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allow pilots and passengers to fly in and visit smaller sections of the trace, possibly spending a day or two in/ around one section before returning to the airport to fly on to the next.
The NTP can be traveled in either direction, though it technically begins in Natchez and progresses northeastward. However, since Nashville is more centrally located than Natchez, I’ll assume that would be the more common starting point. The various points of interest along the NTP number in the hundreds. Even the official sites noted on NPS maps number many dozens. Seeing it all is next to impossible, so do your research and narrow your focus to suit your tastes – prehistoric and archeology sites, military history, natural features, hiking, historic inns (aka, stands) and trading posts, state parks, modern-era pop culture, etc.
Autumn is considered the best time to visit the NTP, when the fall colors are abundant. However, with its deep south geography, most any time of year will support suitable flying conditions. The peak of summer is likely the least desirable, due to the heat and humidity the region is well known for. Our visit was in springtime and conditions were quite pleasant. Regarding airports for use, I’ll stick with the larger options where full services and cars are advertised as available, to ease the transition from aerial arrivals to terrestrial touring. However, never assume regarding services and call ahead.
The North 100 (Tennessee)
Nashville is the perfect launching point to begin exploring the Natchez Trace. Tourism opportunities within Nashville itself are so abundant that they are beyond the scope of this article. Consider scheduling time
The Tupelo National Battlefield commemo- rates the last Civil War battle to take place entirely within Mississippi. It was an important victory for the Union, helping them to protect supply lines that proved critical in the Atlanta campaign. The park that commemorates the battle is located one mile east of the Natchez Trace Parkway.
there in advance of your NTP explorations. Nashville has three controlled airports within its Class C airspace that could all be equally convenient launching points toward the northern sections of the NTP. Smyrna (KMQY) on the southeast side and John Tune Field (KJWN) on the northwest side are both Class D airports underlying the outer shelf of the Class C. Nashville International Airport (KBNA) provides the quickest access to the NTP. Take highway TN-100 to enter the parkway at mile-marker 444 (the terminus). Alternately, take US-31 to the historic city of Franklin, site of a significant Civil War battle, the McGavock Confederate Cemetery and multiple historic properties dedicated to preserving that era’s history. From Franklin, the parkway can be entered from TN- 96. Either route will provide a view of the double arch bridge at Birdsong Hallow, an architectural masterpiece and the unofficial north gateway of the NTP.
Most points of interest require short walks from
the parkway pullouts to the sites themselves. Within Tennessee, some of the most popular are the War of 1812 Memorial, the Gordon House (circa 1818) and
the Fall Hallow waterfall. The highlight for me was the Meriwether Lewis Monument and gravesite. The famed co-leader of the Lewis & Clark Expedition returned from that arduous two-year journey unharmed in 1806 and soon became the governor of the Louisana Territory. He
left his home in St. Louis in 1809, intending to travel
to Washington, D.C., via the Mississippi River to New Orleans, then ship to D.C. He planned to meet with Jefferson and present his journals to a publisher. In Natchez, he decided to travel by land instead, including
the entire length of the trace. About a month later, he was just 70 miles southwest of Nashville, taking a night’s rest at Grinder’s Stand when two gunshots rang out. The ›
8 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
JULY 2024