Natchez trace

ken56 wrote:
We also want to do this with friends of ours the whole length north to south. I am a bit hesitant because I pull a 37 foot trailer so I'm 57 ft. long in total. Is it possible with that long of rig? I have not done extensive research on it as yet.

With the toad we're about 72'. No problems except my former note on some of the limited access points of interest. It's a great route.

DW and I drove the parkway a free years ago. One of our best experiences was at Grand Gulf Military Monument Park. It has good campground and a great museum. We will definitely go there again if we are back in the area
We enjoyed our trip very much. We should have given ourselves more time. it took us 4 driving days but 10 days total because we stayed 2 or 3 nights at the campgrounds that we started at.

ken56 wrote:
We also want to do this with friends of ours the whole length north to south. I am a bit hesitant because I pull a 37 foot trailer so I'm 57 ft. long in total. Is it possible with that long of rig? I have not done extensive research on it as yet.

As Lynnmor wrote, the rig length will be no issue on the Trace. But, if you are a high top 5er, some of the exits may be an issue. I do not know about this personally as I need 10'. As there is Zero commercial traffic, you may be the highest top to go through there this year.

Others wrote that the turn-out might be tight. I know this to be a fact, but the book is still out in the coach library so I can't help much, but google earth can. If where you stop is an impediment to others, do not fret as long as they can get in and out. Everybody stopping is on tour and hopefully in no rush as the speed limit is enforced.

If you do the run in the spring, you will not be driving though a "Tunnel of Trees" but you will lack the sun cover going south. We have only run it going south and have never had a bad time of it.

If next spring goes as I currently plan, it will be our fourth total run of the Trace. I am looking forward to it. We may be leading a caravan again too.

Matt

ken56 wrote:
We also want to do this with friends of ours the whole length north to south. I am a bit hesitant because I pull a 37 foot trailer so I'm 57 ft. long in total. Is it possible with that long of rig? I have not done extensive research on it as yet.

Not a problem, some folks get nervous on anything less than a six lane freeway. The last time I drove it there were a few places where the pavement was poor, but that may be good now. It is a slow go but that is the best part, take time to smell the roses.

Driving south you will be driving into the sun, not a big deal with a lot of tree cover but if possible consider reversing your plan.

We also want to do this with friends of ours the whole length north to south. I am a bit hesitant because I pull a 37 foot trailer so I'm 57 ft. long in total. Is it possible with that long of rig? I have not done extensive research on it as yet.

Just north of Natchez around an hour ( I think) is a restaurant called The Old Country Store Restaurant in Lorman MS., 18801 Hwy 61. As the name implies it is an old (very) country store turned into a restaurant. Truly nothing fancy checkered table cloths and all sorts of nick nack in the shelves along the walls. The food is buffet style and is delicous. Not to be missed is the fried chicken which is the best ever. We stopped several years ago and gorged our selves on food and desert for $40. The owner came to tables and chatted then broke into song with some of the staff. If you can try and stop, it's well worth it. We met a number of people along the trace that shared our enthusiasm.

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Don't miss it. It's a great drive. Just a few notes. The road is 2 lanes only, with no shoulders. Depending on when you drive, there may be some overhanging branches that you can contact while staying in your lane. Just look up and right and if you have to, swing wide. At 45mph, it's easy to do. Also, all of the points of interest are in the form of actual turnouts, not generally wide spots in the road. Many of these have an in and out lane but some require a U turn in the turnout. These are marked, but the markings are a small wood sign placed low along the ground and can be hard to see. Progress carefully. There are a very few campgrounds around mid Trace but the times I've tried to use them, they've been tight and full. The rules say you are not supposed to overnight in the points of interest, but when we were forced to do so, a number of Law Enforcement cars passed and no one stopped to even talk to us. Obviously we didn't set up camp when we spent the night. No chairs, no fires, no awnings, but we did put out slides.

Bus,

Are you planning to run it from the north or the south?

There is a guide book available and I can't find our copy right now, it may be in the coach's library. But you want to have that. There is historical marker or place of interest about every other mile for 444 miles and no cross traffic at all.

This year was supposed to be our forth on the trace but the rally we planned to go to was cancelled.

Be cautious, some of the pull-offs may be a little tight for a monster coach and towed. We don't have that problem.

Matt

www.nps.gov/natr

The National Park Service's website about the Natchez Trace. Great drive- I have done it twice.