and sunset. There are eight standard parking spaces and 1 accessible parking space available for parking charter buses and other private vehicles. You should not pay parking and entry fees before entering this scenic place.
2. Explore Jeff Busby Park
Jeff Busby Park is a federal park site, which is situated at 193.1 milepost along the Natchez Trace Parkway. It is a scenic rest area located on a little mountain in Mississippi. This park features scenic views and family-friendly amenities. It was designed in memory of the United States Congressman named Jeff Busby. Its other name is Jeff Busby Campground.
The Jeff Busby Park is suggested for family reunions, casual outings, and other events. You can enjoy traveling to this park in the spring and fall seasons. It is ideal for hiking, camping, and relaxing.
The park opens at 9 AM and closes at 10 PM every day of the week. You can park your vehicles at the campground parking lot, the picnic area, and the nearby picnic spot. The parking fees and entry are free in the Jeff Busby Park. You can enjoy your journey without making a payment.
3. Visit Meriwether Lewis Site
Meriwether Lewis site is a historical and memorial destination situated at milepost 385.9 on the Natchez Trace Parkway. It is a place where Meriwether Lewis died due to two gunshots on October 11, 1809. This monument was erected by the Tennessee Legislature in 1848. It is located near Hohenwald in Tennessee. The historical monument features picnic areas, campgrounds, restrooms, trails, and others. It organizes events like Arts & Craft Festival, Lewis Commemoration, Campground Presentation, etc.
The Meriwether Lewis site is open from 7 AM to 10 PM. You can visit with your group members for all seven days of the week. The visitor information center Wednesday to Saturday and Sunday during the summer season. It is closed in winter hours (October-April). The designated parking areas are available in the form of the main parking lot, picnic area lots, campground driveways, and the Grinder’s Stand Cabin lot. These parking lots are free for visitors and bus drivers. They can park their vehicles without paying the parking fees. There are no entry fees at the Meriwether Lewis site.
4. Educational Programs and Events at Sunken Trace
The Sunken Trace is located at 41.5 milepost on the parkway. It is a historical site and natural landmark suggested for history enthusiasts, casual hikers, natural lovers, etc. The construction for this historical destination began in 1937 and ended in 2005. It is situated near Port Gibson in Mississippi. The features of Sunken Trace are available in the form of a historic pathway, a deep eroded trail, a scenic photography spot, etc. It is ideal for events like educational programs, ranger programs, small-scale historical reenactments, and nature observation.
The group travelers are suggested to travel to the sunken trail between sunrise and sunset. You can visit this historical and natural place every day of the week. The charter buses and other vehicles should be parked at the French Camp, Sunken Trace Trailhead, Jeff Busby Park, etc. These parking areas are free for visitors and drivers. There is no entry fee for group travelers in the Sunken Trace. They can enter this historical landmark and enjoy their traveling journey without paying the admission fees.
5. Visit Tupelo at Natchez Trace Parkway
Tupelo is a cultural and historical destination, which is well-renowned for its musical history and southern heritage. It is a city situated in North-Eastern Mississippi. This place is located at milepost 266 on the parkway. It features Elvis Presley’s birthplace museum, Tupelo National Battlefield, Tupelo Hardware Company, etc. The events held in this historical destination are concerts, pop-up art shows, fun and educational classes for children, and so on.
The Elvis Presley birthplace museum opens at 9 AM and closes at 4 PM from Monday to Saturday. You can travel to this museum between 1 PM and 4 PM on Sunday. The Tupelo National Battlefield is open from 9 AM to 4:30 PM all seven days a week. It is closed on Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, and New Year.
An ample parking space is available for parking vehicles near the birthplace museum. It is free for visitors and bus drivers. You can park your vehicles without paying the parking fees. The parking area near the Tupelo National Battlefield is only recommended for car parking. You are not allowed to park your buses, RVs, and other vehicles near the battlefield.
The entry is free for children aged 7 years or below in the birthplace museum. If the parents are traveling with their children above 7 years of age, then they must pay the admission fees before entering the museum. The entry fees for adults and senior citizens are 25 dollars and 20 dollars, respectively. There is no entry fee for tourists and local people in the Tupelo National Battlefield.
6. Hiking and Wildlife Viewing at Cypress Swamp
The Cypress Swamp is a loop trail, which is situated at milepost 122 along the Natchez Trace Parkway. It is a natural and outdoor destination recommended for Eco-tourism, hiking, walking, and wildlife viewing. This loop trail is considered a natural wetland ecosystem. It is equipped with bald cypress trees, water tupelo trees, and flooded forests. This natural trail is well-known for its rich wildlife and plant life.
The Cypress Swamp is open for all 24 hours for group travelers. You can travel to this loop trail on all seven days of the week. A designated parking area is available near the Cypress Swamp Loop Trail, which is only recommended for smaller vehicles. If you are traveling with a larger vehicle, then it should be parked at the nearby campgrounds. It can be a Jeff Busby campground, a Rocky Springs campground, or a Meriwether Lewis campground. The parking fees near these areas are free of cost. You should not pay the entry fees before entering the Cypress Swamp Loop Trail.
7. Water Sports Activities on the Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the seventh-most popular nearby attraction, located at milepost 328.4 near the Colbert Ferry Recreational Area. It is a natural and historical landmark, which is renowned for its ecology, rich history, and scenic beauty. This beautiful scenic area is popular for fishing, boating, swimming, and kayaking. It features picnic areas, lush forests, interpretive trails, etc.
The group travelers can view the Tennessee River and enjoy their water sports activities during the spring and summer seasons. They are suggested to travel between sunrise and sunset. The charter buses and other vehicles should be parked at the Colbert Ferry site. There is no parking fee for group travelers near this recreational area.
The entry is free for children, adults, and senior citizens at the Colbert Ferry Recreational Area. They can travel and enjoy their activities without paying the admission fees.
8. Jackson Falls Near Natchez Trace Parkway
The Jackson Falls is the eighth-most visited nearby attraction, which is usually recommended for small family reunions. It is a scenic waterfall area situated at milepost 404.7 along the Natchez Trace Parkway in Tennessee. This steep and paved trail is ideal for the spring and summer seasons. It is equipped with picnic areas, restrooms, a covered pavilion, and grills. You can enjoy hiking, birdwatching, and photography events with your group members at Jackson Falls. Avoid swimming, kayaking, and boating at this scenic area.
You can travel to Jackson Falls with your family members in the morning and afternoon. A designated parking area is situated right next to the trailhead. It is available in the form of a paved parking lot. This parking area is recommended for both smaller and larger vehicles. It is free for parking charter buses, recreational vehicles, private cars, etc.
The entry is free for tourists and local people at Jackson Falls. You can enjoy your traveling journey without paying the admission fees.
Conclusion
This blog describes the Natchez Trace Parkway with its trip planning, tour guide, and nearby attractions. It is a scenic highway, which is ideal for family reunions. Some popular attractions like Jackson Falls, Rock Spring Nature Trail, and Cypress Swamp are best suitable for wildlife conservation. The group of friends and family members can hire charter buses and other private vehicles while traveling to the Natchez Trace Parkway. They can enjoy swimming, boat tours, bird watching, hiking, and other recreational activities during the journey.