4 weeks roadtrip 'Deep South'
 

Hello

I know I am very late organising this but a sudden opportunity for myself and my boyfriend to take 4 weeks holidays has occurred - so here is a rough itinerary which I would love some advice on:

Depart Cork, Ireland August 26th - Fly to Atlanta Georgia - arrive at 8pm
Explore Atlanta 27th
Depart Atlanta morning of 28th (rent a car) - drive to savannah - spend 28th, 29th, 30th here
Drive Tybee Island or Hilton Head island - spend 31st here
Drive to Charleston - 1st, 2nd and 3rd
Drive to Asheville - 4th and 5th
Drive to Gatlinburg (to do Smokey Mtns) - 6th, 7th and 8th
Drive to Nashville - 9th, 10th and 11th
Drive to Memphis - 12th and 13th
Drive to Natchez - 14th
Drive to Lafayette - 15th
Drive to New Orleans (get rid of car here prior to stay) - 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th

Fly home - looking to fly home around the 22nd - so have a few days to play around with - if it is best to add days to current locations or to get another location in.
I was including either Tybee Island or Hilton Head Island just as a casual beach resort to break up the cities - im not sure which one is better or if there is an alternative we should consider.
I am aware we will incur a one way drop off fee for the car, but am ok with that as we considered doing a loop back to Atlanta but we weren't that pushed about the locations on route back.
We cannot change our 4 weeks from 26th august to 22nd September.
Essentially we are looking for a mix of cities, outdoor activities (hikes, picturesque walks, etc.), and good places for food etc, with a little casual beach stop included also. Max driving time in any day would not want to be over 5 hours - in general would like to keep it to 3-4 hours.

Thanks in advance!

Too much driving at the start. Leave out Tybee and hilton Head and just go to Charleston. You can go to the beach there if you want a beach day. That will loosen the trip up a bit.
I think the time in the Smokies is a little long also.

I'd suggest you add in the driving times to see how long you really have in the destinations. You might enjoy a little extra time in Asheville, for example.

I'd try for more time in and around Lafayette. If at all possible, you want to go to Fred's Lounge in Mamou, La. for the radio show on a Saturday morning.https://www.austinchronicle.com/colu...1-12-28/84146/

Welcome to the South! We are so glad you will be visiting us. You will find friendly people. The food in the south is wonderful. Food in Louisiana is unique (I am from La. and the food is amazing!! I currently live 2 hours from Nashville and Memphis) Order some sweet tea, jambalaya and fried green tomatoes while you here. Your trip to the South will include very warm, humid temperatures. As we say in the south, we don't sweat we glisten! So bring cool clothes and sunscreen. Mostly, you will find a very relaxed pace of life and casual clothing. I have lived most of my life in the geographic areas you want to cover. I have some suggestions.

I think your current itinerary needs more variety. I would choose between Savannah and Charleston. Both towns are lovely. I would suggest Charleston because it fits into your itinerary better. I would eliminate Natchez. Instead, explore the River Road Plantations in New Orleans area allowing you to see plantations without the additionally stop. One previous reply suggested eliminating Tybee and Hilton Head. I agree. Biloxi or Ocean Springs, MS are excellent day trip options from New Orleans (1 hour drive). The gulf coast has white sand beaches with warm water. IMO, Gulf coast beaches are much prettier than the beaches on the East Coast (Tybee or Hilton). If you decide to visit the Gulf Coast, google Ship Island. It's another hidden gem.

Since you are wanted a sampling of the Southern portion of the US, I would suggest adding the Mammoth Caves in Kentucky. It's a hidden gem that most first time visitors wouldn't know to find. Kentucky is known for Bourbon manufacturing. There are some great large and small distilleries near the caves. (Willett, Maker's Mark and Heaven Hill). Consider staying in Bardstown, KY, most beautiful small town in America. Gaitlinburg is very touristy. However, Cade's Cove in the Smoky Mountain National Park is delightful. I agree with a previous post 2 nights is plenty in this area. I would suggest some of the more rural towns near the Park~Townsend is a good choice. Make sure you are in the park at sundown. You will see many more animals if you visit early (dawn) or late in the evening.

Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans are known for music. Nashville is known for Country Music. Go to the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville for some line dancing. Another great stop is Franklin, TN. It's a quaint small town near Nashville. If you visit Franklin, eat at Gray's. Elvis got his start in Memphis. Sun Records is worth a visit. While in Memphis, visit the Peabody hotel and watch the march of the ducks. Stop at Mud Island. I think Graceland is pricey and not worth the visit unless you are a HUGE Elvis fan. Another worthwhile stop is Bass Pro Shop in the Pyramid. The store is full of hunting/fishing gear. You can take the elevator to the top to get a great view of Memphis. One other place that is worth a stop is the Civil Rights Museum. Memphis is known for BBQ. Skip the Rendevous. Locals eat at Corky's or the Commissary. Beale Street has bars and music.

While in New Orleans, visit Frenchmen Street. It's a 3 block area known for live music. Eat a beignet at Cafe DuMonde. Drink a Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's. Visit the Old New Orleans Rum Distillery (tours depart from the french market). Visit the Garden District. Ride the Streetcar. I would suggest looking at Airbnb in the Garden District area. You can rent something right on the streetcar line and not need a car. The National WWII museum is must see. Also, New Orleans is known for Mardi Gras. Take the Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World tour. You will learn about Mardi Gras and view some of the floats will be on this tour. Mardi Gras World is located in a warehouse on the Mississippi River.

I would amend your itinerary to look like this. Atlanta~Charleston~Asheville~Smoky Mountains~ Mammoth Caves/Bourbon Trail/Bardstown,KY~Nashville~ Memphis~New Orleans. You have a great sampling of music cities, Charleston and New Orleans the old south. Asheville you will find lovely vistas and the Biltmore. Gatlinburg and Mammoth Caves you will see the some of the outdoor activities you desire. Personally, I would add the beach instead of Lafayette. The beach rounds out your trip.

I have traveled extensively. I traveled to your lovely country last summer. I visited Cork while I was in Ireland. I suggest you slow your pace while you are here. The South is to be savored. You will be glad you did!

I have one additional suggestion....if you added a gulf coast beach destination, you would be a 5 hour drive from Atlanta.

If you would like to save some money and return your rental to Atlanta, a possibility would be to leave New Orleans and spend your last several days at the beach. Then drive to Atlanta to fly home.

Are you flying back out of Atlanta or NOLA?
This could impact those extra three days
Personally I wouldn't do Mammouth Caves because although beautiful and worthy of seeing it is an outlier that would require several hours of drive time

I would add a day in Asheville like other suggestions and in between Savannah and Charleston is Beaufort which is great

I like your plan in general especially with three extra days to play with if you are flying out of NOLA

We enjoyed Hilton Head a lot, and stayed there twice. We also drove over to Tybee Island one day for lunch while staying in Savannah. Just looks like there is more to do on HH. I especially liked the trip to Daufuskie Island and renting a golf cart there.

Hello Maeve, that sounds like a great trip. Your itinerary is pretty sound I think. Definitely do NOT eliminate Savannah. Savannah and Charleston are similar but completely different if that makes any sense and no deep south trip would be complete without seeing them both. I would avoid Tybee definitely and Hilton Head and just do a beach day in Charleston as someone else said. 3 days in the Smokies is not too long at all. We have spent several week long trips there and never got bored. Hope you have a wonderful trip and please tell us about it when you get back.

I like your itinerary for the most part. At least you're spending several days in your various destinations, which is a good thing.

I found two days plenty for Savannah, though if you include the nearby forts and "Garden of good and evil" sights, you might justify the third day.

Definitely research New Orleans food options, as this city is one of the premiere food destinations in the US. Memphis is one of the major BBQ meccas in the country. And see if you can find a good mustard sauce BBQ place in Charleston; Bessingers is one such option.

Eat at Monell's in Nashville. It will be a highlight--and not expensive.

Be prepared for serious heat and humidity!! It sounds like a good itinerary to me.

Well, in Nashville they MUST have some hot chicken!! Order "mild".

Will second Monell's in Nashville, an excellent family style Southern meat and three spot; here you sit at a big table and pass around plates and bowls of terrific eats. For an excellent cafeteria style version of this cuisine, choose Arnold's Country Kitchen. The classic hot chicken spot is reportedly Prince's Hot Chicken Shack (haven't been), but can vouch for this dish at Bolton's Spicy Fish and Chicken.

A top notch analog to Monell's in Savannah is Mrs. Wilkes. This place is open for lunch only M-F from 11 am to 2 pm. Lines began forming about half an hour ahead when I was there. The Lady and Sons does the same cuisine buffet style -- quite well but not as good as Mrs. Wilkes.

Links.

NOLA attractions (scroll down to see what I actually did):

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...y-184065-2.cfm

NOLA food:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...experience.cfm

Memphis attractions (again scroll down for report):

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-itinerary.cfm

Memphis food:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...experience.cfm

For Savannah and Charleston attractions (scroll down to post 3 on thread):

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-itinerary.cfm

Here is a google page of articles about Savannah and its food. The buffets are, I suppose, a bit of the kitsch of Savannah, but there is better these days.
https://www.google.com/search?site=&...k1.5MZOWgVtoPk

Also, Hilton Head is the epitome of a "made in America resort"--it has the most sterile of ambience, wall to wall sameness. Please go to a real Southeast beach and enjoy!!

I would not eliminate Savannah, and you can drive to Tybee Island and back very quickly so no need to stay there.

I like the idea of spending some time at the beaches on the Gulf Coast, and don't forget Mobile, Alabama--a very charming older southern city. Lots to do, and Wintzell's Oysterhouse for chargrilled oysters--order a dozen but you'll probably want more.

I might want to add another day to Atlanta as well, especially if you have any interest in the US Civil War.

Took a trip last year to the south. Best stop was Redcliff Plantation. It is a must! The ranger will give you a tour and provide you with a ton of information. Amazing place!

Also near Augusta GA is the river where 100s of slaves tried to avoid the confederate soliders and drowned to their death.

The other places you might think about are:
River Bridge Historical Site
Musgrove Mill State Historical Site and
96, SC and the earth fort.

I didn't look at your literary close enough. I agree avoid Hilton Head. Nothing is there to see. If you get close to Vicksburg, definitely check out the Civil War Battle site.