TUPELO, Miss. — As warmer temperatures return and motorcycle riders take to the scenic byways of the South, the Natchez Trace Parkway is joining the National Park Service’s “Different Road, Different Ride” campaign this May to highlight motorcycle safety during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
The 444-mile parkway stretches through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, offering a peaceful and picturesque ride through historical landscapes and wooded terrain. While the Natchez Trace Parkway may seem like an easy cruise, it presents unique challenges that demand caution—even for experienced riders.
We welcome motorcycle riders to experience the parkway, and we want them to be safe so they can ride for the long haul. Our roads are designed to blend into the natural environment, and that makes them beautiful—but that also means that they are different from what most riders are used to.
- Tight curves, often one after the other
- Narrow lanes
- Limited shoulders with little space to correct if riders go off the road
- Wildlife at the edge of the road or crossing, especially deer and turkey
The parkway averages 50 motorcycle crashes each year. It is essential that all riders, even experienced ones, adjust their riding style to the unique features of the parkway and maneuver safely.
Key Safety Tips for Motorcyclists on the Natchez Trace Parkway:
- Slow down on curves –Be prepared for decreasing radius curves that tighten as you go through them.
- Ride in center of lane & single file –This position and riding formation gives riders more space to maneuver on narrow lanes.
- Scan the road for wildlife –Wildlife like deer and turkeys can often be found feeding on the side of the road and unexpectedly crossing it, especially at dusk and dawn.
- Check weather conditions – Avoid riding in adverse weather, which can make road surfaces slippery.
The parkway will be sharing safety tips on its website and social media channels. Every mile on the Trace tells a story—from ancient travel routes to Civil War history—but we want the most important story to be that every visitor made it home safely. For more information, visit the Natchez Trace Parkway Safe Driving Press Kit and NPS Motorcycle Safety page.
Jim Gilbert
May 20, 2025 at 7:30 AMRemember the pine beetles and drought of 2023-2024? 1,000’s of trees, state wide have died. The state and counties have been working to clear them out. Seems odd that the dead trees that are falling onto the roadway and killing people wasn’t mentioned! If someone is injured on your property you’re negligent and liable for damages…you can be sued, but not the government.
One man has been killed due to falling trees. How many more will die before the Parkway cleans up this mess. The Natchez Trace has become dangerous!
Lane
May 20, 2025 at 10:20 AMAnd people should use common sense. The man that was killed near Ridgeland was traveling the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway on a day that multiple tornado warnings and watches were issued. A road with minimal shoulder area and timber close to the pavement so the NTP was never intended for point A to point B traffic.