8 Stops on a Southern USA Road Trip
A road trip through the American South is one of the best ways to see the country. In two weeks, you can hear jazz in New Orleans, blues in Memphis and country in Nashville, then finish under the oaks in Savannah and Charleston. The food alone is worth the drive.
In this guide
This route runs roughly 1,600 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic coast. Here are eight stops that make it work, with a rough idea of how long to spend in each.
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
Start in New Orleans. Give it at least three days. Walk the French Quarter, eat beignets at Café du Monde, take the St. Charles streetcar through the Garden District and hear live music on Frenchmen Street.
The food is the main event here. Try gumbo, a po’boy and crawfish if it’s in season. It’s a city that’s hard to leave, which makes it a good place to begin rather than end.
2. Natchez, Mississippi
From New Orleans, drive about three hours north to Natchez, the oldest city on the Mississippi River. It sits on a high bluff and has more antebellum mansions than almost anywhere in the South.
Many of these homes were built on the wealth of cotton and slavery, and the better tours now tell that story honestly. Longwood, an unfinished octagonal mansion, is the most unusual. From here, the Natchez Trace Parkway runs 444 miles to Nashville with no billboards or trucks. Drive part of it for a slower, beautiful day.
3. Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is the home of the blues and the birthplace of rock and roll. Spend two days here. Walk Beale Street at night for live music, then visit Sun Studio, where Elvis, Johnny Cash and B.B. King recorded.
Graceland is the big draw for Elvis fans. But the most important stop is the National Civil Rights Museum, built around the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. Give it at least three hours. And eat dry-rub ribs. That’s not optional.
4. Nashville, Tennessee
Three hours east is Nashville, Music City. Spend two days on Broadway’s honky-tonks, at the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame. If you can get in, a songwriters’ night at the Bluebird Cafe is something special.
Eat Nashville hot chicken, but start with mild. Even medium is serious. Then get out of downtown to explore East Nashville or 12 South for a more local feel.
5. Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the surprise of the trip. This small city on the Tennessee River is surrounded by mountains, with a walkable downtown and a great riverfront. Walk across the Walnut Street Bridge, one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world.
Ride the Incline Railway up Lookout Mountain, visit Rock City and Ruby Falls, or just enjoy the outdoor scene. One night is enough, but two is better. In fall, the mountain colors here are beautiful.
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6. Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is a big, busy city, but it has one stop everyone should make: the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. You can see his childhood home, Ebenezer Baptist Church where he preached and the King Center, where he and Coretta Scott King are buried. Entry is free.
Add the Atlanta BeltLine, a walking trail through some of the city’s best neighborhoods, and the Center for Civil and Human Rights. One or two days is enough.
7. Savannah, Georgia
From Atlanta, drive about four hours to Savannah, one of the most beautiful cities in the US. Its historic district is laid out around 22 shady squares, full of live oaks draped in Spanish moss.
Walk from square to square, end at Forsyth Park and its white fountain, and explore River Street. Savannah allows open containers in the historic district, so you can walk with a drink in a to-go cup. Two days is ideal.
8. Charleston, South Carolina
Finish in Charleston, about two hours up the coast. It’s full of colorful houses, church steeples and cobblestone streets. Walk past Rainbow Row, along the Battery and through the French Quarter.
Visit a plantation like McLeod or Magnolia to learn the full history of the area. Then spend your last night eating shrimp and grits and toasting the end of the trip. Charleston deserves at least two or three days.
How long does it take?
Two weeks is ideal. Driving times between stops are mostly three to five hours, which leaves plenty of time to explore. If you only have ten days, skip Natchez and Atlanta, or drive straight from Nashville to Savannah.
Road trip tips for the South
Book hotels in New Orleans, Nashville, Savannah and Charleston early, since they fill on weekends and prices jump. The smaller stops, like Natchez and Chattanooga, are easier to book last minute.
Eat at the local spots. A meat-and-three in Nashville, a barbecue joint in Memphis or a lowcountry boil near Charleston will tell you more about the South than any museum. Bring cash, too, since a few of the best old-school places still don’t take cards. And slow down. Southern hospitality is real, and people are often happy to chat and point you to their favorite place to eat.
When to go
Spring and fall are the best seasons. Summer is very hot and humid across the South, and hurricane season runs from June to November on the coasts. October is especially good: cooler days, fall colors in Tennessee and plenty of festivals.
Common questions
How long is a Southern road trip?
This route is about 1,600 miles and works best over 12 to 14 days.
Can I do it in reverse?
Yes. Starting in Charleston and ending in New Orleans works just as well. Check one-way rental fees first.
Is it expensive?
It’s cheaper than most US road trips. Hotels outside the big cities are good value, and Southern food is affordable.
What’s the best stop?
It’s hard to choose, but New Orleans and Savannah are usually the favorites.
Should I drive the Natchez Trace?
If you have time, yes. It’s slower than the interstate, but much more beautiful.
