Approximately 444 miles of quiet, two-lane road through wooded southeastern U.S. countryside -- there's nothing more American than that, which is why the Department of Transportation calls the Natchez Trace Parkway an All-American Road. The trace -- as locals call it -- winds through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, with plenty of interesting places to see along the way.
Natchez to Jackson
- The first leg of the trace runs the approximately 100 miles from Natchez to Jackson, Mississippi. Ten miles in, you'll want to stop at Emerald Mound, the second biggest Mississippian ceremonial mound in the U.S. Keep driving until you hit milepost 41.5 to see the Sunken Trace. This often-photographed landmark is a part of the original Natchez Trace trail and appears sunken as a result of the countless travelers who followed it, reports the National Park Service. Stop off at mile 54.8 to explore the abandoned town of Rocky Springs, which offers primitive campsites to travelers interested in taking more time to see the town's abandoned cemetery.
Jackson to Tupelo
- After you hit Jackson, be sure to check out the Ross Barnett Reservoir overlook -- at milepost 105.6 -- for some spectacular views of the water. Near milepost 122 you'll come to Cypress Swamp, which has a half-mile, self-guided trail through the swamp where some travelers might catch sight of an alligator, the park service says. If you're a history buff, don't miss the Bynum Mounds at mile 232.4. These Native American burial mounds offer visitors the chance to learn about some of the early Americans who lived near the Natchez Trace.
Tupelo to Tennessee
- On your journey from Tupelo to the Tennessee state line, start by stopping at the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center at mile 266. In the mornings and afternoons here, you'll have the chance to see educational videos and historical exhibits. Just three miles down the road, you'll find the graves of 13 Confederate soldiers whose identities remain unknown. At mile 330.2, bird lovers might see ruby-throated hummingbirds at the half-mile Rock Springs Nature Trail during their late-summer migration.
State Line to Nashville
- Take in a little natural beauty at Fall Hollow Trail in Tennessee at milepost 391.9. A five-minute walk from the trace, you'll find a viewing platform perfect for taking pictures of the area's waterfalls. If you can't stop at Fall Hollow, you'll have another chance to see waterfalls at mile 404.7 -- Jackson Falls. The paved trail will take you 900 feet lower in elevation into a gorge from which you can view the falls, so be ready for a difficult walk back to the car. The last major stop on the trace before its end near Nashville is perfect for architecture fanatics. At milepost, 438, you'll find a 155-foot-tall, double-arched bridge that received the Presidential Award for Design in 1995.
