vacationbug

Hi All,
We are starting to think about a 10th trip to the USA and are hoping to pick some brains please.
Our thoughts are at a very early stage but we were wondering about flying into Atlanta, GA and travelling in a circle roughly around Nashville, TN, Memphis, TN, Baton Rouge/New Orleans, LA, Mobile, AL, Columbus, GA and back out of Atlanta.
What we are hoping to get some thoughts on initially is weather. We realise that there is nothing certain about weather but temperatures around the mid-60s to the mid-70s, and not wall to wall miserable rain (we can get that at home!), would be good.
We are also hoping to chose a time before biting insects get going.
We very much appreciate your thoughts on our initial ideas and look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks.

Gretchen

There are several threads with roughly this itinerary within the past 6 weeks. Will see if I can find one. Maybe someone else will also.

CLBtravel

The only time Southern weather is predictable is summer, May-September and then it'll be predictably hot. Nashville normally is a good bit cooler than Mobile or Columbus. We reached 89 in middle Georgia one day last week but that was very unusual. Spring rain is usually going to be half-day thing; not continuous. Are you planning on camping or hiking? If so, earlier the better for avoiding biting insects, but if going to be in cities, I think no big worries anytime on that. Spring in these areas is beautiful, you'll have great trip.

tomfuller

I made a whirlwind geocaching trip through these states and many others last month. I did encounter about 4 hours of rain in Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana on Sunday 3/22. It did slow me a bit on my mission. You can read through my trip report about my adventure.
Since I returned to Oregon, several of the places I went through have had tornadoes and other severe weather. My advice is to go in early to mid March.
You can easily include Greenville SC and Asheville NC on the way from Atlanta to the Great Smokies of Tennesee.

vacationbug

Thanks so much for your thoughts. Now for some more planning.

Gretchen

Severe weather can turn up just about any time these days--look at Chicago last week.
March is not the prettiest nor warmest time to visit these southern states--still late winter. Late March to April will be lovely. Rain happens. LOL But the flowering fruit trees, then the azaleas, then the dogwoods come and it becomes a fairy land.
You might explore a circle from the Charlotte airport also.

jamie99

I'd drop Baton Rouge, and add Natchez, MS - we visited there one year in the spring and depending on when you are there, they have a lot of home and garden tours going on. Baton Rouge was OK, just not a lot to see there.