We drove to Nashville via the Natchez Trace. It’s two lanes, one each way, with a top speed of 50mph, so it’s very much a scenic route. But we were in no hurry, and it went where we were going, so we enjoyed a slower trip. We also got our best towing mileage ever – 10.7!
The Trace is a very old 440 mile trail. As far back as 1,000 years, Native Americans followed this route which mostly follows a geologic ridge line. European settlers also found it a useful passage, and they worked to improve it. In 1800, the U.S. Congress established a postal route along the Trace, running from Nashville to the capitol of the Territory of Mississippi in Natchez.
The U.S. National Park Service has done a great job with the Trace. Good roads, plenty of rest stops, a couple of visitor centres, hiking trails, and a lot of informational pull-outs. There are also several free primitive camping locations on the Trace and a dozen or so paid camps on or just off it. We highly recommend the journey!
Image Credit: © Paul H. Byerly
