Natchez Trace Parkway
Mississippi Natchez Trace Tour
| Departure: | Pharr Mounds, Mississippi |
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| Destination: | Grand Village of the Natchez State Historic Site, Mississippi |
| Time to allow: | 1 day |
Enjoy the old South and learn about the history of the Natchez Trace as you explore the tree-shrouded pathways of the Natchez Trace Parkway.
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Start: Pharr Mounds
Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Visit Pharr Mounds, which comprises one of the largest Middle Woodland ceremonial sites in the southeastern United States.
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Stop 2: Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
Visit the site of a once crucial and hard fought battle of the Civil War. Brices Cross Roads is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives there.
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Stop 3: Chickasaw Village
Directions from previous place: Drive northwest on Grisham St. toward MS-370 E, turn left onto MS-370 W, then merge onto US-45 via the ramp on the left. After 15.1 miles, merge onto US-78 W toward Memphis and continue for another 1.2 miles. Take the Natchez Trace exit, then turn left onto the Natchez Trace Parkway. After 2.7 miles, end at the Chickasaw Village.
Distance from Previous Site: 26 miles / 41.6 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 20 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Take a look at exhibits that describe the daily life of the Chickasaw Indians, as well as the early history of this village site.
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Stop 4: Tupelo National Battlefield
Directions from previous place: Drive southwest on the Natchez Trace Parkway for 1.3 miles, turn left onto ramp and then turn right onto W. Main St. After 1 mile, end at Tupelo National Battlefield.
Distance from Previous Site: 2.7 miles / 4.3 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes Visit this one-acre site that commemorates the last major Civil War battle in Mississippi, one of the bloodiest in its history.
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Stop 5: Tombigbee National Forest
Directions from previous place: Drive west on W. Main St toward Monument Dr for 1.2 miles, take the Natchez Trace ramp, then turn right onto the Natchez Trace Parkway. After 25.4 miles, end at the Tombigbee National Forest.
Distance from Previous Site: 26.89 miles / 43.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 37 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Enjoy a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities in the Tombigbee National Forest.
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Stop 6: Bynum Mounds
Directions from previous place: Drive south on the Natchez Trace Parkway for 5.2 miles, turn left to take the MS-8 ramp, then turn right onto CR-92. Turn left onto CR-94, left onto MS-8, and drive for 2.1 miles before turning right onto CR-101. Turn right onto Aberden Rd, drive for 1 miles, then turn left onto CR-52 to end at Bynum Mounds.
Distance from Previous Site: 11.54 miles / 18.5 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 22 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes The six burial mounds and associated habitation area at the Bynum site were built during the Middle Woodland period, between 100 B.C. and 100 A.D.
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Stop 7: Kosciusko
Directions from previous place: Drive south on CR-52 toward CR-234, turn right onto Aberdeen Rd and drive for 2.5 miles. Turn right onto MS-8, left onto MS-15 and continue along the road for 16.5 miles before turning left onto the ramp. Turn right onto the Natchez Trace Parkway and drive for 48.9 miles, then turn left to take the MS-12 ramp. Turn right onto MS-12, drive for 3.8 miles, then turn left onto E. Jefferson St. Turn right to stay on E Jefferson St, drive for 1.4 miles, then turn left onto MS-43 to end at Kosciusko.
Distance from Previous Site: 75.56 miles / 120.9 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 hour 50 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour 10 minutes With buildings dating back to the late 19th century and a visitor center with information about the area, Kosciusko is a perfect place to visit to understand the Natchez Trace Parkway.
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Stop 8: Casey Jones Musuem State Park
Directions from previous place: Drive north on MS-43, turn left onto E Jefferson St and drive for 2.3 miles before turning left onto MS-12. After 15.3 miles, turn right onto US-5, turn left onto MS-12 and continue for 2.9 miles. Merge onto I-55 toward Jackson and drive for 22.8, take Exit 133. After 1 mile, end at the Casey Jones Museum.
Distance from Previous Site: 45.65 miles / 73.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 hour 3 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes Visit the park that is dedicated to the early days of the railroad as well as the heroics of Jonathan Luther 'Casey' Jones.
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Stop 9: Vicksburg National Military Park
Directions from previous place: Drive east on W School St. turn left onto Commerce Park Dr, then turn right onto S. Perkins St. Turn left onto W Jackson St Ave, drive half a mile before merging onto I-55 S via the left ramp. After 1 mile, merge onto I-220 S via exit 104 toward West Jackson, drive for 11.4 miles and merge onto I-20 W toward Vicksburg. Drive for 36.6 miles, take the W Clay St exit, then merge onto US-80. Turn left onto Baldwin Ferry Rd, left onto Hope St, then turn right onto Circle Lk. Turn left, and ten right onto Clay St. to end at the Vicksburg National Military Park.
Distance from Previous Site: 52.08 miles / 83.3 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 52 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Memorializing the people who lost their lives fighting for this strategic city during the Civil War, Vicksburg National Military Park is a remarkable site with museums, monuments and many artifacts.
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Stop 10: Rocky Springs
Directions from previous place: Drive east on Clay St, merge onto I-20 W and drive for 3 miles. Keep left to take US-61 S via exit 1B toward Natchez and drive for 22.9 miles before turning left onto Main Grand Gulf Rd. Road becomes MS-462 and after 4.9 miles, the road turns into Old Port Gibson Rd. After 6.8 miles, end at Rocky Springs.
Distance from Previous Site: 38.22 miles / 61.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 47 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes Once a bustling town on the Natchez Trace, now Rocky Springs is only a reminder of the history of the area. Walk along the short trail from the upper parking area leads to the old townsite.
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Stop 11: Mississippi Crafts Center
Directions from previous place: Drive west on Vaughan Rd toward Exum Rd; after 1 miles, merge onto I-55 via the ramp on the left. After 27.5 miles, take the Old Agency Rd exit toward Ridgeland. Turn left onto W Jackson St. and turn right onto N Perkins St. after half a mile. Turn left onto Commerce Park Dr, then turn right onto W School St to end at the Mississippi Crafts Center.
Distance from Previous Site: 30 miles / 48.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 31 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Experience the sales, demonstrations and exhibits of regional Mississippi crafts and artwork that are available at the Mississippi Crafts Center.
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Stop 12: Emerald Mound
Directions from previous place: Drive south on Old Port Gibson Rd for 1.7 miles, turn left onto Whitaker Rd, then right onto the Natchez Trace Parkway. After 15.5 miles, turn left to take the US-61 ramp. Drive for 28.2 miles, turn right onto Parkway Dr, then right onto MS-553. Stay straight to go onto Emerald Mound Rd and after half a mile, end at Emerald Mound.
Distance from Previous Site: 47.39 miles / 75.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 hour 4 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes Ancestors of the Natchez built this ceremonial mound about 1400. Visit the nation's second largest of its type; it covers nearly eight acres.
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End: Grand Village of the Natchez State Historic Site
Directions from previous place: Drive east on Emerald Mound Rd toward Proby Rd, road turns into MS-553. Turn right onto the Natchez Trace Parkway, drive for 2 miles, then turn right onto ramp. Merge onto US-61, drive for 7.2 miles, then turn left onto US-61. Follow the road for 3.0 miles and turn left onto Jefferson Davis Blvd. After half a mile, end at the Grand Village of t he Natchez.
Distance from Previous Site: 14.01 miles / 22.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 21 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes This site was the center of activities of the now-extinct Natchez Indians from 1682-1729. Visit here to see what their lives were like.
