Day 3 – Nashville, TN to Tupelo, MS

Today was a delightful travel day.

The Route

We left Nashville via the TN-155W outer belt (Briley Parkway), connected with I-65S, then I-24W and finally with I-40W heading toward Memphis.  We left I-40 at the McCrory Lane exit, followed it to TN-100 and then to the Natchez Trace Parkway where we began the southerly drive at milepost 440.  We followed the parkway to Tupelo where the MS-145 (Gloster St.) exit took us to our campground … ending a 217 mile trip.

About the Day

The day was calm and mostly sunny until mid-afternoon.  The temperature reached 80°F.  We encountered light showers between 3 and 5pm.

We started in Tennessee, passed through Alabama, and ended up in Mississippi.

Scenes from Nashville

Two Rivers Campground

Leaving Site #504

Approaching Nashville on I-65S

"The Batman Building"/AT&T Building

About the Parkway

A drive on the Natchez Trace Parkway is an experience to be remembered. It’s a 440 mile, two-lane highway that has:

• A smooth road surface
• A 50 mph speed limit (40 mph in some places)
• Well-marked historical and scenic landscapes
• No stop signs or stop lights
• No commercial traffic
• No advertising
• No trash
• No services

Traffic was light.  We often traveled miles without seeing another vehicle coming from either direction.

Compared to city or interstate highway travel, driving “The Trace” is calming.  It's a lot like cruising down a long private drive surrounded by forests, fields and rolling hills.

Scenes from the Parkway

Entering the Parkway

There's a mile marker every mile.

Scenic and Historic Highlights
 are Clearly marked

Double Arch Bridge Passes High
Above TN-96 at Mile 438

War of 1812 Memorial at Mile 426.3

Tobacco Farm at Mile 401.4

Meriwether Lewis Gravesite at Mile 385.9

The Campground

We’re staying at the Campground at Barnes Crossing tonight.  We’ve been here before … on May 9^th during the 2011 Southeastern trip.

Site #22

Tomorrow

We’re heading for Dick’s sister’s home in Arkansas.