Natchez Trace Parkway - Cell Phone Signals

[J Allen]

Anyone have any recent experience on the NTP with cell phone signals?  I'm getting inconsistent information from the internet and was considering renting a satellite phone in case of emergency.  I really don't care to do that though if there is reasonable coverage on the parkway.  My carrier is Verizon.

[Venchka]

The Natchez Trace is hardly a wilderness trail. It does, at times, pass through rural areas. It also passes through cities. I imagine cell phone coverage to be on par with any other non-interstate highway bike route east of the Mississippi.
There will be other traffic on the Trace and Park Rangers as well.
Does anyone really need 100% phone access 100% of the time ?
Have a great trip.

Wayne


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[mzimmerm]

Just did it South to North. We have AT&T. Cell service is ok most of the way. Made posts to a blog almost every night.
Plenty of cars. Agree that you can live for an evening without a phone.
Ride is flat and boring. Unless you really like trees and swamps.
Sorry.......you should do it and enjoy it!

[J Allen]

Thank you for the info. 

Just FYI, the reason i do NEED a phone at all times is that I have a rather unpredictable and randomly striking condition that, if it were to raise its ugly head, immediate contact with 911 would be necessary.  I try not to let it be an excuse for not doing things, but in order to do that, I need to always be prepared.

[mzimmerm]

Got it. Understand completely. We camped several nights. Some of the parks had little to no service.
But....if you are on the parkway and spending nights at motels or B&B's in or near towns....I would guess you would be ok.
Given your situation- the satellite phone might not be a bad idea.

[Venchka]

Verizon has better coverage. Take it from someone who lives in the woods miles from a town of any size. For total SOS coverage, use a Personal Locator Beacon, PLB for short. They work anywhere anytime.
Have a safe trip. I'm not sure where the swamps are on the Trace, but I have not traveled all of it.

Wayne



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[mzimmerm]

Cypress Swamp is a well known landmark on the Trace and is near Jackson. But "the swamp" and swamp-like conditions exist for many many miles either end of Cypress Swamp.
The Trace on the more Northern portions are rolling and much more scenic in my opinion.

[Venchka]

That makes sense. I shall investigate Cypress Swamp. I like swamps. Thanks.

Wayne



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