11 Underrated Stops on a Natchez Trace Parkway Road Trip

More Than Rest Stops

The Natchez Trace Parkway stretches 400+ miles through three states, and while everyone hits the big cities, you’ll also be driving some fascinating stops.

Each of these will connect you to the Trace’s triple legacy: ancient Indigenous heritage, 19th-century frontier struggles, and Depression-era engineering.

Emerald Mound (Milepost 10.3)

Just 10 miles into your trip, you’ll find this colossal pre-Columbian earthwork.

It’s North America’s second-largest Mississippian mound after Cahokia’s Monk’s Mound. Built between 1250–1730 CE, the builders moved an incredible 35,000 cubic yards of soil using just woven baskets to create this 35-foot-tall, 8-acre summit.

You can stroll along 0.3-mile loop trail circles the base, with signs explaining how it aligns with solstice events.

Mount Locust (Milepost 15.5)

This is one of only two surviving “stands” (inns) from the Trace’s glory days during the 1820s. Back in the day, enslaved workers like the cook Rachel served corn mush to “Kaintucks” (boatmen) who paid 25 cents for a night’s stay.

The original floorboards are still here, and you can check out a reconstructed slave cabin. Join a ranger program to see open-hearth cooking and cotton processing demonstrations. Take some time to visit the 43 unmarked graves in the slave cemetery.

Sunken Trace (Milepost 41.5)

This 200-yard preserved section shows you exactly why early travelers called the Trace “the Devil’s Backbone.”

Centuries of foot traffic carved out a natural trench 10-15 feet deep, so narrow that 19th-century riders had to get off their horses and lead them through single-file.

Moss-draped oaks filter sunlight onto the path, keeping it cool even in summer. Check out the wayside exhibit about how Choctaw guides helped widen the trail for military use in 1801.

Cypress Swamp (Milepost 122.0)

Need to escape that Mississippi summer heat? Take the 0.4-mile boardwalk through this flooded forest of bald cypress and water tupelo.

The swamp formed in an old Pearl River channel, and those weird sculptures sticking up from the tea-colored water? They’re cypress “knees” (root protrusions). Keep your eyes peeled for baby alligators sunning on logs and barred owls hanging out in hollow trunks.

Pharr Mounds (Milepost 286.7)

Most folks zoom right past these eight grassy mounds, but you’re looking at the Parkway’s oldest human-made landscape. Built between 1-200 CE by the Miller Culture, these burial mounds tell an incredible story of ancient trade networks.

The tallest one rises 18 feet and contained cremated remains plus copper artifacts that traveled up to 2,000 miles (from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast!).

Park at the overlook to catch something really special during the spring equinox, when the sunrise lines up perfectly with Mound E. You might even spot cattle grazing nearby.

Parkway Visitor Center (Milepost 266.0)

Don’t just grab a map and go when you reach this stop. This National Park Service hub near Tupelo covers 10,000 years of Trace history, from Paleo-Indian tools to 1930s Parkway construction.

Interactive exhibits take you from Paleo-Indian spear points to 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps road crews. Catch the 20-minute film with drone footage of sites along your route, then chat with rangers about recent black bear sightings.

The 40-foot dugout canoe replica shows you how traders got their goods to New Orleans back in the day. Before you leave, hit up the bookstore. They’ve got rare titles like “The Devil’s Backbone” (1962), the first-ever Parkway history book.

Tishomingo State Park (Milepost 304.5)

Named after a Chickasaw chief who fought against removal from these lands, this 1,200-acre park is where natural beauty meets New Deal history.

In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built all these gorgeous stone bridges and trails you’ll see. Start with the 70-foot swinging bridge over Bear Creek, then hit the Outcroppings Trail to see 300-million-year-old sandstone cliffs.

Rock climbers head for Boulder Field, while fishing fans cast for bass in the spring-fed pools. Time your visit right (April or October) and you might catch a Native American festival with stickball, which works like the great-grandparent of lacrosse.

Meriwether Lewis Gravesite (Milepost 385.9)

This is where the famous Lewis & Clark expedition leader met his mysterious end in 1809. Take the Campground Loop Trail past his monument (topped with a broken column to show a life cut short) and check out the reconstructed Grinder’s Stand Inn where he stayed.

The exhibits here dive deep into the forensic evidence, such as those three gunshot wounds make the old suicide theory pretty questionable.

For the full experience, stay overnight in one of the CCC-built cabins to feel the isolation Lewis faced on his final journey. October brings out historians in period dress debating what really happened here.

Jackson Falls & Baker Bluff (Milepost 404.7)

The 900-foot descent is a workout, but this seasonal waterfall (named for Andrew Jackson’s 1812 militia) is worth every step. Come after spring rains when it spreads 90 feet wide, creating a misty natural amphitheater.

If hiking isn’t your thing, head to Baker Bluff instead. The quartzite outcrops give you amazing views of the Duck River Valley, the same views 19th-century settlers used as lookouts.

Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge

Your trip’s almost over, but this engineering marvel is saving one of the best views for last. The 1,648-foot concrete arch (completed in 1994) soars 155 feet above Highway 96 and holds a cool record.

It’s North America’s first segmentally constructed arched bridge. Hit both overlooks: the south side for valley views, the north to appreciate its cantilevered design.

Loveless Cafe (Northern Terminus, Milepost 444)

Since 1951, this roadside icon has been the perfect place to end your 444-mile journey. They crank out more than 7,000 biscuits monthly, and the hickory-smoked ham will ruin all other country ham for you forever.

While you eat, check out the murals showing Trace history – look for the one with boatmen trading pelts for meals. The Hams & Jams shop is like a modern version of the old “stands” that kept travelers fed along the Trace. Grab some peach habanero jam for the road.