Camping Along the Natchez Trace National Parkway
We had considered camping along the Parkway, but it was just going to be too cold for us at this time of year. We were trying to keep above 40 degrees Fahrenheit as a low at night, though that didn't end up happening and it got as low as 28 degrees on us further south. Anyhow, there are three campgrounds that are part of the Natchez Trace National Parkway. All of them are free and none accept reservations. There are also several state parks and other places you can detour to if it's camping season or if you are good in the cold weather. These take reservations and cost money, but you are assured that you have a site and certain amenities.
The first of the free campgrounds is at the Meriwether Lewis stop, so we pulled over to take a look. The road at the campground itself was blocked, so I don't think the campground was open.
There was no one there and no camping equipment anywhere. I don't know if this was because of the weather, Covid, or another reason, but the sites were nice, with picnic tables and fire pits and trash cans. It has 32 sites, and it wasn't clear if you could park there even when the road it open or if you just drop your things off and then go park somewhere else.
Not far from Meriwether Lewis is David Crockett State Park in Tennessee. It has hot showers and 52 sites that are open year round (97 between March and November). These cost around $33 a night plus a $5 reservation fee.
We stopped after Bear Creek Mound (north of Highway 22 and Tupelo) and found a bicycle camping only spot, so no cars allowed and I didn't hike in to explore.
Just across the border from Alabama into Mississippi is Tishomingo State Park.
Were the weather warmer, this would have been my choice for a spot to camp. Tishomingo State Park pulled up on several searches I'd made for most beautiful parks in Mississippi and is on my list for when I come back to the area. It's in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and have gorgeous trails, bridges, and lakes. They have 69 campsites that cost $22 per night and can be reserved online.
Just past Tishomingo, on the other side of the Natchez Trace National Parkway, is Piney Grove, a campground run by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Bay Springs Lake. There are 141 sites that cost between $22 and $24 per night. There's a beach and swimming area at the lake in addition to all the amenities at the campground.
Jeff Busby, at mile 193.1 along the Trace, is the second of the free, first-come-first-serve, primitive sites on the Parkway itself. It has 18 sites. The third one, which we stopped at, is Rocky Springs, at milepost 54.8. This one has 22 campsites and there were a few people camping there with tents and kids. It was cold, but not as cold as weather we camped in later in our trip, and it looked like a great place to camp. There are bathrooms, room to park, even enough for an RV in some places (but there isn't any electricity), picnic tables, fire pits, and even barbeque grills.
The last place I'll mention to camp is Natchez State Park in Mississippi at the end (or beginning, depending on which direction you drive) of the Natchez Trace (milepost 8.1). There are 68 sites here (10 of them are cabins), and the standard campsites cost $22.
Whether you are driving a car or RV, biking, hiking, or on a motorcycle, there are a lot of options for camping as you enjoy the Natchez Trace National Parkway in any season.
