Out and Back Natchez Trace Bicycle Itineraries

An alternative to biking the entire length of the Natchez Trace Parkway from one end to the other is biking a section of the Natchez Trace as an "out and back" route.

Why should you consider an "out and back" route?

Biking end to end in either direction is 444+ miles. Perhaps you want to bike a shorter distance or only have a few days to bike.
Finishing your bike trip where you started from can make it easier to return to transportation that will take you back home (your vehicle, airport, rental car, family/friends that will pick you up, etc.).
Better weather. The best times to bike the entire length of the Natchez Trace is in the spring (late March-early May) and fall (late September-early November). If your time frame is during cooler weather you might want to bike "out and back" at the southern end in order to avoid colder temperatures at the northern end of the Natchez Trace. Conversely, if your time frame is during warmer weather you could bike "out and back" at the northern end of the Natchez Trace. Average temperature differences between Natchez and Nashville can be as much as 12 degrees.

For "out and back" itinerary routes, we have divided the Parkway into three sections:

All of our "out and back" itineraries are in one of the three sections. This means none of the itineraries go thru Tupelo or Jackson where the volume of vehicles on the Parkway is much higher. Most "out and back" trips are 8 days or less. So, let's avoid those areas for these itineraries.

Northern Section:
between Northern Terminus / Nashville, TN (milepost 442) and North Tupelo, MS (milepost 266)
Central Section:
between South Tupelo, MS (milepost 256) and Ridgeland, MS (milepost 100), plus the Tanglefoot Trail®
Southern Section:
between Raymond, MS (milepost 79) and Southern Terminus / Natchez, MS (milepost 0)