HeatherH

Planning a late October road trip from NW Florida. Tentative schedule is: day one Fort Walton to Monroeville AL then on to Stone Mountain. Day two: Stone Mountain. Day three: Ellijay GA apple fest then on to Gatlinburg for the rest of the day. Day four: Gatlinburg. Day five: drive to Charleston and there for half day. Dave six: Boone Hall plantation and Savannah. Day seven: back to FL!

I realize that is not a lot of time in each place but that's what makes it a road trip . Anyone have any recommendations for things not to miss during the drive? And anyone been to the apple fest? Thinking maybe it isn't that great so might skip.

Gretchen

"not a lot of time in each place"--it is NO time in each place. Drive by trip--indeed just a trip on the road. Probably keep the apple fest and skip Gatlinburg. Or skip the apple fest AND Gatlinburg and at least "see" something.
Why Monroeville? Pleasant little town--actually had an aunt that lived there down the street from Harper Lee.

suewoo

Boone Hall is okay, but the house there is not original. Drayton Hall has an original preserved home. Middleton is the most interesting.

I think it might take more than half a day to drive from Gatlinburg to Charleston.

Gretchen

This week's Parade Magazine has a great feature article about best small downtowns. Collierville TN won and I would agree--a charming little town on the way to Nashville. The other nearby one on the list is Greenville, SC--also a winner with many on here.
The list that the OP gives is like a series of billboard ads for "sights" you would see on the interstate--like Rock City. For a road trip, another idea is to see the charm of places rather than the hype. Again, I know it is their trip, but just a thought and opinion.

HeatherH

Monroeville because its the home of two of my literary heroes. Gatlinburg because it's one of the easiest/closest access points into the smokies. My companion has never seen fall leaves (we don't get much of that here!) Or mountains. Stone mountain because it sounds delightfully tacky. I'm not overly familiar with this part of the country and Savannah and Charleston both popped up on best short se trips. The only things we were probably going to see in charleston was the waterfront and battery area and savannah was the cemeterie. I'll def look at both those other towns suggested. Thanks!

suewoo

Both Charleston and Savannah will make you wish you have more time.

Gretchen

Oh, Gatlinburg can beat anyone's "tacky" quotient.
As Sue said, and you will see it over and over here-Charleston (especially) will make you wish you had more time. Reverse your trip (Monroeville is a couple of hours from you--just go on a Saturday).
Start in Savannah, go to Charleston, and then see how much time you want for anywhere else. Those two towns are a good week road trip for you.

starrs

Okay, here's my plan.
Your plan = 960 miles, 16 hours, 26 minutes of driving
My plan = 786 miles, 13 hours, 17 minutes

Monroeville to Stone Mountain = 4 hours, 24 minutes
Stone Mountain to the apples at Jaemor Farms in Alto GA -
http://www.jaemorfarms.com/
1 hour 4 minutes drive
continue on to Clayton GA (or Dillard GA) - another 45 miles
Stay in Clayton or Dillard -
Check out the gorgeous mountain views at Black Rock Mountain State Park -
http://gastateparks.org/info/blackrock/
Check out the gorgeous views at Tallulah Gorge state park -
http://gastateparks.org/TallulahGorge/
Beautiful overlooks at Black Rock - easy (no walking)
Easy gorgeous stroll around Black Rock Lake - easy - .8 miles around a mountain lake
Easy - rim walk at Tallulah Gorge
Strenuous walk - into the gorge via steps to the suspension bridge
Eat at the famous Dillard House -
http://www.dillardhouse.com/restaurant/index.php
Or any of the really good restaurants in Rabun county
Horseback ride at the Dillard House
Rent a pontoon boat for a ride on a Lake Burton
LOTS of things to do in the area
Plenty of opportunity to see gorgeous mountain color without the longer drive to (tacky) Gatlinburg
Continue on to Charleston - (really pretty drive from Clayton into SC) - 287 miles, 4 hour, 49 minutes
And then to Savannah - 108 miles, about 2 hours

You get to meet your goals, drive less, see prettier stuff in the mountains and save a little time to enjoy more time in Charleston.

dwdvagamundo

Concur with Starrs--great itinerary.

We stop at Jaemor Farms whenever we're on our way to mountains from Atlanta. Take I85 north to I985 and keep going on US23--it's a good, fast, straight and fairly untrafficked highway and will take you straight to Clayton, Georgia.

If you must see the Smokies, then drive north a ways from Dillard or Clayton, or stay in Cherokee, N.C. You'll be better positioned to return to Charleston.

I do think you'll want to spend more time in Charleston and Savannah.