Ready for a Tennessee road trip packed with beautiful waterfalls, scenic overlooks, fascinating history, and some seriously cool roadside stops?
You’ll find all that and more along the Tennessee section of the Natchez Trace Parkway, part of a 444-mile scenic route stretching through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.
Forget busy highways, endless billboards, and crowded tourist attractions because this scenic drive offers something new to explore every few miles.
So, if you’re planning to drive the Natchez Trace Parkway through Tennessee, here’s everything you need to know about the incredible stops waiting along the route!
1. Metal Ford, Hohenwald
Metal Ford, located at milepost 382.8 along the parkway near Hohenwald, is a historic stop where travelers once made their way across the Buffalo River.
Its unusual name comes from the shallow, rocky riverbed, which resembled the stone-surfaced roads they knew back home.
Today, you can follow a short, easy 0.3-mile trail to see an old millrace, a water channel that once supplied Steele’s Iron Works with the power needed to produce iron in the 1820s.
Bring your camera, enjoy the quiet woodland scenery, and stop by the interpretive signs to learn more about the crossing and imagine the journeys that once took place here.
2. Meriwether Lewis Monument, Hohenwald
Just a 10-minute drive from Metal Ford, the Meriwether Lewis Monument at milepost 385.9 marks the burial site of the famous explorer who co-led the Lewis and Clark Expedition from 1804 to 1806.
Meriwether Lewis died here in 1809 at Grinder’s Stand, a roadside inn along the Old Natchez Trace, under mysterious circumstances that still spark debate today.
You can visit his grave and admire the striking monument, built with a broken stone column that symbolizes his untimely death and the life he never got to finish.
Don’t miss the nearby Grinder’s Stand historical marker, where you can learn about the inn and see the hearthstones that remain from the original building.
3. Fall Hollow Falls, Hohenwald
After exploring the monument, drive roughly 10 minutes to Fall Hollow Falls at milepost 391.9, a beautiful 20-foot waterfall that flows over a series of rocky steps.
Take the 0.4-mile Fall Hollow Falls Trail through the woods, where the sound of rushing water greets you almost immediately as you make your way to a viewing platform.
Wear sturdy shoes and be ready for a little adventure if you want to reach the bottom, since the path has steep, rocky sections that can get muddy and slippery.
For the best experience, visit after heavy rain, when the stronger flow creates a picture-perfect scene surrounded by tall trees and moss-covered rocks.
4. Tobacco Farm, Hampshire
Next up is Tobacco Farm at milepost 401.4, about a 15-minute drive from Fall Hollow Falls, where you can discover how tobacco farming shaped life in rural Tennessee.
Here, you can learn about traditional farming methods, historic equipment, and the hard work behind one of the state’s most important cash crops.
Take a short walk around the grounds, check out the old wooden barn, and see bundles of tobacco hanging from the rafters to dry before being sent to market.
If you have extra time, read the nearby interpretive signs, which share the site’s history, including how the Greenfield family owned the land for over 100 years.
5. Jackson Falls, Duck River
About 5 minutes from Tobacco Farm, you’ll reach Jackson Falls at milepost 404.7, another gorgeous waterfall surrounded by lush forest along the parkway.
A short but steep 900-foot paved trail leads from the parking area to the base of the falls, where you can watch the water tumble over the rocky ledges into a clear pool.
The flow can slow to a trickle during summer, but the stunning rock formations and peaceful setting still make it worth stopping to stretch your legs and take photos.
Fun fact: The waterfall is named after Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, adding a little presidential history to your road trip.
6. The Gordon House, Duck River
Now leave Jackson Falls and drive 5 minutes to the Gordon House at milepost 407.7, the historic 1818 brick home of Captain John Gordon and his family.
The house once welcomed travelers along the Old Natchez Trace, serving as part of a large property that included a trading post and a ferry across the Duck River.
Today, this historic landmark offers a glimpse into Tennessee’s early frontier days, with its restored exterior showing what life looked like over 200 years ago.
Although the interior is closed to the public, it’s still a lovely place to take a short walk beneath the trees, enjoy the cool shade, and soak up the countryside atmosphere.
7. Water Valley Overlook, Williamsport
Continue for another 5 minutes to Water Valley Overlook at milepost 411.8, where elevated views offer a refreshing break from the parkway’s wooded stretches.
From here, you can admire the countryside around Williamsport, with rolling green pastures, scattered farmhouses, and wooded hills as far as the eye can see.
It’s a great place to spread out a picnic blanket, enjoy a quiet lunch, and capture some unforgettable photos without breaking a sweat on another hike.
If you’re passing through at night, consider stopping here for some stargazing so you can watch the stars twinkle overhead without the glare of bright city lights.
8. Garrison Creek Park, Franklin
After soaking up the lovely views, drive roughly 20 minutes to Garrison Creek Park at milepost 427.6, where you can trade scenic overlooks for woodland trails.
It features a picnic area, horse trailer parking, and access to the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail, which stretches 20 miles through Tennessee’s Highland Rim.
You can hike or ride horseback through hardwood forests, cross small streams, and explore the rolling hills that make this stretch of the parkway special.
For an extra treat, visit in spring when wildflowers bloom along the trails, or plan a fall trip to see the surrounding trees dressed in shades of gold, red, and orange.
9. Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge, Franklin
Wrap up your road trip at Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge, also known as Double Arch Bridge, which stretches 1,572 feet across Birdsong Hollow at milepost 438.
Completed in 1994, this engineering marvel rises 155 feet above the valley and became the first segmentally constructed concrete arch bridge in the United States.
Pull into the nearby parking area to admire its two graceful arches, snap photos of the impressive structure, and enjoy sweeping views of the forest below.
You can also stick around until sunset to watch the sky turn beautiful shades of orange and pink above the surrounding hills before heading home.
(At the time of writing, Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge is temporarily closed for construction, so you’ll need to follow a 7.5-mile detour via Highway 96 between mileposts 437 and 440.)
Related Posts
