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The Natchez Trace Parkway is a Federal ParkRoad a lot like the Blue Ridge Parkway as far as the type of road and some of the scenery. No high mountain views though like the B.R.P. The Trace begins in Natchez, Mississippi and ends about 450 miles later just south of Nashville, Tennessee in Franklin. I thought that the best riding parts are from the Mississippi/Alabama State line north to Nashville. The southern part is beautiful, but relatively flat. This road has a lot of history. Apparently early pioneers would float their goods down the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to Natchez Mississippi where they would sell their stuff. They even sold the lumber from the boats they made to get their wares there. They then would hike back to Nashville, Tennessee. This trail or trace was used for many, many years. The remnants of it are still visible. You can walk parts of it still today. Along the way, there are ancient Indian Burial Mounds and a whole ton on of history. There are lots of pull offs, bathrooms and a very well maintained road. We began our trip in mid April at the Comfort Inns Suites, located on the river across the Mississippi River from Natchez in Vidalia, Louisiana. it a very nice and relatively new motel. Videlia is about 150 miles from New Orleans. We left from there for the 2 day trip to Nashville. The speed limit on the Parkway is 50 mph on most parts and slower on some others. It’s enforced too. There are lots of park rangers on it. It rained the entire first day of our trip, however it was a light rain and the scenery was beautiful. We saw deer, lot's of turkeys and buzzards. No bears though, darn! Plan your route for gas stops. To get gas, you have to leave the Parkway. While some gas stops may be really close to the Parkway, other may be some distance away. We stopped for the night in Starkville, Mississippi, home of MSU. That was a good halfway point. Lot of motels, restaurants, stores etc.... in case you need something. The next day was clear and sunny, but not very warm. We had packed lunches the first day and thought we could finish it and just do a late lunch at the end. We took a break at the Tennessee side of the Tennessee River Bridge. There's a really nice pull off with bathrooms there and more great scenery. It took us longer to do the ride than we’d figured so it was about 3 pm when we exited the Trace. I would suggest you pack lunches each day you plan on being on it. At the end of the Parkway, we found the Loveless Café (Diner to the stars). We ate there. I think every country singer etc in world has eaten there. There are gift shops etc ... there. The food was ok but not great. The prices were pretty reasonable though. This was one “way kool” ride and is well worth doing. You might be able to do it in 1 day but you'd be missing everything. Plan on 2 for sure. Thanks Eck. Steve
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I couldn't get away for the Asheville rally which I'm sure must have been amazing. I was able to get away Monday and rode down to NC and Tennessee. I rode the Dragon, Skyway, foothills parkway, smokey mountins and into the Blue Ridge parkway. I camped on the Blue Ridge last night. 4 camp sites away there was a bear incident that I could hear. The guys tent, BBQ and cooler was destroyed. I didn't get much sleep after that so I pulled into the KOA early so I'll be more alert tomorrow. Beautiful riding all around here
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Well, since this is the off year for Vogal here in the south east, I think we need to see what interest we may have in having another Asheville Rally. What I have done in the past is throw out the opportunity for everyone to let me know what interest there is and what dates people would like to suggest. Once we start getting this information, we can start putting something together. For those of you that have never been to the Asheville get together, it is really more like an extended meet and eat. It is very laid back and we have a great time. It is not real organized and so far that has worked real good. In the past we have stayed at the Asheville East KOA campground and have always been able to have the main congregation at the lilly pond. This is a great place in the campground as is is a bit off to itself and is also within walking distance to the cabins. There is not a registration fee and your costs are what you spend just having fun. We have always been able to double up on the campsites and this helps. We have in the past had about six or so campsites together and with these sites being large, we just kind of fill it up. For those that do not want to camp, there are nice cabins and a lot of motels close by. And, if you want any door prises, you will have to bring your own. As far as rides and meals, the opportunities in this area are abundant. You could spend a month in this area and still find great roads to ride and places to eat. We put together rides by asking "Who wants to ride where?" and go from there. Some may want to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway down to Cherokee, NC, which is the most majestic part of the parkway for running the crest of the mountains and is also the highest elevation on the parkway. Some may want to go to Grandfather Mountain or Chimney Rock. Some may want to go to the Biltmore house. Google these places if you don't know about them. As far as food, in the past we have gathered most at a particular BBQ restaurant on one evening and usually breakfast is fixed at the campground. We will make a run to the store for food and folks will chip in a couple of bucks. We usually have pancakes and bacon and sausage. To my knowledge, no one has ever left hungry. As far as dates, the times could probably be from June to September. We will just have to see how it would work best for the most people. Just respond with your thoughts and suggestions and we will see what can be put together. RandyA
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We'll be leaving Hopkinsville, KY Thursday morning, taking the Western KY Parkway to Elizabethtown. 1st question is would I-65 to Louisville and I-71 be better than continuing on the Bluegrass Parkway to Lexington and I-75 north? 2nd question is what about taking US-27 out of Lexington to US-62 to meet I-71 south of Columbus, OH, thus by-passing Cincinnati?
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My wife and I are hoping to do a spring bike trip next year. We hope to start out from Knoxville Tennessee, go over to the Natchez Trace Parkway and ride it south, loop back through Macon Georgia to visit family and then back to the Knoxville area. I was hoping I could get some advice from as to: The earliest we could go next spring and still expect reasonable weather for our ride through Tennessee/ Mississippi/Alabama and Georgia. What we should stop and see along the way Interesting places to stay If there are any detours worth exploring on our route We have done the Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway and the "Tail of the Dragon" previously although we may ride the Cherohola again on the way back as it is hard to beat. Any input or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks Jim -
Overall the last 20 years Loraine and I traveled a lot of miles on our bikes. I would like to share some of this beautiful country with you. The first one will be a short trip down the Natchez Trace Parkway! http://www.photoshow.com/watch/YC3hB7NN?source=em_ps_show_owner Phill
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Got this info off another site. I have verified the information and it is correct. Just FYI - There will be a huge BICYCLE ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway on Sunday, August 29th. This is for the area roughly from Blowing Rock, past Grandfather Mountain and the Linville Cove Viaduct, to the Linville Falls highway exit, basically mile markers 290 - 320. The bicycles will also be traveling on sections of Hwy 221 and other roads in that area. It is an event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I have no idea how many bicyclists will actually be participating, but please be careful if you are riding or driving in that area. A motorcycle-bicycle "meeting" is a huge hazard for both sets of 2 wheels. Ride safe!
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To anyone interested... Friday is suppose to be a great day & I have finally finished my custom work on my bike. Now I want to take a long ride. This Friday 7/16 I am starting out at 4AM to go to the Blueridge Parkway at I77. That leg will be highway riding down 64 to 81 to 77 to the Blueridge Parkway. I am planning on being at the I77 - Blueridge Parkway area around 9AM. Does any one have Friday off & interested in riding along with me for 210 miles on the Parkway north to I64? From there I am traveling (putting along) the Blueridge for 210 miles till I reach 64. Stops will be made along the parkway for breaks, food & gas. This is a whole day ride. My highway ride to I77 will be hard & fast. Around the I77 will be a stop for a good breakfast. Near rte60 off the parkway will be a late lunch stop. My route home will either be 64 or 250 depending on interest by any possible additional rider(s). Let me know if interested; JohnB 804-338-3451
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Me & and couple of friends rode up to the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday (4/3/10). Got on at Hwy 276 just below the Pisgah Inn, below Asheville. Went there for lunch (always good). Found out that there are 5 major closures in NC. We just happened on a 4 mile stretch that was open!. I looked at the BR closures site and they don't say much but they do give a # to call for updates (828) 298 0398. If you are going to ride the Parkway in NC,,,,, might call. Closure site: http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm But, up to about 20 miles south of Asheville and for 70 miles north you will hit a series of closures (rock slides, broken road and ICE in the tunnels). Mt Mitchell is open but only by limited access. Folk Art center above Ashville is open but you can't get to Mt.Mitchell without leaving the Parkway. Approximate mile marker closures south to north: 422 to 414, 409 to 400, 375 to 352, 341 to 330 318 to 305. But they will be more exact, with highway #'s if you call. YES, snow in pockets on the sides of the road, cool. So, we still made a great ride by jumping back on 276 to Waynesville, west, to Maggie Valley and got back on the Parkway above Cherokee. From Cherokee, east, to Hwy 215 (Devils Courtyard) is open and fine. That is a 50+ mile section with the best vista views. So we got a great 500 mile ride in yesterday. Oh, but do watch for broken up pavement on roads that get you to the parkway. Found several bad spots (no warnings) on the way down on Hwy 215. Hey, but it did get us above the pollen level!!! Mike G in SC
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In June, my wife and I along with another couple will be taking a vacation to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway and Sky Line Dr. There will be 2 bikes and both will be towing a trailer. We are planning on leaving GA traveling north on freeways to Virginia, do some white water rafting and then head over to the northern most end of Sky Line Dr. We want to head south on Sky Line Dr into the Blue Ridge Parkway continuing on BRP to the southern end. This is where I am asking for advise: How many days should I plan to be on SLD & BRP? We want to go at a casual pace enjoying the views and photo opportunities. Also, does anyone know of any "must see" things and places along the way? All advise will be appreciated! I know it's a little early for this because June is a long time off but we need to know how many days vacation requests to put in for.
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Wife and I were riding the Foothills Parkway from Townsend to the lake and back Friday 11/13/2009 around 1:30-2:00. Someone on a Blue Venture came out of one of the overlook pull offs up ahead of us. I did not realize it was a Venture until we had to stop for a couple of rockets that got stopped for going too fast. Anyway, just wanted to say if it was you...NICE Bike!!! We were on the Silver Venture. You turned right toward Maryville and we turned left torward the Dragon but did not go there, just turned on around and got back on the Parkway going back.
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I am heading up into northern Kentucky in a couple of weeks. I plan on connecting with I-75 at Corbin, KY via the Daniel Boone Trail/Cumberland Parkway. Has anyone rode this section(s) of road lately and are there any tolls? Appreciate any information!
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Just spent 3 nights in a cabin in Pigeon Forge. Tonight were in a cabin at the KOA East in Asheville.We spent a couple hours in Cherokee before heading north up the Blue Ridge Parkway.We had planned the next 3 nights to be a camping adventure tent style up the parkway. Just had a hard rain here and all the rain at night has changed my mine.MaMamo is rarely in a good mood dry so don't get her wet.We got the kids and the dog along next stop Rocky Knob Virginia up the parkway about 225 miles north.Later
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Background..... I had the 93 VR "professionally" serviced 4 days before my trip of the parkway was to begin.....bad move. I told the young man at the independent shop I was heading out for 3-5K miles and please check it over and inform me if it needed ANYTHING before the trip and I would have them take care of it....don't need problems on the road. To begin with the tech dropped my bike in the parking lot. after riding it into the service area for him I waited about 4 hours for the oil change and "checkover" and for them to try to find a replacement for my hiway board that broke when it hit the ground. 2 days later they had my new board and I installed it. The trip begins.... Rolled out Monday down I65 out of Indy and all was great until the bridge going into Louisville. I noticed a huge RV towing a crewcab pickup slowing in front of me ...slowing significantly... so I back off the throttle and cover the brakes. All of the sudden the RV jams the brakes(no lites hooked up on the towed truck) and the fun begins......squalling, sliding and bouncing on the lovely bridge surface I stopped just short of the back of the towed vehicle only to see the driver of the RV jump out, run to the guardrail ......AND SNAP A PICTURE OF THE RIVER !!! The RV pulled away and after a short cursing session I roll away and hear a noise in the front of the bike....RF brake is now grinding metal to metal. 1st rest stop on I64 i pull off to see what happened and both RF pads are completely worn out and the lining is gone on the inside. just a note...all cycle dealers in the south are closed on Mondays. I ease my way closed dealer to closed dealer all the way to Lexington KY and finally can't stand it anymore...the noise or thought of going into mountain terrain with minimal front brake ...so I stop in a rest area and swap pads from the left to the right caliper to get descent front brakes....and cautiously go on into Gatlinburg trying not to use the rear brake any more than necessary. next note...cycle dealers in TN and NC are closed on Tuesday. Wednesday morning I get on the phone and find a set of pads about 80 miles away. so here we go...I ride in and buy pads for both sides and put them on in the parking lot. and replace my missing "gremlin bell" By this time the remenants of the hurricane moving in from the south east has caught up with me..so I head north rather than try the parkway in torrential rains and 40mph+ winds. Rode in a nice hole of blue sky to Cave City KY and as the black clouds closed in I stopped for the night. Thursday AM I left out to come on home and rode in rain to Madison IN where it turned to hail...really noisey and kinda stings the exposed skin. But got home that evening safe and sound. This was an important trip for me not for the ride but for the learning experience. The Blueridge Parkway will still be there next year.... All in all it was still a great trip...I am alive to try again Lessons learned.... Never take a professionals word that your machine is OK If they drop it....don't let them work on it !!! Don't try to time your vacation by the weather channel And...... Make damn sure your Gremlin bell is there !!!
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I'm PUMPED !! My Wife and I just got back from riding the BRP from Cherokee to just North of Asheville. What a ride !! We just bought the 02 Midnight V a month ago and took the country roads all the way to Cherokee, then Tues took a ride on the BRP, and today came home. This was my wife's first long Motorcycle ride in her life. She was impressed with the Venture handling of the mountain roads. It might have been the driver (me) cautiously navigating and driving like a Grandpa, having white knuckles around the switchbacks and all that stuff. We enjoyed waving at all the other bikers and couldnt help being a little proud of our new toy. My wife stated "we need some biker clothes". Yeah, we don't look the part. We look like country come to town, but it was a blast even though. The Temp was in the upper 50's in the morning on the BRP and we wore jackets to keep warm. The MV I bought has Bub exhaust which sound pretty cool in the tunnels, especially when I laid into the gas. I saw two other Venture riders at a rest area but couldnt get their attention before they left. We had such a great time I had to tell the people here about the cool weather on the parkway. Thanks a bunch to Sleeperhawk and the Mech for helping me before my trip. Hopefully I will be able to meet others around the site and maybe go to Vogel. We'll see ya on the road...
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It was a beautiful last week on the parkway.I saw a White Venture and a white RSTD in Va.near Fancy Gap. What really shocked we were the amount of BMWs on the parkway last week.I usually see an inordinate amount of Goldwings and Ultra classic but it seemed every other bike was a BMW last week.Was there a rally or is everyone trading in their rides on a BMW?
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My wife and I are planning a ride to do some 14,000 foot mountains in Colorado this summer but I do not want to have my Venture give out on me nor overheat doing so. We love the bike and have riden the Blue Ridge Parkway without problem but, of course, they are not nearly as high as some of the roads in Colorado. We should live to never regret the experiences we have not had. -
I have been on blueridgeparkway.gov and it appears that the closure from Asheville up to Mt Mitchell is now open. They are in the process of paving most of that area, which was the worst condition of any part of the parkway, but traffic is moving with some occasional waits. There is also an 11 mile detour near Boone for a landslide that is closed, but detour signs can keep you on track. RandyA
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Hey all, wife and i are wanting to leave Huntington, W.Va and take a three day ride down to blue ridge parkway, anyone have specific route info and any great places to stay down thru there. Thanks Brian D.
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Riding over to Roanoke on the 18th. Will spend the night in that area getting ready to ride south on the parkway. Hope to take in Mount Airy and ride the police car, stop by Boone Nc to visit our son, who is a Army Recruiter in Boone. Have been wanting to do this ride for a few years now.
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Yep. I finally took my first interstate ride on my original '98 Royal Star Silverado. It's been sitting covered in the heated garage for 11 years only to be ridden for an ice cream cone a few times per year. 2,109 miles in four days ; MI to OH to IN to KY to TN to NC and back around through the Dragon's Tail and the Parkway to TN to KY to OH and back to MI. Partied in Richmond, IN. Ate BBQ at Corky's in Memphis,TN. Ran out of gas on the way to Knoxville, TN . Scraped the floor boards through The Dragon . Rode through a thunder storm in KY . And back to 45 F in MI ! Hmmm ... think I'll head out to ME next weekend .
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Sometime in June I am planning 7 or 8 days in Eastern Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia. Can anyone give me some advice on "must see's" and your idea's of the best rides. I plan to ride some of the Blue Ride Parkway, but I don't really care to stay on it too much. Is there a section that is a favorite ride. Thank's for your input. Jeff
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It looks like I will not be going to bike week. I am in the process of buying my first home and I am using some of my vacation to do it but I am still planning on doing the Blue Ridge Parkway in early Sept. I so wanted to go camping at the Cabbage Patch but other things in life take precedence. Maybe next year. Tom:bang head:
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Diane and I are planning on riding all of the Skyway & Blue Ridge Parkway this summer. I know a lot of you have done this. We are planing on staying the first night in Front Royal in Virgina. Has any one stayed in that area before? I see there is a Super 8 any others? The next stop would be Peaks of Otter It's about 192 miles, I'm not sure if we can cover 192 miles of Skyway & Blue Ridge Parkway in one day. Has any one done this before? How many miles can one cover in one day on the Ridge? Has anyone stayed at the Peaks of Otter Lodge or the Doughton Lodge or the Mt. Pisgah Lodge? Any information will be greatly appreciated! Thank you
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Just to let everyone the the color change is approaching peak.All that can should jump on their scooters and ride the parkway.
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