The Ultimate Guide to the Natchez Trace Parkway
Often overshadowed by the more famous Blue Ridge Parkway in the Appalachian Mountains, the Natchez Trace Parkway winds for 444 memorable miles through Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. Although the scenery alone makes this legendary drive worth taking, you’ll find many unique landmarks, historical sights, and natural features along the way that are worth exploring.
1. Eat Biscuits at Loveless Cafe – Nashville, Tennessee
Fuel up for your journey at Loveless Cafe, located on Highway 100 near the entrance to the parkway. Originally opened in 1951, this roadside restaurant quickly became an essential destination. Diners will be welcomed with a basket of the cafe’s famous biscuits, buttery and soft, known throughout the Southern states. You can even watch them being rolled out by the staff through a glass window. Biscuits are best topped with assorted jams, jellies, or sorghum, a molasses-based sweetener. Other dishes to try are the country ham, fried chicken, and hashbrown casserole.
2. Trail of Tears at Te-lah-nay’s Wall – Florence, Alabama
It’s impossible to talk about the Natchez Trace Parkway without acknowledging the Native American history and the tragic Trail of Tears. Legend has it that Te-lah-nay found her way back to the area by following the sounds of the “singing river,” now known as the Tennessee River. In honor of his ancestor, Tom Hendrix spent more than 30 years building a wall from local limestone rocks, representing the ups and downs of Te-lah-nay’s journey.
The wall has become a tribute to the suffering of the Yuchi and other tribes who were forced from their ancestral homes, creating a poignant historical landmark along the route.
3. Muscle Shoals Sound Studio – Muscle Shoals, Alabama
North Alabama boasts a rich musical heritage, with the towns of Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Florence, and Tuscumbia being home to recording studios that crafted hits for iconic musicians. FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, both located in Muscle Shoals, gained recognition in the segregated 1960s for their unique sound. Artists like The Rolling Stones, Cher, and Aretha Franklin recorded here. Thanks to renovations and renewed interest, both studios offer tours that continue to attract modern artists who flock to this musical hub.
4. Elvis Presley’s Birth Home – Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo serves as the official headquarters of the Natchez Trace Parkway and is a halfway point for travelers. The Elvis Presley Birth Home encompasses his humble shotgun house where he was born in 1935, his childhood church, and a museum dedicated to his legacy. Fans visit from around the world not only to see where “The King” grew up but also to learn more about his early influences. The local hardware store is where he purchased his first guitar, and a nearby drive-in is known for the “slug burgers” he enjoyed.
5. Cypress Swamp – Canton, Mississippi
If you’re short on time but still want to experience the parkway’s natural beauty, make a detour to Milepost 122 for the Cypress Swamp on the Pearl River. Here, you can observe the wide-trunked tupelo and cypress trees amidst the reflective waters, with the chance to spot alligators sunning themselves along the banks. Explore its eerie beauty from the wooden boardwalk that stretches nearly a mile through the swamp.
6. Mississippi Civil Rights Museum – Jackson, Mississippi
Central to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum offers an in-depth look at this critical period in American history. With eight interactive galleries, visitors can spend hours exploring the narratives of Adversity faced by the African American community, including significant events and figures from the movement.
7. The Sunken Trace – Port Gibson, Mississippi
Located at Milepost 41.5, the Sunken Trace serves as a tactile reminder of how early Mississippians traveled by foot and horseback. Over thousands of years, the earth has worn away, creating a canyon-like path that showcases the history of this region.
8. Windsor Plantation Ruins – Port Gibson, Mississippi
Only the Corinthian columns remain of Windsor Plantation, one of the finest antebellum homes in the region. Originally owned by Smith Coffee Daniell II, the house famously survived the Civil War battles nearby but ultimately burned down due to an accidental fire in 1890.
9. Emerald Mound – Natchez, Mississippi
During the Mississippian period, Native Americans constructed ceremonial mounds in this region. The largest site, located at Milepost 10.3, is the Emerald Mound, which stands at 35 feet high and served as a ceremonial site for tribes in the region.
10. Forks of the Road – Natchez, Mississippi
Ending the journey at the bluffs of the Mississippi River, Natchez is known for its riches derived from plantation history. However, the Forks of the Road site stands as a reminder of the dark legacy of the slave trade, offering visitors a sobering glimpse into this essential part of American history.
This article was originally published in September 2018 and updated in May 2020.
