Campground Report - Natchez State Park, Natchez, MS

I have stayed at Natchez State Park a number of times and can recommend it but a couple of words of caution.
1. The paved road leading to the park is a small narrow rough country road, fortunately it is not long.
2. The sign to enter the park is on your left off this road and it is small and very easy to miss then if you are in a big rig you will have to go a ways down the road to turn around (personal experience)
3. If you go to the park office in you big rig (mine is 40') you will have to unhook and maneuver in the parking lot to go back to the campground loop.

Other than those items we really enjoy that campground, the Trace and the city of Natchez. When we lived in La. we visited that area many times and never tired of learning of the history of the region.

Laman wrote:
I have stayed at Natchez State Park a number of times and can recommend it but a couple of words of caution.
1. The paved road leading to the park is a small narrow rough country road, fortunately it is not long.
2. The sign to enter the park is on your left off this road and it is small and very easy to miss then if you are in a big rig you will have to go a ways down the road to turn around (personal experience)
3. If you go to the park office in you big rig (mine is 40') you will have to unhook and maneuver in the parking lot to go back to the campground loop.

Other than those items we really enjoy that campground, the Trace and the city of Natchez. When we lived in La. we visited that area many times and never tired of learning of the history of the region.

Good tips. Thanks for sharing. About the signage to which you refer, on which road and in which direction would one encounter that? As I recall the park can be entered on Wickliff road in either of two ways: off of State Park Road nearer the north western side of the park or of Tate Road nearer the north eastern side. For less of the narrow twisty route the State Park Road might be better. Is that what you recall too?

Also, the Trace and 61 are traveling roughly parallel to each other near the park and signage may be different on one than the other. I don't know about that. Do you?

Also, the Natchez Trace Parkway is a great route to travel. Speed limit is 50 mph so take your time. All exits from the parkway are interstate style (ramps, no stop signs). But take the time to stop at each attraction along the way and you're in for a great historical experience. The parkway runs 444 miles starting from Natchez Mississippi and ends near Nashville, TN. (or if you prefer the drive the other direction. The parkway is run by The National Park Service . If you're looking for an alternative from the (East Coast): Blue Ridge Parkway or the Appalachian Trail, this is it! I think the Appalachian Trail get's so much attention, most of America doesn't even realize this route even exists in the middle part of the country.

And by the way, Natches is a really interesting town. Well worth a couple days to stay at the State Park and spend some time, then more time driving the parkway.

RussOnTheRoad wrote:

Laman wrote:
I have stayed at Natchez State Park a number of times and can recommend it but a couple of words of caution.
1. The paved road leading to the park is a small narrow rough country road, fortunately it is not long.
2. The sign to enter the park is on your left off this road and it is small and very easy to miss then if you are in a big rig you will have to go a ways down the road to turn around (personal experience)
3. If you go to the park office in you big rig (mine is 40') you will have to unhook and maneuver in the parking lot to go back to the campground loop.

Other than those items we really enjoy that campground, the Trace and the city of Natchez. When we lived in La. we visited that area many times and never tired of learning of the history of the region.

Good tips. Thanks for sharing. About the signage to which you refer, on which road and in which direction would one encounter that? As I recall the park can be entered on Wickliff road in either of two ways: off of State Park Road nearer the north western side of the park or of Tate Road nearer the north eastern side. For less of the narrow twisty route the State Park Road might be better. Is that what you recall too?

Also, the Trace and 61 are traveling roughly parallel to each other near the park and signage may be different on one than the other. I don't know about that. Do you?

To me the the signage off the Trace and on Hwy 61 are both easy to see and interpret. We always enter the park from the northwest from 61 to State park rd. then turn left on to Wickliff Rd. (hard to see sign) then Wickliff rd. to the sign on your right leading into the park. It is a curvy road up to the headquarters but a good rd. and easily done.

One hint on traveling the Trace, get the good map showing all the features on the Trace but be aware if you have a big rig that many of the historic markers and overlooks were built in years gone by and will prove to small for you to pull into but because of the light traffic I have pulled onto the side of the road to get out and quickly view the site.

Watch your speed,they will enforce the 50mph (ask my wife), and bicycles on the weekends, but overall we love traveling the Trace.

While I am being wordy let me add that if you spend time in that area travel the short drive up to Vicksburg and visit the Battle of Vicksburg National Park. I am a Civil War buff and have visited many of the large battlefield parks and consider Vicksburg to be one of the best. Very good museum, easy riding tour and both enlightening but sobering historic site. It is some government money well spent.

We spent almost a week at the River View RV Park on the Mississippi River across from Natchez in Vidalia, LA What a great place. Remember to see the huge photo display at the Presbyterian Church as was mentioned earlier. Interestingly enough though, there was a wealthy black barber in Natchez, who owned a lot of farm land and had slaves himself. His home is in downtown Natchez next to his store. We really thought Natchez was the highlight of our trip to Texas in 2010 and still talk about that trip. I actually had tears when I stood in the old Natchez Trace.

That's really interesting about the barber.

Why the tears?

We also recently enjoyed River View in Vidalia for our visit to Natchez. We took a couple of tours and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We plan on returning someday to see more.

I had tears because I had read about it so much and when I actually stood in the area, I was so happy. Did the same thing on the River Walk in San Antonio. Just a big baby I guess.
Linda