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Drone Rules for Natchez Trace Parkway

Nashville, Tennessee (TN) • United States
Nashville, TN 37221, USA
Lat: 36.0353 • Lng: -86.9756
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 28, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited along the Natchez Trace Parkway under NPS regulations, controlled by the National Park Service. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit from the park superintendent. Stretching 444 miles through three states, the parkway's linea

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned along entire 444-mile corridor
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
  • Multi-state: ⚠️ Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama — three FAA regions

Geographic Boundaries

Natchez Trace Parkway runs 444 miles through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.

  • Total area: ~52,302 acres (linear corridor)
  • Southern terminus: 31.5564° N, 91.3739° W (Natchez, MS)
  • Northern terminus: 35.9261° N, 87.0047° W (Nashville, TN)
  • Passes near Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers (JAN), Tupelo (TUP), and Nashville (BNA) airports
  • Includes 60+ historic sites and 3 wilderness areas
  • Headquarters: Tupelo, MS

Regulations

  • NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
  • 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
  • 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
  • National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — 60+ historic sites along corridor
  • Multi-state airspace: Class C near Jackson, MS and Nashville, TN; Class D near Tupelo, MS — location-specific ATC required
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
  • LAANC: check FAA UAS Facility Map for each specific location

Penalties

  • NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation per location
  • NHPA penalties for historic site disturbance
  • FAA Class C/D violation near airports: up to $27,500/day
  • Equipment confiscation by park rangers

Special Permissions

  • NPS Special Use Permit required (covers entire corridor)
  • LAANC or DroneZone authorization near Class C/D airports
  • Historic research: NHPA + state SHPO review (MS, AL, TN) Submit requests to: Natchez Trace Parkway Superintendent, 2680 Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo, MS 38804
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Rule sources
  • https://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations along the entire 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway corridor. Multi-state FAA Class C/D airspace near Jackson, Tupelo, and Nashville airports add location-specific ATC authorization requirements.
Parent Rule Pages