Biking the Natchez Trace Parkway
North to South from Tupelo, MS to French Camp, MS

Overview Map:

• Lodging option(s) and Bicycle Route(s):
  to the Parkway for the night BEFORE biking this section
• Parkway route in Red:
  bike south approximately 81 miles on the Parkway from the Tupelo, MS area (milepost 276, 262 or 256) to French Camp, MS (milepost 180.8)
  Note: vehicle traffic is much higher in the Tupelo area (milepost 266 - 258) than in the rural areas. It is best to avoid Tupelo during morning and afternoon rush hour traffic if you can - or, shuttle (if you have a support vehicle) thru the Parkway from milepost 266 thru 258.
• Bicycle Route(s) and Lodging option(s):
  from the Parkway for the night AFTER biking this section
• Below the Overview Map:
  click on Points of Interest categories (food, restrooms, etc.) to add them to the map
• Click on any of the Points of Interest for more info.
• Click on any of the Routes:
  Parkway in Red, lodging routes in other colors - to view a preview and detailed route

Below the Overview Map:

• Information and Links:
  
  • Before Biking on the Parkway:
    in the morning in the Tupelo, MS area
  • Biking on the Parkway:
    during the day from milepost 276, 266 or 262 to milepost 180.8
  • After Biking on the Parkway:
    in the afternoon/evening in French Camp, MS
• Links to complete Natchez Trace Parkway 442 Mile, North to South Itinerary Routes that this one day route is part of

Before Biking on the Parkway
(in the morning near milepost 262)

Lodging (night before) options with Bicycle Route to Parkway, Camping, Food, Bicycle Shop:

Lodging:

Grace On Trace Homestead (north of Tupelo)
Vacation Rental - 2 Guest Rooms/7 Beds/Sleeps 10 - Country setting on 5 acres about 13 miles north of Tupelo.
Route: Bike or Drive 2.1 miles to Parkway entrance (County Road 1303 at milepost 276) - RidewithGPS Route

Moon Lake Retreat (west of Tupelo)
Vacation Rental - 2 Guest Rooms/2 Beds/Sleeps 4 - A 77 acre farm located 10 miles west of downtown Tupelo.
Route:
Biking Unsupported: Bike 12.7 miles to Parkway entrance (recommended bicycle route from Moon Lake Retreat to Parkway - Palmetto Road at milepost 256) - RidewithGPS Route
Biking Supported: Drive 6.5 miles to the Parkway at the McCullough Blvd entrance (milepost 262.5).

Tupelo Hotels - There are several hotels located 1.5 to 3 miles of the Parkway (several on North Gloster Street about 2 miles from the McCullough Blvd exit at milepost 262). See: tupelo.net

Campgrounds along/near the Parkway:

• Tupelo Bicycle-only Campground - The park service has a bicycle only, primitive" campground near the Parkway Visitor Center (milepost 266). Free tent camping only for cyclists biking the parkway.

Campgrounds further from the Parkway (not easy/safe to bike to):

• There are other (private and state park) campgrounds in the Tupelo area that you can drive to from the Parkway. For info, go to www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/campgrounds-on-or-adjacent-to-the-parkway.htm

Food:

• Numerous Tupelo Markets and Restaurants

Bicycle Shop:

• Trails & Treads -
  Bicycle Shop 3 miles south of Parkway exit (milepost 266.1) onto MS Hwy 145 at 3870 Market Center Drive, Suite 200, Tupelo

Natchez Trace Cycling
Promoting Cycling and Cycling Safety

Biking on the Parkway
(during the day from milepost 276, 262 or 256 to milepost 180.8)

Along/Near the Parkway - Restrooms, Top 30 Favorite Sites and Exits with Services Nearby:

RidewithGPS route of the Parkway from milepost 276 to milepost 180.8 that includes the following points of interest and guidance:
ridewithgps.com/routes/42567861
You can download the route to your phone!

• Milepost 276 - Lee County Road 1303
  Start of the Day on the Parkway (if previous night staying at Grace On Trace Homestead) - entrance Lee County Road 1303
• Milepost 271 - MS Hwy 363 exit
  Market 0.8 miles west of Parkway
• Milepost 269.4 - Confederate Gravesites and Old Trace
  Top 30, Civil War History, Old Trace
• Milepost 266.1 - MS Hwy 145 exit
  Market and Restaurant 1.5 miles south of Parkway, Bicycle Shop 3 miles south of Parkway
• Milepost 266-258 - Note: vehicle traffic is much higher in the Tupelo area (milepost 266 - 258) than in the rural areas. It is best to avoid Tupelo during morning and afternoon rush hour traffic. Traffic will still be high in Tupelo in the middle of the day. If you have a support vehicle, you might consider driving (rather than biking) thru this area.
• Milepost 266.0 - Parkway Visitor Center
  Top 30, Restroom, History/Nature Exhibit, Visitor/Info Center, Hiking Trail, Picnic Area, Bicycle Repair Station
• Milepost 261.8 - Chickasaw Village Site
  Top 30, Hiking Trail, Indian History
• Milepost 262.5 - MS Hwy 178 (McCullough Blvd) exit
  Market 0.3 mile west of Parkway, Restaurants 2+ miles east of the Parkway on North Gloster Road.
• Milepost 262.5 - MS Hwy 178 (McCullough Blvd)
  Start of the Day on the Parkway (if biking without a support vehicle and if previous night staying at a hotel on North Gloster Road) - entrance MS Hwy 178 (McCullough Blvd)
• Milepost 260 - Main Street exit
  Market 0.4 mile east of Parkway
• Milepost 256.9-239.2 - Road Construction
  The Parkway between milepost 256.9 and milepost 239.2 has been under construction (total redo of the road) since August 16, 2023. This section re-opened to traffic on December 14, 2023. Travelers and cyclists should expect single-lane closures into the Summer of 2024 as work continues to add an additional layer of asphalt, add permanent striping, and grade the shoulder. Hopefully, only 2 miles or less of the 17.7 miles will be single-lane traffic at a time. When cycling always wear brightly colored clothing and have both front and rear flashing lights on your bicycle.
• Milepost 256 - Palmetto Road (Verona) exit
  Market 0.7 mile east of Parkway
• Milepost 256 - Palmetto Road (Verona)
  Start of the Day on the Parkway (if previous night staying at Moon Lake Farm OR if you have a support vehicle you could start biking from here to avoid heavy Tupelo vehicle traffic) - entrance Palmetto Road (Verona)
• Milepost 233.2 - Witch Dance
  Restroom, Picnic Area, Hiking Trail
• Milepost 232.4 - Bynum Mounds
  Top 30, Indian History
• Milepost 204 - US Hwy 82 exit
  Markets and Restaurants less than a mile east of Parkway
• Milepost 195 - MS Hwy 9 exit
  Market 100 feet south of Parkway
• Milepost 193.1 - Jeff Busby Park
  Top 30, Restroom, Hiking Trail, Scenic Overlook, Picnic Area
• Milepost 180.8 - French Camp Historic Village
  Top 30, Restroom, Old Trace, History Exhibit, Restaurant
• Milepost 180.8 - French Camp, MS
  End of the Day on the Parkway - exit at MS Hwy 413 exit - French Camp, MS adjacent to the Parkway

After Biking on the Parkway
(in the afternoon/evening near milepost 180.8)

Milepost 180.8 - French Camp, MS adjacent to the Parkway - Lodging with Bicycle Route from Parkway, Camping, Food and Featured Points of Interest Options:

Lodging:

French Camp B&B
Bed & Breakfast - 4 Guest Rooms,3 Cabins/13 Beds/Sleeps 20 - The French Camp community is steeped in early Trace history.
Route: Bike 1,700 feet east of Parkway exit (MS Hwy 413 at milepost 180.8) - RidewithGPS Route
Food: A full breakfast is served Monday thru Saturday. On Sunday a continental breakfast is provided.
More Info:
Overview Description
Accommodations and Rates
Cyclist Amenities

Campgrounds along/near the Parkway:

• Jeff Busby Park - The park service has an RV and tent campground at the Jeff Busby site at milepost 193.1. Free RV and tent camping.

Food:

• Council House Restaurant - Part of the French Camp Historic Village (located behind the Huffman Cabin Gift Shop). The restaurant is open on Monday from 11am to 2pm, Tuesday thru Thursday from 11am to 7pm and Friday and Saturday from 11am to 8pm.
• Lost Gringos Coffeehouse - A full service specialty coffee shop that also provides ice cream treats, Italian sodas and teas. The unbelievable atmosphere is the perfect break from your trek on the Natchez Trace.
• Also a market located 0.1 mile west of the Parkway.

Featured Points of Interest:

• French Camp Historic Village at milepost 180.7 - French Camp Historic Village sits alongside the Natchez Trace. Come discover how early American life used to be in this quaint log cabin village. The Huffman Cabin Gift Shop and the French Camp Log House Museum are open to the public Monday - Saturday from 9am to 4pm and the Council House Restaurant.
• Barlow Blue Jewelry & Gifts - Home of Tonya Barlow Jewelry and Monogrammed Jewelry, Monogram Shirts, Monogram Decals, Custom Ordered Jewelry, Hand Made Jewelry, Clothing, Monogrammed Accessories, Personalized Shirts
• French Camp, MS - The town dates back to circa 1810, when a Frenchman, Louis Lefleur, established a "stand" (trading post and inn), on the Natchez Trace. Local people called it the Frenchman's Camp which was later shortened to French Camp. Today, French Camp is the home of French Camp Academy.