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The FIVES
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite, Hohenwald, Tennessee

The Campsite
Meriwether Lewis Campground, Natchez Trace Parkway
The campground is located at mile post 385.9 on the Natchez Trace parkway. Take the Meriwether Lewis, State Highway 20 exit and follow the signs a short distance to the campsite.

Coordinates: 35.522500, -87.455900

Elevation: 950 feet

The Natchez Trace Parkway, National Monument
The 444 mile Natchez Trace Parkway crosses the mid continent from Nashville, Tennessee to Natchez, Mississippi. This road way is one long uninterrupted green belt that completely isolates the driver from modern buildings, commercialism, advertising, and even trucking.
The only indication of what century you are in is the ribbon of asphalt cutting through the trees instead of the dirt trail that had previously been used by travelers of centuries past.
The Natchez Trace is one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the country, on par with the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Shenandoah Parkway of the Appalachians.

The Amenities
Onsite:
This campsite is located in a wood forest with no nearby town lights or noises, and this makes it a very quite location. Often, when I come here, I find the night very dark and do not need to put up my light blockers over the windows, in fact, if the sky is clear of clouds, the stars will be see shining down through the trees.
There are hiking trails, which trails were part of the original trace that was walked by the ancients.
Meriwether Lewis National Monument and Grinder Stand, a replica of the tavern-rest stop where Lewis was murdered.

Nearby:
David Crockett State Park

The Camping
General Information:
The Meriwether Lewis campsite is a primitive campground, and available on a first come, first serve basis.
There is no electricity, showers, or dump stations

Fees:
32 sites: Free
No reservation and a fourteen day limit.

Campground Includes:
Each site has a picnic table and fire pit
Drinking water is available and there is a rest room with flush toilet.

The 2023 Journey, Meriwether Lewis Campground
(Day 915 TN) 47°F. 6:00 am, overcast
Journey On, Day 66
Awake, rise and dress in my fall blues, start the jammer engine and drive west out of town on SH 133 until this highway comes to an end. I then turn right and drive north on SH 20 for about ten miles and here turn onto the Natchez Trace Parkway (NTP). I then continue north through the last six miles of Alabama and come to the 35th latitude, which is the boundary that was set in 1735 to divide North Carolina from South Carolina.
When North Carolina released claim to lands west of the Appalachian, this allowed the establishment of Tennessee with the same southern boundary. It was John Coffee, one of Andrew Jackson′s generals at the Battle of New Orleans, who between 1817 and 1822, supervised the survey of this state boundary between Tennessee and Alabama.
It is at a roadside kiosk where I learned this history again.
The Roadpath Journeys
The Natchez Trace Parkway, Alabama
After taking a photo of the kiosk, I then continue into Tennessee on the NTP for another 46 miles before I arrive at the Meriwether Lewis Campground. Upon my arrival within the campground, I select the handicap campsite, pull in, turn off the jammer engine, get out to retrieve my broom and then sweep the concrete clean of all the leaves and nut shells. Next, I back the jammer into the space and set up two of the solar panels. However, I do not believe that the this will charge my deep cell battery because it appears to have died.
So, I will be limited on how much time that I will have with my computer before it too looses the power in the battery. I work on it for a short time and then turn it off to conserve the battery.
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2023-1118.1247) 1996 Aerostar at Meriwether Lewis Campsite
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2023-1118.1248) Meriwether Lewis Campsite #24
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2023-1118.1249) Meriwether Lewis Campsite, with restroom

The 2022 Journey, Meriwether Lewis Campground
Yesterday, I left Hot Springs, Arkansas and drove about three hundred and fifty miles and arrived in Hohenwald, Tennessee in the late afternoon, continued on SR 20 to Meriwether Lewis campground and found a place to camp.
Next, I drive out of the campground, turn east on SH 20, drive over the Natchez Trace and continue on SR 20 until it connects with US 43 and take this highway northeast to Columbia, Tennessee where I stop at the w-mart, park and go inside. Again, the path driven today are some of the old paths taken by me in previous years.
I arrive at the campground just after six this evening, locate a site, park the jammer and climb into the rear for the evening.
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2022-0325.1801) Natchez Trace near Meriwether Lewis Campsite
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2022-0325.1823) 1997 Aerostar at Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(Day 313 TN) 39°F. 7:00 am, sunny
Journey On, Day 39
Meriwether Lewis Campground
Awake, dress and then go to the restroom, after which, I return to my campsite and begin boiling water for coffee and hot tea. Then, I get out the tuna steaks and cook them because I most likely will not have an opportunity to do so in the next several days. Tuna steak for breakfast with hot coffee in a new meal for me, but in actuality, I could eat fresh tuna day or night. After I clean up, I walk across the road to meet my neighbors Betty and her son Josh, who are from California.
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2022-0326.0753) The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2022-0326.0838) Coffee and fresh tuna steaks
After cleaning up my kitchen and packing out, I make one more stop at he Natchez Trace for a couples of photos.
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2022-0326.1101) Dogwood Past Full Bloom

The 2021 Journey, Meriwether Lewis Campground
Obviously, the park personnel believe it is two cold to be camping during this time of the year. Well, I will just have to go to a d-mart and park for the night.
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2021-0207.1722)The Meriwether Lewis Campsite

The 2017 Journey, Meriwether Lewis Campground
1989 Aerostar at
Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2017-1013.1632) 1989 Aerostar at Meriwether Lewis Campsite

The Meriwether Lewis Monument
Grinder Stand at
Meriwether Lewis Monument
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2017-1013.1340) Grinder Stand at Meriwether Lewis Monument
Animals at
Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2015-0418.1312) Animals at Meriwether Lewis Campsite

The 2015 Journey, Meriwether Lewis Campground
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2015-0409.1350)The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
The Old Trace near
Meriwether Lewis Campsite The Old Trace near
Meriwether Lewis Campsite The Buffalo River Ford
near Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2015-0409.1440) The Buffalo River ford at high water
1994 Aerostar at
Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2015-0412.1748) 1994 Aerostar at Meriwether Lewis Campsite
1994 Aerostar at
Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2015-0418.1323) 1994 Aerostar at Meriwether Lewis Campsite
Animals at
Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2015-0418.1312) Animals at Meriwether Lewis Campsite
Animals at
Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(m3an-chb-latr-094re-2015-0418.1313) red-headed woodpecker at Meriwether Lewis

The 2013 Journey, Meriwether Lewis Campground
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2013-0910.1437) Arriving the evening before
Monday, 11 September 2013, Natchez Trace, TN.
(Day 195 JO) 75°F. 6:30 am, cloudy
Meriwether Lewis CG, campsite #21
Upon awaking at six-thirty am, I notice that despite the sun haven risen, the forest keeps it′s brightness at bay. The numerous bird songs continue to fill the air; last evening there was one, the likes of, never heard by me before but distinctive in it′s oddity. I arise, open up the rear of the jammer, get out my stove and begin boiling water for coffee and hot oats, to which I add molasses and blueberries to sweeten the meal.
While eating, I hear but do not see several woodpeckers, some in close proximity. The forest still drips from yesterdays rain and I can only imagine what it would be like camped here on this ridge during the heyday of the trace, (the late 1700's through the 1820's.)
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2013-0911.0649) Natchez Trace Trail Monument
After cleaning up and packing out, I explore this wayside still thinking about what I have learned about the wayfarers back in the day of Lewis Meriwether.
At that time, many Kaintucks on log barges from the Ohio river valley floated crops, livestock, or other materials down the Mississippi River to Natchez or New Orleans where they sold their goods as well as their barge for lumber and then walked or rode a horse back home by way of this trail.
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
These must have been some great journeys that they would talk about with friends and family for weeks or even months afterwards.
A Wayƒarers Campsites
The Meriwether Lewis Campsite
(a1c05-tn-meriwether-2013-0911.0654) Meriwether Lewis Monument
Soon, I pack out and return to the trace on my journey northward.

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This Page Last Updated: 11 January 2025


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