Biking the Natchez Trace Parkway
North to South from Ridgeland, MS to Port Gibson, 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 62 miles on the Parkway from Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100-101) to Port Gibson, MS (milepost 39-41)
• Lodging option(s) and bicycle route(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 Ridgeland, MS
  • Biking on the Parkway:
    during the day from milepost 100 to milepost 39-41
  • After Biking on the Parkway:
    in the afternoon/evening in Port Gibson, 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 100)

Milepost 100 - Ridgeland, MS - Lodging, Camping, Bicycle Shops and Food:

Lodging:

In the Ridgeland, MS area (milepost 100-101) there are several hotels located within 1 to 3 miles of the Parkway. The hotels located north of the Parkway are closer to and easier to bike to from the parkway/multi-use path. Hyatt Place Jackson/Ridgeland (601-898-8815) and Hampton Inn & Suites Jackson-Ridgeland (769-300-5556) are easy to bike to from the multi-use path (800 feet west of I-55 underpass, exit the walking/bike path onto Highland Colony Pkwy and bike north) and there are restaurants in walking distance. For hotel info, see www.visitridgeland.com.

Camping:

• In the Jackson/Ridgeland area there are no campgrounds that you can easily bike to from the Parkway. There is a campground located north of the Jackson Metro area and half a mile east of the Parkway at milepost 123.8:
  Ratliff Ferry Trading Post Campground. The campground has both RV and tent camping. Call 769-231-9525 to make sure they are open on your arrival date.
• There are other (private and state park) campgrounds in the Jackson Metro 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

Bicycle Shops:

• The Bike Crossing -
  The Bike Crossing is located about 150 yards north of the Parkway at the corner of Old Town Crossing and Jackson Street in Ridgeland and is accessible from the multi-use trail that parallels the Parkway.
• Indian Cycle Fitness & Outdoor -
  Indian Cycle is located just south of the Parkway on one of the Multi-Use Path's spur routes.
• Bicycle Revolution -
  Mobile service available by appointment.
• RideSouth -
  Located south of the Parkway in Brandon, MS.

Food:

• Numerous Ridgeland/Madison, MS Markets and Restaurants

I/We Biked the Natchez Trace
T-Shirts, Stickers, Coffee Mugs, Sweatshirts...

Biking on the Parkway
(during the day from milepost 100 to milepost 39-41)

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

RidewithGPS route of the Parkway from milepost 100 to milepost 39 that includes the following points of interest and guidance:
ridewithgps.com/routes/42857413
You can download the route to your phone!

• Milepost 101 - Multi-Use Path / Highland Colony Parkway intersection
  Start of the Day - begin biking on the Multi-Use Path
• Milepost 100.7 - Choctaw Agency
  Exit the Multi-Use Path - turn left into the Choctaw Agency parking area and back to the Parkway - turn right onto the Parkway to continue biking south. Note: the Multi-Use Path continues further south of Choctaw Agency - do not continue on the path as there is no easy access to the Parkway south of Choctaw Agency.
• Milepost 89 - Pinehaven Drive exit
  Market and Restaurant 0.5 mile south of Parkway
• Milepost 89 - Clinton Visitor Center
  Restroom, Visitor/Info Center 0.2 mile north of Parkway
• Milepost 79 - MS Hwy 467 exit
  Several Markets and Restaurants 2.5-3 miles east of Parkway
• Milepost 59 - Fisher Ferry Road exit
  Market 0.8 mile north of Parkway
• Milepost 54.8 - Rocky Springs
  Top 30, Restroom, Hiking Trail, Old Trace, Picnic Area
• Milepost 41.5 - Sunken Trace
  Top 30, Old Trace
• Milepost 41 - MS Hwy 18
  End of the Day on the Parkway (if biking with a support vehicle) - exit onto MS Hwy 18
• Milepost 39.2 - Port Gibson District Office (Ranger/Maintenance Station)
  End of the Day on the Parkway (if biking without a support vehicle) - walk your bike off the Parkway to the west into the driveway of the Port Gibson District Office
  Follow one of the "Lodging" routes (these routes avoid MS Hwy 18 that has a lot of vehicle traffic) to your Port Gibson overnight stay!

Downtown Karla Brown
Tours, Trips & Shuttles for Cyclists

After Biking on the Parkway
(in the afternoon/evening near milepost 41)

Milepost 41 - Port Gibson, MS adjacent to the Parkway - Lodging with Bicycle Route from Parkway, Camping, Food and Featured Points of Interest Options:

Lodging:

Isabella B&B
Bed & Breakfast - 4 Guest Rooms/6 Beds/Sleeps 10 - Located on Port Gibson’s historic Church Street, this Queen Anne Victorian was built in 1880.
Route:
- Biking Unsupported: Bike 1.7 miles west of Parkway (Port Gibson District Office (Ranger/Maintenance Station) at milepost 39.2) - RidewithGPS Route
- Biking Supported: Exit Parkway at milepost 41 onto MS Hwy 18 and then drive west 2 miles.
Food: Guest are served a full southern breakfast. For dinner, there are various restaurants nearby - hosts can shuttle cyclists to restaurants.
More Info:
Overview Description
Accommodations and Rates
Cyclist Amenities

Canemount Plantation Inn B&B (14 miles southwest of Port Gibson)
Bed & Breakfast - 6 Guest Rooms/8 Beds/Sleeps 16 - 7 miles from the Parkway (milepost 30) near Alcorn State and Windsor Ruins. Enjoy the tranquility of the South at this antebellum plantation.
Route:
- Biking Unsupported: Bike 15.7 miles southwest of Parkway (Port Gibson District Office (Ranger/Maintenance Station) at milepost 39.2) - RidewithGPS Route or, bike 7 miles west of Parkway exit (MS Hwy 552 at milepost 30) - RidewithGPS Route
- Biking Supported: Exit Parkway at milepost 30 onto MS Hwy 552 and then drive west 7 miles.
Food: A full breakfast is served in the Main Home.
More Info:
Overview Description
Accommodations and Rates
Cyclist Amenities

Campgrounds along/near the Parkway:

• The park service has an RV and tent campground at the Rocky Springs site (milepost 54.8). Free RV and tent camping.
  Note: There is no potable water anywhere at Rocky Springs due to a leak on the water line before it enters Natchez Trace Parkway. The Rocky Springs campground restrooms toilets are open.
• Gray's RV Park & Campground - A mile and a half off the parkway at milepost 41. RV and tent camping.
  3026 Highway 61 N, Port Gibson, MS
  (601) 437-0993

Food:

• Port Gibson, MS Markets and Restaurants

Featured Points of Interest:

• Port Gibson, Mississippi - Port Gibson is located sixty miles southwest of Jackson, twenty-five miles south of Vicksburg and forty miles northeast of Natchez. Chartered as a town on March 12, 1803, Port Gibson is Mississippi's third oldest settlement, being occupied since 1729. Port Gibson was the site of several clashes during the American Civil War and was important during Ulysses S. Grant's Vicksburg Campaign. The Battle of Port Gibson occurred on May 1, 1863. Many of Port Gibson's historic buildings survived the Civil War because Grant believed the town was "too pretty to burn".
• Milepost 41.5 - Sunken Trace
  Top 30, Old Trace
• 12 miles southwest of Port Gibson - Windsor Ruins - Top 30 site - 23 columns of the mansion have been standing for over 140 years after the rest of the building was destroyed by fire.
• 8 miles northwest of Port Gibson - Grand Gulf Military Park - Located next to the Mississippi River, Grand Gulf Military Monument Park is dedicated to preserving the memory of both the town of Grand Gulf and the Civil War battle which took place there.