Need Tennessee route tips
 

I'm puzzling about a four-day Tennessee driving trip in July, departing from Memphis on a Monday. It's casual, not particularly oriented to food, music, nightlife, history or theme parks -- but scenic would be nice. Have thought about Interstate to Nashville, Interstate to Chattanooga (spending time in both), a day in the Cumberland Plateau region, then back to Memphis across the middle -- four days. I know the Smokies are scenic, but doubtful my wife and I want to drive that far. Detours or alternate routes gladly considered. Most Interstates are not so scenic -- that's why I'm asking. And yes, we must return to Memphis.

If you are going for just the drive, just my opinion, but not that scenic. Especially in July when the grass dries up and everything is brown. Maybe just me, others might have a different opinion.

When I asked on these boards about driving from Chattanooga to Memphis, it was suggested to me that we take the Interstate to Nashville and then to Memphis because the roads from Chattanooga to Memphis are very slow and not particularly scenic.

IMHO, you've planned a lot of driving for four days and won't have much time to see anything in Memphis, Nashville, or Chattanooga.

So you're planning...
Day 1: Drive from Memphis to Nashville (three solid hours)
Day 2: Drive from Nashville to Chattanooga (~2 hours)
Day 3: Drive from Chattanooga to the Cumberland Plateau somewhere (~1.5 hours to Fall Creek Falls)
Day 4: Drive back to Memphis (~6 hours)

I do agree with abram - you'll have time to do one thing in each place. Both Chattanooga and the Cumberland Plateau area are nice (I'd head to Fall Creek Falls on the Cumberland), but given your time constraints, why not cut one out so you have a full day in both Nashville and whichever other area you choose? In this plan, you don't see anything in one place anyway. If you spend 3/4 of the day in Nashville and want most of the next day to hike around the Falls, you basically just sleep in Chattanooga anyway.

There's not going to be a scenic drive from Memphis to Nashville. The whole west part of the state is only pretty if you really want it to be. :) You could take back roads to Chattanooga or Crossville, I suppose, but given the very short time you have, I'd just go interstate and make time, unless you're really in this for the driving.

Thanks to those taking an interest in this not-so-big deal. To clarify, our son and family live in Memphis, so that's covered and doesn't count. My thought was, Day 1 a.m., Interstate to Nashville, spend rest of day there. Day 2 a.m., Interstate to Chattanooga, spend rest of day there. Day 3 in and around Chattanooga. Day 4 unclear -- this one is up in the air. Actually, we could use a Day 5 to return to Memphis if that turns out to work better.

Generally speaking, I think Nashville has more to do/see than Chattanooga and would spend more than half a day there, but of course that depends on your interests. If you want to hit all three places, I think that extra day would be really helpful if you can swing it.