Natchez Trace Parkway | How Long Is the Natchez Trace

Know Before You Go

Plan Your Visit

About the Natchez Trace Parkway

Spanning three states, this 444-mile scenic byway covers 10,000 years of North American history. The roughly 10-mile stretch through Tupelo is just one section of the larger trail, but it packs enough stops to fill a full day.

While the most popular way to see the Trace is by car, plenty of cyclists take advantage of this route. The two-lane byway is closed to commercial vehicles, and you won't see a stoplight or billboard in sight.

Know Before You Go

Entry and exit points are limited, and cell signal isn't always available. Look at a map before you hit the trail
No lodging, gas stations, or dining options are directly on the Trace, so plan accordingly
Planning an overnight stay? Know your nearest exit point in advance. See our lodging page for options near Tupelo
Fuel up before you go. Grab coffee or takeout from Strange Brew Coffeehouse or Crave
Pack snacks and water, especially in summer when temperatures climb

1. Parkway Visitor Center

Location: Milepost 266

Start your day at the Parkway Visitor Center at Milepost 266, located near the intersection of Highway 145 and the Natchez Trace Parkway. It’s the only official visitor center on the Parkway, located right here in Tupelo. The rangers will tell you everything you need to know to plan your Natchez Trace trip and point you to trails within walking distance.

Exterior of the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center in the spring with a green tree

2. Tupelo Trail

Location: Natchez Trace Milepost 261.8

This trailhead sits across the Parkway from the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center and offers a six-mile walk along the outskirts of Tupelo (12 miles round trip). At Milepost 261.8, you’ll find the Chickasaw Village Site, the area once occupied by the Chickasaw Nation. Hikers can follow a short trail with information about the area’s original inhabitants, their dwellings, and their interactions with native plants and flora.

The Chickasaw Village Site provides access to the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and a 0.5-mile interpretive trail. Visitors can then continue north to the Old Town Overlook at Milepost 263.9. This section of the Scenic Trail is open to hikers only and requires walking on the Parkway for road and creek crossings.

3. Dogwood Valley

Location: Natchez Trace Milepost 275.2

About 20 minutes from Downtown Tupelo, you’ll find Dogwood Valley. While plenty of dogwood trees grow on the East Coast, there aren’t many on the Natchez Trace, which makes this spot all the more special. Explorers can take in the trees on a 15-minute self-guided walk, with informative tidbits along the way.

4. Twentymile Bottom Overlook

Location: Natchez Trace Milepost 278.4

Have you worked up an appetite yet? About 25 miles from Tupelo, you’ll find the Twentymile Bottom Overlook, where picnic tables await. This viewpoint looks over Twentymile Bottom, once a low area along the streams through which the Natchez Trace passed. Today, the land has been cultivated, and it’s a great stop to stretch your legs.

5. Witch Dance

Location: Natchez Trace Milepost 233.2

It’s Halloween year-round at Witch Dance! Keep an eye out for patches of scorched-looking earth; legend has it that witches gathered here to dance, and wherever their feet touched the ground, the grass withered and died.

Today, the spot is a campground, but an eerie one at that. It’s also a starting point for an 18-mile hiking or equestrian trail. You’ll also find 17 picnic tables and 5 grills.

6. Pharr Mounds Milepost

Location: Natchez Trace Milepost 286.7

About 40 minutes outside Tupelo, Pharr Mounds is a 90-acre archaeological site dating back to 1 and 200 CE – long before Europeans arrived. Located at the headwaters of the Tombigbee River, the site features several dome-shaped mounds. Archaeological excavations indicate it may have been a trading hub, uncovering ancient fire pits, clay platforms, and Native American burial sites.

7. Tishomingo State Park

Location: Milepost 304

Continue your archaeological adventures at Tishomingo State Park. Along the Natchez Trace, the park sits in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, about 45 miles from town. Named for the chief of the Chickasaw Nation, the park is steeped in history. Archaeological excavations indicate the presence of Paleo Indians as early as 7000 B.C.

In addition to plenty of learning opportunities, visitors can also check out hiking trails, rock formations, and a swinging bridge.

Plan Your Visit

Expect to see a different side of the Trace at any time of the year. In the fall, there are plenty of opportunities for leaf peeping, and in the spring, expect to see fields upon fields of wildflowers. If you’re planning a summer trip, longer days mean more time to explore, but be sure to carry enough water, as temperatures can climb.

If you need a good night's sleep after an adventure on the trail, check out our accommodations page and book a cozy hotel. And if you've worked up an appetite, explore the wonderful food and drink options Tupelo has to offer.