Hello,

I am planning a road trip of southern states. Time frame is April 30th - May 7th. I live in southern California but will fly to a state in the south as a starting point, rent a car and then fly out of another state. I have never been to the south so I need help planning. I would like to see Louisiana, Tennessee, and Georgia for sure. Is this possible in the amount of time I listed above? Can anyone help with an itinerary? We like food, nature (hiking), and historical points of interest. It seems overwhelming to start the itinerary. Where is the best place to start our trip and end it?

Thank you!

Assuming flying in on 4-30, out on 5-7, the usual formula gives you 6 full days on the ground. Correct me if I've assumed wrongly. To me 6 days means 2 cities, max, not 3 states. I suggest you do some intensive looking at cities not too far apart and plan accordingly. Another option might be something like a 4 or 5 day riverboat cruise.

Thank you MmePerdu. So sounds like 2 cities in 6 full days is best huh?
Thanks for your help!

In California, it is easy to drive a few hours and be in very different scenery. In the South, you have to drive a lot just for a change in scenery. Therefore, I have to agree with the above that you choose a destination and visit it properly. I would probably start with Charleston, Savannah, or New Orleans. And note that I said "or", not "and".

Charleston & Savannah are not far apart, although when I visited for a week a year ago I decided there was plenty to do staying near Charleston. But I think those 2 could be combined. New Orleans & Mobile might be another possibility.

Louisiana, Tennessee, and Georgia for sure

OK, then what there for a week. Surely, NOLA. Look at a loop from Nola to Nashville, if that is what you want.

Personally I would do a southeast coast trip and most especially for the time of year you have. Charleston/Savannah/some islands. Plantations, it is close and able to drive, go to the beach, etc.

Charleston and Savannah are different in some ways and the same in others IMO (having lived in both) so if you really want "variation" in a short period of time you might consider doing one and not the other. Spend that "other" time elsewhere of equal interest.

Thanks everyone for your help! good advice.

Any chance you can take the red eye out to New Orleans on Friday evening? Rent a car in New Orleans after you have seen the city and head for Birmingham, Atlanta, Greenville SC, Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis and returning the car to New Orleans and flying home.

"...New Orleans...Birmingham, Atlanta, Greenville SC, Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis and returning the car to New Orleans..."

In a week?

Yup, I visited several of these cities last March on my geocaching trip with a one week car rental from Galesburg IL.
I found caches in IL, IA, WI, MN, NE, KS, MO, Arkansas, TN, LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, NC, KY, IN, and MI before returning the car to Galesburg for my return trip via Los Angeles to Oregon.
I spent a little over 24 hours in Missouri attending a geocaching event attended by over 500 geocachers from all over the US.

But, Tom, it seems to me to make sense for someone on a quest, or series of quests, as you were. But for someone whose intention is to see what the cities have to offer, well, it just isn't the same thing and more than a bit pointless. The circumstances are just too different and I'm surprised that a practical man like yourself doesn't realize it.

Mme perdu has it nailed. Tom's was a different trip--and fun for him. It would truly be "heck on wheels" as a way to see the south!! LOL

Agreed with the above! Don't try to cram in too much. Depending on what specifically you're interested in, you could easily spend your whole week in Tennessee (or on the coast, or... you get the idea; I just live in Tennessee!).

Think cities/areas, not states. By Louisiana, Tennessee and Georgia, do you mean New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville and Atlanta? The Smokies? Savannah? Chattanooga? What makes you want to see "the South"? That would help people give you specific suggestions.

One thing to note is that New Orleans Jazz Fest will be happening on the first weekend of your trip. Whether that's a positive or a negative depends on you, and I don't know how much Jazz Fest would affect "normal" tourist activities in the rest of the city (or hotel rates), but it's something to think about.

http://www.nojazzfest.com/

Jent103, I would like to see New Orleans, Nashville, and Savannah. I would love to see the Smokies but I know that's probably not possible with the other cities I want to see. So I am thinking fly into Nashville and stay there for a couple of days and then head to New Orleans? I don't think I will have time for Savannah. I've lived in Los Angeles my whole life and while California is very diverse, I'd like to see a part of the country that would WOW me(culture, food, history, etc.) and I think cities in the South would do that for me.


I'm wondering if this is another possibility.... Nashville, The Smokies and then head to New Orleans?

thanks for your help!

Would you be flying into Nashville and out of New Orleans?

In a week, the smokies are "out there". And so is Savannah IF you want to do NOLA and Nashville.
If you do Savannah, Charleston and the Smokies--it's good.
Nashville, Memphis and Nola--it's good.

Nmorales, with that itinerary, this is SO EASY! Fly into Knoxville, rent a car and enjoy the Smokies. Then drive the not-quite-3 hours to Nashville, enjoy Nashville, then turn in your car at the airport and fly SWA to New Orleans (nonstop direct flights are not expensive, especially if you book NOW!) and enjoy New Orleans, then fly from there home.

Thanks everyone!!

With those priorities, bakerstreet's plan is good! The Knoxville airport gives you easy access to Townsend (one "entrance town" to the Smokies), the drive between Knoxville and Nashville is pretty and easy, and the Nashville airport is easy to navigate. Driving from Nashville to New Orleans would be a long slog - the shortest way is not exciting at all, and going through the Delta or the Natchez Trace wouldn't be any better unless you have the time and inclination to explore along the way.

Savannah is just too far - it's beautiful and absolutely worth a trip, but just takes too long from anything else on your list and I think you're right to leave it out this time.