Natchez Trace 2026
The Natchez Trace Parkway is one of the North American continent’s crown-jewel byways. We’re going to pedal every inch of this nearly continuous greenway linking the southern Appalachian foothills and the bluffs of the lower Mississippi River.
As we spin along the ribbon of road — the accompanying van hauling most of our gear — we’ll traverse forested ridges, coast along broad valleys, and slip through isolated hollows. We’ll ride in the tracks of pioneer mail couriers, bison, prehistoric peoples, Ohio River Valley boatmen, soldiers, and outlaws on the run. We’ll even pass through several Civil War sites, including the town that Grant said was “too beautiful to burn.”
No commercial traffic, no chasing hounds, no distracting billboards — just you, your bicycle, and some of the prettiest countryside in the South.

“The food was great and the trip was tons of fun. We met lots of interesting people!”
Know before you go
New Itinerary
If you think you’ve seen this tour before, take another look. We’ve updated the itinerary and increased the fun.
This year we will be starting and ending in Nashville rather than Jackson to help make travel logistics simpler for folks. Bigger airports and the same start/end point make for more accessible tours!
Van Supported Reminder
Love riding long distances while having all of your belongings (except for what you need to self-sufficiently get through the day) conveniently ferried from A to B with a vehicle assist? This van-supported tour may be for you. HEADS UP: Although these vans sometimes travel the same routes as riders, it’s important to ensure you can still carry what you need for the day as you often won’t see the van from the time you leave camp in the morning until the time you arrive at your next overnight location that afternoon.
Our Philosophy & What You Can Expect From Our Leaders
Adventure Cycling tours are not like other bike tours. We pride ourselves on being travelers not tourists. At our heart, we are a nonprofit committed to empowering and connecting people through the power of bicycle travel.
We believe that everyone joining our tours, including the leaders, are active participants who take joint ownership of group tasks like cooking, shopping, and maintaining group gear. This team mindset helps forge bonds that last for years (and tours) to come. Participants come for our routes but stay for our community.
We call the folks facilitating our tours leaders, not guides. Our leaders are not here to do everything for you; they are here to keep everyone on track and empower members of the group to step into ownership after they’ve adjusted to life on the road.
Our leaders commit to:
- Establishing a vision and setting expectations for how our tours run within our unique philosophy.
- Creating a safe, welcoming space for all walks of life
- Keeping your tour on track while remaining flexible, so group members can shape their own experience
- Pedaling alongside you — embracing the spirit and resilience of life on the bike
Your tour fees go directly towards covering the costs of your tour and supporting other programs our nonprofit puts forth into the world. The plus side to supporting us by coming on tour? You get to challenge yourself, have fun, and also do some good each and every time you ride with Adventure Cycling.