If you do it, rkkwan has a great idea. Shave off 3 hours from a New Orleans day, and spend the night in Pensacola or nearby. Walk on the sugar soft white sand, watch the sun set over the ocean and enjoy some fresh seafood.

Then, you'd have only an 500 mile drive the next day. That's usually my max per day - if I plan to stay in a good mood on the trip! :-)

You will really enjoy the gorgeous sand and water of the Florida Panhandle.

Also consider staying in Cape Canaveral for the evening (you just drove cross country to get there!) and take a kayak trip or something that gets you out and moving in the surrounding nature preserves.

Huntsville is pretty far out of the way, so I don't think it's a good alternative to Canaveral