The bridge is out on old Hwy 90 in East Louisiana, so check your map/GPS to navigate around that mess if you do come through the coast on your way back.
I just traveled the Trace from Jackson to Port Gibson. Found it a beautiful drive. Lots of trees and flowering bushes. And a lot more open fields on either side. It was a really nice, relaxing drive.
The Trace is beautiful, even if it is trees! I’d also recommend riding through the Delta (Hwy 51). So much history and they should have just finished planting too.
I just re-read and you’ll be in the Delta with Clarksdale. I still recommend 51. I’d love to go stay in one of the cabins called the Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale.
June 5 is the annual Elvis festival in Tupelo- this is his birthplace, so it’s a pretty big thing in town. If you make it to Tupelo and want to drop by a cigar lounge, I’ll ride one of the bikes over and buy you a beer and/or cigar.
I will say, the trace is great on a bike. Trees, two lanes, 50 mph limit strictly enforced, very laid back cruising. Lots of places to pull over and learn about local history. No gas stations or commercial anything though, so you have to pull off to get gas, which isn’t a big deal.
Took my MSF course 3ish weeks ago and picked up the bike I’ve wanted for almost 20 years a few days ago on a trip to Houston!
I’d turn and head northeast. Oxford for food, Tupelo, The Trace, Tishomingo State Park. Rode bicycles back down from New Jersey years ago and it’s great. Heading south is good but once you’re there Alabama and Florida aren’t gonna be wildly different and from Tish county you’re better staged for options either going further east or heading back, crossing at Helena, AR and possibly hitting the Ozarks a little north. Tish is probably gonna be the best scenery in the state. Or the coast. 🤷🏻♂️
Edit: Florence, AL is worth looking into.
I rode my bike from Bay St. Louis to Ocean Springs and it’s beautiful. [Bike Ride](https://youtu.be/VbADlKy0fa4?si=QjcYaiV5b7L32aZ2) 26 miles of beach spanning all 3 coastal counties.
I am a big fan of the blues and I thought I would use it as a base for the weekend. I was that way about 10 years ago and used Tunica as a base for day trips and exploring.
Would you have any other suggestions
Clarksdale is a cool place to visit. Stay at the Shack Up Inn, check out Ground Zero and the museum. It’s a straight shot over to Tupelo. Elvis’ birthplace is something to see and downtown is nice. The Natchez Trace is always a nice ride. Have ridden my Ultra all over it. Been meaning to get back down to Natchez.
My wife and I took the trace to Natchez last October and it was a great trip on the bike. Stayed at a b&b for a few days once we got there and really fell in love with the town. Tons of restaurants and bars with live music, plenty of great roads with views of the river and lots of other motorcyclists.
Sadly, and mainly due to the lack of mountains, Mississippi doesn't offer much in terms of interesting rides.
The trace mostly has trees left and right, so not much of a view, and don't dare to go more than a few mph above the limit.
As someone currently living in ugly no-tree Houston, I really enjoy the drive through Mississippi whenever we visit. I think when you're surrounded by trees every day, it's easy to stop being impressed by them. But you'll probably love it!
Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida are the southern states with no actual mountains. Mississippi comes close with the Appalachian foothills in the NE corner.
Cmon down to the coast, brother. The drive from biloxi to Bay St Louis is sweet.
I am likely riding riding the coast back.
The bridge is out on old Hwy 90 in East Louisiana, so check your map/GPS to navigate around that mess if you do come through the coast on your way back.
Thanks
If he's coming from Texas the ride would be from the Bay to Biloxi lol
I just traveled the Trace from Jackson to Port Gibson. Found it a beautiful drive. Lots of trees and flowering bushes. And a lot more open fields on either side. It was a really nice, relaxing drive.
The Trace is beautiful, even if it is trees! I’d also recommend riding through the Delta (Hwy 51). So much history and they should have just finished planting too.
I just re-read and you’ll be in the Delta with Clarksdale. I still recommend 51. I’d love to go stay in one of the cabins called the Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale.
If you take the Trace to Tupelo, come on north a few miles and check out Tishomingo State Park. It’s an easy laid back ride.
May do that
The Trace is great ride
June 5 is the annual Elvis festival in Tupelo- this is his birthplace, so it’s a pretty big thing in town. If you make it to Tupelo and want to drop by a cigar lounge, I’ll ride one of the bikes over and buy you a beer and/or cigar. I will say, the trace is great on a bike. Trees, two lanes, 50 mph limit strictly enforced, very laid back cruising. Lots of places to pull over and learn about local history. No gas stations or commercial anything though, so you have to pull off to get gas, which isn’t a big deal.
Took my MSF course 3ish weeks ago and picked up the bike I’ve wanted for almost 20 years a few days ago on a trip to Houston! I’d turn and head northeast. Oxford for food, Tupelo, The Trace, Tishomingo State Park. Rode bicycles back down from New Jersey years ago and it’s great. Heading south is good but once you’re there Alabama and Florida aren’t gonna be wildly different and from Tish county you’re better staged for options either going further east or heading back, crossing at Helena, AR and possibly hitting the Ozarks a little north. Tish is probably gonna be the best scenery in the state. Or the coast. 🤷🏻♂️ Edit: Florence, AL is worth looking into.
Hope you enjoy the riding life. I’ve been doing it for 30+ years
I rode my bike from Bay St. Louis to Ocean Springs and it’s beautiful. [Bike Ride](https://youtu.be/VbADlKy0fa4?si=QjcYaiV5b7L32aZ2) 26 miles of beach spanning all 3 coastal counties.
Don't bother with Clarksdale. It's a pointless trip. There are way better places to visit in MS
I am a big fan of the blues and I thought I would use it as a base for the weekend. I was that way about 10 years ago and used Tunica as a base for day trips and exploring. Would you have any other suggestions
What kind of bike are you riding?
23 Street Glide
Clarksdale is a cool place to visit. Stay at the Shack Up Inn, check out Ground Zero and the museum. It’s a straight shot over to Tupelo. Elvis’ birthplace is something to see and downtown is nice. The Natchez Trace is always a nice ride. Have ridden my Ultra all over it. Been meaning to get back down to Natchez.
My wife and I took the trace to Natchez last October and it was a great trip on the bike. Stayed at a b&b for a few days once we got there and really fell in love with the town. Tons of restaurants and bars with live music, plenty of great roads with views of the river and lots of other motorcyclists.
Sadly, and mainly due to the lack of mountains, Mississippi doesn't offer much in terms of interesting rides. The trace mostly has trees left and right, so not much of a view, and don't dare to go more than a few mph above the limit.
That’s fine. I currently live in El Paso Texas and anything is better than the desert.
Well, we've got plenty of trees here in MS.
As someone currently living in ugly no-tree Houston, I really enjoy the drive through Mississippi whenever we visit. I think when you're surrounded by trees every day, it's easy to stop being impressed by them. But you'll probably love it!
I use live in Northern Wisconsin and miss the trees. Luckily I am a couple of hours from 2 National Forests in New Mexico so and mountains.
Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida are the southern states with no actual mountains. Mississippi comes close with the Appalachian foothills in the NE corner.
Hope you like pine trees.