Returning the rental car we picked up in Memphis to our last sightseeing sto0p in Chattanooga will cost $1000 more than returning it to Memphis--so we're going to drive back to Memphis to fly home. Is it quicker to take expressways from Chattanooga to Nashville to Memphis or (what looks like) Route 64 from Chattanooga to Memphis? Thanks!

I love TN but driving across it is so tedious. Expressways are faster and easier.

If you want to go cross country, stop at Jack Daniels to break up the drive (but you can't drink there) or stop by Bell Buckle TN for a nice little stop. But, if you want to "make time", then it's interstate all the way.

I agree with starrs. If you're interested in seeing a bunch of small towns, take highway 64 (or highway 72 through northern Alabama, but I think that would be even more boring). Honestly, my family is from some of those small towns, and they lose the "romance" quickly. You're also more likely to get stuck behind a tractor or slow drivers. If you're interested in the quickest way, just take the interstate. (And just a tip so people don't look at you funny - they're "interstates" down here. I've never heard a Southerner call them expressways or freeways. They'll know what you mean, though.)

Thanks, that's just the info I needed. We'll be at the end of a two week vacation, and just need to get back to Memphis to return the car and fly home. The Interstate it is!

Stop at Cracker Barrel and get a book on tape. It's a long, boring (but easy) drive.

No Cracker Barrel for us--we'll have our mp3 players with us, so can play music and NPR shows. Actually, my husband will do that--I'll sleep. That's my specialty on long car rides--and I'm very good at it!

Even better, IMO. But do stop at Cracker Barrel while you're in Tennessee, if you've never been and Southern food floats your boat. It's an institution. (And they do have some pretty healthy menu items - it doesn't have to be all grease and cheese and potatoes.) The chain started in Lebanon, which would be on your way from Nashville to Knoxville.

We ate at a Cracker Barrel once when travelling with our kids some 20 years ago. We have a cute picture of them intently playing checkers.

Highway 64 is 4 lanes. Interstate 40 often has lanes closed for constructions which makes for very slow travel. I have been stopped more than once for 45 minutes to an hour in the middle of nowhere for no discernible reason. We travel on 64 almost exclusively to avoid the I40 traffic and slow downs. Those little towns have clean restrooms and more interesting places to eat than what we found off of I40.

abram flew home 4 years ago.

True!