We have booked a hire car for 2 weeks in April, starting in New Orleans and finishing in Atlanta. We'd rather just wing it for accommodation so we're not locked in, will we have any problems getting a room? We'd generally be looking for something budget priced. Plan to visit Lafayette, St Francisville, Natchez, Vicksburg, Memphis, Great Smoky Mountains (Gatlinburg?), and Asheville. (Have already booked New Orleans as it's the French Quarter Festival.)
Any help appreciated.
Thanks, Kay

Hotels/motels along interstates will fill up every night. When we are winging it, we can usually decide how far we are going to get by mid afternoon and call ahead for a reservation that night. We have had good luck doing that.

Go by some of the chain motels and get their free catalog--they keep them in the lobby. It will show you locations, rates and phone numbers.

In heavily visited areas like Gatlinburg or if an event is going on, you will need to get reservations as far ahead of time as possible.

In agreement with the previous post - if there isn't something special going on you should not have any problem getting a hotel when you decide to stop for the night. I travel this way often. I have run into problems on occasion when I've waited too late to start looking for a place to stop on a weekend night though. Also, if you are planning on traveling over Easter weekend 4/18-4/20, you may run into a little problem finding something without a reservation.

Thanks so much, Connie and SaraLou for your help. We will either book ahead from home or ring ahead on the day. I had forgotten that Easter will be a busy time - thanks for the reminder!
Kay

Hi Kay,
My husband and I go to Pigeon forge, Gatlinburg about ever year in April and found it's cheaper not to make reservation ahead of time. There are always rooms available especially in Pigeon Forge which is just a 20 minute drive (if that) to Gatlinburg.
I hope you enjoy your trip! Sounds like fun.
Karen

Kay, the week before and the week after Easter will be really busy.

Karen - is there anywhere you would recommend in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge that is central, clean and budget priced?
We'd really rather book something when we arrive and try and get a discount via coupons or the tourist office. That way we are not locked in and can hopefully save some money. We will be there mid week.
Kay

Kay, we have also found it to be much cheaper to find a hotel once we get to Pigeon Forge than to book in advance, especially during the week in the spring when the kids are still in school. There are a number of chains: Hampton, Baymont, Country Inn, several Comfort Inns, Microtel, etc. There are also a lot of local places that are really cheap-like $29-35/night during the week. We stayed at Oak Tree Lodge on the Parkway in Sevierville two years ago-great location for outlet mall and more quiet than further down on the parkway. The room was clean, basic and a little tattered, but okay for us as we were really just passing through on the way. Most of the motels/hotels will have their prices posted outside so you can easily find something. If you're there over a weekend to prices rise significantly, esp if there is an event. Also AVOID the TRAVELODGE-we stayed there one night in August on a Sat when we couldn't get anything else-runned down, dirty, noisy. Try the Applewood rest. for breakfast-it's excellent. Enjoy your trip! Katie