Eat. Sleep. Bike. Repeat. Welcome to Mississippi’s cycling oasis where you’ll make memories for a lifetime on two wheels! Named a Bike Friendly Community by the League of American Cyclists, Ridgeland’s the place to be for a weekend of outdoor fun.
Where to Stay
Safety and peace of mind are two comforts you can feel assured of when staying in one of Ridgeland's hotel properties. Each hotel continues to add to their high standards of housekeeping and hygiene through the introduction of extensive cleanliness and disinfection practices. The practices include but are not limited to:
- Guests on outspread floors
- No contact check-in and check-out
- Sanitation stations
- Scattered housekeeping schedules
- Reduced paper amenities
After a comfy night’s stay in one of Ridgeland’s hotels, you’ll find yourself up with the sun and ready to explore the variety of bike paths throughout the city. Several hotels are conveniently located just off Ridgeland’s Multi-Use Trails. There’s the Hampton Inn & Suites and Embassy Suites by Hilton, located near The Township at Colony Park, the Hyatt Place located near Renaissance at Colony Park. These hotels offer free hot breakfast and they’re located within walking distance to great shopping and dining. For a complete list of all of our 16 hotel properties, visit where to stay in Ridgeland.
What to Do
Ridgeland’s cycling offerings are plentiful and varied! We’ve got paved paths in the city, dirt paths in the country, Cyclocross, BMX, and a host of annual events all geared toward our city’s love for cycling! Forgot your helmet? Bike need a tune up? Or no bike at all? One of our local bike shops can get you ready to hit the trails in no time.
Ridgeland Bike Shops, Rentals, and Servicing
The Bike Crossing
115 West Jackson Street
(601) 856-0049
Bikes & Equipment
Indian Cycle
677 South Pear Orchard Road
(601) 956-8383
Bikes & Equipment, Service & Repairs, Bike Rentals (call to reserve bikes)
Bicycle Revolution
113 Dees Drive, Madison
(769) 300-4721
Bikes & Equipment, Service & Repairs, Bike Rentals & Mobile Delivery (call to reserve bikes)
Where to Ride
Ridgeland’s Multi-Use Trail is a network of paved paths connecting the city’s parks with shopping and dining offerings along with beautiful scenery throughout it’s 15+ miles. Check out the Multi-Use Trail map here.
Natchez Trace Parkway. The Parkway is a National Scenic Byway and an All-American Road. The National Park Service has designated the entire 444 miles of the Parkway as a bicycle route since commercial vehicles are prohibited and the maximum speed is 50 mph. Serious cyclists and casual cruisers enjoy the beautiful scenery and fascinating history of the Parkway. No matter how far you plan to ride on the Parkway, be sure to get the National Park Service’s free Bicycling Information Packet for safety regulations and helpful tips to plan your excursion.
Within the city on the Natchez Trace Parkway is the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail. This trail is a 10-mile paved path just off the Parkway. The Chisa Foka runs from milepost 95.8 to milepost 105.6 and passes the Bill Waller Craft Center and the Reservoir Overlook. It’s also close to Old Trace Park on the Barnett Reservoir. Trail users can enjoy the year-round beauty of this protected greenspace that runs through historic Choctaw homelands.
If fat tires are your thing, then you’ll want to check out the 10 miles of fast singletrack dirt paths of the Ridgeland Mountain Bike Trails. Rolling hills and rock formations provide rides for beginner or experienced cyclists. Get a two-day visitor passes at the trailhead kiosk or online at Tri-County Mountain Bike Association. Looking for a group cycling outing, then check out Tri-County Mountain Bike Association's public group Facebook page and you'll have a bunch of new friends in no time! It seems there's a ride almost every day of the week somewhere in the area! You’ll want to make plans to attend the Fat Tire Festival & McGee Lungbuster Race held each October at the Trails. It’s a fun fall event for the entire family!
Is bicycle motorcross your thing? Magnolia Ridge BMX Track offers practices every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. with racing every Saturday from January until May and then on Friday nights until the end of the year. All first-time riders get a one-day free trial. Race fees are $10 per race and practice fees are $5 per night. Annual memberships are available. For more info, visit Mag Ridge BMX.
If you're into cyclocross then we've got you covered here too. Ridgeland is home base for the Mississippi Cyclocross Project that offers free racing for kids. They sponsor the annual Ridgeland Cyclocross Festival in the fall.
Where to Eat
Take out, curbside pickup, and in-house are currently available dining options per Executive Order 1478 by Mississippi's Governor Tate Reeves. Prior to offering in-house dining, each Ridgeland restaurant has and continues to follow the protocols set forth by Executive Order 1478, Mississippi State Dept. of Health and the CDC's regulations. These protocols include but are not limited to:
- Deep cleaning and disinfecting of the entire restaurant and bar including areas no open to the public.
- Daily screenings of employees at the beginning of each shift.
- Social distancing among employees.
- Masks worn by employees in direct contact with customers.
- No greater than 50% capacity of seating and six feet separation between each party/group.
Dining on the Water
Feeling hungry? Take a pit stop and enjoy the sparkling waters of the Rez (that's what the locals call the Barnett Reservoir.) Two Ridgeland staples, Cock of the Walk with its famous golden fried catfish, old riverboat era atmosphere, and cornbread flipping entertainment and Pelican Cove Grill with its signature cool drinks, hot eats, big screen TVs, and lively back deck, call the shores of the Reservoir home.