Planning a sort of rambling road trip from north east Iowa to mid florida, probably in mid to late March. Plan on being gone about 3 weeks. We're an elderly couple who think 500 miles makes for a long day.

The rough plan is as follows:

Northeast Iowa to Davenport to Indianapolis to Knoxville (Great Smoky Park) to Charlotte to Charleston, Savannah, St. Augustine and then to Auburndale, FL to visit relatives for 2-4 days. Return home through New Orleans then probably pretty much follow the Mississippi on towards home.

Sort of planned on taking about a week or a bit more to get to Auburndale and another week enroute back home.

Given this sketchy information, what can we work in within this time frame? i realize we'll not be able to spend very much time in any one place, just wondering what we can see and do by spending two or possibly three nights in any given area.

We've been to DW/Epcot and not particularly interested in that.

Thanks much for any input.

Just wanted to point out that Knoxville is not actually in the Smokies. It's probably about an hour away, depending on where you enter the park. If you want to stay in the GSMNP, you'll probably want to find cabins or b&bs (there are tons of cabin rental companies). If you want to stay in a town, there are lots of hotels in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, although the towns themselves are pretty touristy. Some people like that, some don't.

ttt

About what time do you plan on hitting Champaign-Urbana? It's about mile marker 180 on I-74. There's a really great, non-chain, authentic Italian restaurant in Champaign. If you're interested, I'll email you the phone number.

If you plan on being just over the Indiana state line at dinner time, then I recommend The Beef House in Veedersburg. That's about another hour from C-U. I don't think The Beef House serves lunch, but I cold be mistaken.

I forgot about your trip back. Are you going to take the Great River Road or I-55? If you take the Great River Road, then I strongly recommend Fort du Chartes in Southern Illinois. It's a French Frontier fort and they may have costumed docents.

If you're going on 55, then take 155 in Lincoln, north of Springfield, to Peoria. That cuts about 90 miles off the trip to Bloomington then back to Peoria via 74.

Springfield is a must-see. I've not yet been to the new Lincoln Library and Museum, but the reviews have been wonderful and 12 Feb 09 is the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.

The only home that A. Lincoln ever owned is a fascinating trip into the 1850's. If either of you have trouble with stairs, skip it. The stairs are steep and narrow.

The Illinois State Museum is a really nice museum and it's free. It'd be worth the visit if it was $45 a person!

That's only three of the many places in downtown Springfield. If you want outside of Springfield, there's Lincoln's New Salem.

Do not plan to be in Savannah around St Patrick's Day - this year on a Monday. That would include Th 3/13- Mon 3/17.

You do not sound like the kind of person who would appreciate a loud drunken packed-street celebration.

If you have three weeks for a rambling road trip from IA-FL and back one thing you don't want to do is consistently drive the Interstate highways. We have driven coast to coast many times and avoid them and large cities like the plague. If you are a member of AAA get their Tour Books and Maps to help you plan your trip. Don't be afraid to drive any road that appears on the map.. Mid America and its many small towns have much to offer, that is if you take the time to slow down and enjoy them.

Thanks to all who have responded, it's much appreciated. Nothing is written in stone at this time and the cities I listed were just for the general way we're thinking of going. Interstate driving is good if you're just going from point A to point B. I love to sort of take the backroads and check out interesting things along the way. As to the return trip I think the Great River Road sounds quite interesting, but again, nothing is absolute.


And yes, we do belong to AAA and will have them prepare a TripTik.


Just a few of the must stops include Savannah, St. Augustine, New Orleans, Great Smokies and Lincoln Land.

Again, thanks for your input--keep it coming. Geri

Absolutely stop at the Beef House in IN if you're anywhere near there. It's just off I - 74 at the Covington/Veedersburg exit. And yes, they serve lunch. We're in that area every year to visit relatives, and its on our must stop list. The food is excellent. (Just remember that IN is in different time zone than IL)

I know this is a little out of the way, but with your time on the return trip I'd look at taking the Nachez Trace through MS. You could catch part of it in Jackson (rather than going over to Natchez - although its worth the drive IMO) and take it to Tupelo, then head back to Memphis and rejoin the Riverroad. Really nice drive. Besides, some views on parts of the Riverroad are hindered by the levies.

Going to print this off before we go. Sounds like some great ideas for eating. Someone suggested the Natchez Trace--and yes I'm familiar with it, in fact did it some years ago. Again, thanks for all your help and I'd love to hear more. Geri

I can speak on the Gulf Coast on the return part of the trip.

Stop in Destin or Seaside/Watercolor in Fl to see the best beaches in the US. Eat some Royal Red shrimp while you're there.

When you leave New Orleans go up to St. Francisville, LA north of Baton Rouge and see some beautiful plantations. Then go up Hwy 61 to Natchez, MS and stay at one of the many B&B's. Natchez is a real jewel and filled with some real characters. Really a place in a time warp.

Keep going up Hwy 61 and stop in Vicksburg. Farther north go to Clarksdale, World Capitol of the Blues, and home of Morgan Freeman, who owns a blues club and a very nice restaurant. There's a funky little place to stay call the Shack Up Inn. Got to stay there. You won't believe this place.

My two cents...