Thanks SAnParis! Good to know.

I just looked at the Birmingham to Jackson route suggested by Drf. Looks like the logical place to stay the night would be Jackson, MS. What's that like??? I've never been to Mississippi.

Thanks to everyone for your help and patience! :)

If you are that close, I'd stay in Natchez, MS. It is a great little town.

Downtown Memphis is far scarier than Little Rock.

However Beale Street can be fun in Memphis. I was surprised how small it is in comparison to Bourbon Street in New Orleans though.

If you consider the Birmingham to Jackson route, my family usually stays in Birmingham, on the north side near the airport. Several good, decent chain motels in the area.

Check on freetrip.com, which will give you hotels and restaurants along any given route.

If you want to go further, Jackson is a nice town. But we haven't stayed there in years and I'd rather not give you old info. But I do like SAnParis' idea. In fact, if you've got time, the Natchez Trace would be a really enjoyable trip. You could take it the whole length from just outside Nashville all the way to Natchez. Several of the ante-bellum homes offer accommodations, but some do have age restrictions.

At least there are people in Memphis, not homeless people & other miscreants wandering about (& little else). I topped a useful Natchez post for you as well.

RBCal, please feel free to share all you know about Little Rock, I'm looking forward to hearing about all the cool places you have visited while there...

Little Rock Things to Do

Clinton William J Presidential Center and Park
111 Center St
Little Rock, AR 72201

Flying Saucer brewpub
323 President Clinton Ave
Little Rock, AR 72223
www.beerknurd.com

Doe's Eat Place
1023 W Markham St
Little Rock, AR 72201
www.doeseatplace.net
Lots of pictures of Bill and Hillary when they used to eat there.

Little Rock River Market
400 President Clinton Ave #200
Little Rock, AR 72201
www.rivermarket.info

All of the above are more fun than Graceland or watching the ducks at the Peabody in Memphis.

SAnParis--Thanks for topping that post.

Oh boy, so much to consider. Let me talk to the hubby...

Thanks again!

RE: Little Rock & RBCals expertise on the subject - Pres. Clintons' Library is, well, a library, The Flying Saucer is a brew pub chain that is everywhere (& also about the only place to eat in downtown Little Rock on a Sunday) & the River market is almost empty except for a few lunch places, as you'll notice there are no pics of the inside portion. Obviously RBCal you've not been there recently, if at all. Sorry your feeble attempt at a web search failed you. They do have a trolley which is a convenient way to get around & there are a couple of decent galleries. The best brew pub is actually Cregreens which is off the one trolley line. Since I'm not a huge fan of the Clintons' where they may have eaten at one time has little interest. The new(er) baseball park is also near downtown.

If you stay in Memphis (haven't read all the posts to figure out if a decision was made) I can recommend the Hampton Inn & Suites on S.Shady Grove Rd or the Embassey Suites on the same road. They are next door to each other, right off Poplar near Rt 240. No more than 2 to 3 minutes from the highway. The Embassey Suites is a little nicer. I've stayed at both dozens of times. There is a zoo in Memphis that has pandas so that might be a nice morning for your little one.

Ok SAnP please tell me about the great shopping in downtown Memphis. When I was there last August it was basically a ghost town (except Beale St.)

At least LR is gentrifying their downtown instead of letting it die.

and yes Peabody Place is included in being part of the ghost town.

Who said anything about shopping ?? LR may be attempting to gentrify, but they are failing, miserably.

Thank you Bennnie! Still trying to decide on the route at this point, but if we do stay in Memphis, I will keep your recommendations in mind.

siena, last month I moved from San Antonio to Maryland over a Saturday / Sunday--through Memphis we took Rt. 40. Honestly, the trucks didn't bother me and we hit no traffic anywhere along the route except outside Dallas. There were a lot of trucks but crazy drivers in cars, etc. bother me more than trucks so perhaps it's what you feel comfortable with. We have yet to move my husband (and our furniture!) but when we do plan to take the same route which AAA TripTik-ed for us. Gorgeous state that Tennesse. Good luck to you!

Thanks AnnMarie! I will keep that in mind. I guess I still have some time to think it over.

Finally decided on a route! After talking to my dad, who has travelled extensively throughout the South, we've decided to drive through Nashville, Birmingham, Jackson, etc. to San Antonio. Sounds like there will be less truck traffic. Plus, we've never been to Mississippi before, so it will be a fascinating drive.

Thank you so much to everyone for your suggestions! :)

siena - should be a nice route. Glad you decided. And thanks for getting back. Let us know how it works out.

Well, what little time I've spent on roads in Mississippi would not be classified as "fascinating," but hopefully you'll enjoy it. :) Do try not to hit Nashville during rush hour - if you're taking 65 south, it can get pretty crowded through the downtown area between 4-6 or so (on weekdays, of course). Just a fairly small area with a lot of interstates running through.

Hope you have a great move and enjoy your new home!