On our driving trip coming up this month, we will be leaving our relatives' house in Montgomery, Alabama and driving to Columbus, GA to see the Ironclad Museum (is this worth stopping for?). We will then be driving on from there to Charleston, SC. Figure it would be a long drive for one day -- can anyone suggest a nice half way point along the way and maybe the best route for us to go. Thanks - we are from the Pacific Northwest and not familiar with the South at all.

Can't answer the Ironclad Museum question.

Route question - enter Columbus GA to Charleston SC on www.mapquest.com and follow that route. Pretty much the most straightforward route.

Nothing really halfway of interest, but I'd stop at Savannah for a night on the way in and then head on to Charleston. There is really nothing to see on I-16 from Macon to Savannah.

If you want other ideas before you hit I-16, your route takes you through Warner Robins. There's a free aviation museum there.
http://www.museumofaviation.org/home.htm

A great place to visit is Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA if you want to spend the night in the Columbus area.

The best part of your route? Gorgeous azaleas, dogwoods and spring flowers in bloom!

The Callaway Gardens area is also the site of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's summer home, the place where he died. It is being maintained as a museum.

When Sville suggested Savannah I was amazed--until I looked at the map. Wow, far south.
I think the OP could also just head due north from Columbus and take 85 to 20 to 26 and almost be in Charleston later that evening.

mapquest did the routing. I was just offering suggestions along the way. Not much to choose from.

An overnight in Columbus or Pine Mountain with a visit to the Little White House in Warm Springs may be just the ticket - and then a long drive day.

Still think if they go the mapquest suggested route, Savannah would be a nice stop and then ready for an early and refreshed arrival in Charleston.

Oh, I agree. I was just surprised when I did look at the map.

Is the Ironclad Museum in Columbus worth the stop? In a word, YES! My husband, the CW buff spent the greater part of one day there and I'll get back to you with his input in the next day or two. In the mean time, you can check out their website: http://portcolumbus.org/ If you decide that you might want to spend the night in Columbus, there are some nice B&B accommodations in the historic area including the Gates House and the Rothschild-Pound Inn. You should also consider stopping at the NHS & Cemetary at Andersonville. A visit to the new National Prisoner of War Museum there is a must! http://www.nps.gov/ande/