Camping and Biking in Mississippi and on the Gulf in Alabama

In April, we traveled through Mississippi on the Natchez Trace Parkway camping and biking along the way eventually ending up in Gulf Shores, Alabama. It was wonderful to get away from the cold Indiana weather for a few weeks. Although Tupelo, located in northern Mississippi, was still chilly, the warmth greeted us in Hattiesburg, MS and continued through our stay at Gulf Shores. The days were warm and the evenings cooler, making it ideal for camping and bicycling!

Horse Cave KOA

Horse Cave KOA near Mammoth Cave National Park is our go to campground when we are traveling south. Always convenient and well managed.

Campground at Barnes Crossing, Tupelo, MS

I would have liked this campground more if we had a different campsite. Ours was tucked up along the edge of the road. The outside sitting area was very close to the campground road. As we explored the smallish campground we discovered other very nice campsites. The campground had full hook-ups and was convenient to the Natchez Trace Parkway and to Tupelo, MS.

Tupelo and Natchez Trace Parkway

A big part of the reason we came through Mississippi on our way to Gulf Shores was to explore the Natchez Trace. The Trace is a 444-mile scenic parkway that follows the historic travel route used by Native Americans, early settlers and later by Confederate and Union soldiers.

We had hoped to ride our bikes on the Parkway but discovered that it was very busy with traffic around Tupelo and many sections did not have a shoulder to ride on. We tried to explore a few sections of the parkway as we headed south from Tennessee to Tupelo but it was raining and had been raining for several days so many of the trail sections were under water. We did a chilly, damp run on a trail that started at the Visitor's Center (very informative) and continued for several miles. The trail was wooded, scenic and part of the original Natchez Trace route.

Tupelo is the birthplace of Elvis Presley. The house is still standing and is part of a small museum. The museum grounds were very nice and worth a visit.

If you find yourself in Tupelo, be sure to go to the Blue Canoe. Great dive bar restaurant with good food, beer and music.

Tanglefoot Bike Trail

We travelled 30 minutes from our campground in Tupelo to the Tanglefoot Trail. This trail stretches 46 miles, extending from New Albany to Houston. One day, we drove to Algoma and cycled 12 miles south on the trail, and on another day, we rode 14 miles north starting from Pontotoc. The trail passes through pastures, woods, small towns, and wetlands, and is sufficiently shaded to remain comfortable even on a hot day.

We enjoyed this trail a lot. It was in fairly good shape and had just enough change in scenery to make it interesting. We did have a dog approach us and bark at us in one of the small towns. Because I am afraid of dogs, I would describe it as aggressive. Because my husband is not, he would describe it as curious.

Paul B. Johnson State Park, Hattieburg, MS

This is going to be a great campground which is a funny way to start a review. The campground is in the midst of a renovation. It appears that they either developed or preserved about a dozen full hook-up sites for campers to use during the renovation. These were lousy campsites. We had never camped so close to our neighbors! Happily until the last night we didn't have any immediate neighbors but that last night was pretty awkward. The new campsites are going to be AMAZING (see pictures below) and the park itself is really nice - right on a lake. The most recent update says the new campground will open on June 25, 2025.

Longleaf Trace

The Longleaf Trace trail stretches 44 miles from Hattiesburg to Prentiss. What a great trail! I can absolutely understand why it is included in the rail-to-trail hall of fame. The trail moves from downtown Hattiesburg through a variety of landscapes - longleaf pine forests, pastures, farmland and wetlands. We rode 15 miles from Hattiesburg, starting at the Jackson Road Station parking lot near Jed's Perfect Endurance Bike and Coffee Shop, to Sumrall. The next day we rode from Jed's again, but went downtown first and then headed north for about 24 miles total. The trail is in excellent condition and shaded. Very enjoyable riding!

Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, AL

The Gulf State Park campground is fantastic! Covering 6,100 acres, it features miles of bike trails. Our campsite offered great privacy, even though it was located on the main park road near the pool and laundry facilities. Next time, I might choose a site on one of the other campground roads, but it wasn't a major issue. Despite having 600 spaces, the campsites are spacious and well-spaced. The campground includes an excellent pool, a small camp store, a large laundry facility, pickleball courts, and a visitor center. Additionally, the state park boasts a beachside lodge, lakeside cabins, and four restaurants.

Despite the bustling and touristy nature of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, the natural environment of the state park and its beaches has been preserved. The park features longleaf pines, marshlands, alligators, lakes, and 27 miles of biking trails.

Gulf State Park Bike Trails

The Park has a network of interconnected bike trails that weave through the park and along its periphery. These trails link to the Fort Morgan Road Trail, which stretches 5.6 miles along the road leading to Fort Morgan. The trails were well-maintained and offered beautiful scenery. During our two-week stay, we rode them all multiple times.

We tried to ride during less busy periods, as there were many people enjoying the trails, both on bikes and on foot. I would advise caution when riding, as the percentage of e-bikes compared to pedal bikes was about 70 to 30, which is much higher than other trails we've experienced. I've never seen so many e-bikes, and many were going too fast given the number of people on the trails. Despite this, we thoroughly enjoyed our rides in Gulf State Park.

Blackwater Heritage Trail

One day we drove to Milton, Florida to ride on the Blackwater Heritage Trail. It's a nice trail, in really good shape. There isn't much shade so it would be very hot on an Alabama summer day. The trail is 10 miles long and ends at The Whiting Field Aviation Base.

Gulf Shores and Surrounding Area

Tin Roof Restaurant, Bon Secour

Bon Secour was originally a fishing village in the late 19th century and is located on Bon Secour Bay coastline. It is a charming little town with a few restaurants. We ate at the Tin Roof which was very good. It had great indoor and outdoor seating areas and was located right on the water.

Gage's Ice Cream, Gulf Shores

Gage's was in a shopping area near the Walmart at the west end of the park. We finished one of our bike rides there and were not disappointed. Delicious ice cream!

Big Beach Brewing Co.

Excellent beer and small plates. We visited this brewery a couple of times. The last time we were there they had live music. Fun place!

Pensacola Beach on Santa Rosa Island

We drove to Santa Rosa Island after bike riding on the Blackwater Heritage Trail to explore a bit. We started with lunch at Pegleg Pete's. Excellent grilled grouper sandwich. After lunch we drove to the western most point of the Island and explored Fort Pickens. The Fort is actually quite large and was designed to house over 200 cannons. The Fort was built in the 1830s by slaves to defend Pensacola Bay and later became a part of the Underground Railroad in the 1860s. There are stories of slaves traveling via U.S. Navy warships to New York City.

Exploring the Fort and the surrounding seashore (a segment of the Gulf Islands National Seashore) was a great way to spend an afternoon. There is also a campground near Fort Pickens on the National Seashore.