2025 RIDE REPORT

Natchez Trace Parkway Trip

June 9 through June 14, 2025

Motorcycle trip from Lakeland, Florida to the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi and Tennessee, then continuing north through Kentucky to Slade, KY (for a Family Reunion) and then north up to Ohio. Other than the dangerous storm on my first day on the road, the weather was good for the rest of the trip. I met family members on Friday at the Li'l Abnor Motel in Slade, KY for the Saturday reunion.

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Dates: 6/9/2025 - 6/14/2025
Day 1 - Overnight stay:: Enterprise, Alabama
Day 2 - Overnight stay:: Natchez, Mississippi
Day 3 - Overnight stay:: Tupelo, Mississippi
Day 4 - Overnight stay:: Nashville, Tennessee
Day 5 - Overnight stay:: Slade, Kentucky
My Motorcycle Info: 2017 Triumph Trophy SE

Picture Slideshow — 2025 Natchez Trace Parkway Motorcycle Trip ↗ RELIVE — Official Website ↗ Jim's YouTube Channel — @jamesmcmullen787 ↗

RELIVE "MAP-TRACKER" ROUTES

Trip Days 1 through 5

Day 1 — RELIVE Enterprise, Alabama ↗

Enterprise, AL on Google Maps ↗

Day 2 — RELIVE Natchez, Mississippi ↗

Natchez, MS on Google Maps ↗

Day 3 — RELIVE Tupelo, Mississippi ↗

Tupelo, MS on Google Maps ↗

Day 4 — RELIVE Nashville, Tennessee ↗

Nashville, TN on Google Maps ↗

Day 5 — RELIVE Slade, Kentucky ↗

Slade, KY on Google Maps ↗

DAYS 1 & 2

Florida to Natchez, Mississippi

Route map for Days 1 and 2 — Days 1 & 2 RouteMy route for Day 1 and Day 2. Click to enlarge. ↗

Motorcycle stopped during a thunderstorm along Interstate 10 in Florida — Trying to Beat the StormBrief ride on I-10 in Florida to try to beat the storm!

Motorcycle sheltered beneath an overpass during heavy rain — Under the OverpassHappy to find an overpass!

Motorcycle sheltered at a car wash during a thunderstorm — Another Dry SpotCar wash — a good location for a dry spot.

Motorcycle parked in Evergreen Alabama — Evergreen, AlabamaEvergreen city website ↗

Evergreen Tree of Hope Covid-19 Victim Memorial — Evergreen Covid MemorialView location in Google Earth ↗

Motorcycle parked on a street in Evergreen Alabama — Evergreen, AlabamaA look around town before continuing west.

Motorcycle stopped for lunch while waiting for a storm to pass — Lunch & Another StormLunchtime near US 84 and I-65 in Alabama, waiting for a storm to pass.

Motorcycle at motel in Natchez Mississippi — Natchez, Mississippi — Day 2Red Carpet Inn ↗

DAY 3

Natchez Trace Parkway — Emerald Mound & Rocky Springs

Route map for Days 3 and 4 — Days 3 & 4 RouteMy route for Day 3 and Day 4. Click to enlarge. ↗

Motorcycle at the start of the Natchez Trace Parkway — Start of the Natchez Trace ParkwayNational Park Service — Natchez Trace Parkway ↗

Motorcycle at Emerald Mound — Emerald MoundRead about Emerald Mound ↗

Emerald Mound historical marker — Emerald Mound LocationView in Google Earth ↗

Emerald Mound information sign — Emerald Mound SiteAlso known as the Selsertown Site.

Emerald Mound interpretive sign — Emerald MoundThe mound covers eight acres.

Emerald Mound interpretive display — Emerald MoundInterpretive display at the site.

View from Emerald Mound — View from Emerald MoundLooking back toward the motorcycle and parking area.

Town of Rocky Springs information sign — The Town of Rocky SpringsRocky Springs, Mississippi ↗

Old Natchez Trace sign and trail — Old Natchez TraceA surviving segment of the historic Trace.

Trail through the woods at Rocky Springs — Rocky Springs TrailWalking along the old Trace.

Death of Rocky Springs historical sign and nearby church — Death of Rocky SpringsThe story of the town's decline.

Rocky Springs Mississippi — Rocky SpringsAnother stop along the Natchez Trace.

Battle of Raymond historic site — Battle of RaymondBattle of Raymond website ↗

Motorcycle at motel in Tupelo Mississippi — Tupelo, Mississippi — Day 3Best Western / SureStay ↗

DAY 4

Tupelo to Nashville, Tennessee

Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center — Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor CenterTupelo-area visitor center.

Final Stands Interpretive Center — Final Stands Interpretive CenterNational Park Service information ↗

Brice's Cross Roads area — Brice's Cross RoadsAnother Civil War stop along the route.

Nathan Bedford Forrest display — Confederate General Nathan Bedford ForrestHistorical display at Brice's Cross Roads.

Brice's Cross Roads Battlefield — Brice's Cross Roads BattlefieldBattlefield stop.

Brice's Cross Roads Memorial — Brice's Cross Roads MemorialMemorial at the battlefield.

Brice's Cross Roads Battlefield — Brice's Cross Roads BattlefieldAnother view of the battlefield.

Cemetery information — Cemetery InformationInformation at the battlefield cemetery.

Gravestone at Brice's Cross Roads cemetery — A Sobering GravestoneI stumbled onto this gravestone and saw the four children's deaths and their young ages. Wow!

Pharr Mounds — Pharr MoundsNational Park Service information ↗

Motorcycle stopped along the Natchez Trace Parkway — Breaktime Along the ParkwayA stop along the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Motorcycle stopped along the Natchez Trace Parkway — Another Parkway BreakEnjoying another stop along the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Meriwether Lewis Memorial — Meriwether Lewis MemorialA historic stop along the Trace.

Loveless Cafe near Nashville Tennessee — The Famous Loveless CafeNear Nashville, Tennessee.

Loveless Cafe restaurant complex — Loveless Cafe Restaurant ComplexOfficial website ↗

Holiday Inn in Nashville Tennessee — Nashville, Tennessee — Day 4Holiday Inn overnight stop.

DAY 5

Nashville, Tennessee to Slade, Kentucky

Route map from Nashville Tennessee to Slade Kentucky — Day 5 RouteNashville to Slade, Kentucky. Click the map to enlarge it. ↗

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