Natchez Trace Recommendations Please
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 702
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Natchez Trace Recommendations Please
I am getting ready to ride Natchez Trace (south to north) and would be interested in recommendations for side trips and places to stay on either end and along the way.
Im going to take 3 weeks to go from Florida, up the Trace and over to the Smoky Mountains and hang around there before going back to Florida. Other than that I have no schedule.
Im going to take 3 weeks to go from Florida, up the Trace and over to the Smoky Mountains and hang around there before going back to Florida. Other than that I have no schedule.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 290
Likes: 1
From: Oxford, MS
The Trace is one of the most beautiful rides you will ever take. However, this will get old kinda fast. 50 MPH (don't go more than 55. These tickets are FEDERAL.)will get old fast and the trees start looking the same. My suggestion, if you are going to ride it very long is to get a map from the U.S Parks Service and check out the historic stops along the way.The McCullough Road exit at Tupelo, MS has several Motels close to the Trace. That is about half way. Good luck and be safe.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 451
Likes: 3
From: Laurel,Ms USA
Enjoy the Natchez Trace, I've ridden it several times. Not a good time to be on the trace though, the heat index has been above 100 for the past week in our area and even on the shady trace it's hotttttt! Be prepaired to stop often to enjoy the history of the trace and take in plenty of liquids (water). Remember the trace is a federal highway and the speed limit of 50 is enforced.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 441
Likes: 0
From: Brentwood, Tennessee
+1 on the Trace being boring. IMHO, skip the Trace, and Gatlinburg (too commercial & very crowded). Go straight to the N.C. mountains just S.E. of Gatlinburg to the Robbinsville, N.C. area. Pick a B.B. from off the net (check Deals Gap.com) and ride your azz off in the most beautiful area in S.E. USA. 3 weeks will not be too much. You may even wish you had 3 more weeks. Lot's of mountain roads.
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 395
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
We have lived in both Nashville and Jackson, MS so have lots of experience on the Trace. The Mississippi Delta region is like a step back in time. Previous advice all good. Be sure to take your time and enjoy the history along the way. Otherwise........boring.
Can't recall the name but there is a great steak place in Greenville, MS. And, while you are in the Delta, find a place that serves fried dill pickles. They are great and originated in that region. The one place you don't want to miss is the Loveless Cafe in Nashville. Right off the Trace south of Nashville. Famous for their homemade jelly, biscuits and fried chicken. Outstanding breakfast, lunch or dinner and they cater to the bikers. Also, the Opryland Hotel in Nashville is fantastic. Stay there if you can. Nashville has lots of great bars and restaurants. The Harley dealership in Franklin (a suburb of Nashville) is fun to visit. Lots of celebrity custom bikes in the showroom. And, the Country Music Hall of Fame is super.
Wish I was going!!
Can't recall the name but there is a great steak place in Greenville, MS. And, while you are in the Delta, find a place that serves fried dill pickles. They are great and originated in that region. The one place you don't want to miss is the Loveless Cafe in Nashville. Right off the Trace south of Nashville. Famous for their homemade jelly, biscuits and fried chicken. Outstanding breakfast, lunch or dinner and they cater to the bikers. Also, the Opryland Hotel in Nashville is fantastic. Stay there if you can. Nashville has lots of great bars and restaurants. The Harley dealership in Franklin (a suburb of Nashville) is fun to visit. Lots of celebrity custom bikes in the showroom. And, the Country Music Hall of Fame is super.
Wish I was going!!
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Tupelo, MS
The Natchez Trace is a great, slow, ride. Don't expect to make great time on this ride..... but it's worth it, if you are interested in our nations history, it's even better.
We have ridden the Trace from Tupelo to Natchez and from Tupelo to Nashville. The Tupelo to Nashville is much prettier... but the south end has it's pluses. A lot of different terrain. Watch out for deer and turkey. Drive no faster than 55mph.... speed limit is 50 with areas that are limited to 40mph.
Check out this web page for info: http://www.scenictrace.com/
Be sure to hit all the highlights and call or write and get a map before your trip. The NPS has a detailed map available. If you can't find one, let me know and I'll run out to the visitors center and pick one up and mail it to you.
Here is some stuff I posted about the North end of the Trace:
http://forum.roadrunner.travel/viewt...238&highlight=
And the South end:
http://forum.roadrunner.travel/viewt...069&highlight=
The south trip was before I bought my Ultra. The north trip was on the Ultra....
Let me know if I need to send you a map.
We have ridden the Trace from Tupelo to Natchez and from Tupelo to Nashville. The Tupelo to Nashville is much prettier... but the south end has it's pluses. A lot of different terrain. Watch out for deer and turkey. Drive no faster than 55mph.... speed limit is 50 with areas that are limited to 40mph.
Check out this web page for info: http://www.scenictrace.com/
Be sure to hit all the highlights and call or write and get a map before your trip. The NPS has a detailed map available. If you can't find one, let me know and I'll run out to the visitors center and pick one up and mail it to you.
Here is some stuff I posted about the North end of the Trace:
http://forum.roadrunner.travel/viewt...238&highlight=
And the South end:
http://forum.roadrunner.travel/viewt...069&highlight=
The south trip was before I bought my Ultra. The north trip was on the Ultra....
Let me know if I need to send you a map.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 4
From: Austin, TX - Some call it heaven.
Don't forget Vicksburg, MS, especially if you're into Civil War history. The national park there is not to be missed.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 335
Likes: 2
From:
Trace Suggestions
Rode the Trace last spring. Tupelo is a great halfway point to lay over. Lots of history and several famous Elvis sites.
I would get a Trace map and stop at several of the historical sites along the way. They are worth the stop.
Don't forget to check out the historic Windsor ruins. You have to go a few miles off the trace to get there but it's worth seeing.
We also stayed overnight in Nashville and heard some great bands, before we headed over to the Smoky Mountains for four days of riding.
Good luck.
I would get a Trace map and stop at several of the historical sites along the way. They are worth the stop.
Don't forget to check out the historic Windsor ruins. You have to go a few miles off the trace to get there but it's worth seeing.
We also stayed overnight in Nashville and heard some great bands, before we headed over to the Smoky Mountains for four days of riding.
Good luck.
senior experienced all-knowing leader of the unwise
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 351
From: USA
I live 6 miles off the trace south of Tupelo close to Davis Lake. From Tupelo south to Jackson is the most boring uninteresting road i've ever seen. Nothing but trees. I go 25 miles further just to avoid it on trips to Jackson. Tupelo to Nashville is much better, hills and curves at least and more stuff to see. Better have a full gas tank north of Jackson. For about 125 miles there's only one gas station on the trace. Otherwise you have to get off and hunt for one. If you come by there on a Sunday, there's a little bar called AJ's 6 miles east of the trace on Hwy 46, right at T intersection and you're there. Lots of biker type folks ride by there on Sunday. Not uncommom to see fifty or so bikes there. There usually some kind of live music and big oak trees with picnic tables around back. We have a clubhouse directly across the street and most of the time there's live music of some sort even if it's just a couple guys with guitars.
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