Natchez Trace Parkway Named #2 Best Scenic Drive in the U.S.!
The Natchez Trace Parkway has earned the prestigious #2 spot in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for scenic drives nationwide! This honor highlights its stunning landscapes, rich history, and unparalleled driving experience.
What Makes the Natchez Trace So Exceptional?
A Timeless Journey
- 444 miles of pristine, two-lane roadway stretching from Natchez, MS, to Nashville, TN, meandering through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.
- Free from billboards, stoplights, and commercial development, just pure, scenic serenity.
- Maintained by the National Park Service, speed limits are a relaxed 50 mph, with 40 mph zones in select areas.
A Landscape Steeped in Natural & Cultural History
- Follows ancient trails used by buffalo, Native Americans, early European explorers, boatmen, military figures, and settlers, over 10,000 years of travel woven into one route.
- Encounters with Native American mounds, including the monumental Emerald Mound, plus sites like the Meriwether Lewis Memorial, ancient battlefields, and colonial-era inns, add depth and intrigue.
Highlights & Outdoor Recreation
- Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge (milepost 438): an award-winning double‑arch marvel, the only one of its kind with an environmentally conscious, cable-stayed construction.
- Numerous scenic overlooks, like Baker Bluff, Twentymile Bottom, and Reservoir Overlook, frame the region’s rolling hills, forests, and waterways
Why It’s Voted as a Top Scenic Drive
- A Drive for Explorers – No rush, no distractions, just winding roads through nature’s finest.
- Cultural Time Capsule – Every mile echoes with indigenous paths, 19th-century commerce, and Civil War echoes.
- Built for Memories – Whether you’re a driver, biker, or roaming on foot, there are campgrounds, overlooks, and picnic pulls to pause and marvel.
- Eco-Elegance – Parkways are preserved for beauty, not billboards; nature is the star here.
Plan Your Trip Along the Natchez Trace Parkway
The Natchez Trace Parkway isn’t just a scenic drive; it’s a journey through time and tranquility. Celebrating a well-earned #2 ranking on USA TODAY’s list reminds us why this corridor continues to captivate travelers year after year. If you crave a drive that combines history, nature, and reflective pacing, the Trace is calling your name.
