Things To Do on an eBike in Lamar County
Lamar County is the middle of the Longleaf Trace. Sumrall Station at Mile 20 has a trailhead, restrooms, and parking, and the asphalt runs in both directions through pine woods with station stops every few miles.
Shops are on the eBike shops in Hattiesburg page. Every route below is a stretch of the same trail, because the trail is the one documented long route in the county.
Where to ride in Lamar County
Lamar County's riding is one trail, so the useful decisions are where to start and how far to go. Sumrall is the natural start for a half-day ride, Epley Station is the first stop east, and Lott Circle and Bassfield are the stops west. Markers use the old railroad's numbering, so the gaps are approximate.
Lamar riding country: the asphalt Longleaf Trace through pine woods near Sumrall, not a coastal or river path.
All distances here are station markers from the trail district. Lamar County shares the trace with Forrest County to the east and Jefferson Davis County to the west.
1. Longleaf Trace at Sumrall Station (Mile 20)
Sumrall Station is the best starting point in the county because it has restrooms, parking, equestrian access, and a trailhead at 71 Railroad Avenue. The station sits at 290 feet of elevation, and the trail is ten-foot asphalt.
Distance: Station marker Mile 20 of a 44-mile trail; start: 71 Railroad Avenue, Sumrall; surface: Ten-foot-wide asphalt laid on an old railroad bed.
eBike access: The posted rules deal with golf and electric carts and say nothing about eBikes, so phone (601) 450-5247 before riding. Etiquette and planning: Keep right, hold 15 mph or less, and give way to walkers and horses. Managing source: Longleaf Trace, stations and camping.
2. Epley Station to Sumrall (Miles 15 to 20)
Epley Station is the first stop east of Sumrall, at 389 feet, with restrooms, parking, and equestrian access. The five-marker ride between the two stations is an easy out-and-back for a first eBike day on the trace.
Distance: About 5 station-marker miles; start: Epley Station, 1 Epley Rd., Mile 15; surface: Asphalt.
eBike access: The same rules page covers the whole trail, and it does not name eBikes. Etiquette and planning: Expect other users, including riders on the parallel equestrian trail, and slow for them. Managing source: Longleaf Trace, stations and camping.
3. Sumrall to Lott Circle (Miles 20 to 25)
West of Sumrall the trail continues to Lott Circle at Mile 25, which has parking and equestrian access but no listed restrooms. It is a quiet stretch with few facilities, so carry water.
Distance: About 5 station-marker miles; start: Lott Circle, Mile 25; surface: Asphalt.
eBike access: No eBike rule is published on the district's rules page. Etiquette and planning: Plan your turnaround by battery, because services are farther apart here. Managing source: Longleaf Trace, stations and camping.
4. Lott Circle to Bassfield Station (Miles 25 to 32)
Bassfield Station at Mile 32 is 135 General R.E. Blount Drive, with restrooms, parking, equestrian access, and a trailhead. It is in Jefferson Davis County, so riders from Lamar County need a shuttle or a longer day to reach it.
Distance: About 7 station-marker miles; start: Bassfield Station, 135 General R.E. Blount Dr., Mile 32; surface: Asphalt.
eBike access: No eBike rule is published on the district's rules page, so call ahead. Etiquette and planning: Make sure your battery covers the return, because Bassfield is farther than most riders plan for. Managing source: Longleaf Trace, stations and camping.
5. Hattiesburg Gateway rentals (day trip into Forrest County)
If you need a bike, the district's rental counter is at the Gateway, 2895 West Fourth Street in Hattiesburg. It is open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, and lists two-hour and four-hour rentals at $15 and $20.
Distance: The Gateway is at Mile 3 of 44; start: 2895 W. 4th St., Hattiesburg; surface: Asphalt trail access.
eBike access: The rentals page does not say whether eBikes are in the fleet. Etiquette and planning: Return before the counter closes, and expect to pay the listed rental period. Managing source: Longleaf Trace, rentals.
Planning a Lamar County ride
Sumrall Station has restrooms and parking, which makes it the simplest place to leave a car. The district lists Lott Circle at Mile 25 as parking and equestrian access only, so do not count on restrooms west of Sumrall until Bassfield Station at Mile 32.
The trace passes through Forrest, Lamar, and Jefferson Davis counties according to TrailLink, and station markers use the old railroad's numbering. A ride that looks like twelve miles on the markers may differ from your bike computer, so judge your battery by time and terrain as well as by the map.
The district lists primitive camping at Carson Station near marker 35 and at the Denbury Beaver Pond near marker 13, reachable only by the trail. Both are outside Lamar County, but they show that the trace supports a multi-day plan for riders who carry gear. The district's phone number is (601) 450-5247.
Day trips from Sumrall can add the Hattiesburg Rail Trail, which is 0.9 mile of asphalt in Forrest County, or a walk at Paul B. Johnson State Park on Geiger Lake. The Forrest County ride guide describes both.
Other Mississippi trails publish more than the Longleaf Trace does. Three other trails publish more detail: the Tanglefoot Trail names its permitted eBike classes, the Parkway addresses eBikes directly, and Tombigbee State Park describes an 11-mile mountain bike route. The Union County ride guide and Lee County ride guide cover them.
Jackson has a paved option too. The Museum Trail strings together roughly three connected miles of multi-use path, and the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail on the Parkway in Madison County adds 10 paved miles. See the Hinds County ride guide and Madison County ride guide.
A longer weekend can combine the Longleaf Trace with Paul B. Johnson State Park on Geiger Lake, the Hattiesburg Rail Trail near Chain Park, and De Soto National Forest to the south. The Forrest County ride guide lists the first three, and the forest is a separate trip with its own rules.
For a rider who wants a second paved option, the Hattiesburg Rail Trail near Chain Park is 0.9 miles of asphalt, and the Longleaf Trace Gateway sits in Hattiesburg at 2895 West Fourth Street. Neither replaces a day on the Trace, but each gives a short warm-up.
In Madison County, the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail and the shoreline trails at Ross Barnett Reservoir are the nearest paved multi-use options north of Jackson, and each has its own managing agency and rules.
Hancock County's Beach Boulevard Scenic Byway runs 13 miles along the coast, which makes a different kind of day trip from the pine woods of the trace.
Riders who want a reservoir shoreline can look to Ross Barnett Reservoir, where the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District lists ten trail heads, and to Sardis Lake near Oxford, which the Lafayette County ride guide covers through Clear Creek.
Half-day and full-day eBike plans
Two-hour Sumrall ride: Start at Sumrall Station, ride east to Epley Station at Mile 15, and come back. It is about ten marker miles round trip.
Half day west: Ride from Sumrall to Lott Circle at Mile 25 and back, about ten marker miles, with water from the station.
Full day out to Bassfield: Start at Sumrall, ride to Bassfield Station at Mile 32, eat, and return. Expect about 24 marker miles round trip, so a battery with margin matters.
Shuttle day: Arrange a ride back from Bassfield and cover the trace one way. The Forrest County ride guide covers the eastern half.
What not to ride
The trace after sunset: Hours run from sunrise to sunset.
The parallel equestrian trail: Horses have their own trail alongside the asphalt, and bikers yield to equestrians on the trace.
Road crossings at speed: Crossings have stop signs for trail users, and vehicles have the right of way.
Anything faster than 15 mph: The district's stated speed limit is 15 mph.
When to ride Lamar County
The trace is open year-round in daylight. Asphalt holds heat and some stretches lack shade, so summer riders should start at sunrise. Spring and fall are the most comfortable.
Shop hubs
The directory lists Hattiesburg. The city page shows the card.
Rental and tour operators
Nothing in the county directory is marked as a rental or tour business. The trail district rents bikes at the Gateway in Hattiesburg, and the Lamar County shop list has the local shop.
Mississippi eBike rules snapshot
Mississippi defines an electric bicycle in Miss. Code Ann. § 63-3-103(l) as a bicycle or tricycle with fully operable pedals, a saddle or seat, and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, sorted into three classes. Class 1 assists only while you pedal and stops assisting at 20 mph. Class 2 can move the bike without pedaling and cannot assist above 20 mph. Class 3 assists only while you pedal and stops assisting at 28 mph.
§ 63-3-1315 gives an electric bicycle the same rights and duties as a bicycle and says it is not a motor vehicle, so it needs no driver's license, registration, title, or license plate. It may be ridden wherever bicycles are allowed, including streets, bike lanes, and multi-use paths. After notice and a public hearing, a local authority or state agency may prohibit Class 1 or Class 2 bikes on a path for safety or legal compliance, and it may prohibit Class 3 bikes on a path. On a specifically nonmotorized, natural-surface trail the managing authority can regulate eBikes on its own. The text comes from the enrolled 2021 House Bill 1195.
Nobody under 16 may operate a Class 3 eBike, though a younger rider may ride as a passenger on a Class 3 built to carry one. A Class 3 must have a speedometer that reads in miles per hour, every eBike must carry a permanent label showing its class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage, and the motor must disengage when the brakes are applied. These two sections set no statewide helmet rule. Read our Mississippi eBike laws guide, then the sign at the trailhead.
Three more duties matter when you buy or rent. Under § 63-3-1315 an electric bicycle must meet the federal low-speed bicycle standard at 16 CFR 1512, and nobody may tamper with its speed capability unless the required label is replaced to match. The motor must also disengage when you stop pedaling or apply the brakes, which is why a pure twist-and-go motorbike does not qualify.
The Longleaf Trace's rules are the district's. They set a 15 mph limit, sunrise-to-sunset hours, and right-of-way rules for walkers and horses. They describe golf and electric carts as permit-only and do not name eBikes.
Because the trace is a bicycle and multi-use path, the statute lets eBikes ride where bicycles are allowed. A local authority can restrict classes on a path after a public hearing, so a posted sign decides.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eBike ride in Lamar County?
The Longleaf Trace from Sumrall Station at Mile 20. The trail is ten-foot asphalt.
Where can I park in Sumrall?
The district lists parking, restrooms, and a trailhead at Sumrall Station, 71 Railroad Avenue.
Can I rent an eBike near Sumrall?
The district rents bicycles at the Gateway in Hattiesburg. It does not say whether eBikes are included.
How far is Bassfield from Sumrall on the trace?
The district's markers put Sumrall at Mile 20 and Bassfield at Mile 32, so roughly 12 marker miles.
Are eBikes allowed on the Longleaf Trace?
The district's rules do not mention them. Call (601) 450-5247.
Is there a speed limit on the trace?
Yes. The district lists a 15 mph limit.
All shops in Lamar County
Browse the whole directory, 1 listing across 1 city, on the Lamar County eBike shops page.