natchez road trip map

Natchez Trace and the Gulf

When COVID-19 forced us to postpone our trip to Spain for another year we took the opportunity to drive the Natchez Trace Parkway, a road trip we’ve been wanting to do. We combined that with a couple of weeks along the Gulf of Mexico for some beach time and long walks in nice weather. We split our gulf time between Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. The beaches were nicer than expected and the weather was great for being active outdoors if not sitting on the beach (we’re more familiar with further south on the gulf in Florida). 

Food and Beverage $23 per day

Average per person per day. Our longer stays were at places with kitchen facilities, so we ate a lot of meals in. And did a lot of takeout, thanks to COVID.

Lodging $74-$168 per night

Franklin was our least expensive stay. Orange Beach was the priciest. Most places were in the $100-$110 per night range.

Transportation $267

Gas and a couple of bridge tolls. It was 3037 miles all in and we got 35 miles per gallon.

Entertainment $7

We stopped at a Mississippi state park that had a $4 entry fee. And we paid $3 to park at Ole Miss so we could walk in Bailey's Woods.

Days 1-2: Franklin, Tennessee

Planned Activities

  • Drive to start of the Natchez Trace
  • Check out Steve’s old neighborhood
  • Hike

Actual Activities

  • Drive to start of the Natchez Trace
  • Check out Steve’s old neighborhood
  • Hike at Meriwether Lewis

The Plan: We’ll spend our first day driving to the Nashville area to the start of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Then we plan to spend a day in the area checking out where Steve used to live near Summertown and probably do some hiking.  

The Reality: It all went according to plan!

Related Posts

Drive from home

542 miles

Stay at Best Western

Good for a quick stop. On a very busy roady near the freeway.

Get around by driving

We did some driving around while we were there; about 134 miles.

Day 3: Florence, Alabama

Planned Activities

  • Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway
  • Hike at Devils Backbone or Meriwether Lewis
  • Wichahpi Stone Wall
  • Rock Spring

Actual Activities

  • Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway
  • Rock Spring

The Plan: This will be our first full day on the parkway. We plan to stop for a hike and at any wayside stops that look interesting to us.

The Reality: We missed the Wichahpi Stone Wall, which wasn’t right on the parkway. Watch out for small detours like that. We still found enough along the Trace to keep us busy all day. 

Related Posts

Drive from Franklin

150 miles

Stay at Hampton Inn Downtown

Right downtown and not too far off the parkway.

Get around by driving

We stayed in downtown Florence and could walk to where we needed.

Days 4-5: Tupelo, Mississippi

Planned Activities

  • Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway
  • Hike at Tishomingo State Park
  • Pharr Indian Mounds
  • Day trip to Oxford

Actual Activities

  • Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway
  • Visit Tishomingo State Park
  • Pharr Indian Mounds
  • Day trip to Oxford

The Plan: Our second day on the parkway. We’re spending two nights here so we can take a day trip to Oxford and the Bailey’s Woods Trail, a hike that sounds interesting to us. 

The Reality: We skipped hiking at Tishomingo, opting for a short visit instead. The problem with hiking earlier in the day on a road trip is that you don’t know how long the rest of the drive will take!

Related Posts

Drive from Florence

75 miles

Stay at Hilton Garden Inn

So-so room in a great downtown location.

Get around by driving

We drove 153 miles in the area, mostly to Ole Miss and back.

Days 6-7: Jackson, Mississippi

Planned Activities

  • Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway
  • Day trip to Vicksburg

Actual Activities

  • Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway
  • Day trip to Vicksburg

The Plan: Our third day on the parkway. We’re spending two nights here so we can take a day trip to Vicksburg. 

The Reality: Our day trip ended up being to the Vicksburg National Military Park and not the town. Which worked out well. We spent a couple of hours at the park and could have spent longer except it was closing. 

Related Posts

Drive from Tupelo

177 miles

Stay at Home2 Suites

In Ridgeland, right next to the parkway.

Get around by driving

It was about 121 miles to Vicksburg and back.

Days 6-7: Natchez, Mississippi

Planned Activities

  • Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway
  • Hike at Rocky Springs or Potkopinu Trail
  • Emerald Mound
  • Sightseeing in Natchez

Actual Activities

  • Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway
  • Hike at Rocky Springs
  • Emerald Mound
  • Sightseeing in Natchez

The Plan: Our fourth and last day on the parkway. We’re spending a second night here because here are lots of old house in Natchez and we enjoy viewing them. We’ll probably spend a day just wandering around Natchez. 

The Reality: That’s pretty much what we did. The hikes at Rocky Springs were very short but interesting. Leg stretchers really.

Related Posts

Drive from Jackson

110 miles

Stay at The Guest House

The one B&B we found, and a great one!

Get around by driving

We detoured 20-some miles off the Trace to visit Windsor Ruins.

Days 10-14: Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi

Planned Activities

  • Hang out at the beach
  • Explore the town

Actual Activities

  • Walk the “boardwalk”
  • Hang out at the beach
  • Explore the town

The Plan: We thought we’d experience three different areas on the gulf. Bay Saint Louis sounds appealing for the small town atmosphere. 

The Reality: We did enjoy the small-town charm. The “boardwalk” (actually a wide concrete path) along the beach was a nice surprise and great for walking. The beach was more beautiful and longer than we expected too. 

Related Posts

Drive from Natchez

195 miles

Stay at Airbnb

A cute two bedroom cottage with a handy screened in porch.

Get around by driving

Days 15-18: Orange Beach, Alabama

Planned Activities

  • Hang out at the beach
  • Hike at the state park

Actual Activities

  • Hang out at the beach
  • Hike at the state park

The Plan: Orange Beach will represent the Alabama section of the gulf. We like the idea of walking to the state park to hike. 

The Reality: We did enjoy hiking at the state park. The beach was also great, and great for walking.  

Related Posts

Drive from Bay St Louis

144 miles

Stay at Airbnb

A condo right on the beach.

Get around by driving

Days 19-25: Panama City Beach, Florida

Planned Activities

  • Hang out at the beach
  • Walk on the beach

Actual Activities

  • Hang out at the beach
  • Walk on the beach

The Plan: While we’re in the area we thought we’d hit the Florida panhandle, since I haven’t been to this part of the state. My brother’s family likes this area. 

The Reality: We liked it too. This is probably the closest we’ve come to traveling “like a local.” We didn’t sightsee or eat out; just went back and forth to the beach.

Related Posts

Drive from Orange Beach

144 miles

Stay at Airbnb

A condo in a quiet neighborhood less than five minutes walk to the beach.

Get around by driving

Days 26-27: Panama City Beach to Home

Drive from Panama City Beach

974 miles

Stay at Country Inn & Suites

One night in the Nashville area on the way home

Get around by driving

Resources

book cover