Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail

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large white house, green lawn, two trees in front
The museum tells the story of Major Ridge, the influential Ridge family including prominent son John Ridge, Cherokee history, and the Trail of Tears, as well as subsequent history of the home and region.
structure in the background with large chimney on the end; signs saying Brown's Ferry Tavern
Cherokee leader John Brown, who owned 640 acres in this area, ordered the construction of Browns Ferry Tavern in 1803. In 1838, the road running past this structure was the route by which several Cherokee detachments were removed to present-day Oklahoma.
sunlight coming through trees with green leaves
Thousands of Cherokee camped for weeks along the main (northern) route, near Mantle Rock, during the winter of 1838-39 as they waited for ice conditions in the Ohio River to allow a safe crossing.
dozens of people walk a section of the Trail of Tears, winter scene, trees with no leaves
The Pea Ridge National Military Park encompasses 4,300 acres and features a visitor center, museum, self-guided tours, reconstructed Elkhorn Tavern, and a retracement trail along a 2.5-mile original route segment of the Trail of Tears.
gravestone with words etched, green grass
When the Cherokee arrived at their prescribed disbandment depot in Oklahoma, settlements sprang up nearby. There was a depot at the Adair's farm near present-day Stilwell, Oklahoma.
Two people walk a remnant of the Trail of Tears. Spring setting with green leafed trees.
Crabb Abbott Farm has segments of the Northern Route, including the rock crossing and ford of Sugar Creek. These segments are contiguous with trail segments on the adjacent Shawnee National Forest.
Photos: National Park Service

About Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail

Remember and commemorate the survival of the Cherokee people, forcefully removed from their homelands in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee to live in Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. They traveled by foot, horse, wagon, or steamboat in 1838-1839.

Plan a Visit

NPS DesignationNational Historic Trail
Park State / Territory MembershipAlabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee
Current Alerts0
Visitor Centers0
Campgrounds0
Things To Do3

Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.

Weather & Conditions

Due to the length of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, be sure to consult local weather sources for the region you'll be visiting. Check out the forecast with the National Weather Service and search for the area you'd like to visit: www.weather.gov

NPS Reference Location

Park state / territory membership: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.

Operating Hours

OPERATING HOURS VARY FROM SITE TO SITE. There are many historic sites, museums, and parks (federal, state, and local) along the Trail of Tears in Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri, or Oklahoma for you to visit. Please contact individual sites for more information by going to Plan Your Visit and selecting Places To Go or Passport Program, where sites are listed by state, and there is an interactive map to search for sites.

FridayAll Day
MondayAll Day
SaturdayAll Day
SundayAll Day
ThursdayAll Day
TuesdayAll Day
WednesdayAll Day

Activities

Arts and CultureCraft DemonstrationsAuto and ATVScenic DrivingGuided ToursSelf-Guided Tours - AutoJunior Ranger ProgramMuseum Exhibits

Getting There

You can visit many of the sites along the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail over the 2,200+ mile route that crosses 9 states.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.

NPS-Listed AddressNational Trails Office Regions 6, 7, & 8, Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, Santa Fe, NM, 87505
PhoneN/A
Emailntir_information@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

Architecture and BuildingArcheologyArtsPhotographyBurial, Cemetery and GravesiteFarming and AgriculturePlantationsFortsNative American HeritageSchools and EducationTransportationRoads, Routes and HighwaysTrains and RailroadsTragic EventsForced MarchesWars and Conflicts

Things To Do

Become a Trail of Tears Junior Ranger

Become a Trail of Tears Junior Ranger

Learn about the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and earn your junior ranger badge! This activity can be completed…

Hike on the Trail of Tears

Hike on the Trail of Tears

The trail commemorates the forced removal of Cherokee from their homelands; the paths that 17 Cherokee detachments followed westward; and…

Discovering the Trail of Tears on the Natchez Trace

Discovering the Trail of Tears on the Natchez Trace

The Trail of Tears began in May 1838 when Federal troops and state militias began to round up the Cherokee…

Nearby National Park Service Sites

These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.

Nearby Cities for Trip Planning

These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.

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