• Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Southern Trippers Logo

Discover the best that Southern USA has to offer! Hidden gems, vibrant cities and more!

discover some of the best places to visit in the south USA

20 Epic Places To Visit In The South, USA

February 11, 2021 //  by  Southern Trippers

There are so many amazing, beautiful, and unique places to visit in the South of the United States. The southern states consist of a large chunk of the U.S. so if you plan on doing any major traveling in this country, you are bound to end up in the South at some point. And you are in for a treat once you arrive!

Whether you are taking a southern road trip, exploring a specific state, or want to cross off another U.S. National Park, whatever brings you to the South will be well worth the trip! There are so many things to do here from fun, history-rich cities to gorgeous natural landscapes. You are sure to make some great memories as you discover what these states have to offer.

Places to Visit in the South include viewing this Spanish Moss in Savannah.

Providence Canyon, Georgia

Providence Canyon State Park provides one of the best landscapes in Georgia and is 100% worth the visit if you are in the state. Known as Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon,” the Providence Canyon makes a great day trip for nature lovers and hikers.

With over one thousand acres to explore, you will have so much fun searching out the best photo spots. The soil here is an array of pink, orange, red, and purple, creating an otherworldly appearance you will fall in love with.

If you want to check out the hiking trails, there are many to chose from with varying levels of difficulty. There are many scenic overlooks that give a view of the many gullies, the deepest of which is at 150 feet. If you visit in July or August, look for the rare Plumleaf Azalea flower blooming. You can camp at this park as well if you want to stay longer in the pretty area.

southern states travel

Ginnie Springs, Florida

Ginnie Springs is truly a beautiful hot spring oasis in Florida! With shockingly blue, crystal clear water, you will feel as if you have traveled to paradise. If you are looking for a place to relax, this is one of the best places in the South.

Spend time swimming, tubing, or paddle boarding in this consistent 72 degree Fahrenheit water. If you are scuba trained, this is a great place to go diving as well as there are many caves to explore.

Ginnie Springs can get quite busy in the summer due to its popularity, but if you visit in the spring or fall, you can avoid the worst of the crowds. The area is also fairly good-sized, so it is possible to find a little corner to yourself. If you want to make a weekend out of visiting the springs, you can stay at the campground.

Ginnie Springs is one of the best places to visit in the South.

Jacob’s Well, Texas

The Jacob’s Well Natural Area is about an hour southwest of Austin, Texas, and can be visited as a day trip from the city. Jacob’s Well is the second-largest completely submerged cave in Texas. This 81-acre area is free to visit unless you plan on swimming, in which case you need to pay a fee and reserve a time. Taking a dip here is a great way to cool off in the summer heat. The water stays at a constant 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Swimming is allowed from May until September.

Along with swimming, Jacob’s Well is a great place for hiking and bird watching. It is also possible to go on an hour-long tour with a naturalist guide. This is a great way to learn about the nature of the area along with the history of Jacob’s Well and the aquifer system. Tours are by request only on two Saturdays each month. You can also stop by the Nature Center any weekend.

One place to visit in the South is Jacob's Well

Cummins Falls State Park, Tennessee

About an hour and a half from Nashville, you will find the pretty and tranquil Cummins Falls State Park. This is a great stop to make if you are doing a Tennessee road trip and love exploring nature. The beautiful Cummins Falls is a 75-foot waterfall that cascades down a cool rock base before ending in a swimming hole.

It is important to note that you do need to get a Gorge Access Permit before you begin your hike to the waterfall. The hike itself is relatively strenuous and involves traversing uneven ground, crossing water, and climbing rocks.

Because of this, it is not recommended for really young kids. However, the hike is very much worth it when you get to see the falls and cool off with a dip in the water. If you do not want to hike into the gorge, there is a viewpoint above it where you can get a great look.

Places to Visit in the South include Cummins Falls State Park

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is a must for any Georgia road trip! This is a city full of Southern charm, from its cobblestone streets to the Spanish moss covering the oak trees. This is the perfect city to escape to for people with any hobby or interest. History buffs will love exploring Old Fort Jackson or learning about the city’s past on an Old Savannah Trolly Tour.

If you are into architecture, you will really love checking out the Victorian district, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, or the Mercer Williams House. If you are traveling with kids and want some family-friendly fun, head over to pretty Forsyth Park or consider booking a river cruise on an iconic steamboat. No matter what you do in Savannah, you are sure to have a great time!

Forsyth Park in Savannah, one of the best cities in the South

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a vibrant, fun city where you can easily spend a couple of days or over a week. There is just so much to do and see! Start your stay here by familiarizing yourself with the city by walking the pretty streets and exploring the famous French Quarter. If you love photographing beautiful streets and buildings, then you will adore NOLA! There are so many balconies and amazing, Southern-styled architecture.

New Orleans is also one of the best cities in the South for food! It is really a destination for foodies who want to try French Creole cuisine, check out cute cafes, or even just bar hop.

When you are not stuffing your face with beignets, you can ride the streetcar, walk along the Mississippi River, or visit the Saint Louis Cathedral. When night falls, head to Bourbon Street to soak in the party atmosphere.

Victoria posing in front of a New Orleans balcony in one of the best places in the South.

Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

In Arkansas, you will find Hot Springs National Park, which has some of the best hot springs in the U.S. Take a dip in the natural, thermal hot springs from inside one of the historic bathhouses.

While you can’t soak outside, you can still touch the fresh water in a couple of outdoor pools. The 4,000-year-old, protected spring water is drinkable so make sure to stock up on water by filling bottles at some of the many fountains.

While you are here, make sure to check out the Fordyce Bathhouse Museum and Visitor Center to learn about the history of the baths. The Hot Springs Mountain Tower is another thing to check out is you love great views. The open-air observation deck will provide views of the mountains and forest. There are also a few hiking and biking trails that will weave you through the nature of the park.

A pool at the Hot Springs National Park in the South

Stephens Gap, Alabama

The Stephens Gap Callahan Cave Preserve is one of the best places in the Southeast and can be found about two hours north of Birmingham, Alabama.

It is a very cool place to visit if you love exploring unique nature locations. Stephens Gap is one of the most photographed caves in the country and it is no wonder why! It is so pretty here! The cave features a waterfall that cascades into a deep pit.

The cave has two entrances, one for hikers and one for people who are trained in repelling. Because of the position of the entrances, there is often light streaming into the darkness, creating an awesome scene. The hike is about a mile and a half round trip and is moderate difficulty. There are steep and slippery areas, so be careful and wear appropriate shoes. If you are repelling, you must bring your own gear. However you plan to visit, you must get a free permit.

Things to do in the South, Stephens Gap Cave.

Helen, Georgia

Helen, Georgia is hands down one of the cutest small towns in The South and you will instantly fall in love with its charm. This tiny town has German roots, a fact that will quickly become apparent by the architecture.

You will feel as if you are walking through an Alpine village. Come in summer to enjoy the surrounding great outdoors or plan your visit for December for European Christmas market vibes.

Even though the town only holds a population of about 550 people, it also home to a ton of fun activities. You can go zip-lining in the trees, tubing in the river, fly into the sky in a hot air balloon, or even pan for gold. In town, shopping is a great pastime, especially if Christmas is soon. Make sure to check out all of the cute, local artisan and treat shops.

Helen, Georgia is one of the best cities in the South.

Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Tennessee

There is a reason the Great Smokey Mountains are the most visited National Park in the U.S. The over half million-acre park is absolutely gorgeous, especially in the fall when the foliage is set ablaze.

If nature is your happy place, then you are sure to love the Great Smokey Mountains! Spend a few days here hiking scenic trails, horseback riding, exploring historic sites, and spotting wildlife, including the possibility of black bears.

You can camp in the park or you can stay in one of the cute, mountain towns on the park’s outskirts. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are two popular options. These towns act as a gateway to the surrounding nature and have a host of fun things to do as well. The Great Smokey Mountains are not only one of the best places to visit in the South, but the U.S. in general. It is a popular road trip destination that you simply must visit at least once!

Beautiful river in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina is a lovely coastal city with plenty of Southern charm, pretty architecture, and historic points of interest. There is truly something here for everyone, making this city a top place to visit in the South. Also, did we mention the food?! This is a city full of great eats and we suggest taking a food tour to get a bite of all the best Southern food the city has to offer!

When you are full from eating your way through Charleston, relax on a horse-drawn carriage tour of the city or a boat cruise of the harbor. If you are into history or architecture, then check out the Fort Sumter National Monument, the McLeod Plantation Historic Site, or the Citadel. If you are traveling with kids you might have fun at the Joe Riley Waterfront Park, the South Carolina Aquarium, or the Magnolia Plantation & Gardens.

Pretty Charleston is a great place to visit in the South.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park is a great Southern getaway found in the wilderness of Virginia not far from Washington D.C. This is the perfect place to escape the city and become one with nature. There are over 500 miles of hiking trails to explore. Discover beautiful fields of colorful wildflowers, flowing waterfalls, and a plethora of wildlife including deer, birds, and black bears.

Along with hiking, you can spend your time in the park driving the scenic Skyline Drive, riding your bike, fishing tranquil mountain streams, rock climbing, or stargazing. Pretty much the list is endless! There is so much to see and experience here that you can easily spend a day or three here. If you are staying the night, you can camp or stay at a lodge.

Places to Visit in the South Shenandoah National Park

Upper Caney Creek Falls, Alabama

The hidden gem of Upper Caney Creek Falls is like a scene from a fairy tale. The hike to discover this sight is just under two miles round trip and is pretty easy. After wandering through the forest like a Disney princess, you’ll catch your first glimpse of the tiny, 20-foot waterfall dropping into the perfect swimming hole. Another cool feature of this waterfall is the fast that you can actually walk behind it because of the shape of the cliff. This gives you a new perspective and a great place to take photographs.

If you visit in the summer, the forest will be bright green and full of wildlife. The pool under the falls is usually a pretty, blue-green color. After enjoying the upper falls, you can choose to continue down the creek to find the Lower Caney Creek Falls. To find the trailhead to this secret place in Alabama, drive about an hour and twenty minutes northwest of Birmingham to the small town of Ashridge.

Places to Visit in the South Upper Caney Creek Falls

Everglades National Park, Florida

If you are planning a Florida road trip you have to go to the Everglades National Park ! Whether you want to check another National Park off your bucket list, are an avid birdwatcher, or just love to discover cool and unique landscapes, the Everglades are for you! This park features over two million acres of wetlands, saw-grass marshes, and mangrove forests. It is the only place in the wild where you can spot both American alligators and American crocodiles. It is also home to a ton of species of beautiful birds, snakes, and manatees.

While in the Everglades, enjoy waking scenic trails, taking an airboat ride , finding all of the best observation towers, and visiting the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. If you are exceptionally keen to see wild alligators , hike the short Anhinga Trail, which is one of the best places in the park to find these amazing creatures. Just be careful not to get too close!

An alligator in the Everglades National Park in Florida, a must visit place in the South.

Austin, Texas

A Texas road trip is sure to bring you to Austin, one of the best cities in the South. Known as the Live Music Capital of the World and with a slogan of “Keep Austin Weird”, this city is very hip. diverse, and full of music culture. Spend a couple of days here taking in the sights and just overall having a blast. Head to Sixth Street to soak in the vibe of the city as you bar hop and listen to live bands.

If you are into art or history, make sure to visit some of the city’s museums, including the Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Blanton Museum of Art, or the Mexic-Arte Museum. If you are looking for a place to relax and cool off, the Barton Springs Municipal Pool is the place for you. The natural, spring-fed pool is found in the pretty Zilker Park.

Skyline of Austin, Texas, a great place to visit in the South

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville, North Carolina is another Southern city worth visiting! This is a popular travel destination for a number of reasons. For one, the cute city is surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Enjoy “America’s favorite drive” on the Blue Ridge Parkway as you twist through the mountains to find hiking trails and gorgeous scenic vistas. The nearby French Broad River gives tourists a place to go tubing, boating, or fishing.

When you are not exploring the encompassing nature, you will want to wander the cool city. Known for its art scene, Asheville is a hip city full of unique shops, outdoor markets, craft breweries, and local art galleries. Take a trolley tour to learn the history of the city or enjoy a delicious food tour. Another way to step into the past is to visit the Biltmore mansion, which was built by George W. Vanderbilt in the 1890s.

The Biltmore estate in Asheville, North Carolina is one of the best places in the South.

Orlando, Florida

Orlando, Florida is one of the top tourist destinations in the country! Besides being home to Disney World and Universal Studios, this city is where you can find a ton of fun things to do to fill a couple’s weekend or a week-long family vacation. No matter who you are traveling with, there is something for everyone! Thrill seekers will want to go skydiving, ride in a hot air balloon, or go up in the 400-foot high Ferris wheel at ICON Park.

If you are traveling with kids, you will probably check out the many theme parks, but don’t forget to take them to Gatorland, Wonder Works, or Discovery Cove. Anyone interested in science or space will want to take a day trip to the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. When you are ready to relax and unwind, head out of the city to Blue Springs State Park or Rock Springs at Kelly Park.

Kelly Park is where you'll find the Rock Springs, one of the best things to do in the South!

Big Bend National Park, Texas

Big Bend National Park is another place to stop in Texas . Since it is found on the border with Mexico, make sure to pack your passport if you want to make a stop in another country and visit some cute, small towns. The park itself is a prime desert and mountain location. This is a great place to camp, hike, and photograph nature.

One of the best hiking trails is found at Santa Elena Canyon. This two mile round trip hike will provide amazing views. This park also has historic ruins to discover, including a mine, a house, and a post office. When your muscles start to ache from hiking and adventuring, head to the Hot Springs Historic Trail by the Rio Grande to soak in natural hot springs while taking in great views of the river.

Beautiful Big Bend National Park in the South

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is a great place to visit in the South if you love music or having fun in general! It is, of course, known as the Music City and is drenched in music culture. The entertainment district on Low Broadway is full of honky-tonks, themed restaurants, bars, and shops. You will also find the Country Music Hall of Fame here as well. If you want to learn the history of the area, consider taking a walking tour.

While in Nashville, you can also check out the historic Ryman Auditorium, explore pretty parks, or learn about science and history at museums. If you are up for an hour and a half drive, you can head down to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery. Nashville is a great city to explore as a family or as a friend’s getaway. No matter what you are interested in, there is something for you!

Nashville, Tennessee is a fun place to visit in the South

Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia

The gorgeous Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia is where you will find the ridge of Yonah Mountain, whose name translates to Bear in Cherokee. The hike to this mountain’s summit is just over two miles one way and is relatively easy. The views are to die for from the top! Come to this area in the fall to catch the mountain peak drenched in lovely golden foliage .

There are plenty of other things to do in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest as well. There are over 800 miles worth of hiking trails to explore. Search for ancient petroglyphs and gorgeous waterfalls. You can also go canoeing, horseback riding, or camping. The Scull Shoals Historic Site features the state’s first paper mill dating back to 1811. Chattahoochee National Forest is near Helen, Georgia, so you could easily make a day trip from the small town.

Yonah Mountain in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

If you did not know beforehand, you have learned that the South is home to a ton of amazing places to visit! There are so many cool cities to visit in the South as well as National Parks, hidden nature gems, and diverse landscapes. We suggest planning a road trip or two in order to hit some of these spectacular places!

Falls Creek Falls one of the best weekend getaways in Tennessee

linn cove viaduct on blue ridge parkway with early fall foliage, one of the best southern usa road trip itineraries

17 Spectacular Southern USA Road Trip Itinerary Ideas

From the peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains to the sandy beaches of the Lowcountry, and from the music of Nashville to the food scene of New Orleans, there is no shortage of wonderful options when looking for the best southern USA road trip itineraries.

I’ve been taking road trips in the south for my entire life, crisscrossing across the southeast USA visiting cities, towns, national parks, beaches, marshes, and beyond.

And yet, even after all that time, there are still plenty of southern road trip routes on my wish list.

In order to give perspectives beyond my own, I asked several other travel bloggers to share their favorite road trips in the south, and the result is a road trip bucket list that would take even the most dedicated road-tripper years to complete!

From weeks-long deep south road trip itineraries to quick weekend getaways, these southeast US road trip ideas cover an enormous variety of landscapes and interests.

No matter what kind of adventure you’re looking for, we have a southern USA road trip itinerary here for you!

Table of Contents

Quick Tips for Your Southeast USA Road Trip

Deep south usa road trip itinerary ideas, other multi-state southern usa road trip routes, more single-state southeast road trip itineraries.

Jones Street in Savannh GA with a green house in the left foreground and an oak tree on the right. Jones Street is one of the best Savannah photo spots

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

Ideally, take your southern road trip in the spring or fall.

While you can technically take all of these southern USA road trips year-round, the south’s notoriously brutal summer means that it’s best to avoid the months of June, July, and August if you can (unless you plan to spend most of your time on the beach, of course).

Winter, depending on the location, can be gray and rainy, but can also be a joyous time to visit cities, towns, and mountains that see far less tourism in the winter (but don’t underestimate the possibility of snow in the mountains, either: it may be the south, but the Smokies still get snow!).

kate storm jeremy storm and ranger storm at craggy pinnacle on blue ridge parkway during 3 days in asheville nc

If you’re renting a car, shop around.

The best company to rent a car from for your US south road trip will likely vary dramatically depending on where and when you’re traveling.

Sometimes large international carriers offer the best prices, sometimes local outfits. Sometimes one company has an excellent base price, but terrible rental requirements.

The best way to find your rental car is to search through  Discover Cars , which will sift through dozens of companies to find the best combination of low prices and reasonable rental terms for your USA road trip.

Browse rental cars  for your southern USA road trip today!

We have offered suggestions for the best hotels in each place but if you are doing this as a true road trip it is really cool to do it in an RV. You can rent incredible RVs and camper vans from Outdoorsy, book here for your next road trip!

Kate in a pink dress next to a blue Vespa on Ocean Avenue.

Read the rental requirements carefully.

Especially make sure you know how many miles you’ve been allotted (or ideally, if they’re unlimited), if you need to return the car empty or full of fuel, what to do if the car breaks down, and what damages you’re liable for in the event of an accident.

two lane road shaded by spanish moss on jekyll island georgia

Don’t underestimate the south’s national parks!

The wide-open spaces and epic landscapes of the American West are often the typical images conjured up when imagining the USA’s national parks–but the south has plenty to offer, as well!

In fact, Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee is the most-visited national park in the country, and its gorgeous vistas and jaw-dropping waterfalls are well worth exploring.

Other southern national parks to consider adding to your road trip through the south include Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, Everglades National Park in South Florida, and Congaree National Park in South Carolina–just to name a few!

rainbow falls smoky mountains, surrounded by green foliage

Make sure you pack the right gear.

From safety gear to snacks, a deep south road trip requires bringing the right tools along, whether you’re taking a short vacation, trying out van life, or something in between.

We recommend taking a look at the suggestions on  our road trip packing list  before you go!

Don’t overextend yourself.

Exploring every nook and cranny of the US south is a project for a lifetime, not one trip!

As tempting as it is to add on additional driving to stop at just one more beach or small town, make sure that you leave enough time to thoroughly explore each destination rather than spending the entirety of your road trip driving from one spot to the next.

Kate Storm in a purple dress standing at the top of Cape Lookout lighthouse with the barrier island visible behind her

Mississippi Gulf Coast Scenic Byway

From Charles of US Gulf Coast Travel

One of the best scenic coastal drives in the United States is the Gulf Coast Scenic Byway (US Highway 90 / Beach Boulevard) in  Coastal Mississippi , where for 11 glorious miles there is nothing between you and the soft sugar sand and Gulf of Mexico water.

The most awe-inspiring section of the Gulf Coast Scenic Byway is from Henderson Point Beach to the Port of Gulfport Mississippi.

Drive this portion, or this entire road trip, in either direction, but we suggest west to east because you are closer to the water.

Start this road trip after an overnight in Bay St Louis or New Orleans (55 miles away).

In Bay St Louis, fuel up at Mockingbird Cafe (try their pulled pork and grits) or Serious Bakery (superb chicken salad).

Drive across the iconic St. Louis Bay Bridge and your senses will activate and heighten with your first Gulf and sand view.

Stop as often as you want because parking is free!

The coastal drive continues through Gulfport and into Biloxi.

road lined with trees in mississippi on a deep south road trip itinerary

Visit the new Mississippi Aquarium, stroll the Biloxi Beach Boardwalk, and eat at White Pillars or The Blind Tiger.

After crossing the Biloxi Bay Bridge, make time to explore the wonderful small town of Ocean Springs.

Stroll the gorgeous oak-lined Washington Avenue, stop at Walter Anderson Museum of Art, and eat at Vestige.

Highway 90 continues through Pascagoula (Jimmy Buffett’s birthplace) and into Mobile, Alabama, where you can turn around and complete this classic deep south road trip again.

Driving Distance

Bay St Louis to Pascagoula is 50 miles. New Orleans to Pascagoula is 107 miles and it is another 35 miles to Mobile, Alabama.

Recommended Road Trip Length

You can drive this coastal scenic drive in a couple of hours but we suggest allowing three or more days to fully experience the spectacular sugar sand, seafood, sunsets, and small beach towns of Coastal Mississippi.

beach at sunset in mississippi as seen on southeast usa road trip route

Alabama Black Belt Road Trip

From Lori of Southerner Says

A road trip through the Black Belt region of Alabama is one of the best southern USA road trips around.

Named for the dark fertile soil of the region, the Alabama Black Belt is made up of twenty-three states across central and south Alabama.

This part of Alabama is the place where significant law-changing history was made, where literary giants were born, and is home to some of the best food that can be found in the United States.

For first-time visitors or someone flying in, there’s no better way to start an Alabama southern road trip than by including the capital –  Montgomery.

Plan on visiting important civil rights sites and the renowned Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice.

Next, drive west approximately fifty miles to Selma, Alabama on Highway 80.

This route is the same route as the important Selma to Montgomery march for voters’ rights that took place in 1965.

See the places that put this small town on the map and made it crucial in the civil rights movement.

Walk the Edmund Pettus Bridge, eat locally caught catfish, and sleep in a hotel that was built in 1837 . 

edmund pettus bridge in selma alabama, important civil rights destination

After saying a farewell to Selma, drive county backroads approximately seventy miles to the literary capital of the south.

As unbelievable as it may seem, Harper Lee – To Kill a Mockingbird and Truman Capote – Breakfast at Tiffany’s were childhood friends in the south.

They both grew up in Monroeville, Alabama – the next stop on this southern road trip. Take a walk around the charming downtown square to spot murals that pay tribute to these well-known books and authors.

From Monroeville, it’s easy to hop on Interstate-65 north to return to Montgomery or take the scenic route for a few more towns and sites on your southern road trip.

Driving Distance 

Recommended road trip length  .

This itinerary would be good for a weekend or long weekend.

Since the Alabama Black Belt is a rather large region there is an abundance of small towns and sites that can be added to a southern road trip.

Visitors could easily spend a week or two in the area.

historic route street signs in montgomery alabama on deep south road trip itinerary

Mississippi’s Highway 61 (Blues Trail)

From Hannah of HH Lifestyle Travel

A road trip from Memphis to New Orleans down Mississippi’s Highway 61 is rich in music history; and the inevitable river lore that pervades a road trip running parallel to the Mighty Mississippi.

In true road trip style, the road itself is part of the fun of the journey.  

Highway 61 is long and flat and often sits higher than the fields and levees below it.  It is punctuated by quaint southern churches, glimpses of the Mississippi River, and cities rich in blues history. 

Enjoy visiting one of the legendary ‘juke joints’ in  Clarksdale, Mississippi .  

If there is one stop on the road trip to learn about the history of blues music in the area, it’s Clarksdale.  

Visit the Devil’s Crossroads, the Delta Blues Museum, and many more Blues Trail plaques.

Your next stop is Vicksburg.  Brimming with Civil War history, Vicksburg mixes reverence with rejuvenation.  

Pay your respects to meaningful Civil War history, but then enjoy a day spa and quality craft brewpub experience.

bridges crossing the mississippi river at vicksburg, an interesting stop on a deep south road trip itineraries

Natchez sits on an important bluff on a bend in the Mississippi River with a long history.  

The historic district of Natchez Under-the-Hill has a prime position along the river and was once famous for gambling and river pirates.  

Nowadays it’s a cute place to see the Mighty Mississippi and have lunch in one of the historic buildings.

End your road trip in the vibrant and magnetic city of New Orleans .

Driving Distance  

It takes around 9 hours of non-stop driving time from Memphis to New Orleans, but with time spent in the stops above it would suit a 5–7-day road trip.  

Plan a bit longer if you want to spend time in both Memphis and New Orleans before and after this deep south road trip experience.

Street in NOLA French Quarter at night with neon lights from the bars lighting it up--don't miss a chance to experience the legendary New Orleans nightlife during your 3 days in NOLA itinerary!

Coastal Georgia and South Carolina Road Trip

From Noel of Travel Photo Discovery

One of the fabulous road trips in the southeastern USA travels along the historic coastal corridors of Georgia to South Carolina, finishing in Charleston.

From the Georgia border to Florida, the major artery is Hwy 95, you’ll pass through so many historic and recreational sites along the way to make this a few days or even a longer visit depending on how many places you want to see and experience.

Some of the cool and historic places to visit in Georgia include St. Marys and Cumberland Island, Brunswich and St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island , Tybee Island , and Savannah .

Places to explore around South Carolina’s southern coastline from Savannah include Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto Island, and Charleston.

Each of these areas caters to historic sites or recreation getaways that are fun to explore when you have more time to visit each area on this road trip.

woman riding a bike through a path lined with spanish moss on jekyll island, one of the best day trips from savannah georgia

Even though you can go directly on Hwy 95 from the Georgia border all the way to South Carolina, it’s the small detour expressways and backcountry roads that will give you a better insight into visiting some of these gems in the region.  

If you only have a few days or longer then the major cities of Savannah and Charleston are memorable cities to prioritize to experience the local lifestyles foods that you’ll enjoy on this southern road trip experience.

Savannah, with its historic squares, fabulous architecture, and historic district that remains intact includes so much to see, do and experience around the historic center of the city.

Charleston on the other hand is more compact and walkable with a tighter historic district to enjoy and explore on your own or with some tour operator sharing the main attractions to see in town.

It’s 107 miles to drive straight from Savannah to Charleston.

If you’re focusing on Savannah and Charleston, 5 days is a comfortable length for this USA southern road trip itinerary.

Add additional days for each city, small town, or island that you’d like to visit.

kate storm in a floral dress at rainbow row in charleston sc

The Classic Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip Route

From Bret Love & Mary Gabbett of Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide

The Blue Ridge Parkway, which stretches 469 miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, is such an unimaginably epic USA road trip, that veterans almost envy people who are experiencing it for the first time.

There are a lot of reasons it’s the #1 most visited unit in the US National Park system (with more than 15 million annual visitors), including 200 jaw-dropping BRP overlooks that offer stunning Blue Ridge Mountain vistas and provide access to the region’s most incredible hiking trails, landmarks, mountain towns, and waterfalls.

Designed as part of FDR’s New Deal to protect American wilderness and provide jobs in the wake of the Great Depression, construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway began back in 1935.

Most of the scenic route was completed by 1966, but the popular 8-mile stretch around the iconic Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina (including the engineering marvel known as the Linn Cove Viaduct) wasn’t finished until 1987.

The BRP is the longest linear park in the country, taking travelers through the Jefferson, George Washington, Nantahala, and Pisgah National Forests.

southern states travel

So naturally, there are a lot of exciting things to do along the way. 

At 6,684 feet, Mount Mitchell is the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River, with lots of challenging hiking trails and a relatively easy paved path to the observation platform at the summit.

Grandfather Mountain State Park is also home to epic hiking trails (including several with ladders to climb massive boulders), and the neighboring Grandfather Mountain attraction is home to the Mile-High Swinging Bridge, a small zoo featuring native North Carolina animals, and myriad picnic areas. 

Virginia’s Mabry Mill is the most photographed spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and one of the region’s many historical attractions.

mabry mill on blue ridge parkway, one of the top us south road trip itinerary ideas

There’s very little commercial development along the Parkway, with only a few hotels and resorts (including the historic Switzerland Inn in  Little Switzerland NC ,  and the Peaks of Otter Lodge in Bedford VA).

But part of the fun is exploring some of the charming little mountain towns along the way, including Cherokee, Blowing Rock, and Boone in NC, and Bedford, Lexington, and Waynesboro in VA.

You could drive the entire Blue Ridge Parkway in as little as 15-16 hours if you wanted, but that would totally defeat the purpose.

Some people like to break it up into weekend getaways, basing themselves in a local town.

But you could also spend a week or two driving the entire route, spending nights in lots of little towns along the way.

southern states travel

Chattanooga, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina

From Kim of Traveling Swansons

A Chattanooga, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina southeast road trip takes you on a tour of some of the most breathtaking scenery in the region.

Chattanooga is a beautiful city surrounded by mountains and located along the Tennessee River.

There are many fun things to do here including the Tennessee Aquarium, Lookout Mountain, Rock City, Ruby Falls, and the Incline Railway.

After leaving Chattanooga, your next stop will be Knoxville, Tennessee.

Check out the Sunsphere Tower, which was built for the 1982 World’s Fair.  Walk around Market Square and grab a bite to eat and shop.

After leaving Knoxville, your next stop will be Pigeon Forge. 

historic gristmill in pigeon forge tennessee at night, one of the best places to stay down south

Here you find no shortage of attractions including the popular Dollywood. 

Right next to Pigeon Forge, you’ll find the town of Gatlinburg. 

In Gatlinburg, you will also find plenty of attractions including Anakeesta and the Gatlinburg Skybridge. 

Gatlinburg is one of the busiest and most popular gateway towns to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park  has many amazing hiking trails, waterfalls, and views. 

Drive the breathtaking scenic Newfound Gap Road to Cherokee, North Carolina. Jump out along the many turnouts along the way and enjoy the scenery. 

Once you reach Cherokee, explore the Oconaluftee Indian Village and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.  Shop for some authentic Cherokee arts and crafts.

The drive from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina is 191 miles and takes 3 hrs 51 minutes if driving straight through. 

Since there is so much to do on this southern USA road trip, you will want to spend at least 5 days here in order to take in as much as you can along the way.

view of great smoky mountains sunset from newfound gap road trip south usa

NOLA to Nashville Southern Road Trip Itinerary

From Agnes of The Van Escape

The southern USA road trip from New Orleans to Nashville is extraordinary.

Why? Nashville and New Orleans are music cities.

New Orleans – the world capital of jazz and Nashville – the capital of American country music – anyone who likes live concerts will appreciate this combination.

And indeed, in both cities, you can listen to music at every turn!

Concerts, music events, live music in almost every restaurant, bar, and even on the streets – Nashville and New Orleans are alive with sounds.

Moreover, there are many great  things to do in Nashville and in New Orleans.

In Nashville visit Jonny Cash Museum, Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Grand Ole Opry, reproduction of the Parthenon, and Downtown with famous Broadway Street.

Skyline of Nashville Tennessee at sunset overlooking the river, one of the most romantic getaways in the United States

In New Orleans, visit the French Quarter, the Jazz Museum, the Woodoo Museum, the National WWII Museum, explore one of the famous cemeteries, sign up for a swamp tour. Enjoy the best cocktails at the famous Bourbon Street.

Both cities are also known for their excellent cuisine. In New Orleans, you’ll melt at the tastes and smells of Louisiana Creole cuisine, and in Nashville, you’ll delight at the famous juicy BBQ ribs and more.

That’s not all. Both cities are famous for the finest spirits.

New Orleans offers great alcoholic cocktails and in Nashville, you can try classic Tennessee Jack Daniels whiskey , whose distillery is nearby.

The driving time from NOLA to Nashville is about 8 hours, and 4-5 days is perfect for this road trip.

You can cover the distance in one day or split it into two days and spend one night in Birmingham, the largest city in Alabama.

To feel the atmosphere of each city and immerse yourself in its music world, we recommend two nights in New Orleans and two in Nashville.

3 Days in New Orleans Itinerary: St Louis Cathedral

Virginia Beach, Virginia to Hilton Head, South Carolina

From Alex of Wander With Alex

If you’re planning a road trip from Virginia Beach, VA to Hilton Head, SC, and need a few stops along the way, we’ve got you covered!

While Virginia Beach and Hilton Head are both popular southern beach towns, the experience is very different!

They are both, however, family-friendly vacation destinations with lots of unique things to do and see.

While in Virginia Beach, VA you’ll want to check out the main beach at the Oceanfront.

fishing pier in virginia beach va at sunrise

There are 35 miles of beachfront, an amusement park on Atlantic Ave, and tons of souvenir shops for you to choose from.

If you’re looking for something free to do, check out the Creative ViBE District for murals, sidewalk art, and other creative artwork!

Now that’ll you’ve explored Virginia Beach, it’s time to hit the road!

After being on the road for seven and a half hours, you’ll be nearing Savannah, GA! If you’ve never been to Savannah, consider staying overnight.

You can take a riverboat dinner cruise on the Savannah River or enjoy a low country dinner at one of the best restaurants in Savannah .

Kate Storm and Ranger Storm on Jones Street, one of the best places to take pictures in savannah ga

And since Hilton Head is only 45-minutes from Savannah, you can stick around for a few hours in the morning and to Tybee Island before heading over to Hilton Head!

Hilton Head Island in South Carolina is a laid-back resort town offering beautiful beaches and tons of golf courses.

Additionally, Hilton Head is incredibly bike-friendly.

Head over to Hilton Head Outfitters, rent bicycles for the whole family, and go exploring!

And if you are a seafood lover, you’ll have tons of waterfront restaurant options!

A road trip from Virginia Beach, VA to  Hilton Head, SC  via Interstate-95 is approximately 589 miles.

If you do not want to stay overnight in Savannah, you can make the trip in seven and a half hours.

However, if you prefer slow travel and wish to explore Savannah, you should consider making this a two-day drive.

red and white lighthouse and small harbor in hilton head sc, one of the best stops on a deep south usa road trip route

Gulf Coast Beach Road Trip from Alabama to Florida

From Ashlee of The Happiness Function

One of the best-kept secrets in the South are the sugar-white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico from Alabama to the Florida panhandle.

If you have never heard of Dauphin Island, Alabama, it is a must-visit southern destination.

Take the ultimate beach road trip from Dauphin Island, Alabama, to Pensacola, Florida!

Dauphin Island, Alabama, is a beautiful place to visit. The island is home to many different wildlife species, including sea turtles, and the scenery is simply stunning.

If you’re looking for a place to relax and enjoy nature, Dauphin Island is the perfect spot. Plan to stay at least two days.

beach at dauphin island alabama southern beach road trip

From Dauphin Island, take the ferry across Mobile Bay to Fort Morgan, where visitors can continue the road trip to Gulf Shores.

Be sure to visit Gulf State Park and enjoy the incredible beaches from Gulf Shores to Orange Beach! Plan at least two days in Gulf Shores.

Gulf Islands National Seashore in Fort Pickens is a popular tourist destination offering a variety of activities such as catching some sun on beaches, kayaking, fishing, hiking, and exploring the historic fort.

Camp at the  Fort Pickens Campground  for a few days to enjoy all the island offers.

From Gulf Shores, continue east into the Florida panhandle towards Pensacola.

A road trip along the southern coast of Alabama into the Florida panhandle makes for an incredible beach road trip any time of year.

We recommend taking about a week to enjoy this road trip in the US south.

This way, road trippers can enjoy each destination for two days.

pensacola beach water tower with beach visible in the background

Savannah, Georgia to Clearwater, Florida Road Trip

From Terri of FemaleSoloTrek.com

If you’re looking for beautiful beaches and fun in the sun, plan a short southern road trip route from Savannah to Clearwater.

Plan to start at dawn from Savannah on a Saturday so you can arrive by noon in  Clearwater, Florida .

Google Maps or Waze will offer you the choice of traveling down I-95 toward Orlando and then across to Tampa/St. Pete outposts.

Alternatively, you can drive through Jacksonville and then cut across the state via US-301 S and I-75 S.

The estimated time is 6 hours if you don’t hit bad traffic on I-95.

aerial view of clearwater beach florida, a fun stop on a usa south road trips

You will also have time to eat fried grouper at Clearwater Beach for lunch, then hit the Clearwater Aquarium for an afternoon adventure.

Dedicate the evening to drinking margaritas and watching the sunset.

You might want to watch the sunset (while sipping a cocktail) at Pier 60 on Saturday night or delay until Sunday because you will be exhausted from your early morning drive.

Clearwater is also a great place to settle while you plan day trips to Tampa, St. Pete, and Sarasota.

While you can easily make the drive in a day, it’s best to set aside a week for this US south road trip as you will lose two days to travel.

Florida’s Gulf Coast deserves a minimum five-day stay so you can experience different beaches.

promenade along the sand in clearwater beach florida

Southeast USA Road Trip from Washington DC to Florida

From Keri of Bon Voyage With Kids

One of the best road trips in the southeast US is from Washington, DC to  Anna Maria Island, Florida . 

If you want to break it up with overnights and stops, I recommend going from Washington DC to Raleigh, NC on Day 1.  On Day 2, drive from Raleigh, NC to Savannah, GA.  Then on Day 3, drive from Savannah, GA to Anna Maria Island, FL.

Starting in Washington, DC, where there is much to see from the Capitol to the Washington Monument to the Smithsonian Museums, you can begin heading on the road toward Virginia and the Carolinas. 

In Virginia, the historic college town of Williamsburg is well worth a visit. 

In addition to being a beautiful town, home to William and Mary College, it is also where you can step back in time at Colonial Williamsburg and learn a bit about American history. 

Horse and carriage in colonial Williamsburg that is moving away from the camera on a paved road

From here, head into North Carolina and stop in Raleigh if you plan to spend the night.

Then head into South Carolina, where a drive-through or stop in Charleston is a great thing to do. 

The historic and lavish architecture is well worth a look, and the southern hospitality and walk on the waterfront are worth it even just for a short visit. 

From here, continue into Georgia, where a stop in Savannah is a must. 

If you have a bit of time to spend in this southern city, the hop on hop off trolley, walking tours, and a 90-minute riverboat sightseeing cruise would be worth doing. 

This beautiful and historic city really is a gem on this road trip, so be sure to build in a bit of time, and even book a bed and breakfast for the night.  

Kate Storm in a black dress in front of a brick home on Jones Street during a long weekend in Savannah GA

Continue on from Georgia into northern Florida, where if you can stop in Jacksonville for a visit to the University of Florida or in St. Augustine for lunch or a walking tour of this beautiful and historic city. 

There is an old town part of St. Augustine well worth visiting, and depending on the time of day, is a great stop for a lunch. Continue on from St. Augustine to Anna Maria Island, Florida.

You may pass through Orlando and Tampa, which if you have time, may want to stop in one of these cities. 

While Orlando is home to many theme parks and activities, you won’t have time on this drive to do many of those unless you build in another day or two to your drive.

Instead, I suggest stopping in Tampa, where you will get to view this fantastic seaside city, where you can enjoy a cruise, walk around Ybor City, or grab a meal at the famous (and delicious) Columbia Restaurant. 

view of downtown tampa fl looking up with skyscrapers and palm trees

While you are also right at Clearwater Beach, you may want to save that beach visit for Anna Maria Island, just about an hours drive from Tampa, on the Gulf Coast, and renowned for its teal Caribbean-like water, white soft sand, quieter beaches, and home rentals perfect for a beach getaway. 

It’s the perfect destination to such a cultural and historic road trip, and one of the best road trips in the south USA.

Approximately 945 miles (about 14 hours total) one way.

Approximately 945 miles (about 14 hours total) one way, this road trip is at least a two to three-day drive, depending on how much you would like to stop along the way. 

aerial view of anna maria island, one of the best unknown vacation spots in us hidden gems

The Outer Banks of North Carolina Road Trip

From Candice of CS Ginger

One of the best Southern USA road trips is driving through the Outer Banks. There are so many fun things to do in the Outer Banks  and its sweeping coastal scenery is gorgeous.

The Outer Banks is a chain of barrier islands off the North Carolina coast filled with beautiful beaches, lighthouses, and fun beach towns.

A great historic stop in the Outer Banks is at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

This is where the Wright brothers completed the first controlled flight in December of 1903.

There are a fun visitor’s center, some historical markers, and a replica of the first plane.

The Outer Banks is also home to the tallest brick lighthouse in the world. You can climb to the top of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. There are 257 steps to the top.

The lighthouse and Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a great place to spend the afternoon. The beaches are beautiful and not crowded.

view of black and white cape hatteras lighthouse north carolina

After spending time at Cape Hatteras, you can take the ferry over to Ocracoke Island.

There is another lighthouse on this smaller island, but it is not open to visitors.

There are, however, beautiful beaches making this island a fun spot to explore.

The distance from the northern town of Corolla through Hatteras, the southern point, is about 95 miles.

If you continue to the ferry to Ocracoke, the mileage is longer.

You can easily fill 4-5 days with fun activities during your Outer Banks road trip, and spend even more time in the area if you want to relax on the beach.

couple walking along the beach at sunset in the outer banks, one of the most romantic getaways in north carolina for couples

Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park

From Anna of Stuck On The Go

One of the best road trips in the southern US winds through Shenandoah National Park offering stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

If you drive Skyline Drive straight through it only takes a little under 3 hours but there are so many hikes, overlooks, and small towns to stop and explore. This is the perfect road trip for outdoorsy people.

You can start at the Front Royal Entrance Station and on your first day hike to Compton Peak where you’ll find a gorgeous view as well as unique geological formations that resemble the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland .

In the afternoon, head out to the town of Luray where you can shop in the boutiques along Main Street and visit the famous Luray Caverns.

If you like to camp then stay the night in Mathews Arm Campground, otherwise rent a room at the Skyland Resort inside the park.

For day two you can fit in two hikes – Stony Man and Hawksbill – which both offer stunning mountain views and are 2 of the best hikes in Shenandoah .

stony man cliffs in shenandoah national park virginia

Have lunch at Big Meadows and make sure you get the blackberry ice cream pie for dessert!

In the afternoon you can hike Dark Hollow Falls or just head into Elkton or Sperryville.

Visit Sperryville for wineries and Elkton for breweries. Tonight stay at the Lewis Mountain Cabins & Campground.

On the last day of the road trip, hike Doyles River Falls and Blackrock Summit.

Stop for lunch at Blue Mountain Brewery and check out some of the other Waynesboro breweries. Main Street in Waynesboro is also very quaint.

For many people, 3 days is enough to spend in Shenandoah National Park.

However, if you are very outdoorsy and love to hike and explore small towns then you can spend a week in the Shenandoah Valley.

road through shenandoah national park from above in early fall, one of the best road trips in south usa

Northwest Arkansas Road Trip Loop

From Lydia of Lost With Lydia

Arkansas is an underrated state with a lot to offer for outdoor adventurers!

The state has beautiful state parks, incredible mountain biking trails, a uniquely historic national park, and much more.

The northwest portion of Arkansas is where you’ll find the most beautiful natural areas along with some fantastic cities. 

This road trip begins in Bentonville, a city known for mountain biking, modern art, and as the Walmart headquarters.

There are miles of mountain biking trails in parks around the city and trails range from beginner to advanced. 

Continue on from Bentonville to Buffalo National River, a beautiful river with epic canyon walls towering above it.

After the National River, enjoy hiking in the Ozark National Forest (the most famous hike is Whitaker Point) and take in the views at Mount Magazine and Mount Nebo. Mount Magazine is the highest point in the state. 

Be sure to not miss the most iconic state park in Arkansas: Petit Jean. This state park is a favorite of many and is home to a 95-foot waterfall, caves, and several unique rock formations. 

Spend some time in Little Rock for great food and interesting history. 

hiker standing on hawksbill crag in northwest arkansas ozark mountains

Things to do in Little Rock include visiting the Little Rock Central High School Museum, exploring the vibrant SOMA neighborhood, and hiking at Pinnacle Mountain. 

Finally, end your road trip with a visit to Arkansas’ only national park: Hot Springs.

Hot Springs National Park was a resort destination in the early 1900s and there are a couple of bathhouses still in operation today.

In addition to the spas, you can visit a brewery inside of a bathhouse and enjoy the views from the observation tower. 

A week is the minimum amount of time you’ll want to fully explore the cities and hiking destinations along the way.

Ideally, take 10 days or more to take your time and enjoy this underrated southern USA road trip itinerary.

small waterfall in hot springs national park arkansas

Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast Road Trip

From Lori of Travlinmad

If you’re looking for an ideal year-round  road trip destination, Florida’s Gulf Coast  offers dreamy beaches, fantastic food, and some of America’s most (in)famous history!

Begin your road trip in Tampa, where you can spend 2 days exploring the city’s Cuban history in Ybor City and enjoy the amazing cuisine before heading south to Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Spend the next day in Sarasota admiring the mid-century architecture and visiting the Ringling Museum.

Shoppers will no doubt stay longer on St. Armand’s Circle, then head to Siesta Key later in the day to take in the new age vibes of the nightly drumming circle on the beach at sunset.

The next day, drive south to Casperson Beach in Venice and rent a “Florida snow shovel” for a few dollars to dig in the sand for prehistoric megalodon shark teeth.

Millions of them wash ashore every day and you just might find a big one to treasure!

Spend the night at Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island, one of Southwest Florida’s most historic towns before heading out the next morning for Fort Myers.

port boca grande lighthouse in florida at sunset, a fun stop on a usa south road trip

Situated where the Caloosahatchee River meets the Gulf of Mexico, the city of Fort Myers is worth a few days to explore the history and the beautiful beaches on Sanibel and Captiva.

Visit the summer homes of neighbors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, whose mansions are popular tourist attractions today.

The last stop on your road trip is Naples and Marco Island on the southwestern coast. This stunning region is known as the Paradise Coast and it’s easy to see why.

Spend your days on the soft white sand beaches, shopping at the luxury stores and dining downtown, or get out into the Everglades for some adventure.

It is 180 miles from Tampa to Marco Island.

Plan on 7-10 days for this southern road trip route.

There is plenty to see in the major cities of Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, and Marco Island, but you’ll find the real gems in between!

dome houses on marco island florida

Virginia’s Eastern Shore Drive: Chincoteague to Cape Charles

Recommended by Erin Gifford of Go Hike Virginia

There’s so much to love about  Virginia’s Eastern Shore .

Roll down the windows and breathe in the salt-infused air as you make the 70-mile drive north to south from Chincoteague to Cape Charles.

Get ready to make stops for sandy beaches, ice cream shops, and verdant wetlands just right for a scenic paddle.

Start at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to miles of stroller-friendly hiking and biking trails.

The Chincoteague Lighthouse Trail is a must-visit to ogle the red-and-white striped Assateague Lighthouse.

Take a guided kayak tour or nature cruise across pristine coastal waterways with Assateague Explorer.

Keep your eyes open for wild ponies, as well as native wildlife, like sandhill cranes and eastern mud turtles, that call the wildlife refuge home.

wild horses on the beach of Chincoteague virginia, one of the best usa small towns to visit

Order up a scoop of Mint Chip or Pony Tracks at Island Creamery.

Spend the night at the Refuge Inn, a mainstay in Chincoteague since 1973. Chincoteague is also home to several camping resorts, including KOA and Jellystone Park.

Continue on to Onancock, a historic waterfront town.

Start your day with a delicious breakfast sandwich at Janet’s Café before strolling the hamlet’s tree-lined streets that wow with Victorian-style homes.

Take a tour of Ker Place, a historic Federal-style home.

On the south end of Virginia’s Eastern Shore is Cape Charles, which is home to gentle beaches and vibrantly-colored sunsets.

sunrise in the harbor with boats in virginia

Spend the day on the beach at Kiptopeke State Park, then order hush puppies at The Shanty.

Cap off the day with a scoop at Brown Dog Ice Cream and settle in at the Sunset Beach Hotel on the Chesapeake Bay.

70  miles.

This trip is best enjoyed over at least 3 days, including one day in Chincoteague, one day in Onancock, and one day in Cape Charles.

2 photos of southern road trips, charleston and anna maria island. black and red text reads "17 epic road trips in the south"

About Kate Storm

Image of the author, Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Exterior of 19th century plantation house at Oak Alley Plantation.

Southern USA

The South falls from the granite, forested fists of Kentucky and Tennessee into craggy hill country and thick woods. This rugged landscape slowly changes as the waters of its rivers – including North America's greatest, the Mississippi – saturate the land into boggy, black-water blankets and sun-seared marsh, all thinning into the salty membrane of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

Your next trip starts here

Go from dreaming to planning with trip planning options made to help you craft your ideal itinerary.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Linn Cove Viaduct along Blue Ridge Parkway.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The story of the Smoky Mountains began in primordial times when clashing supersized continents created a chain of mountains that are today among the…

The Henry Whitehead Cabin, at Cade's Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.

In Appalachian parlance, a cove means a valley, but Cades Cove is far more than that. One of the most popular destinations in the Tennessee section of…

Photo Taken In Italy, Roma

Chattanooga

Myriad songbirds of the avian variety call Tennessee home, but Chattanooga's newly revamped Songbirds – an innovative interactive learning space devoted…

The statue in front of the grand St Louis Cathedral, built in 1794, at one end of Jackson Square in the French Quarter - New Orleans, Louisiana

Jackson Square

French Quarter

Whatever happens in the French Quarter usually begins here in Jackson Square, at Decatur and St Peter Streets. It's a gentle, carnivalesque scene,…

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum August 1, 2014 in Nashville, TN. It opened in 1961 and preserves the evolving history and traditions of country music.

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

Downtown & the Gulch

This monumental museum, reflecting the near-biblical importance of country music to Nashville's soul, is a must-see whether you're a country music fan or…

City Park, New Orleans

New Orleans

Live oaks, Spanish moss and lazy bayous frame this masterpiece of urban planning. Three miles long and 1 mile wide, dotted with gardens, waterways and…

Close-up detail of lichen encrusted stone flower found on tomb at Bonaventue Cemetery near Savannah, Georgia, USA.

Bonaventure Cemetery

Less than a 10-minute drive east of Savannah’s Historic District you’ll find one of the most peaceful, quiet, green escapes tucked away next to the…

Lover's Leap Waterfall, Lookout Mountain, Georgia, America

Lookout Mountain

Just ten minutes from downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, rising along the upper rim of the city, Lookout Mountain is rich in both Civil War history and…

Latest stories from Southern USA

Filter by interest:

  • All Interests
  • Adventure Travel
  • Art & Culture
  • Beaches, Coasts & Islands
  • Food & Drink

red river gorge/USA-07/22/2019 photo of Mountaineer do rock climbing ; Shutterstock ID 1463884301; your: Sloane Tucker; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: South East Climbing Article

Aug 16, 2022 • 5 min read

The Southeast harbors its own climbing magic among its ancient mountains and leafy canopies. Here are the best places to climb.

close up of saddled brown horse with a red slide sandal in the stirrups

Jan 25, 2021 • 5 min read

southern states travel

Jul 12, 2020 • 8 min read

The asphalt Natchez Trace Parkway winds around a curve surrounded by green grass and budding trees, including a redbud, in the spring

May 29, 2020 • 7 min read

Kayakers on a river surrounded by green trees; summer escapes in the Southern US

May 28, 2020 • 6 min read

A car drives on a windy road that you can barely see because of the dense orange, red, yellow and green foliage while listening to an audiobook on a US roadtrip

Jun 27, 2019 • 6 min read

southern states travel

May 23, 2019 • 3 min read

Group takes photo in front of modern-looking Hattiloo Theatre © Justin Fox Burks / Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau

Mar 5, 2019 • 5 min read

mural with blue background that includes the text "welcome to Huntsville." The "I" in Huntsville is a rocket ship

Feb 12, 2019 • 4 min read

A close-up of a violin and two banjos, and the hands dancing across them, in a typical street scene in Asheville, North Carolina, where busking is part of the thriving music scene..

Jan 23, 2019 • 6 min read

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Southern USA with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

Southern USA and beyond

The wrought iron lace of a French Quarter Balcony in New Orleans.

The South Travel Guide

Book your individual trip , stress-free with local travel experts

  • roughguides.com
  • North America
  • Travel guide
  • Itineraries
  • Travel Advice
  • Accommodation

Mark Twain put it best, as early as 1882: “In the South, the [Civil] war is what AD is elsewhere; they date everything from it”. Several generations later, the legacies of slavery and “The War Between the States” remain evident throughout the southern heartland states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas. It’s impossible to travel through the region without experiencing constant reminders of the two epic historical clashes that have shaped its destiny: the Civil War, and the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

Brief history

Down-home southern cooking.

For many travellers, the most exciting aspect of a visit to the South has to be its music. Fans flock to the homelands of Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Robert Johnson, Dolly Parton and Otis Redding, heading to the country and blues hot spots of Nashville and Memphis, or seeking out backwoods barn dances in Appalachia and blues juke joints in the Mississippi Delta. The South gave the world rock’n’roll, and its contribution to music in general cannot be overstated.

The Southern experience is also reflected in a rich regional literature, documented by the likes of William Faulkner, Carson McCullers, Eudora Welty, Margaret Mitchell and Harper Lee. Major destinations include the elegant coastal cities of Charleston and Savannah, college towns Athens and Chapel Hill, and the historic Mississippi River ports of Natchez and Vicksburg. Away from the urban areas, perfumed with delicate magnolia trees, the classic Southern scenery consists of fertile but sun-baked farmlands, with undulating hillsides dotted with wooden shacks and rust-red barns and broken by occasional forests. Highlights include the misty Appalachian mountains of Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina; the subtropical beaches and tranquil barrier islands along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Georgia and South Carolina; and the river road through the tiny, time-warped settlements of the flat Mississippi Delta. In July and August, the daily high temperature is mostly a very humid 90°F, and while almost every public building is air-conditioned, the heat can be debilitating. May and June are more bearable, and tend to see a lot of local festivals, while the autumn colours in the mountains – just as beautiful and a lot less expensive and congested than New England – are at their headiest during October.

As a rule, public transport in rural areas is poor and you will see far more, and be able get out to the backwaters – the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the Ozarks and the Mississippi Delta to mention but a few – if you rent a car. In any case, it’s best to take things at your own pace – you’ll find things to see and do in the most unlikely places. Incidentally, if you harbour fantasies of travelling through the South by boat along the Mississippi, note that only luxury craft make the trip these days.

The British dominated the region from the seventeenth century onwards, establishing increasingly successful agricultural colonies in the Carolinas and Georgia. Both climate and soil favoured staple crops, and massive labour-intensive plantations sprang up, predominantly growing tobacco prior to independence, and then increasingly shifting to cotton. Eventually, the big landowners turned to slavery as the most profitable source of labour. Millions of blacks were brought across from Africa, most arriving via the port of Charleston.

Although the South prospered until the middle of the nineteenth century, there was little incentive to diversify its economy. As a result, the Northern states began to surge ahead in both agriculture and industry; while the South grew the crops, Northern factories monopolized the more lucrative manufacturing of finished goods. So long as there were equal numbers of slave-owning and “free” states, the South continued to play a central role in national politics, and was able to resist abolitionist sentiment. However, the more the United States fulfilled its supposed “Manifest Destiny” to spread across the continent, the more new states joined the Union for which plantation agriculture, and thus slavery, was not appropriate. Southern politicians and plantation owners accused the North of political and economic aggression, and felt that they were losing all say in the future of the nation. The election of Abraham Lincoln, a longtime critic of slavery, as president in 1860 brought the crisis to a head. South Carolina seceded from the Union that December, and ten more southern states swiftly followed. On February 18, 1861, Jefferson Davis was sworn in as president of the Confederate States of America – an event for which his vice president shockingly proclaimed that this was the first government in the history of the world “based upon this great physical and moral truth…that the Negro is not equal to the white man”.

During the resultant Civil War, the South was outgunned and ultimately overwhelmed by the vast resources of the North. The Confederates fired the first shots and scored the first victory in April 1861, when the Union garrison at Fort Sumter (outside Charleston) surrendered. The Union was on the military defensive until mid-1862, when its navy blockaded Georgia and the Carolinas and occupied key ports. Then Union forces in the west, under generals Grant and Sherman, swept through Tennessee, and by the end of 1863 the North had taken Vicksburg, the final Confederate-held port on the Mississippi, as well as the strategic mountain-locked town of Chattanooga on the Tennessee–Georgia border. Grant proceeded north to Virginia, while Sherman captured the transportation nexus of Atlanta and began a bloody and ruthless march to the coast, burning everything in his way. With 258,000 men dead, the Confederacy’s defeat was total, and General Robert E. Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox in Virginia.

The war left the South in chaos. A quarter of the South’s adult white male population had been killed, and two thirds of Southern wealth destroyed. From controlling thirty percent of the nation’s assets in 1860, the South was down to twelve percent in 1870, while the spur the war gave to industrialization meant that the North was booming. For a brief period of Reconstruction, when the South was occupied by Union troops, newly freed Southern blacks were able to vote, and black representatives were elected to both state and federal office. However, unrepentant former Confederates, spurred in part by allegations of profiteering by incoming Northern Republican “carpetbaggers”, thwarted any potential for change, and by the end of the century the Southern states were firmly back under white Democratic control. As Reconstruction withered away, “Jim Crow” segregation laws were imposed, backed by the not-so-secret terror of the Ku Klux Klan, and poll taxes, literacy tests and property qualifications disenfranchised virtually all blacks. Many found themselves little better off as sharecroppers – in which virtually all they could earn from raising crops went to pay their landlords – than they had been as slaves, and there were mass migrations to cities like Memphis and Atlanta, as well as to the North.

Not until the landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling in Brown vs Topeka Board of Education outlawed segregation in schools was there any sign that the federal authorities in Washington might concern themselves with inequities in the South. Even then, individual states proved extremely reluctant to effect the required changes. In the face of institutionalized white resistance, nonviolent black protestors coalesced to form the Civil Rights movement, and broke down segregation through a sustained programme of mass action. After tackling such issues as public transport – most famously in the Montgomery bus boycott and the Freedom Rides – and segregated dining facilities, with lunch-counter sit-ins reaching their apex in Greensboro, North Carolina, the campaign eventually culminated in restoring full black voter registration – not without the loss of many protestors’ lives. One fulfilling itinerary through the Southern states today is to trace the footsteps of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, from his birthplace in Atlanta through his church in Montgomery to the site of his assassination in Memphis.

The region’s varied cuisine ranges from creamy, cheese-topped grits (maize porridge) to highly calorific, irresistible soul food: fried chicken, smothered pork chops and the like, along with collard greens, sweet potatoes, macaroni and all manner of tasty vegetables. Barbecue – a deep source of regional pride and cultural identity – is king here, particularly in Memphis, but each state has its own smoked-meat variations and closely guarded recipes. Seafood is also exemplary, from catfish to the wonderful Low Country Boils – fish stews served with rice, traditionally prepared on the sea islands of the Carolinas and Georgia.

Top image: Charleston SC, a historic Antebellum home flies the American flag in Charleston, South Carolina © James Kirkikis/Shutterstock

The Rough Guides to USA and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

The Rough Guide to New York City

Find even more inspiration here

downtown-miami-shutterstock_350452394

Planning your own trip? Prepare for your trip

Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates

Andy Turner

written by Andy Turner

updated 3.09.2021

facebook

Ready to travel and discover USA?

Get support from our local experts for stress-free planning & worry-free travels.

  • Where to stay
  • Travel advice
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

This Is My South

A travel guide to the Southern USA

Main Content

New orleans’ 8 best classic fine dining restaurants.

New Orleans’ 8 Best Classic Fine Dining Restaurants

A First Timer’s Guide to Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival

A First Timer’s Guide to Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival

What is Boudin and Where Can I Find It?

What is Boudin and Where Can I Find It?

What is a Natchitoches Meat Pie and Where Can I Eat It?

Like boudin and slug burgers, the Natchitoches meat pie might be unfamiliar to those who haven’t been to the place known for them. The pie comes from the namesake city in North Louisiana, which hosts an annual meat pie festival in its honor. The empanada-style treat is so significant that a 2003 bill made the […]

southern states travel

Southern Stays: The Elwood Hotel & Suites

Opened in October 2021, the Elwood Hotel & Suites is located in the medical district of Lexington, Kentucky, not far from Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate, the Mary Todd Lincoln House, The Arboretum State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, and the Keeneland Racecourse. The striking design includes a large mural painted on the hotel’s exterior by […]

southern states travel

Weekend Guide to Clarksville, Tennessee

Clarksville is located in the northwestern part of Tennessee, near the state’s border with Kentucky and an hour’s drive from Nashville. It was named after General George Rogers Clark, a Revolutionary War hero, and was a Confederate stronghold during the Civil War. Fort Campbell, a U.S. Army base, is located just outside of Clarksville. It […]

Popular Posts

southern states travel

The Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival was founded in 2015 over two days in Franklin, Tennessee. The music festival is held at Harlinsdale Farm, a nearly 200-acre horse farm from the 1900s. Kevin Griffin, a Franklin resident and musician from Better Than Ezra, is one of the founders. Two-day admission is around $200 while VIP […]

southern states travel

34 Southern Products to Add to Your Home Bar

The holiday season is upon us and if you’re looking for something a bit different, it’s a great time to support Southern makers. We’ve featured artists and craftsmen but this guide highlights the people that make the famous spirits the region is so known for. The prices of these products vary so click the links […]

southern states travel

Following the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

Kentucky may be known for its bourbon trail, but there’s also the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. Visitors flock to the state to see the Jack Daniel’s Distillery but there are dozens more in just about every corner of the state. Tour the facilities enjoy samples, and purchase souvenirs to take home with you. Many places are […]

southern states travel

This Is My South: The Book

After a year of work, my first book, This Is My South: The Essential Travel Guide to the Southern States, is now available! Based on the success of this website, the guidebook, published by Globe Pequot Press, has over 300 full color glossy pages covering ten states and their offbeat attractions, unique accommodations, and old […]

Stay in the South

southern states travel

Southern Stays: Windy Hill Farm & Preserve

Windy Hill Farm and Preserve is a former private farm that opened as a resort in 2022. It’s located in Loudon, Tennessee, a rural area between Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains surrounded by the Tennessee River and its lakes. The 650-acre retreat gained popularity with quail hunters, who flock to the tall grasses every […]

southern states travel

Southern Stays: The Bristol Hotel

For visitors to Bristol, the city that spans Tennessee and Virginia, it’s great to stay in the heart of it all. The hotel is housed in a renovated 1925 building that originally served as a retail and office space. The transformation into a hotel aimed to preserve the historic charm of the structure while providing […]

southern states travel

Southern Stays: Omni Homestead Resort

The Omni Homestead Resort is a historic and luxurious resort located in the rural mountain community of Hot Springs, Virginia. It is one of the oldest and most iconic resorts in the United States and has a rich history dating back to the late 18th century, hosting over 20 American presidents and various celebrities during […]

About This Is My South

The Southern United States is an area as diverse as some countries and this website aims to encourage travel to this part of the world and make people see more than just stereotypes. You can visit the beaches of South Carolina, the cities in Georgia and Tennessee and the marshlands of Louisiana.

This website is a travel guide for all things South, featuring accommodation reviews, restaurant recommendations, and activities for all ages and budgets. There is no other travel website as devoted to the region as  This Is My South .

We’ve Been Featured By:

  • 9 Pinterest Accounts Every Southern Girl Should Follow , Southern Living
  • 30 Southern Bloggers to Follow in 2015 , Southern Living
  • The Best Cities in North America , Travel + Leisure
  • First Coast News Jacksonville,  “The Chat”
  • New travel guide showcases author’s home state and region , Foodie Travel USA
  • Blog Profiles: Southern Blogs , Cision/PR Newswire

Read more about us here .

This Is My South is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees at no cost to the consumer by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. For further information, visit our Privacy Policy page.

This site is managed by Reggio Digital .

  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

CoSchedule - The #1 Marketing Calendar

  • Search Please fill out this field.
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Sweepstakes
  • Destinations

The Best Cross-country U.S. Road Trip Itinerary: Southern Route

Where to stay, eat, and sightsee, from Los Angeles to Virginia — or vice-versa.

southern states travel

Driving cross-country is the ultimate trip for the adventurous soul. If you are in need of varied landscapes, picturesque viewpoints, and impressive, relaxing stays, then this route is for you. Here we mapped out the must-see stops and roadside attractions along the southern route from the Southwest to the Southeast. Not to worry, this trip can be accomplished starting from whichever coast you prefer, so pack your bags and let's get started.

Los Angeles, California

As you depart Los Angeles , a city known for its bustling downtown and landmark attractions and neighborhoods, stop by Alcove Cafe and Bakery near Griffith Park for a unique take on classic breakfast favorites before continuing east. If starting your trip from the East Coast, Los Angeles will be your final stop on the route, so an overnight stay at The Hoxton in Downtown LA will be much-needed — this chic hotel is the ideal combination of phenomenal views over Broadway and Old Hollywood glam. Grab dinner and drinks at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Hollywood, an iconic restaurant serving world-renowned, traditional Neapolitan pizza, as well as handmade pastas.

Sedona, Arizona

No road trip through Arizona would be complete without a visit to Grand Canyon National Park . Plan to arrive at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon — as this part of the park is open year-round — and stop at one of the breathtaking viewpoints to absorb its magnificence. Continue on to Sedona where you will be enamored by the beautifully colored red rock formations. Right before sunset, follow the short walk up to the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which was built into the buttes, for a beautiful panoramic vista. Stay at Amara Resort and Spa for an upscale retreat with spectacular views of the red-rock buttes.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

This enchanting city is known as a richly artistic and culturally distinctive place with a deep-rooted history. Spend the day exploring the Canyon Road art galleries to get a taste of the vibrant display of both traditional and contemporary art. Dine at The Shed for a timeless take on New Mexican cuisine in a bright, exciting atmosphere. After you have had your fill of margaritas and enchiladas, make your way back to the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi for a luxurious stay in a classic adobe-style hotel a short walk from the downtown Santa Fe Plaza.

Amarillo, Texas

For a short visit to Amarillo, a stop along Route 66 at Cadillac Ranch is a must. Here you will find a row of 10 spray-painted Cadillacs buried nose-first, which comprise an art installation and public sculpture. Come add your own spray paint and leave your mark on Amarillo. Stay at The Big Texan Airbnb — a lodging experience and partnership from The Big Texan and Amarillo's Airbnb Superhost — right across from The Big Texan Steak Ranch , a historic landmark and Texas attraction known for its 72-oz. steak eating contest.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

As you head out to Oklahoma, make a pit stop off Route 66 in Stroud, near Oklahoma City, at Rock Cafe , which served as the inspiration behind Disney's Cars movies. The cafe showcases Cars movie posters and other items left by the crew, as well as other gifts from the owner's time helping with the movie.

Hot Springs, Arkansas

When visiting Hot Springs, spend time hiking through Hot Springs National Park before making your way to Bathhouse Row. Here you can visit the historic eight bathhouses built over the natural hot springs — only two of which remain open today, the Quapaw and the Buckstaff. Check out Superior Crafthouse Brewery for the only craft brewery that uses the thermal water of the hot springs in its beer. Stay overnight at The Waters Hotel , where you can see Bathhouse Row and Hot Springs National Park from your window.

Memphis, Tennessee

Take a step into the "Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll" with a short trip to Memphis. Be sure to stop by Elvis Presley's Graceland Mansion for a tour before enjoying Elvis's favorite peanut butter and banana sandwich at The Arcade . This vibrant and eclectic city is also home to Beale Street, a must-visit place to soak up the live blues music and nearby restaurants and shops.

Nashville, Tennessee

Known for its prolific country music scene, lively downtown nightlife on Broadway, and local eateries serving Southern comfort food staples, Nashville is sure to leave you enamored. For an inventive spin on the classic biscuit breakfast, stop by Biscuit Love , and for its 23 daily scratch-made varieties of pancakes, stop by The Pancake Pantry . Affectionately nicknamed Music City, Nashville is home to such iconic live music spots as The Bluebird Cafe , the Grand Ole Opry , and the Ryman Auditorium . After shopping your way through 12 South and The Gulch, check in for the night at the nearby Thompson Hotel , and go up to its LA Jackson rooftop bar for cocktails with a skyline view. Dine at The Pharmacy for a burger parlor and beer garden serving creative burgers or Whiskey Kitchen for its sophisticated take on Southern classics. End the night checking out the live music at some of the many honky tonk bars on Broadway.

Asheville, North Carolina

Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is the quintessential mountain town with gorgeous vistas and a rich history. For a short visit to Asheville, start by hiking a portion of the Appalachian Trail before checking out the shopping at the historic downtown Grove Arcade . Be sure to save time to drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a National Parkway known for showcasing the serene beauty of North Carolina. Dine at Buxton Hall Barbecue for a sample of authentic Carolina-style barbecue.

Charlottesville, Virginia

Congratulations, you completed your cross-country road trip! No better way to celebrate than ending your trip in Charlottesville's wine country with an overnight stay at The 1804 Inn at Barboursville Vineyards, one of the best wineries in the area. Here you will find a stunning landscape, cozy cottage suites, and on-site wine tasting. If you are beginning your road trip from the East Coast, then Virginia will be your first stop on the route (lucky you!), so be sure to set aside some time to explore all that Charlottesville has to offer before heading west.

An Epic 2-Week Southern U.S.A. Road Trip Itinerary

February 21, 2024 March 17, 2023

A Southern U.S.A. road trip is one of the most American road trips . 

We’ve been all over the United States since our last trip through the South, spending months in Louisiana and Georgia and what’s considered the Deep South.

While it’s certainly a different world down there, especially for gals from Chicago like me, it remains one of my favorite regions of the country for road trips.

A road trip through southern states like Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Alabama is delicious, historically and culturally significant, and, if you time things right, an escape from the winter chill.

Join me on a southern United States road trip that will rival all of the others.

Disclosure: Please note that the post below contains affiliate links, including links through the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I won’t recommend something I have not used/would not use myself, and any income earned supports the upkeep of this site.

A Southern U.S.A. Road Trip: Things to Know

A stunning approach in Georgia on a Southern U.S.A. road trip

We started in Chicago during our own road trip through the South the first time around, so this itinerary will start from the north and go south. You can certainly switch it up depending on your starting point, especially if you have to fly into a major city to make this happen.

As this itinerary details road trips in the South, you’ll need a car for this one. If you have your own fuel-efficient vehicle, that’s awesome.

If not, book a rental car at your arrival airport ahead of travel using an aggregator like Hotwire or Priceline . You’ll likely save money that way vs. picking up a car upon arrival wherever you land.

Where can I experience the Deep South?

You can experience the Deep South in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

I’ll be getting into all of those and more, as I’m taking the federal government’s approach to defining “the South” in this post. Here are the states they consider the South in ABC order:

  • The District of Columbia
  • Florida 
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • West Virginia

No, you won’t be able to hit all of those on this one road trip . This is basically a primer itinerary that gives you a feel of road trips in the region. You’ll certainly want to return as you continue ticking things off your U.S.A. bucket lists .

Also, Delaware is the South?!? Mind. Blown.

Want a visual of the stops I’ll suggest on your southern U.S.A. road trip itinerary? Click on the Google map link below:

GIMME MY SOUTHERN STATES ROAD TRIP MAP!

Days 1-2: memphis, tennessee.

Spend at least two full days in Memphis, especially if you’ve never been. You could spend one full day just eating all of that delicious barbecue if you’ve packed stretchy pants and stretchy pants alone. If you’re short on time and planning a seven-day Southern road itinerary, Tennessee is still a great place to start.

Oh, you are here just for the barbecue? Here are our favorites, in no particular order:

  • Charlie Vergo’s Rendezvous*
  • Cozy Corner BBQ
  • The Bar-B-Q Shop

*This one was Brian’s favorite growing up. He spent quite a few of his formative years in Bartlett, just outside of Memphis. My barbecue palate isn’t as discerning, but if you want the goods from a barbecue snob, start there!

A man eats barbecue in Memphis on a Southern USA road trip.

From there, pick and choose how you’d like to spend your time using my weekend itinerary for Memphis .

If you’re invested in this road trip guide , here are some things you shouldn’t miss if you’re short on time in Memphis, Tennessee:

  • Allow iconic Beale Street to suck you in with promises of live music and a good time. This is where legends like Louis Armstrong and B.B. King found their footing.

A restaurant on Beale Street on a Southern USA road trip

  • Visit The Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum . Hear a sobering retelling of the start of slavery in Memphis in a home linked to the Underground Railroad.
  • Tour Sun Studio . This is where some of the biggest names in music history recorded many of their hits. Elvis Presley himself frequented Sun Studio in his early years. The studio is still a working studio today.
  • Spend a few hours at the National Civil Rights Museum , one of the best museums in Memphis . You’ll see the Lorraine Hotel while you’re there. That’s the site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1968.
  • Learn all about Stax Records at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music . This is another legendary studio in these parts. Isaac Hayes and Otis Redding both recorded here.

You’ll want to overnight in Memphis proper during this leg of your trip. Luckily, I have a guide to the best neighborhoods and Memphis accommodations for you to peruse.

Day 3: Tupelo, Mississippi

Start your day early. In a breezy couple of hours, you’ll be Tupelo, Mississippi, the birthplace of Elvis Presley.

Here’s what you shouldn’t miss while in Tupelo:

  • Visit the Elvis Presley Birthplace . This is why you’re here, right? I mean, this is why we were here. See the modest home where the King of Rock and Roll was born and grew up and hold hands with a statue of a 13-year-old Elvis.

A couple holds hands with Elvis in Tupelo on a Southern USA road trip.

  • Take a mural walk. Tupelo’s colorful past meets a colorful present in murals you’ll find in town. Start with the postcard-perfect Greetings from Tupelo downtown. Continue your Elvis education outside the Gardner-Watson Ice House Club.
  • Sip on award-winning mead. Elvis doesn’t have to get all of your attention in Tupelo. Pop into Queen’s Reward Meadery , the first meadery in Mississippi, for some sneaky-strong honey mead.
  • Pop into Tupelo Hardware Company. This hardware store is credited with selling Elvis Presley’s mother his first guitar. They still sell guitars there, by the way, on top of the usual fare you’d find in a hardware store.
  • Travel some of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The parkway is over 400 miles of scenic road from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi, a town that’s on my to-do list for its old mansions.
Fun fact: For your convenience, the road cuts right through Tupelo.

If you have more time, spend the night. Otherwise, continue on for another two hours to your next stop: Birmingham. You’ll have a full day in the Alabama city, so feel free to linger in Tupelo on the way. 

Love that advice? I’d recommend booking with chain hotels in Birmingham like the Homewood Suites by Hilton . While these hotels may not sound as exciting as boutique properties, your stay will be safe, consistent, and budget-friendly. I like the Homewood Suites in particular for its central location, spacious spaces (say that three times fast), and secure parking.

Want to comparison-shop? Check out a few more hotel listings from Booking.com for Birmingham:

  • Courtyard by Marriott Birmingham Homewood : Guests love that this one is in a more quiet neighborhood but still within a short drive of the best of Birmingham.
  • Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Birmingham : This popular hotel in the Five Points South neighborhood offers easy access to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
  • Valley Hotel Homewood Birmingham : This one is a little fancier if you’d like to treat yourself while you’re here. Enjoy prime walkability — you’re under a mile from Vulcan Park and Museum here — and a valet for your every need.

If you need a bit more space, I check  Booking.com  first (they also have unique listings!) and then peruse  Vrbo , my preferred Airbnb alternative.  Here are a few in Birmingham that might suit your apartment needs:

  • This affordable condo comes with an excellent tagline (“Feelin’ Fine in Five Points South”), which I am definitely feeling quite fine about.
  • Choose from studio spaces or larger split-level apartments at this downtown listing . Guests love that their stays were spotless and involved free treats upon arrival. It’s the little things.
  • Enjoy two bedrooms at this property in the heart of downtown Birmingham. The airy space looks to be fully renovated with loads of natural light.

Day 4: Birmingham, Alabama

Spend the day exploring the best of Birmingham. This is the seat of Jefferson County and where a good chunk of Alabamians call home. The historical threads of the civil rights movement persist in this town, especially if you hear the moniker “Bombingham” for the first time.

Explore that history and more with these Birmingham highlights :

  • Try the sours at Avondale Brewing Company . Visit for a great selection of pours and an impressive outdoor space. If your tastes run a little funky as mine do, visit The Sour Room where they serve up sours and mouth-puckering cocktails.
  • Face your fears at Vulcan Park. Brian got a little weird at this stop because of the heights and open grates, but the observation tower offers some of the best views of the city. The Vulcan itself is the biggest cast iron statue in the world.

A man worries about the heights at Vulcan Park on a Southern USA road trip.

  • Stroll among the flowers at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens . This community treasure is the perfect place to reflect on all you’ve seen in town. Don’t miss the Japanese Garden. You walk through a red torii to get there.
  • Visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute . This Smithsonian Institution affiliate details key moments from the civil rights movement like the 1963 Children’s Crusade. The event was pivotal to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
  • Stop at Kelly Ingram Park. If you’re traveling the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, this park is a key stop. It was once an assembly spot for a number of groups in the movement. It’s marked by powerful sculptures throughout the park.

Powerful sculptures at Kelly Ingram Park on a Southern U.S.A. road trip

If you’re following this itinerary as written, you’ll overnight in Birmingham again this evening. With more time in Alabama, I’d urge you to linger in two cities critical to the civil rights movement: Montgomery and Selma :

  • Montgomery: Educate yourself at The Legacy Museum and its lynching memorial, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. See more things to do while you’re there in my guide to Montgomery .
  • Selma: This historic city was the site of Bloody Sunday, a day named as such because of attacks on civil rights protesters by local police. See where it all happened using my guide to Selma .

Days 5-6: Atlanta, Georgia

About two hours and 15 minutes will get you to Atlanta, Georgia. I’m giving you an extra day here because you’re entering another time zone, and in case you’d like to linger some in Alabama. 

Atlanta gets a lot of attention for its very busy airport, but it’s an excellent stop to show off the diversity of the South from a cultural perspective. This is a hub of progress here while retaining the best of the region. 

I’m talking about the food and the hospitality, friends. 

While in Atlanta, here are a few popular tourist spots with a day or two in the city:

  • See where the chicken (or the egg?) started at the Dwarf House. Travel to the nearby town of Hapeville to see the original Chick-fil-A site, although the building is no longer original.
Note: I have mixed feelings about the chicken chain because of their record of donations to anti-gay advocacy groups, but they’ve made efforts in recent years to refocus where they put their money. I haven’t been to one since, but it’s up to you and your comfort level with that history.
  • Visit the well-designed Jimmy Carter Library and Museum . Take a deep dive into the lives of the Carters and peruse a wealth of historical artifacts from the Carter administration. Spend some time walking the grounds if it’s a nice day.
  • Tour one of Atlanta’s most popular sites at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park . See where the iconic civil rights leader was born and came up during a time of segregation. The audio exhibits are particularly powerful.
  • See The National Center for Civil and Human Rights , one of the country’s best civil rights museums. This museum wasn’t open yet during my trip to Atlanta, but I’m including it here for aspirational purposes. It looks stunning.
  • Eat Atlanta’s best burgers at The Vortex Bar & Grill . My local pal brought me here, and I must say entering through a large skull is a little bit intimidating. Once you get over yourself, you will indeed be eating some delicious burgers.

A pair of friends get ready for burgers at The Vortex in Atlanta on a Southern USA road trip.

I also visited the Clermont Lounge on my Atlanta trip upon request from the above-mentioned local friend, but I know it’s not for everyone. Do yourself a solid and Google it, and then decide for yourself whether it’s right for you.

Fun fact: At the very least, I feel like it led to quite a few stories that I’ve told throughout my life. Do with that what you will.

Atlanta has accommodations for you at every price point. Here are a few highly-rated properties from Booking.com :

  • Bellyard, West Midtown Atlanta, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel : This mid-range hotel takes pride in its food options, offering both veg-friendly and dairy-free options for hungry travelers.
  • Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center : Don’t let the idea of a conference center fool you into thinking this isn’t a cool option for hotels in Atlanta. Enjoy modern rooms, a great breakfast, and easy access to the civil rights museum.
  • Hyatt House Atlanta Perimeter Center : Mod design and kitchenettes with larger rooms make this one a popular option. You’ll have a short drive to most of the main Atlanta attractions from here.

Interested in something a little different? Here are a few apartment-style options from Booking.com and Vrbo :

  • Stay in a family-sized farmhouse complete with a game room and remote-controlled adjustment beds. It’s the little things, right?
  • A historic mid-century cottage is the perfect cozy stay for traveling pals or couples. This one has two full bedrooms.
  • Free parking in Midtown Atlanta? Yes, please. Stay at this condo for easy access to the High Museum of Art and a private pool to boot.

Days 7-8: Savannah, Georgia

It’ll take you about four hours to get to Savannah from Atlanta. Start your driving early to make the most of your time in this magical place. If you’re traveling with your honey, I have a guide for you on visiting Savannah for couples .

If you haven’t guessed yet, Savannah is one of the most romantic cities in the country. That doesn’t mean you need a partner to make a trip here happen. Savannah is also delicious, welcoming, and full of sights to keep you busy for a few days.

No matter how you’re rolling, don’t miss these highlights:

  • Find your favorite square in Savannah. Visit Chippewa Square to see where Forrest Gump mused about chocolates. Calhoun Square is the city’s most haunted, while Johnson Square is the oldest. There are so many squares here.

Chippewa Square on a Southern USA road trip

  • Take a ghost tour in style with Hearse Ghost Tours . I’ll let you guess what you ride around in while you’re hearing spooky Savannah tales. It’s less scary and more comedy-focused, by the way.
  • Tour the Mercer Williams House Museum. If you’re a fan of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil , you won’t want to miss this one.
  • Indulge in a special meal at The Old Pink House . If you’re on a budget, no sweat. Grab a drink at the Planters Tavern in the basement of the eatery.
  • Explore Tybee Island and Fort Pulaski National Monument. See where the Union Army forced the Confederates to surrender during the Civil War and the scenic Tybee Island Light Station. Follow that up with a trip to The Crab Shack.

Fort Pulaski National Monument on a Southern USA road trip

You’ll overnight in Savannah proper for the duration of your stay. While you’re here, staying at a historic property is a very bucket listy thing to do. If you agree, here are my top picks from Booking.com :

  • Catherine Ward House Inn : Stay steps away from Forsyth Park at this delightful bed and breakfast. Enjoy whimsical touches like a sitting area, fireplaces, and a private garden.
  • Eliza Thompson House : Enjoy your delicious breakfasts on historic Jones Street without worrying about toddlers lamenting over the lack of Cheerios. This is an adults-only property.
  • Planters Inn on Reynolds Square : Go on a square crawl with this historic property as your base. Reynolds, Johnson, and Oglethorpe squares are all short walks away.

Interested in apartment-style options that still offer some historical intrigue? Here are a few options from Booking.com and Vrbo :

  • This romantic cottage in Savannah’s Historic District is cozy but perfect for a traveling pair. High ceilings and an open floor plan make it feel much more spacious than expected.
  • The Jones E. Carriage House has more 5-star reviews than any other property I’ve seen on any site. It’s at the top of my list for return stays in Savannah.
  • Stay in this historic home built in 1870 if you love a side of modern touches. This one is located directly on Forsyth Park, just steps away from the park’s fountain.

Days 9-10: Charleston, South Carolina

It’s just a few hours from Savannah to Charleston, another southern city that has to top some list of the most whimsical cities in the United States. I have a more detailed guide to Charleston for you, but if you don’t feel like jumping around, here are the highlights:

  • Explore the French Quarter. Nope, you’re not in New Orleans. The Charleston version isn’t as intense, but it’s a hub of activity nonetheless. Shop at Charleston City Market or visit the Old Slave Mart Museum, a difficult but important stop.
  • See the charming Pineapple Fountain. Visit Waterfront Park for the requisite Instagram photos in front of Charleston’s quintessential water feature.
  • Marvel at the city’s historic homes. If you’re interested in touring a few, you can buy combo tickets for the Joseph Manigault House and the Heyward-Washington House. George Washington stayed at the latter in 1791.

The Heyward-Washington House on a Southern USA road trip

  • Sip on spirits at High Wire Distilling . If you’re not into bourbon, they have vodka. If you’re not into vodka, grow up. I’m mostly kidding, but you can probably just skip to the next thing then.
  • Tour Fort Sumter , where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. You’ll need to take a boat to get there, but this one’s a must for history buffs.

Stay as close to the action as possible while in Charleston to make the most of your time. Here are a few picks from Booking.com :

  • Andrew Pinckney Inn : This boutique hotel dates back to 1840, so think about that while you’re snacking on a complimentary breakfast on their rooftop terrace.
  • Barksdale House Inn : I see your 1840 and raise you a property built in 1778. This bed and breakfast is a short walk from Marion Square in the center of the Charleston Historic District
  • Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Mount Pleasant : Charleston is one of the most expensive cities I’ve ever visited, yet I keep coming back because it’s so friggin’ cute. Save a little cash with this well-reviewed option. I said a little .

Interested in comparing with short-term rentals? Here are a few from Booking.com and Vrbo :

  • This historic property was completed in 1853, but the amenities are modern. You’ll be close to Charleston Harbor at this one, a great spot for nightlife.
  • Stay at this one-bedroom suite close to Charleston Museum to be close to all the action at a more budget-friendly price point.
  • This island hideout is a great unit to split, as it comes with two full bedrooms for traveling pals to fight over. You’re in a quieter neighborhood at this one, so it’s great for families, too.

Days 11-12: Asheville, North Carolina

Another four hours of driving time get you to Asheville, one of my favorite cities in the country. While it may not feel as southern as some of the others, that’s why it’s a primo spot for tourism in the region. It’s quirky and hipster and such a good time.

I have a detailed guide for a weekend in Asheville , North Carolina, if you want to linger. Want the highlights? Here you go:

  • Tour the Biltmore Estate . Budget a few hours for your visit to America’s largest home, but leave a few hours for a tasting at the Biltmore Winery, too. It was our favorite rainy-day activity on the grounds.

The gardens outside the Biltmore on a Southern USA road trip

  • Visit Thomas Wolfe’s boyhood home at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial . Come for the historical intrigue but stay for the gossip. Wolfe was messy .
  • Stand in line for the grub at 12 Bones Smokehouse . This is former President Barack Obama’s favorite barbecue in the country. Also, Brian gave it an elusive “A” rating, so you know it’s legit.
  • Drink all the craft beer . Asheville’s beer scene is stellar and worthy of your time. Highland Brewing Company is the oldest, but my favorite was Wicked Weed Brewing’s Funkatorium . I love my sours.
  • Watch a glassblowing demonstration at Lexington Glassworks. It’s a little off the beaten path of most Asheville itineraries, but what they do here is truly a marvel.

A glassblowing demo at Lexington Glassworks on a Southern USA road trip

Hang around in Asheville for the most efficient stay. I’d personally recommend the Clarion Inn Biltmore Village if you want easy access to the Biltmore or the Four Points by Sheraton Asheville Downtown . The latter offers walkability for Asheville’s downtown. I’ve done both, and had great stays!

Here are a few more options from Booking.com :

  • Black Walnut B&B Inn : If you’re visiting Asheville in the spring, this one is within walking distance of the Botanical Gardens at Asheville.
  • Princess Anne Boutique Hotel & Breakfast : I love the easy access to downtown Asheville at this one with a little more character than most of the downtown hotels.
  • The Residences at Biltmore-Asheville : If you’re comparison-shopping around the Biltmore, this well-reviewed option offers easy access to the grounds and spacious rooms.

Interested in more options? Here are a few finds from Booking.com and Vrbo :

  • Interested in a cozy mountain getaway ? You can have it all at this option that’s still just a short drive from central Asheville.
  • This spacious apartment features a covered deck and a well-stocked kitchen, all within a short walk of downtown Ashville.
  • Enjoy affordability and a private deck at this stylish option . You’ll be close to downtown while still tucked away from some of the noise.

With more time, check out Charlotte and its brewery scene and day trips from Charlotte before you hit Asheville, or explore the North Carolina Triangle . You can also add day trips from Asheville to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is a fantastic region of the country for lingering.

You’ll want enough time to experience the Blue Ridge Parkway at the very least. This is one of the most impressive drives in the country, so take your time along the way with my Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks guide.

Days 13-14: Nashville, Tennessee

It’ll take you about five hours to get to Nashville from Asheville, passing through Knoxville on the way. This is where you’ll end your road trip.  If you have more time, Nashville is a great place to spend it after a whirlwind tour of the South.

I’ve been to Nashville with both Brian and my mother on a mother-daughter trip . It works so well for both, especially if you’re at all into country music. (I’m not, and still always have a good time!) I have a Nashville weekend itinerary if you want to stay a while, but if you’re short on time, don’t miss these highlights:

  • See what the Maxwell House coffee fortune built at the Cheekwood Estate & Gardens . While I didn’t notice any kind of coffee aroma while there, the live jazz in the garden is a welcome delight.

The inside of the Cheekwood Estate on a Southern USA road trip

  • Learn about country legends at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum . Upgrade your ticket to include a tour of the historic RCA Studio B to hear where Elvis recorded some of his early work.
  • Hear the longest-running radio broadcast in the United States at the Grand Ole Opry . Listen to history in the making, even if you’re not a country fan.

A group dances at the Opry on a Southern USA road trip.

  • Indulge in yummy home cooking at Monell’s . The family-style dining at this popular Nashville eatery may bring folks like my mom out of their comfort zone, but I promise it’s worth it.
  • Sample spirits in Marathon Village. This historic complex was once the site of Marathon Motor Works, a car manufacturing company. Today, visit for shops, casual eats, and distilleries.

Close out with overnights in Nashville. Here are a few highly-rated picks from Booking.com :

  • The Gallatin : I’ve stayed at this East Nashville hotel to save some money vs. staying in downtown Nashville. You’re within easy access of all kinds of fun eateries at this one, so I promise you won’t feel like you’re missing out.
  • Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center : I haven’t tested this one out, but if you want to see a show at the Grand Ole Opry, it doesn’t get much more convenient than this pick.
  • Hyatt House Nashville Airport : I stayed here with my mom during our bonding trip to Nashville and we both enjoyed the staff, breakfast, and cost-savings of staying closer to the airport. It’s a nice place for a quick trip, too.

As always, here are a few more apartment-style listings from both Booking.com and Vrbo :

  • Stay in East Nashville in style with this spacious apartment . Guests love all of the little amenities that come with the place and make for a more comfortable stay.
  • Let’s just say you’ve been looking for a pad with a guitar-shaped pool. I’ve found just the thing with this condo . I do take tips.
  • Stay at this downtown apartment for a more budget-friendly stay in the area than the big hotels. If you don’t need too much space, the studio options offer more cost savings.

More Stops on a Southern Road Trip

When we went nomadic after selling our house in San Diego , we knew we’d be spending time in warmer climates during the winter months. 

Note: We were completely acclimated to very little temperature change throughout the year, which I know isn’t sustainable in most places around the United States.

Where do you go when the snow starts hitting half the country? You head south on a Southern U.S. road trip and explore all the fun to be had in warmer pastures. (We tend to avoid Florida, though. Everglades National Park is all kinds of intriguing, but the state overall isn’t our favorite in recent years.)

Still, there’s so much we have left to see, like Hilton Head Island with its luxe beaches and golf, and historic Natchez, Mississippi. We’ve seen a lot, though, and are so grateful for it.

Here are a few of our favorites, including stops to consider for a Deep South road trip in two weeks:

  • Baton Rouge, Louisiana: We visited Baton Rouge on a New Orleans day trip, and I’m so glad we did. I wouldn’t know what beignet fingers were otherwise. You’ll just need to taste ’em for yourself.
  • Charleston, West Virginia: This is a bit niche when it comes to road trips through the South, but you shouldn’t only give the Charleston in South Carolina all of your attention. Take me home, country roads. This Charleston’s also adorable.
  • Houston, Texas: Yes, the traffic is terrible. If you plant yourself in Eado, or East Downtown, you won’t have to do much driving. If you want to hit the road, it’s close to Galveston and the Texas Gulf Coast and Galveston Island State Park.

A woman laughs in front of an "We Love Houston" sign on a Southern USA road trip.

  • Little Rock, Arkansas: Come for Hot Springs National Park but stay for important stops like the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. It’s one of the best guided tours in the country.
  • Lockhart, Texas: If you love barbecue, you should prioritize a trip to a town with some of the best barbecue in the country . We had a literal meat crawl during our own trip to Lockhart. We suffered some after, but it was still worth it.
  • Louisville, Kentucky: This town is big on bourbon but it’s also big on kitsch. Visit historic spots like the Louisville Slugger Museum and Churchill Downs, the host of the Kentucky Derby, to see what I mean.
  • Mobile, Alabama: As soon as we left Mobile I knew we’d be back. It’s like New Orleans in miniature, and not just because it’s where the first Mardi Gras was held. Enjoy all of the delicious eats and watch out for gators.
  • New Orleans, Louisiana: We spent a month exploring beyond the Mardi Gras thing and the French Quarter thing to really come to a better understanding of what makes New Orleans tick. Get off of Bourbon Street, people.

The Tree of Life in New Orleans on a Southern USA road trip

  • Tulsa, Oklahoma: We spent a full month in this underrated Oklahoma town . It’s a great base for exploring the rest of the state , including Oklahoma City and towns like Tahlequah within the Cherokee Nation, and travel with your pup .

If you’re interested in expanding your road trips in the South with some of these ideas, I have some guides for you:

  • Cute Things to Do in New Orleans for Couples
  • All of the Best New Orleans Day Trips
  • A Mobile Day Trip to Bayou La Batre
  • Take a Drive on the Lake Pontchartrain Parkway
  • Top Things to Do in Houston as a Traveling Couple

Is it safe to drive through the South? 

It is safe to drive through the South, but normal precautions apply. Don’t leave anything on your car seat and make yourself a target for petty crime. Pay attention to the rules of the road. In my opinion, all of the locations I’ll get into here are appropriate for solo travelers. 

That all said, I’m a white woman with a white husband. Not to get all alarmist on you, but the South still has a lot of work to do when it comes to racial equality and a more open-minded approach to ideas that may freak them out.

If you’re a traveler of color, the Confederate flags throughout the South may give you more pause. Some places feel stuck in time as if the Civil War happened differently. 

I look at them as a sign of ignorance, but there is still hate in the hearts of what I hope to be a weak minority of people in the region.

You may hear remarks based on lingering stereotypes or off-color jokes that wouldn’t fly elsewhere. Many of the cities are very much liberal enclaves with work being done to curb gun use, expand voter rights, and create welcoming communities for all.

Georgia is such a great example of a turning tide.

The smaller towns in the South are still very conservative, some even more so with a heightened political climate in recent years. I’ve found that some people just want a reaction when they say something absurd. You don’t need to give it to them.

The American South is worth your time on Deep South road trips, but it’s also worth your honest experiences.

As you navigate the best road trips in America through the South, do so with an open mind, but protect your own peace, too.

Ready for Exciting Southern U.S.A. Road Trips?

Your Flight: I use a variety of tools to find cheap airfare, but if you’re looking to book during a particular period of time, you should use Skyscanner . It’s a great tool for when you’re more flexible, too, as it allows you to compare travel based on length of travel, departure date, etc.

Scroll up for logistics on the best southern road trips, including where you should start on your own trip. If you’re kicking it off with Memphis, you’re likely to find some great deals out of Memphis International Airport.

For adventurous folks who travel on the reg, I also subscribe to Going , formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights. You’ll get cheap flight deals from your home base straight to your inbox. It’s a great way to visit destinations you’ve always wanted to visit or that weren’t even on your radar.

Your Accommodations: I usually use Booking.com and Hotels.com for our hotel needs. Both offer loyalty programs and now offer listings that are more of the home or condo rental variety, which is great. Vrbo is my preferred Airbnb alternative. 

Scroll up for my top picks on accommodations throughout your southern road trip.

Seeking even more wallet-friendly accommodations? Try Hostelworld . Their picks are heavily vetted and reviewed to offer you a safe experience on a budget.

Etc.: For general travel goodies, visit my Favorite Things page. For more information on planning your travel, visit my Travel Tools page.

Love this guide to southern road trips? Pin me!

Pinterest text: A road trip guide for 2 weeks in the South

Spending more time in the South? Check out some more of my favorite places:

  • Top Things to Do in Congaree National Park
  • Visit Beautiful Lake Oconee, Georgia
  • Things to Do in Athens, Georgia in One Day
  • A Planning Guide for Augusta, Georgia
  • A Complete Guide to Texas Wine Country

Postal icon for newsletter

Ready to see more?

Subscribe to my biweekly newsletter for hot travel tips I come across, weird stories you won’t see elsewhere and perhaps lifelong friendship.

Too much, or just enough?

Photo of author

Agnes Groonwald

More Than Main Street

More joy. More adventure. More life.

Arkansas , Florida , Georgia , North Carolina , Road Trips , South Carolina , Tennessee , Travel , USA Travel , Virginia

10 Fabulous Southeast USA Road Trip Ideas

5 Fabulous Southeast USA Road Trip Ideas featured by top US family travel blog, More Than Main Street: Lookout Mountain

USA Travel: Southern States Road Trip Itineraries

Planning a southeast USA road trip?

Wonderful!!

I’m so excited to continue my USA road trip series! Hopefully over the course of this series you’ll find some of the best American road trip routes and definitely some of the best road trips in the south!

This week I am sharing ten fabulous southeast USA road trip ideas. From Florida to North Carolina to Arkansas we’ve got southeast vacation ideas for couples, family, and even solo travelers.

In this post you will find ten southeast USA road trip ideas:

Washington DC to Outer Banks Road Trip

  • West Coast Florida Road Trip
  • East Coast Florida Road Trip

Tennessee to North Carolina Road Trip

  • Southern US Road Trip through North Carolina

Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip

South carolina coastal road trip.

  • Highlights of Arkansas Road Trip
  • Georgia and South Carolina Road Trip
  • Interstate 95 Road Trip

Are we there yet? Check out our epic list of 250 road trip questions to keep everyone entertained along the way!

Southeast USA Road Trip Vacations

I’m a believer that an epic road trip belongs on every bucket list !

Road trips are the best because they allow you to plan and be spontaneous all at the same time. They are also a great way to bond with your family. Gone are the days of the dreaded family road trip. We now look forward to spending time together and experiencing new things and new places!

We personally have road tripped all over the United States from California to Utah to New York to Florida. But because we live in the south, we road trip the southeast USA by far more often than the rest of the country. So…I’ve listed some of the best road trips in the south to inspire you to create your own epic road trip too!

How do I create my road trip itineraries?

I have a variety of methods, but it generally starts with one main destination.

Then I look to see if there is a loop I can create or if it will be a “there and back trip”. Some of my best planning tools include Google maps, Pinterest , and Instagram . If you’re not using these already, then you’re probably missing out on some fun stops and hidden gems! I’m also a huge fan of Yelp when it comes to finding great places to eat!

So let’s get to it!

I hope these southeast USA road trip itineraries give you some inspiration, tips, and all the tools you need to create your next epic road trip!

Make sure to read our Road Trip Essentials Checklist before hitting the road!

This post contains affiliate links which means I could earn a small commission, if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, read my full Disclosure  HERE .

Hatteras Lighthouse on the Outer Banks- an epic addition to any east coast road trip!

Southeast USA Road Trip Itinerary: Washington DC – Williamsburg, Virginia – Outer Banks, North Carolina

Looking for a good mix of history, adventure, and fun in the sun? Then this is the perfect southeast road trip for you! You’ll need a minimum of five days (although we definitely recommend six or seven) for this southern road trip from Washington DC to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Days 1 & 2: Spend the first two days of your trip in our nation’s capital. There are so many fun things to do in Washington DC. You won’t want to miss the National Zoo, the National Monuments and Memorials, The White House, and the Capital.

You should also consider visiting Arlington National Cemetery, one of the most famous cemeteries in the US , and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier while you are in the area. It is an absolutely unforgettable experience.

Washington DC is exceptionally beautiful during springtime if you’re able to time your southeast USA road trip to see the cherry blossoms!

Day 3 : Drive 2.5 hours south for a day full of history and fun in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Watch history come alive in the world’s largest living history museum. Check out Colonial Williamsburg, historic Jamestown, and Yorktown. Had your fill of history? Get your adrenaline pumping at Busch Gardens and Water Country USA.

Insider Tip: If you have more time, consider an extra day in Richmond, Virginia before arriving in Williamsburg.

Days 4 & 5 : It’s up to you how you spend your last two days in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Just 2.5 hours from Williamsburg, you can fill your days with loads of Vitamin D and rest and relaxation on the beautiful beaches of the OBX.

But, don’t be fooled, there’s a lot more to the Outer Banks than just beaches!. Get even more history in at the Wright Brothers Memorial or The Lost Colony. Get active hiking, surfing, kayaking, hang gliding and more!

Visit Jockey’s Ridge, the tallest living sand dune system on the east coast. And wrap up your unforgettable southeast USA road trip through DC, Virginia, and North Carolina with a tour to see the wild horses in Corolla.

Need more details ? Read our family friendly guides to Nags Head , Corolla , and the rest of the Outer Banks !

Need suggestions on where to stay in the Outer Banks? We recommend: The Saturday House Airbnb , the Hilton Garden Inn , or check out these amazing beach house rentals.

5 Fabulous Southeast USA Road Trip Ideas featured by top US family travel blog, More Than Main Street: Siesta Key Beach

Florida West Coast Ramble Road Trip from Coleman Concierge

Day 1: Arrive in Naples Day 2: Punta Gorda, Charlotte Harbor, Cayo Costa Day 3: Siesta Key, Venice Beach Day 4: St Petersburg, Clearwater Day 5: Tarpon Spring, Dunedin, Crystal River Florida’s west coast has everything great about the state packed into 250 miles of scenic beauty. Since the Everglades covers the entire South-West tip of Florida, Naples makes an obvious choice to start this trip.  We made a day of visiting  Cayo Costa , a state park only accessible by boat that’s home to some the best shelling beaches in Florida. Spend the night in a waterfront hotel in Punta Gorda after returning from the Charlotte Harbor Tour. For Day three, plan a visit to Venice Beach, the shark tooth capital of the world, at low tide. You’ll find fossilized shark teeth by the dozens sieving through the sand. You might even find a giant megalodon tooth from this 50 million-year-old beast. Spend the remainder of the day on the sparkling white sand of  Siesta Key  which gets consistently rated as one of America’s most beautiful beaches. Day four takes you to the urban hip city of St Pete. Enjoy the gastropubs of Ybor City and sunset on Clearwater Beach. Be sure to check out the Dali Museum in Tampa and explore the Florida Aquarium.  If you feel particularly daring, try diving with the sharks in the aquariums giant tanks. Day five lets you drive across Europe but never leave Florida. Dunedin is a Scottish style village where we found bagpipers playing in the town square and enjoyed a pint at an authentic Scottish pub. Tarpon Springs is the sponge capital of the world and built like a Greek Village fishing village. If you have time, check out this guide for more fun things to do in Tarpon Springs .

Roll into Crystal River and call it a night. You’ll have an early day tomorrow. The grand finale of Florida’s west coast is swimming with manatees. Crystal River is the only place in the world you can swim with manatees. More than 400 of these gentle giants come to King’s Bay every winter. Take the earliest tour possible and maybe, if you’re lucky, a baby manatee will come out to play with you.

Do you love the beach as much as we do? Check out these other awesome east coast beach destinations to help with your trip planning!

5 Fabulous Southeast USA Road Trip Ideas featured by top US family travel blog, More Than Main Street: Famous Florida beaches.

Traveling A1A: Florida’s Iconic Beach Route from Florida Man on the Run

Day 1: Fernandina Beach Day 2: St. Augustine Day 3: Cape Canaveral (Cocoa Beach) Day 4: Delray Beach Day 5: Miami Beach Day 6: Key West

Florida doesn’t seem like your typical road trip destination, but that is a misconception. In fact, one of the most iconic coastal routes in America can be found along Florida State Road A1A. This six-day itinerary will let you take the drive in leisurely fashion, which is the only way to do it.

Day One: Fernandina Beach is everything you could want from Old Florida. Check out the beach inside Fort Clinch State Park to get one of the more pristine Florida beaches. The city’s downtown is a perfect slice of Old Florida, so don’t miss it.

Day Two: Packed full of history, St. Augustine is a major destination on this trip. Castillo de San Marcos is the center piece of St. Augustine. Make your way down St. George Street to do some shopping. Afterwards, head onto the island to visit Anastasia State Park or the Alligator Farm with the kids.

Day Three: Cape Canaveral allows you to explore being an astronaut, stand next to ginormous rockets or perhaps even catch a rocket launch. Kennedy Space Center is a unique place you won’t be able to find anywhere else in America. Spend the night at Cocoa Beach and get your first taste of Florida’s beach night life.

Day Four: While there is plenty of beach front to explore on this trip, Delray Beach offers the perfect blend of beautiful beach front, quirky arts districts, and all-Florida charm. The trip between Cocoa and Delray is one of the longest days, so get an early start to enjoy Delray.

Day Five: How can you take a trip along the Florida coast and not spend some time on South Beach! It’s not the usual road trip scene, but the sights and sounds of South Beach truly aren’t to be missed. So go enjoy yourself and live it up!

Day Six: Today you’ll travel along one of the most unusual bridges in the world to a destination equally as unique. Make your stop at the Southern Most Point, then head to Duval Street and party it up! The best thing about ending in Key West is that you literally have nowhere else to go, so sit back, relax, and grab a margarita.

Make sure you don’t forget a thing before you head to the beach with our ultimate beach day packing list !

5 Fabulous Southeast USA Road Trip Ideas featured by top US family travel blog, More Than Main Street: Nashville Tennessee

Day 1: Nashville, Tennessee Day 2: Nashville, Tennessee Day 3: Nashville, Tennessee Day 4: Chattanooga, Tennessee Day 5: Chattanooga, Tennessee Day 6: Asheville, North Carolina Day 7: Asheville, North Carolina

Days One-Two-Three: Start this road trip with a bang in Music City! Nashville, Tennessee has so many fun things to do that it deserves three entire days! Start out Day one in the heart of it all by enjoying some live music downtown. Visit the Ryman Auditorium, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and catch the best view of the city from the famous Pedestrian Bridge. If you really want to experience authentic Nashville try free line dancing lessons from the Wildhorse Saloon each afternoon!

If country music really isn’t your thing, be sure to venture out of the downtown area. Visit the 12 South neighborhood for some awesome shopping, food, and street art. This is where you’ll find the famous “I Believe in Nashville” mural. The Gulch is another awesome area for food and some can’t miss wall murals like the “what lifts you” wings. Next check out the exact replica of the Parthenon, Bicentennial Capitol Mall State, Park, and the State Capitol. Finally, no matter where you are staying the Gaylord Opryland Resort is absolutely worth a visit. Be sure to check out a performance at the nearby Grand Ole Opry too!

If possible, you should absolutely consider adding a day in Memphis, Tennessee to this road trip!

Days Four & Five : Next hit the road and head to Chattanooga. This drive should take you about 2 hours. If you’re into Jack Daniels, stop through Lynchburg for a distillery tour . Once you arrive in Chattanooga, check out Raccoon Mountain Caverns, the Riverwalk, or try white water rafting on the Ocoee River. BUT, in my opinion, two can’t miss things to do in Chattanooga are Lookout Mountain and Ruby Falls (I mean have you ever seen an underground waterfall before??)

Days Six & Seven : Finally finish your trip by heading northeast about three and a half hours to the super hip town of Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville is known for it’s music, food, craft beer, history, and outdoor fun! Check out the Biltmore Estate, Sliding Rock, and my personal favorite: breakfast at Biscuit Head.

Need more details? Read our family friendly guide to visiting Asheville and The Biltmore Estate !

The Riverwalk in downtown Wilmington North Carolina is a great winter weekend getaway in the US!

Explore North Carolina

NC Road Trip Itinerary: The Triangle: Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill – Wilmington – Pinehurst, North Carolina

North Carolina truly has so much to offer! While the mountains and the Outer Banks get all the fame and attention, there are so many more awesome North Carolina destinations worth a visit! This road trip might be one of my favorite southeast US vacations, but I guess I may be a little biased! LOL. You’ll need at least two days in each destination, but I’m betting you’ll want even more time!

Days 1 & 2: You’ll begin this southeast road trip in Raleigh, NC’s capital city. Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill are called “The Triangle” and are all within 30 minutes drive of one another. All vibrant cities on their own, you’ll have to pick and choose where to spend your time over these first two days.

There are so many fun things to do in Raleigh !

We recommend spending a bit of time outdoors at one of the area parks and recreation areas. Check out Eno River State Park, Lake Johnson Park, Sarah P Duke Gardens, or simply wander the campus of UNC- Chapel Hill. Check out some of the great area museums like the NC Museum of Art, catch a show or sporting event, and do not miss out on the incredible foodie scene!

Days 3 & 4 : Just two hours down the road is Wilmington NC, my most favorite city in North Carolina!! Soak up the sun at any of the three amazing area beaches: Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach. Explore the downtown Riverwalk area, shop the boutiques, and check out our favorite places to eat in Wilmington . Visit the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, visit USS NC Battleship, and Carolina Beach State Park. Want to do something totally unique? Did you know that venus flytraps only grow in the wild within a 100 mile radius of Wilmington NC? Check out the Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Gardens to see them- one of the best free things to do in Wilmington !

Local Insider Tip : If you have an extra day to fit in here, I highly recommend a day trip to Bald Head Island ! You won’t regret it!

Days 5 & 6 : Time to say goodbye to the beach, but don’t worry, you’re going to love Pinehurst . You may think that Pinehurst is only for golf lovers, but you would be wrong! Just 2.5 hours from Wilmington and one hour back to Raleigh is the super cute town of Pinehurst. Of course, if you’re into golf, then by all means, this is definitely the place to play. But, you’ll also fall in love with the charm of downtown Pinehurst and the Pinehurst Resort. Ride bicycles and explore, hang by the pool, take a romantic carriage ride, visit the spa, and do not forget the amazing food options. Pinehurst is the perfect spot to slow down and savor some southern charm.

For more details on the best things to do in all of these destinations, check out my family friendly guides to Raleigh , Wilmington , Carolina Beach , and Pinehurst !

Want to explore more of North Carolina? Read our ultimate North Carolina road trip guide!

The Blue Ridge Parkway is the perfect fall foliage road trip through the south- photo from Canva.

Fall foliage isn’t only found in New England!! If you’re looking for the perfect fall foliage road trip in the south, then this is it! Keep in mind the leaves turn a bit later in the season than in the northeast USA, but it is still just as stunning!! 

When planning your southeast US road trip through the Blue Ridge Parkway the best colors are often seen during the month of October. However, this will all depend on your elevation, location on the Blue Ridge Parkway (it spans 469 miles!), and of course the weather! It can be very tricky to plan travel for peak fall foliage but predictor maps are often found with a quick google search.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the USA and belongs on everyone’s USA bucket list ! Although you can probably drive the Blue Ridge Parkway in around twelve hours, you will definitely want five to seven days exploring this beautiful area around the Appalachian Mountains! 

Starting in Virginia going south to North Carolina, here are some of the stops you should consider during your road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway:

  • The Natural Bridge in Virginia 
  • Purgatory Mountain Overlook
  • Wildcat Rocks Overlook
  • Grandfather Mountain
  • Linn Cove Viaduct
  • Linville Falls
  • Crabtree Falls
  • Mount Mitchell
  • Craggy Gardens
  • Mount Pisgah

What is there to do near the Blue Ridge Parkway? There are so many cool things to do and see on this epic southeast road trip itinerary. Hiking for all ages and abilities, the cutest markets and orchards, mountain biking opportunities galore, waterfalls, history, food, and more will keep you busy for days! You will want to stop at every scenic viewpoint and soak it all in. But beware! You won’t be the only one out there. Prepare for traffic and crowds…this is known as “America’s Favorite Drive” for a reason!

Make your reservations as far in advance as possible! Depending on the length of your southeast road trip itinerary we recommend staying in Roanoke, Blowing Rock, Boone, Asheville, or Cherokee.

Short on time? Consider Asheville or Boone for your next NC weekend getaway !

Myrtle Beach is one of the best beaches in South Carolina and the perfect addition to any southeast USA road trip!

Southeast Beach Vacation: Myrtle Beach – Charleston – Hilton Head, South Carolina

Love the beach? Then this is one of the best road trips in the south for you!! Get your fill of fun in the sun on South Carolina’s best beaches!

Days 1 & 2: Arrive in Myrtle Beach early as there are so many fun things to do while you are in town. Play in the surf, build sand castles, and look for seashells along the 60 mile stretch of coastline in Myrtle Beach. Check out Broadway at the Beach, Ripley’s Aquarium, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, and more! Catch one of the famous Myrtle Beach shows- our favorites are Medieval Times and The Pirate’s Voyage. Finally don’t forget to check out one of the south’s most beautiful gardens year round: Brookgreen Gardens. (Psssttt…this is also a great golf destination too!)

Visiting during the off season? Find out all the best things to do in Myrtle Beach during the winter !

Days 3 & 4 : Head south about two hours to Charleston ! Be sure to check out downtown Charleston, take a carriage tour, visit Patriot’s Point, and Fort Sumter. But since this is a beach vacay, you’ll want to spend some time along the coast as well. Check out Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, or Isle of Palms. You’ll be able to surf, kayak, sail, and more at all of these beaches. Don’t forget to make time for some golf while you’re in town too.

Days 5 & 6 : Two more hours south and you’ll arrive in Hilton Head. You may be ready for some R&R but there’s plenty to keep you busy here too! We love to stay at The Sea Pines Resort so that we can ride bicycles to everything! Visit the famous Harbourtown Lighthouse, check out the fancy yachts in the harbor, and of course go to the beach!! Need more to do? Hang out by the pool, go horseback riding, play tennis, and of course play some golf!

Needless to say, South Carolina has two things we absolutely can’t get enough of: beaches and golf! Any way you cut it, you’re going to have a lot of fun in SC!

5 Fabulous Southeast USA Road Trip Ideas featured by top US family travel blog, More Than Main Street: caverns

Arkansas Road Trip from Heart of a Homemaker

Day 1: Harrison Day 2: Harrison, Benton Day 3: Murfreesboro Day 4: Hot Springs Day 5: Little Rock Day 6: Depart from Little Rock

Day One – Drive from Kansas City Missouri to hotel in Harrison, Arkansas.

Day Two – Our first stop was Mystic Caverns with a tour of two beautiful caves, which were easy to walk through with affordable admission. We then drove down Scenic Highway 7 towards Jasper and enjoyed the gorgeous views. We stopped at the Observation Tower and Gift Shop for a small break. This is not a highway for someone that gets car sick. My son never had before and this one did him in.  Then we drove to Benton, AR (suburb of Little Rock) to our hotel.

Day Three – Drive to Murfreesboro – We spent the whole day at Crater of Diamonds State Park. The visitor’s center was interesting, and we enjoyed digging for diamonds. It was a very hot and sunny day, so we only searched for a couple of hours. We enjoyed a picnic lunch and then cooled off at the Diamond Springs Water Park right next door. It is part of the state park and was clean, fun, and budget friendly.

Day Four – Drive to Hot Springs – We visited the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo. This place is incredible, and we held a baby alligator!  We went to the top of the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. On the way back we drove through Lake Catherine for a picnic lunch. We hiked the Falls Branch Trail to a lovely waterfall and played in the crystal clear and refreshing water.

Day Five – Drive to Little Rock – We spent half a day at the Little Rock Zoo. It is a smaller zoo with a wide variety of animals and a spray park. We were tired from the trip, so we crashed at the hotel for the rest of the day, but if you have the energy consider visiting Pinnacle Mountain State Park or Museum of Discovery.

Day Six – Depart to home. We made a last-minute stop at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum and North Shore River Walk.  The tour included going down into an old navy submarine, and the museum had some very informational and interesting exhibits. After that we hit the road back to Kansas City. As always, we followed these tips for safer family travel .

5 Fabulous Southeast USA Road Trip Ideas featured by top US family travel blog, More Than Main Street: Charleston Carriage Tour on our southern road trip!

Georgia to South Carolina Road Trip

Day 1: Arrive Atlanta, Georgia Day 2: Atlanta, Georgia Day 3: Savannah, Georgia Day 4: Savannah, Georgia Day 5: Charleston, South Carolina Day 6: Charleston, South Carolina Day 7: Depart Atlanta

Alert! Serious southern charm ahead!

Day One & Two : Fly into Atlanta, Georgia as it will probably be your cheapest option. Spend Days one and two exploring Atlanta. My number one stop would be the Georgia Aquarium…I mean it is the largest indoor aquarium in the Western Hemisphere! Other worthwhile stops are The World of Coca-Cola, Stone Mountain Park, the shops at Buckhead, or catch a Braves game!

Days Three & Four : Next, hit the road about four hours to beautiful Savannah, Georgia! If you’re looking for southern charm, you’re in the right place! Start out by strolling the City Market shops, the Savannah Waterfront, and grab lunch at Paula Deen’s restaurant Lady & Son’s . Spend Day four choosing between exploring Wormsloe historic site (for that classic oak tree lined drive dripping with moss), relax at Forsyth Park, or visit a historic home. Be sure to indulge in the Savannah’s amazing food scene!

Days Five & Six : Finish up your week in the incredible city of Charleston, South Carolina . The drive should take you about two hours. We highly recommend the horse drawn carriage history tour- even our kids loved it! Spend the afternoon exploring The Battery, take the ferry across to Fort Sumter, and Charleston’s City Market. Oh, and don’t forget a picture with the famous pineapple fountain! If you missed the classic oak tree lined drive in Savannah, don’t worry you’ll have another chance! Visit Boone Hall Plantation for some pretty cool history and check out some famous movie filming locations too!

There are so many fun things to do in Charleston, I might consider one less day earlier in the week to give you more time here! You can choose to see the 500 year old Angel Oak Tree, the beautiful beaches, or Patriot’s Point . While you’re in the area, stop at one of these amazing places to eat in Mount Pleasant. Charleston also has an epic food scene and is not to be missed! Return back to Atlanta with a full belly and a week full of fabulous memories.

Family at Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island Georgia.

I 95 Road Trip

Interstate 95 is the major highway for travel up and down the east coast in the US. And our family has road tripped up and down I 95 many many times!

In fact, we live right off of I95 in North Carolina! Whether you’re just looking to break up your southeast USA road trip or are looking to visit somewhere new, these are some of the best places to stop on I 95. So pick two or three stops and create your own southeast USA road trip!

Richmond, Virginia

Suggested things to do in Richmond, VA : 

  • Maymont- beautiful estate, gardens, farm, and park
  • Museums: There are several great museums to visit in Richmond. We recommend the Virginia Fine Arts Museum, the Science Museum of Virginia, and the Virginia Holocaust Museum. The Poe Museum is also a unique thing to do in Richmond!
  • Belle Isle – a great spot for some outdoor fun!

Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Rocky Mount is my hometown and a little known North Carolina gem!

Suggested things to do in Rocky Mount, NC :

  • Visit the Rocky Mount Mills for coffee, small batch breweries, and good food !
  • Stretch your legs and check out the waterfall at Battle Park.
  • Check out the Imperial Center for the Arts & Sciences with the kids.

S uggested places to stay in Rocky Mount : For a unique stay, check out the world’s largest tiny house hotel, River & Twine . The Fairfield Inn and Country Inn & Suites are super convenient options too!

Read my full guide to Rocky Mount NC for more details!

Wilson, North Carolina

Suggested things to do in Wilson, NC :

  • Check out one of the best roadside attractions in NC, Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park !
  • Grab a bite to eat at Brewmasters or Jack’s
  • Get some fresh air by wandering Barton College, The Wilson Botanical Gardens, or Lake Wilson

Local Insider Tip : If your southeast road trip happens to be during spring, be sure to pop in to see the Wilson Rose Garden!

Suggested places to stay in Wilson: Both the Hampton Inn & Suites or the Comfort Suites are super convenient places to stay right off of I95 in Wilson! Grab a bite at Best in Burger nearby too!

Savannah, Georgia

We happen to think Savannah is one of the most beautiful towns in the southeastern USA!

Suggested things to do in Savannah, GA:

  • Visit Forysth Park
  • Savannah City Market
  • SCAD Museum of Art
  • Do a food tour or ghost tour!
  • Check out the historic district and the waterfront area
  • Make reservations at The Grey or The Olde Pink House
  • Wormsloe Historic Site – if you’re looking for those spanish moss covered trees- this is it!
  • Leopold’s ice cream- a must!

Suggested places to stay in Savannah: Check our the JW Marriott Riverside or The Hyatt Regency Savannah .

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Jekyll Island is a little farther off the Interstate, but well worth the stop! 

Suggested things to do in Jekyll Island, GA:

  • Surfing, kayaking, SUP, fishing, and biking
  • Bird watching 
  • Georgia Sea Turtle Center
  • Driftwood Beach- While there are tons of fun things to do in Jekyll Island, my best recommendation is visiting Driftwood Beach at sunset. Truly a magical experience!

Jacksonville, Florida

Suggested things to do in In Jacksonville, FL:

  • Visit Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and TPC Sawgrass Golf Resort
  • Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens
  • The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
  • Little Talbot Island
  • Kingsley Plantation
  • Museum of Science and History
  • Fort Carolina National Memorial

Wherever you decide to stop on I 95, all of these destinations are sure to be a great addition to any southeast USA road trip!

10 epic Southeast USA road trip ideas and itineraries featured by top US travel blog, More than Main Street.

Southeast USA Road Trip Itineraries

I truly hope these USA road trip itineraries have given you some inspiration to visit the south! Having lived in the south for over twenty years, I may be a little biased, but… if you can look past the summer heat and humidity, there are some really beautiful beaches, incredible scenery, fun outdoor opportunities, awesome food, and a rich history.

Do you love a road trip as much as I do?

Have you visited any of these fun southern destinations? Do you have any exciting east coast trip ideas?

Be sure to follow along to see more road trips across America- what area of the USA will we feature next? Stay tuned!

USA Road Trip Itineraries

Not looking for a road trip in the southeast corner of the USA? Check out these other USA road trip itineraries:

An Epic Southwest Family Road Trip: Colorado!

An 8 Day New England Road Trip from Boston- College Towns

An Ultimate 10 Day California Road Trip From San Francisco

A Road Trip to Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming

As always, if you enjoyed this Southeast USA road trip post please consider saving it to Pinterest or sharing it on social media. Every little bit helps! Thanks y’all!

Top 10 best road trip in the south featured by top US family travel blog, More than Main Street.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

You may also like

Top 5 Best Family Restaurants in Raleigh NC as featured by top NC travel blog More than Main Street.

Top 10 Fun Kid Friendly Restaurants in Raleigh NC You’ll Want to Try ASAP!

Top 10 Best Things to Do in Pinehurst North Carolina on Your Next Family Vacation featured by top US travel blog, More than Main Street: image of Carolina Inn at PInehurst.

Top 10 Best Things to Do in Pinehurst North Carolina on Your Next Family Vacation

Top 5 best tips for visiting the Biltmore with kids featured by top US family travel blog, More than Main Street. Image of The Biltmore Estate.

The Biltmore With Kids: How to Have a Fun & Successful Day!

13 comments.

I love that this post included 5 road trip itineraries! This is a lot of great info in 1 amazing post! So incredibly helpful! -Jen

Thank you! Im so glad you found this info helpful! We love a road trip and I’m always excited to find inspiration and ideas from others!

These are routes I never would’ve though’ve myself. I especially like the Georgia to South Carolina Road Trip suggestions. I’ve been wanting to get down there for years.

Oh it’s so worth a visit!! So many fun cool cities to explore!

Your Charleston pineapple fountain photo brought a smile to my face. I loved exploring that city! Great to know your other suggestions, too.

Thank you! Charleston is such a special city! We adore it too!

I do love me a good road trip! These are great choices. Personally I want to do Miami to Key West -never been!

We do too! We did Miami to key west a few years ago and it was incredible!!

This is so useful. I would love to do a US roadtrip but I have no idea which one! So many awesome itineraries to choose from.

What a fun list of road trip ideas! We have stuck to the SW, but I’d love to do the SE soon!

These are incredible – great detail & lovely trips!

These are all such great suggestions. I am happy to report that I have visited several places that you suggested 🙂

  • Pingback: Things to do in Hot Springs, Arkansas - That Texas Couple

Privacy Overview

  • Search Please fill out this field.
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Newsletters
  • Sweepstakes
  • Winter Travel Ideas
  • Fall Travel Ideas
  • The South's Best 2024
  • Coastal Living
  • Mid-Atlantic
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • Outside the South
  • Savor the South
  • South Carolina
  • South-Central
  • Washington DC
  • West Virginia

Deals of the Week   Women’s Day   Up to 50% OFF

Southern USA Tours & Trips

Southern USA is the place where history was written during the American Civil War. With historic landmarks in South Carolina marking the start of the war, fascinating beaches in Florida Keys and Tennessee's whiskey and country music culture, the Deep South is a must-visit destination on your USA adventure.

108 Southern USA tour packages with 129 reviews

Meet the Music Makers Tour

  • In-depth Cultural
  • Active Adventure
  • Coach / Bus

Meet the Music Makers

Really enjoyed this tour well worth the money. The tour guides Lynda, Racheal and driver Shawn just made it even better with their knowledge experience and professionalism. It was a pleasure to travel with them and such a brilliant laugh not to mention all the places we went !!!!

Tastes and Sounds of the South (10 Days) Tour

  • Food & Culinary

Tastes and Sounds of the South (10 Days)

Well run and a lovely group of people
  • €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Rhythms of the South (11 Days) Tour

Rhythms of the South (11 Days)

Good trip! Great venue! Lots to do. Well looked after. Disappointed in Nashville quality inn. Staff not helpful and hotel very tired and could be cleaned better

Rhythms of the Road (including Hammond) Tour

Rhythms of the Road (including Hammond)

Would’ve loved it to have been longer! An extra night in each main city would’ve been great for extra activities

Southern Sounds & Elvis Tour

Southern Sounds & Elvis

A great tour for music lovers. So much history and so much fun

Mount Sterling Appalachian Loop Tour

  • Hiking & Trekking

Mount Sterling Appalachian Loop

Guide was great, thanks.

America\'s Musical Heritage Tour

America's Musical Heritage

Excellent organization in all respects, Peter was overwhelming.

America\'s Musical Heritage with Extended Stay in New Orleans Tour

America's Musical Heritage with Extended Stay in New Orleans

Tennessee Music Trail to New Orleans Tour

  • Sightseeing

Tennessee Music Trail to New Orleans

Deep South & Delta Blues Tour

  • Local Living

Deep South & Delta Blues

Our tour guide Don. He was helpful informative and considerate! Many thanks to Don for making this trip a wonderful trip.

USA – 5 Days Blue Ridge Parkway to Great Smoky Mountains Tour

  • Christmas & New Year

USA – 5 Days Blue Ridge Parkway to Great Smoky Mountains

CMA Festival 2024 - 7 Night Package Tour

CMA Festival 2024 - 7 Night Package

Everything is always planned and there is never a dull moment

Best of the South: Atlanta to New Orleans Tour

Best of the South: Atlanta to New Orleans

The American South Tour

The American South

Loved our bus driver and our tour guide they were awesome!!!!!! We had slot of Germans onboard and got tired of having to listen to German

Spectacular National Parks of Eastern USA (Classic, 10 Days) Tour

Spectacular National Parks of Eastern USA (Classic, 10 Days)

Reviews of southern usa tours.

if you are a lover of live music , where it was made ,who made it then this tour is for you
A well planned and executed tour. Great way to see Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans and learn the history of music during the day and listen to it at night.
The trip was wonderful. The itinerary was excellent and there was a good balance between structured tours and free time. Our tour guide and driver were professional, personable and helpful.

Southern USA Tours starting in:

  • Nashville (22)
  • Asheville (15)
  • New Orleans (11)
  • Atlanta (10)
  • Memphis (6)
  • Group (107)
  • Fully Guided (91)
  • Explorer (50)
  • In-depth Cultural (47)
  • Family (43)
  • Coach / Bus (32)
  • Personalized (24)
  • Hiking & Trekking (17)
  • Partially Guided (13)
  • Active Adventure (8)
  • River Cruise (4)
  • Small Group (22)
  • 3 Day Tours (7)
  • 7 Day Tours (19)
  • 10 Day Tours (27)
  • 2 Week Tours (23)
  • Spring 2024 (39)
  • Summer 2024 (37)
  • Fall / Autumn 2024 (50)
  • Winter 2024 / 2025 (10)
  • Spring 2025 (28)
  • Summer 2025 (19)
  • Fall / Autumn 2025 (25)
  • Winter 2025 / 2026 (4)
  • March 2024 (11)
  • April 2024 (17)
  • May 2024 (36)
  • June 2024 (31)
  • July 2024 (14)
  • August 2024 (18)
  • September 2024 (40)
  • October 2024 (39)
  • November 2024 (13)
  • December 2024 (9)
  • January 2025 (2)
  • February 2025 (3)
  • March 2025 (11)
  • April 2025 (18)
  • May 2025 (23)
  • June 2025 (18)
  • July 2025 (5)
  • August 2025 (8)
  • September 2025 (21)
  • October 2025 (22)

Other Regions in USA

  • Western USA (784)
  • Sun Belt (448)
  • Southwest USA (443)
  • Rocky Mountains (283)
  • Eastern USA (231)
  • Four Corners (229)
  • East Coast USA (174)
  • West Coast USA (171)
  • California (155)
  • Alaska (143)
  • Northeast USA (116)
  • Pacific Coast USA (110)
  • Southeast USA (89)
  • Grand Canyon (84)
  • Northern California (84)
  • Mideast USA (70)

Travel Styles

  • Singles and Solo (59)
  • For Couples (44)
  • Seniors (45)

International Versions

  • Deutsch: USA Südstaaten Rundreisen
  • Français: Circuits en Sud des États-Unis 2024/2025
  • Español: Circuitos por Sur de EEUU 2024/2025
  • Nederlands: Zuid USA Rondreizen 2024/2025

Southern Living

The South's Best Travel Stops 2024

These Southern convenience stores offer everything from barbecue and biscuits to friendly service and family-run charm.

When you hit the road to embark on a family trip to the beach, visit distant relatives for the holidays, or explore a new Southern small-town getaway with friends , there is the inevitability of needing to stop for three reasons. Firstly, to get gas. Secondly, to go to the bathroom. Lastly, because you’re bored and want a snack. Luckily, the South has been the founding ground of some of the best travel stops in the country, which our readers called out during this year’s South’s Best voting. 

Some of these Southern travel stops are known for impressive regional in-house foods , including barbecue and biscuits, while others are applauded for offering the cleanest bathrooms, friendly staff, and good prices. Moreover, many of these convenience stores started as a family business decades ago, and remain so today. There might even be a state-specific travel stop you've never heard of, but can certainly depend on for your next road trip.

Whenever you’re in need of a driving break or something other than our Biscuits & Jam podcast to pass the time, you won’t go wrong at these 8 gas stations that originated in the South and were voted the best of the best.

South's Best Voting Process

An online survey was conducted by third-party agency Proof Insights among Southern Living consumers, asking them to rate their favorite places across the South for the South's Best Awards 2024 . The survey was fielded from July 12 to August 23, 2023, and had over 20,000 respondents.

This South Carolina convenience store has word-of-mouth popularity—particularly for its biscuits, and its fried chicken biscuits especially. You'll find plenty of locals stopping into Spinx for its hot-and-ready breakfasts each day, or telling newcomers to try it for themselves. The chain of more than 80 locations celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, with founder Stewart Spinx then being honored with a road being named after him in the chain's hometown of Greenville to honor a lifetime of contributions to the community. 

7. Parker's Kitchen

Parker’s founder and CEO Greg Parker opened his first convenience store in Midway, Georgia in 1976, and the chain has now expanded throughout Georgia and South Carolina, with plans to expand to Florida this year. Headquartered in Savannah, Georgia, Parker’s Kitchen offers slightly more hospitality-focused amenities beyond the basic gas station. At select locations, you can find in-house grab-and-go options, as well as a hot bar serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Additionally, Parker’s is known for its focus on charity. In 2020, the Parker’s Community Fund was created by a generous donation of $20 million from Greg Parker and Parker’s to give back to the communities where the company does business.

6. Stuckey's

Founded in Georgia in 1937 by W.S. "Sylvester" Stuckey as a pecan stand, this old-fashioned roadside store that your Southern grandparents might remember from their childhoods is still thriving and full of nostalgia. Known for its beloved pecan logs, Stuckey's still offers many sweet Southern delicacies you won't find at other gas stations, such as nut brittle, chocolate-covered confections, and kettle corn. Presently, Stuckey's boasts around 50 licensed locations across the South.

Related: This Old-Fashioned Pecan Logs Recipe Tastes Just Like Our Childhood Trips to Stuckey's

5. 7-Eleven

Dubbing itself the "world's first convenience store" after its founding in 1927 in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven has since become a worldwide sensation with locations in over 15 countries numbering in the thousands. It's known for an impressive selection of ready-to-eat and in-house food and drink items, of which one is perhaps the most famous: the Slurpee. Each year on July 11th, the company gives out its iconic frozen Slurpees—which were originally licensed by 7-Eleven in 1965—for free in celebration of the company's birthday.

4. Circle K

Circle K 's roots go back to 1951 when founder Fred Hervey purchased three Kay’s Food Stores in El Paso, Texas, which later became the gas station chain we know today and an internationally-branched operation. The dependable travel stop has made headlines in recent years for prioritizing its customers, even slashing its gas prices on the Thursday before Memorial Day to help out those hitting the road for the holiday weekend in 2023.

3. QuickTrip

This Oklahoma-based gas station chain goes back to 1958 and became so quickly successful that there were over 40 stores by 1967. In 2021, the company opened its 800th store in San Antonio, Texas . Those who are loyal customers of QuickTrip —whether in their hometowns or on road trips—are quick to assert its supremacy of one classic gas station food: the roller grill. The QuikTrip Roller Grill goes beyond dried-out meats to include everything from taquitos and egg rolls to smoked sausage and hot dogs. You can also choose from in-house grab-and-go sandwiches.

2. Love's Travel Stops

Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, Love’s Travel Stops has 642 locations in 42 states, and it remains a family-run company 60 years later. Aside from a huge selection of snacks that provide weary Southern road-trippers a welcome break—including a company-branded candy line, which includes everything from gummy bears and peach rings to frosted heart pretzels and saltwater taffy—Love's goes above and beyond by giving back to the community. All locations donate a portion of their budget to a local nonprofit of their choice, and Love’s participates in the Children’s Miracle Network. (To date, Love’s has raised more than $50 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.)

Related: 10 Reasons We Love Love’s Travel Stops

1. Buc-ee's

This behemoth of a convenience store, which started in 1982, might have been a Texan secret for a long time, but it's no longer confined to the Lone Star State—and folks throughout the South can't get enough of the souped-up gas station. Beyond the "cleanest bathrooms in America," you can expect unique amenities such as made-in-house food stations for everything including barbecue (get the brisket sandwich), fudge, breakfast tacos, kolaches (a Texan-Czech pastry), and much more.

Currently, Buc-ee’s has more than 45 stores, including in Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee with plans to open new stores in Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.

Related: How Buc-ee's Became The Most Popular Convenience Store In Texas

For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Southern Living .

Wynn Myers

southern states travel

The Best Small Town Getaway In Idaho: Best Things To Do In Moscow

southern states travel

Courtnie Erickson

From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.

More by this Author

Idaho is a nature lover’s perfect escape. From the beautiful Sawtooth Mountains to the majestic lakes in the panhandle, there are some of the most beautiful and bucket-list-worthy destinations in the country found in the Gem State. Some of these must-visit destinations include the most charming small towns, and while there are dozens of these places in Idaho, one that has truly captured our heart is Moscow.

Moscow, Idaho is the perfect place to escape for a weekend. This area has something for everyone from its stunning location to its plethora of festivals to even its recreational activities and excellent food — there are so many things to do in Moscow. With so much to offer, there’s no doubt that it is the best small town in Idaho for a Small Town Getaway .

Do you love visiting and learning all about America’s small towns? Take our interactive quiz to discover which Small Town Getaway you should take this year .

Is Moscow Worth Visiting?

How to get to moscow, getting around moscow, best time to visit moscow, where to stay in moscow, day one: exploring, museums & regional cuisine, day two: coffee, art & gardens.

southern states travel

Related Stories

The Perfect Spring Getaway Starts With One Of These 7 Picture-Perfect Airbnbs In Idaho

The Perfect Spring Getaway Starts With One Of These 7 Picture-Perfect Airbnbs In Idaho

You'll Want To Lick Your Plate Clean At This Idaho Restaurant That Is Upscale, Yet Approachable

You'll Want To Lick Your Plate Clean At This Idaho Restaurant That Is Upscale, Yet Approachable

Enjoy A Stroll On A Little-Known Path Along This Iconic Idaho River

Enjoy A Stroll On A Little-Known Path Along This Iconic Idaho River

southern states travel

You will never be bored when in the small town of Moscow, Idaho. So, let us know, what else do you need to know for the ultimate Moscow travel guide? Are you planning a weekend escape to this small town in Idaho or maybe even a day trip to Moscow? What are your favorite activities in Moscow or what are some of your favorite things to do in Moscow? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! And, if you are planning on visiting this community during an epic road trip, make sure you are prepared. Check out our ultimate road trip packing list to ensure you have everything you need for your upcoming journey.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Want more Idaho in your inbox?

Get the latest on things to see, do, and eat around Idaho!

Thank you! You'll receive your first newsletter soon!

An error occured.

Related Articles

  • Native American History Will Come To Life At This Unique Museum In Idaho
  • The Little-Known Hot Springs In Idaho That Will Melt Your Worries Away
  • Don't Pass By This Unassuming Restaurant Housed In An Idaho Gas Station Without Stopping
  • Your Ultimate Guide To Spring Attractions And Activities In Idaho
  • 15 Things You Need To Know About Solo Travel In The United States
  • American Icon Smokey Bear Turns 80 This Year And We Know The Perfect Way To Celebrate
  • 15 Last-Minute Romantic Getaways Across The U.S. To Take With That Special Someone
  • 24 Hidden Gems Across The U.S. To Explore In 2024

Featured Addresses

U.S. climate outlook for March 2024

Meteorological winter is now in the rearview mirror, and once again, winter was largely a big disappointment for cold and snow lovers across most of the United States. Despite the first measurable snowfall in the large cities of the Northeast in about 2 years, winter snow totals in that region were again well below average, and temperatures across the country averaged above normal from coast to coast, likely resulting in the warmest winter in the historical record for the country. (NOAA will release the national climate summary for February and the 2023-24 winter this Friday, March 8). Cold and snowy weather can still occur during March, so let’s see what NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) predicts for the upcoming month. Will the mild weather continue or will Mother Nature finally deliver some cold and snow to the country?

U.S. map showing March 2024 temperature outlook probabilities

The temperature outlook for March 2024, showing where the average temperature is favored to be much warmer than average (orange and red), near average (gray), or much cooler than average (blues). Darker colors mean higher chances, not more extreme temperatures. White areas mean that there are equal chances for a warm, cool, or near-average March. Much warmer or much cooler than average  means "in the upper or lower third" of March temperatures from 1991-2020. For more details on how to interpret these maps, read our explainer  Understanding NOAA's monthly climate outlooks.

On February 29, CPC released its updated monthly climate outlooks for temperature, precipitation, and drought across the United States for March 2024. The temperature outlook favors well above normal temperatures across much of the central and eastern parts of the nation, with well below average temperatures favored in California and parts of the Southwest. The precipitation outlook favors well above average precipitation (rain and/or snow) across large parts of the western, central, and eastern parts of the country, with well below average precipitation only favored in small parts of the Upper Midwest and Southern Plains.

U.S. map of precipitation outlook chances for March 2024

The precipitation outlook for March 2024, showing where the average precipitation (rain and snow) is favored to be much higher than average (greens), near average (gray), or much lower than average (browns). Darker colors mean higher chances, not more extreme precipitation departures. White areas mean that there are equal chances for a wet, dry, or near-average March. Much higher  or much lower than average  means "in the upper or lower third" of March precipitation amounts from 1991-2020. For more details on how to interpret these maps, read our explainer  Understanding NOAA's monthly climate outlooks.

Below, I’ll provide more detail about the outlooks and discuss the basis for them. I’ll also examine the current state of drought, how it changed during the prior month and winter, and how CPC expects drought to change during March. Also, remember that the colors on the temperature and precipitation outlook maps only provide information about the most likely outcome, but other outcomes are still possible, although less likely to occur. More details about interpreting the outlooks can be found here .

The updated outlooks were produced considering the Week 1 forecast from the Weather Prediction Center (WPC), and CPC’s own Week 2 and Week 3-4 outlooks. Other tools that forecasters examined this month were longer-range forecast models such as the Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS), the Climate Forecast System (CFSv2), and products derived from these models.

El Niño began to weaken during February across the tropical Pacific as expected, but despite weakening, it was still categorized as strong, with impacts to the global climate likely continuing for the next few months. Therefore, it was again considered as the dominant teleconnection for the March outlooks. The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO)—a conjoined area of heavy rains and clear, calm skies that travel the tropics together as a couplet—remained active, with its heavy rains located over the Indian Ocean at the end of February. Since computer models are in good agreement for it to strengthen and propagate eastward across the Maritime continent during the first half of March, MJO impacts also played a role in the March Outlooks.

Temperature outlook

The March temperature outlook favors well above average temperatures on a line from central Montana southeastward through eastern Texas and all locations eastward. In contrast, well below average temperatures are favored in California and parts of the Southwest. The highest odds for a warmer-than-average March reside in the Northeast, where probabilities exceed 70%. Maximum probabilities for below-average out West are more modest, topping out at less than 50%.

Well above average temperatures are strongly favored in the eastern half of the nation during the first two weeks of the month. Confidence is quite high in the Northeast, as the location of the MJO will favor ridging (jet stream shifted north of its normal position) over eastern North America during the first 2 weeks of the month, which agrees quite well with short-, medium-, and longer-range model forecasts. Although probabilities for warmth are lower, CPC’s week 3-4 temperature outlook also favors above-average temperatures during the end of March for the northeastern quarter of the country. With odds also favoring above-average temperatures in all CPC outlooks, probabilities exceed 50% in the Midwest, Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic states.

Odds for below-average temperatures encompass much of the Southwest and California. Predicted troughing (jet stream shifted south of its normal position) during the first 2 weeks of the month (also consistent with MJO guidance) should result in a colder-than-normal first half of the month. However, the longer-range outlook has more uncertainty, so averaged over the month, forecasters give the outlook fairly low odds.

Precipitation outlook

Well above average precipitation is favored across large parts of the nation during March, in areas stretching from the West Coast eastward to the central Great Plains and from the Gulf Coast extending up the Eastern Seaboard to southern New England. Probabilities for a wet March are highest across central and northern California, across Nevada and Utah into Colorado, and in much of the Southeast (exceeding 50%). El Niño background conditions and the MJO both favor above-normal precipitation in these areas, as do current computer model forecasts for both the short (Week-1) and medium (Week-2) range. The week 3-4 precipitation outlook also favors above-average precipitation along the entire East Coast and in parts of the West.

Well below average precipitation is only favored in small parts of the Great Lakes region and in western and central Texas. However, the probability for dryness in both areas is less than 50% due to “mixed signals” for precipitation between the first and second halves of the month. For the first half of March, CPC’s 6-10-day and Week-2 outlooks tilt toward normal or even above-average precipitation across much of the country, including these regions. The first week of March appears quite dry in Texas, while the week 3-4 precipitation outlook tilts toward below-average in the western Great Lakes region.

Drought Monitor

Drought across the continuous United States decreased from about 23.5% at the end of January to close to 20% by the end of February, with around a 15% improvement in drought coverage during the winter overall. Additionally, the percent of the country in the two most intense categories (D3-D4, representing extreme and exceptional drought) decreased from around 2.5% to about 1.5% during February, with an overall improvement from 7.5% in early December. The current amount of extreme or exceptional drought is the lowest amount since June 2020.

Map of contiguous United States showing drought conditions in late February

Drought conditions across the contiguous United States as of February 27, 2024. Only a few parts of the country were still experiencing extreme (red) or exceptional (dark red) drought. NOAA Climate.gov map, based on data from the U.S. Drought Monitor Project. For more on drought, visit Drought.gov. 

Precipitation during the winter was generally above average in the Pacific Northwest, in the Southwest, along the Gulf Coast, and in the mid-Atlantic, all resulting in drought improvement. The most significant drought improvement occurred in the lower Mississippi Valley, where improvements of up to 5 classes (and complete drought removal) was recorded. Drought removal was also observed in parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, with 3-4 class improvement common. Improvement of 2-3 classes and drought removal was also observed in the Pacific Northwest, while smaller improvement of 1-2 classes was recorded in the Southwest. In contrast, a drier-than-normal winter in the Northern Plains and around the Great Lakes resulted in drought degradation (up to 3 classes in the Plains). 

Drought Outlook

Although much of the nation is favored to have a wetter-than-average March, the monthly drought outlook predicts drought to persist across many of the areas of the nation currently in drought. Drought improvement or removal is only predicted in the Central Plains and Tennessee Valley, but drought persistence and even development is forecast across parts of the Southwest and Texas, in the Northern Rockies and northern Great Plains, and around the Great Lakes, all regions not favored to experience a wet March.

U.S. map showing the drought forecast for March 2024

The drought outlook for March 2024 shows that more area is expected to see drought develop (yellow), persist, or worsen (brown) than is expected to see drought improve (tan) or end (green). NOAA Climate.gov map based on data from the Climate Prediction Center. 

Improvement in the Central Plains and Tennessee Valley is consistent with forecasts for above-normal precipitation during all time scales relevant to the monthly outlook. In contrast, drought conditions extending from the Northern Rockies eastward to the Great Lakes are expected to persist with some drought development likely in Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan as snowpack is well below normal and soils have prematurely thawed due to the well above normal temperatures observed during February. The outlook during March favors below-normal precipitation is some of this region and equal chances (no tilt in the odds towards any category) for the remainder. Drought persistence and development is also likely in the Southwest and parts of Texas, as outlooks favor either equal chances or below-normal precipitation. Periods of strong winds and above-average temperatures are also possible, keeping evapotranspiration rates high for this time of year and also keeping the potential for significant wild fires above average.

To read the entire discussion of the monthly climate outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center, check out their  website.

We value your feedback

Help us improve our content

Middle East latest: Three sailors killed in attack on ship - with vessel drifting on fire

US officials have confirmed the deaths of three sailors in a Houthi attack on a ship in the Gulf of Aden. Meanwhile, Lord Cameron has met Israeli minister Benny Gantz in London, warning him the UK's patience is wearing thin over the "dreadful suffering" in Gaza.

Thursday 7 March 2024 04:26, UK

  • Israel-Hamas war

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Key points 

  • Dominic Waghorn:  Significant and grave development in shipping crisis
  • Cameron meets Israeli minister in London - and had Gaza warning for him
  • Israel making 'fake promises' of ceasefire as it burns my city, Gaza father says
  • Details of draft US ceasefire resolution emerge

A Houthi missile attack has killed three sailors on a Red Sea merchant ship, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed.

They are the first fatalities reported since the Iran-aligned Yemeni group began strikes against shipping in one of the world's busiest trade lanes.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, which set the Greek-owned, Barbados-flagged ship True Confidence ablaze around 50 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen's port of Aden.

In addition to the three deaths, at least four crew members were injured, with three in a critical condition.

A US warship and the Indian navy are on the scene trying to assist in rescue efforts.

Lord Cameron, the foreign secretary, has said suffering in Gaza is now at the point of tipping into famine.

Starvation has been widely reported from inside Gaza, particularly in the north, where aid has rarely been delivered.

Here we look at how famine is classified and what it takes for one to be declared.

What is famine?

Famine is assessed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), an initiative made up of more than a dozen UN agencies, regional bodies and aid groups.

When the following criteria are met, famine is declared:

  • At least 20% of the population suffers extreme food shortages;
  • One in three children is acutely malnourished;
  • Two people out of every 10,000 die each day from starvation, malnutrition or disease.

Famine has been declared twice in the past 13 years: in Somalia in 2011 and in parts of South Sudan in 2017.

Is there famine in Gaza?

The IPC said the 20% threshold had already been exceeded in December.

At that time, it warned the remaining two thresholds "may also be breached at some point" in the coming months.

"There is a risk of famine in the projection period through May 2024 if the current situation persists or worsens," it said.

The UN said last month that 25% of Gaza's 2.3 million people were "estimated to be facing catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation".

The IPC is due to release a new analysis in the middle of this month. 

Who is responsible for welfare in Gaza?

The United Nations views Israel as the occupying power in Gaza and says the Israeli military has a responsibility to facilitate humanitarian operations.

Under the 1949 Geneva Conventions on the laws of war: "To the fullest extent of the means available to it, the occupying power has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population."

Israeli leaders have long argued that Gaza and the West Bank are not formally occupied on the basis that they were captured from Jordan and Egypt during the 1967 war rather than from a sovereign Palestine.

They say it is up to humanitarian organisations to deliver aid and that Israel is committed to improving the humanitarian situation.

The US has called on Iran to dilute all of its enriched uranium that could be used in the future to create nuclear weapons. 

Reports suggest Tehran has enriched the fuel to 60% purity - shy of the 90% required for weapons-grade levels. 

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a confidential report to member states last week that Iran's stock of uranium enriched to up to 60% had fallen slightly in the past quarter as it had diluted, or "downblended", more of its most highly enriched material than it had produced.

However, Iran has enough material to create two nuclear weapons from a theoretical perspective, if it is properly enriched, the report said. 

"Iran should downblend all, not just some, of its 60% stockpile, and stop all production of uranium enriched to 60% entirely," a US statement on Iran at the IAEA board of governors' meeting.

"We continue to have serious concerns related to the stockpile of highly enriched uranium that Iran continues to maintain," the US statement said.

"No other country today is producing uranium enriched to 60% for the purpose Iran claims and Iran's actions are counter to the behavior of all other non-nuclear weapons states party to the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty)," it added.

A bit more on Benny Gantz' visit to the UK. 

The Israeli war cabinet minister met with Rishi Sunak, Lord David Cameron and national security adviser Tim Barrow, an Israeli government handout read. 

"Minister Gantz firstly, and most importantly, thanked the UK for their efforts until now and stressed the importance of continued international pressure on Hamas to secure the release of the hostages," it added. 

It added that Mr Gantz stressed to the British that "Israel will allow a humanitarian solution aiding the people of Gaza that doesn't maintain Hamas' control".

He stressed such a solution must enable "the completion of this war's just and necessary objectives of dismantling Hamas, in full compliance with international law". 

Mr Gantz also discussed the ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden - where British naval and air force units are operating as part of an international taskforce. 

"He added further his appreciation for the UK's important role in mitigating the threat the Iranian axis of terror poses in the Red Sea and the region entirely, not only to the Middle East's security but the stability of the whole world," the readout said. 

More from the foreign secretary now.

Lord David Cameron says he is "appalled" to hear of the deaths of two crew members after a Houthi attack in the Gulf of Aden earlier today. 

"We condemn the Houthis' reckless and indiscriminate attacks on global shipping & demand they stop," he said.

"We will continue to stand up for freedom of navigation and back our words with actions."

Lord David Cameron has outlined what he called a "tough but necessary" discussion with Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz in London today. 

"I made clear the steps Israel must take to increase aid into Gaza, and the UK's deep concern about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah," Lord Cameron said. 

"These are tough but necessary conversations," he added.

Lord Cameron said yesterday he would tell Mr Gantz that patience was running thin over the "dreadful suffering" in Gaza.

Mr Gantz reportedly earned the fury of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by embarking on a tour of Israeli allies, including the UK and US, without his permission. 

These images show Palestinians returning to their shattered homes in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.

The area has seen some of the most intense fighting of the war and a continuing air campaign above the city has left many residential streets devastated. 

These Palestinians have returned to recover what they can from from their homes. 

The Israel Defence Forces claims it has killed a Hamas operative responsible for firing rockets at Israeli troops from central Gaza. 

"[Omar Atiya Daruish] Aladdiny was a Hamas operative for several decades, responsible for embedding its rocket arsenal in Gaza and firing rockets at Israel since 2008," the IDF said in a statement. 

Israel claimed Aladdiny a "central" role in the massive rocket barrage unleashed across the border on 7 October that preceded an armed incursion. 

"During the war, he directed rocket launches toward Israeli civilian areas, including Tel Aviv and communities in southern Israel, and was responsible for heavy fire directed at IDF ground troops in Gaza," the IDF said. 

It shared video purporting to show the airstrike that killed Aladdiny, though neither the claims nor the footage have been independently verified. 

Our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn is offering his immediate thoughts on the deaths of two sailors in a Houthi missile attack on a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden. 

"This is a significant and grave development," he says. 

"The Houthis have been attacking shipping for some months now, but this is the first time that they have killed people, it seems."

There are conflicting reports on the number killed, he says, with some outlets suggesting three people had been killed - and no details on the nationality of the sailors. 

"The Americans say their Navy is in attendance trying to rescue the crew and stabilise the vessel," Waghorn says. 

He asks why the Houthis attacked True Confidence when it is Greek-owned and Barbadian-flagged - with the group claiming to only attack Israeli, British or US ships. 

"There are reports that [True Confidence] was owned by an American company based in Los Angeles," he says.

"So it could be an old record that the Houthis have seen, [or maybe they] misidentified the ship and therefore attacked it."

He sums up the significance of the day's events within the wider context of the troubles in the Red Sea and surrounding waters. 

"This follows weeks of airstrikes led by the US but also with the British RAF involved as well," he says.

"They were designed to degrade and deter these attacks. 

"Frankly, the opposite is happening - they are escalating."

Watch: Missile strike on Houthi targets

Two people are dead after a Houthi attack on a ship in the Gulf of Aden, the British embassy in Yemen has confirmed. 

They are the first people to die in Houthi attacks on shipping.

"At least two innocent sailors have died," a statement read. 

"This was the sad but inevitable consequence of the Houthis recklessly firing missiles at international shipping.

"They must stop. Our deepest condolences are with the families of those that have died and those that were wounded."

The Barbados-flagged True Confidence was hit by a missile about 50 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Aden. 

The ship has been abandoned, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, and lifeboats have been seen in the water, according to an anonymous US defence official.

The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack, falsely claiming True Confidence is American-owned. 

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

southern states travel

The April total solar eclipse could snarl traffic for hours across thousands of miles

southern states travel

Millions of Americans will be looking to the sky during a rare total solar eclipse on April 8 , and experts warn the excitement could create dangerous and busy traffic conditions as people pack into the narrow band of the country with the best view.

"Pack your patience, whether traveling a great distance or locally, people will be out and about to catch a glimpse of the eclipse," said Aixa Diaz, a spokesperson for the American Automobile Association.

Roads could be especially packed at the center of the eclipse's path as Americans who want the best view crowd into cities, towns and remote areas, many without the infrastructure to handle big crowds.

A similar scenario played out in 2017 during the nation's last total solar eclipse , where congestion in some areas lasted for up to 13 hours after the totality of the eclipse, according to Transportation Research News , a National Research Council publication. An analysis of traffic patterns from that year suggests that the worst of the traffic — both on big interstates and rural backroads — will kick off after the eclipse ends and everyone tries to exit all at once.

This year, in Ohio's Lorain County, county officials are warning residents to be aware about the increase in visitors, traffic and jammed roads — and possible cell phone signal drops.

“What we could have is crowds here that we’re not used to,” wrote Dave Freeman, the director of Lorain County Emergency Management. “We’re not set up infrastructure-wise for that, we don’t have the roads.”

Where will traffic be the worst during 2024 total solar eclipse?

Roads in states where sky gazers will travel to see the centerline of totality will be most prone to traffic jams.

Even though Oklahoma only has a small corner of the state in the path of totality, the state "is expected to receive an influx of anywhere from 17,000 to 66,000 visitors to watch the solar eclipse," reads an announcement from Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Officials there are warning residents "the large influx of visitors to southeastern Oklahoma could overwhelm and backup the area's road systems," including two-lane highways passing through small towns.

They advise residents to expect hotels and visiting areas at maximum capacity, increased traffic and delays in deliveries.

A coast-to-coast traffic nightmare What will the solar eclipse mean for drivers?

The last total solar eclipse snarled US traffic

Wyoming Department of Transportation spokesman Doug McGee said more than 536,000 cars filled the state's streets after the eclipse in 2017 and the state highway system "was taxed like it’s never been before," The Denver Post reported.

And "travel from Casper, Wyoming, to Denver, Colorado—normally a 4-hour trip—took 10 hours or more," according to an analysis of traffic from Transportation Research News.

The analysis's author Jonathan Upchurch said most sky gazers traveled to the paths of totality by car, "roadways experienced very little traffic congestion on the days leading up to totality" and "almost every Interstate route passing through the path of totality showed red on Google Traffic maps" after the eclipse reached totality.

The 2017 traffic woes followed warnings from officials .

Be careful if you're driving during the eclipse

Texas state officials are also warning drivers to "be on alert for distracted pedestrians looking to the sky." They also say drivers should not wear eclipse glasses, which block out most light, while driving.

Here's where and when to see it A total solar eclipse will cross the US in April

Officials there and elsewhere along the solar eclipse's line of totality are recommending drivers keep their headlights on, be mindful of pedestrians on the road and even stock up on essentials like fuel and food ahead of the eclipse.

AAA, which insures drivers across the country, is also warning people that sky gazers looking for a good view of the eclipse will be on the roads. They recommend drivers put their sun visors in their cars down to block their view of the sun and watch closely for pedestrian traffic.

How should Americans prepare for traffic jams?

AAA and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol suggest several ways Americans can prepare for traffic jams related to the solar eclipse:

  • Plan ahead so you don't have to travel to errands or appointments around when the eclipse is happening.
  • Don't pull over on the side of a road or highway to view the eclipse — Find a parking area instead.
  • Fuel up before the eclipse and have some essentials on hand while traveling

When and where can you view the 2024 total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon blocks the sun's light , leading to a period of partial or full darkness on Earth.

The path of totality, where the sun is fully blocked, in the U.S. begins in Texas and the eclipse starts around 1:27 p.m. local time.

Cities on the centerline of the April 8 eclipse include Dallas, Texas , Cleveland, Ohio and Buffalo, New York, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Contributing: Ashley May, Janet Loehrke, Ramon Padilla and Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY

Contact Kayla Jimenez at [email protected] .  Follow her on X at @kaylajjimenez.

Current Weather

Latest Weathercast

Interactive Radar

First 'Super Load' begins journey from southern Ohio to Licking County

by Kate Siefert, WSYX Staff

The first super load left Adams County on Wednesday morning and began its several-day journey to Central Ohio for the Intel site. (ODOT)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Ohio drivers may see some interesting sights on the roads in the coming weeks and months.

The first of many massive transports began Wednesday morning in Adams County, along the Ohio River, with plans to deliver industrial gear to Licking County's Intel site as well as a recycling center in Hebron.

ALSO | What you need to know before massive equipment for Intel travels through Central Ohio

The Ohio Department of Transportation is planning dozens of such deliveries of "Super Loads," each of which could take more than a week to cover the approximately 115-mile route.

Some loads will weigh as much as 900,000 pounds and measure 19 feet wide, 24 feet high, and 270 feet long.

The first load that left Adams County on Wednesday weighs in a 390,000 pounds, is 200 feet long and 18 feet tall.

MORE | Dozens of shipments of Intel equipment stalled in southern Ohio before delivery

"Each oversized and overweight load will take approximately 8-15 days to reach its destination," a recent ODOT statement said. "While no official closures or detours are planned, slow-rolling roadblocks will be necessary during transit, and drivers should plan ahead for long delays along the route."

Each load will be escorted by Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers. Getting to Central Ohio will take the cooperation of multiple local governments and utility companies . People who travel along the route may experience traffic delays as the truck moves slowly through the area.

By Friday, the first load is expected to arrive in Franklin County near Groveport. Groveport Police Chief Casey Adams said when that super load starts its route Saturday morning, drivers should anticipate road closures.

"All southbound traffic along State Route 317 will be temporarily diverted between Groveport Rd. and Bixby Rd," Adams said.

Adams said while they are preparing to ensure the oversized trucks complete their journey through their jurisdiction safely, the safety of the rest of the community is also their top priority.

"We’ve been talking with Madison Township Police department to help," Adams said. "Residents should know, it might not be a Groveport police car that gets to that Groveport business or residence first. We will get there, but will make sure another agency will handle that call until we can get there."

Some Groveport residents have raised concerns about the impact the heavy loads could have on their roads.

A spokesperson for the Franklin County Engineer's Office said the roads along the routes within the county are in good condition and should not be adversely impacted by the move. All loads and routes were reviewed to ensure the route was safe.

"The hauler is insured and would be responsible for any damage to our road infrastructure," Carla Marable, the Director of Communications for the Franklin County Engineer's Office, said. "The route for this move was coordinated by ODOT and the hauler, Capital City Group, and permitted by municipalities along the route."

Some deliveries will go to New Albany, while others will go to Hebron, about 25 miles east.

ODOT listed the route as:

  • From the dock site east of Manchester, it will travel east on U.S. 52 to West Portsmouth.
  • At west Portsmouth, cross over into the U.S. 52 westbound lanes just before the junction of the SR 239 on ramp to U.S. 52 Westbound.
  • Travel north on the SR 239 Southbound ramp to SR 73/SR 104
  • Travel south in the Northbound lanes of State Route 73/SR 104 to US 52
  • Travel east on U.S. 52 in the Westbound lanes to U.S. 23 in Portsmouth
  • Travel north on U.S. 23 southbound ramp to U.S. 52 westbound
  • Travel north on U.S. 23 in the northbound lanes to the intersection with Kinneys Lane and Argonne Road
  • Cross over into the northbound lanes and travel north on U.S. 23 to the Village of Piketon
  • In the Village of Piketon cross over into the Southbound lanes of U.S. 23 at Market Street to maneuver around the traffic signals then cross back over into the northbound lanes of U.S. 23
  • Travel north on U.S. 23 to Chillicothe
  • Take U.S. 35 West to SR 104 north
  • Take SR 104 North to SR 762 near Commercial Point
  • Travel east on SR 762 to Rickenbacker Parkway
  • Travel north on Rickenbacker Parkway north to Alum Creek Drive
  • Travel north on Alum Creek Drive to Rohr Road
  • Travel east on Rohr Road to Commerce Center Drive
  • Travel north on Commerce Center Drive to Green Pointe Drive south
  • Travel east on Green Point Drive south to Saltzgaber Road
  • Travel south on Saltzgaber Road to SR 317
  • Travel north in the southbound lanes on SR 317 past Groveport to Bixby Road east
  • Travel east on Bixby Road to U.S. 33
  • Travel east in the Westbound lanes of U.S. 33 to the Gender Road southbound to U.S.33 westbound ramp in Canal Winchester
  • Travel the wrong way on the Gender Road southbound to U.S. 33 Westbound ramp
  • Take SR 674/Gender Road north to Brice Road
  • Take Brice Road north to the intersection with Tussing Road/SR 204 in Columbus
  • Travel east on Tussing Road/SR 204 East to SR 310
  • Travel north on SR 310 to U.S. 40 in Etna

LOADS TRAVELING TO NEW ALBANY:

  • Travel west on U.S. 40 to Etna Parkway
  • Travel north on Etna Parkway to SR 16
  • Travel east on SR 16 to SR 310
  • Travel north on SR 310 to SR161
  • Travel west on SR161 to local roads

LOADS TRAVELING TO HEBRON:

  • Travel east on U.S. 40 to SR 79 in Hebron
  • Travel the wrong way on the SR 79 southbound off ramp to U.S. 40
  • Travel north in the southbound lanes on SR 79 to local roads

southern states travel

southern states travel

Moscow travel guide

Moscow tourism | moscow guide, you're going to love moscow.

Moscow is sometimes known as "The Third Rome" and it doesn't disappoint. With the amazing architecture and history behind some of the buildings, it's the perfect combination of contemporary mixed with historic.

southern states travel

Everywhere from the Moscow Business District to the Red Square will have some beautiful building or park and a plethora of delicious Russian food options. You'll be immersed in history everywhere you go, but you'll also see the signs of modern-day tsars.

The people of Moscow are welcoming and kind and can't wait to show you everything their city has to offer.

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Moscow

1. it's a history buff's paradise.

Moscow has a rich history, and not just from the time of the USSR. If you love history than the stories behind every building, landmark, and road in Moscow will have you chomping at the bit for more. Be sure to take a historic tour of the city.

2. It's an Architectural Dream

Moscow's architecture is unmatched, and the design and colors of every building are breathtaking. Visit the Kremlin, built in the 15th century, or Saint Basil's Cathedral from the 16th century.

3. Art Galleries and Museums Aplenty

There's nothing quite like Russian art, and Moscow is home to some of the world's most impressive collections. Be sure to visit the Tretyakov State Gallery or if you're into something more modern, the ARTPLAY Design Center and Flacon Design Factory.

4. The World-Renowned Subway Stations

Not many cities can claim their train stations as a drawcard, but the Moscow subway, built in 1935, is truly like walking through a royal castle. You can only imagine the engineering that went into building something so complex and impressive.

5. The Russian Theater

Probably the biggest draw to Moscow is the Russian Theater, which hosts everything from plays to ballet. The Bolshoi Ballet Company is among the most well-known symbols of Russia and experiencing this in person is incredible.

What to do in Moscow

1. moscow kremlin: russia's must-see.

The first stop in Moscow is the Red Square - home to the iconic St. Basil's Cathedral with its multicolored domes, and the gateway to the Kremlin. Just past Lenin's Mausoleum, this fortified citadel was built for royalty. Overlooking the river, it boasts a density of cathedrals and palaces behind thick walls. Step into the State History Museum and the Museum of Fashion for contrasting but equally enthralling Russian learning opportunities, or enjoy a stroll through the Aleksandrovsky Garden.

2. Bolshoi Theatre: The Show Must Go On

The Bolshoi Theater is a historical gem. This grand institution has hosted the famous Russian opera and ballet for centuries, and the performances have never lost their grandeur. The most talented opera singers and ballet dancers keep coming from Russian schools. Naturally, it is the ultimate venue to immerse yourself when it comes to traditional performance. The little sister to the Bolshoi, Maly Theater, is just across the street.

3. Cathedral of Christ the Saviour: A Worthwhile Reconstruction

This Orthodox Christian church was one of the tallest in the world until it was demolished by Stalin in 1931, as he planned to have the "Palace of the Soviets" built. Of course, this idea never came to fruition, and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was certainly significant enough to rebuild. Since 1997 it has become a huge attraction for its beauty as well as a symbol of the country's tumultuous history. The golden domes shimmer from across the city, and the interior is fabulously colorful.

4. Gorky Park: Where Everyone Comes out to Play

This "Central Park of Culture and Leisure" lives up to its self-proclaimed title, boasting newly renovated recreation zones for visitors of all ages. For the ultimate experience, hop on the Sokolnicheskaya Metro Line and get off at Park Kultury to walk over the Crimean Bridge - the first thing you will see is the Main Gate of Gorky Park. From amusement rides to ice skating rinks, activities abound. Not to mention the simple delight of strolling by the river or lounging on the grass.

5. State Tretyakov Gallery: One Thousand Years of Art

The largest collection of Fine Russian Art in the world is found in Moscow's Tretyakov Gallery. National glory is celebrated across the halls of this museum, giving artists a platform when their work is often overlooked in foreign collections. Particularly telling are the modern art galleries, which exhibit political art created largely in response to the fascinating and tumultuous history of Russia over the 20th century.

Moscow Kremlin

Activities & attractions in Moscow

southern states travel

Where to Eat in Moscow

Moscow is great for food of all types. There are high-end dining restaurants, some of which are world renowned, but there is also a lot of tasty street food and mid-range dining as well. For a luxury experience, try Savva in the city center, but expect to pay anywhere from ₽1,590 to ₽3,200 for a main. If you opt for street food, you'd be looking at paying around ₽400. For some lovely mid-range dining experiences great for solo travelers, couples, or families, check out Chaikhona No. 1 in Pushkin or Mari Vanna in Tverskaya. Mains here will be around ₽700 to ₽900. Drinks vary in price, but a beer will usually cost somewhere around ₽300.

When to visit Moscow

Deciding when to visit Moscow depends a lot on your budget and your durability. Russian winters are incredibly harsh with temperatures that reach below zero on some days and winds that will chill you to your core. This kind of weather isn't for everyone, but in the summer the temperatures can reach the high 80s. Shoulder seasons are a great time to experience Moscow because the temperatures are mild enough to enjoy the sights. Summers will always cost more because it's a peak travel period.

weatherbase

How to Get to Moscow

Most visitors come into Moscow by plane. The main airports are Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), Domodedovo International Airport (DME), and Vnukovo International Airport (VKO). Sheremetyevo International is approximately 20 miles from the center. The best way to get into Moscow is by the Aeroexpress, which costs ₽500. Domodedovo International is around 28 miles away. To get into the city, take the train from the Paveletsky Rail Terminal for ₽470 rubles. Vnukovo International is about 19 miles from the city, and you can take the train for ₽470.

Although there are quite a few trains into Moscow from other European cities, it's not a particularly popular mode of transport since the journeys are quite long. There are nine train stations in Moscow, but the main one is Leningrad Station. The main train route is the overnight train from Warsaw on Russian Railways, which costs around ₽9,000.

The M1 goes into the city from the west and the M7 goes into the city from the east. Moscow has two circular highways around it, the Third Ring Road and MKAD. This makes it easy to approach the city from any angle once you get in from the M1 or M7.

Similar to the train, approaching Moscow by bus isn't a very common way to get there. However, Lux Express has many routes to Moscow. You can travel from Riga, Tallinn, Berlin, Warsaw, Minsk, Budapest, and more.

Airports near Moscow

Airlines serving moscow, where to stay in moscow.

When it comes to accommodation, Moscow has a little bit of everything. It does luxury beautifully, with stunning 5-star hotels dotted around the city with breathtaking views, such as the Ritz Carlton in Tverskaya, or the Ararat Park Hyatt Hotel in the city center. If you're after budget options, there are plenty of mid-range hotels such as the Hilton, and many excellent hostels, such as the Davydov Hostel in the Arbat district.

Popular Neighborhoods in Moscow

Tverskaya Street - this area north of the business district is one of Moscow's most popular. Famous for its amazing cafes, nightclubs, and overall nightlife, this is the suburb to be in for a fantastic party time.

Petrovka - east of Tverskaya lies this district, which is a perfect upmarket area for boutique shopping. You'll also find lots of historic sights here like two ancient monasteries.

Arbat district - although this district is very touristy, its colorful appearance and cute eating establishments make it a lovely area to pass some time without spending a fortune.

Where to stay in popular areas of Moscow

Most booked hotels in moscow, how to get around moscow, public transportation.

The public transportation routes in Moscow are excellent with a very well-connected subway network, trams, and buses. You can buy tickets ranging from a single journey all the way up to 60. One journey only costs ₽28.

Unlike other large cities, taxi prices in Moscow are relatively reasonable. You can expect to pay a base fee of around ₽150, and then about ₽90 per mile. There are plenty of taxis around Moscow, so you shouldn't have any problems flagging one down.

With multiple Hertz, Avis, Sixt, and Elite outlets, you'll have your pick of rental companies, and you can expect to pay around ₽2,403 a day. Rates become cheaper the longer you rent. For a three-day rental, expect to pay around ₽6,310.

The Cost of Living in Moscow

Shopping streets.

Moscow is great for high-end luxury shopping, but it also has many popular international stores that you would expect to see as well. The street for top-of-the-line jewelry and items is Tretyakovsky Proyezd, located in the city center. At Izmailovsky Park you'll find a large open-air bazaar where things will be much more affordable, but you will have to pay an entrance fee of ₽50.

Groceries and Other

Moscow is filled with cheap markets to find all kinds of delicious food at affordable prices. However, for your other grocery or personal needs, you'll find the big chain Auchan or the more upmarket Perekrestok. A loaf of bread will cost around ₽50, and a dozen eggs will cost about ₽109.

IMAGES

  1. Southern USA Tours

    southern states travel

  2. 25 Best Places to Visit in the Southern USA

    southern states travel

  3. Southern USA Road Trip Route and Recommendations

    southern states travel

  4. 2 week itinerary for a southern US road trip

    southern states travel

  5. USA Southern States Travel Poster Map Florida Louisiana Mississippi

    southern states travel

  6. The Best Tips and Ideas for Your Southern USA road trip in 2021

    southern states travel

VIDEO

  1. Southern States

  2. Southern states are leading the country in population growth! #realestatemarket

  3. places to visit in usa

  4. 5 Places to Visit in the United States of America #shortstravel #travel #natureshorts

COMMENTS

  1. 20 Epic Places To Visit In The South, USA

    The Jacob's Well Natural Area is about an hour southwest of Austin, Texas, and can be visited as a day trip from the city. Jacob's Well is the second-largest completely submerged cave in Texas. This 81-acre area is free to visit unless you plan on swimming, in which case you need to pay a fee and reserve a time.

  2. 21 Best Places to Visit in the South, USA

    Let's be honest - there are tons of places to visit in the south of the United States, which makes it super hard to plan a trip because there are many places to choose from.Luckily, this post has got you covered. This article includes all of the southern cities that you won't want to miss, spread across various southern states.

  3. Travel South USA: Southeastern USA Vacations

    12 unique states in the authentic U.S. South beckon with beaches, mountains, music, culture and cuisine. The close proximity of diverse experiences around the South makes it a prime destination for a road trip. Drive past idyllic pastures or along winding roads in the Great Smoky Mountains. Take in the lush scenery along the 1,932-kilometer ...

  4. 22 Best Weekend Getaways in the South

    Nashville. #9 in Best Weekend Getaways in the South. Grab your cowboy boots and pack your bags for a one-of-a-kind weekend trip to the Music City. Broadway is downtown Nashville's hub of nightlife ...

  5. Road Trip: Southern USA

    The allure of southern USA has been calling me for years. I wanted to experience that famous Southern charm, the music, the moss-laden trees, the accent, the mountains, and all the colourful cities and quirks that make up the southern states. It's a big area y'all, so coming up with a south US road trip itinerary was no mean feat. We found ...

  6. 17 Spectacular Southern USA Road Trip Itinerary Ideas

    From Keri of Bon Voyage With Kids. One of the best road trips in the southeast US is from Washington, DC to Anna Maria Island, Florida . If you want to break it up with overnights and stops, I recommend going from Washington DC to Raleigh, NC on Day 1. On Day 2, drive from Raleigh, NC to Savannah, GA.

  7. Southeast USA Road Trip Itinerary: Where to Go & What to See

    Explore some of the country's most interesting cities & towns on an epic Southeast USA road trip itinerary. The Southeastern United States comprises nine states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. While you won't see the entire region on a time-crunched trip plan, don ...

  8. Southern USA travel

    Southern USA. USA, North America. The South falls from the granite, forested fists of Kentucky and Tennessee into craggy hill country and thick woods. This rugged landscape slowly changes as the waters of its rivers - including North America's greatest, the Mississippi - saturate the land into boggy, black-water blankets and sun-seared ...

  9. Atlanta, Georgia to Charleston, South Carolina: Classic Road Trip

    Southern States. Trip Information. Route distance: 1,695 km; Suggested Time: 1-2 weeks; Favorite. Share. Sea, sun and Southern living across four American states. ... Official Selma Travel Site ; You may enjoy. Experience Alabama's Historic Sights and Southern Charm. 283 km. 3 hours by car. 06. View more.

  10. Travel South USA Trip Ideas

    Travel South USA Trip Ideas. The South welcomes you to take a trip on the open road across 12 authentic southern states. Experience a mix of charming towns and vibrant metropolitan communities, local culinary favorites, rich music and true hospitality! Explore these curated trips across the Southern USA. Trip Length.

  11. South USA

    South USA - Plan your trip to USA with Rough Guides and get travel tips and information about where to go and what to do. ... South Carolina seceded from the Union that December, and ten more southern states swiftly followed. On February 18, 1861, Jefferson Davis was sworn in as president of the Confederate States of America - an event for ...

  12. This Is My South

    The Southern United States is an area as diverse as some countries and this website aims to encourage travel to this part of the world and make people see more than just stereotypes. You can visit the beaches of South Carolina, the cities in Georgia and Tennessee and the marshlands of Louisiana.

  13. The Ultimate Southern USA Road Trip Guide • The Blonde Abroad

    The southern United States is unlike anywhere else you will ever go. Hot weather, warm smiles, and arguably some of the best grub in the country make up the foundation of this unique region. ... This is over a half-day of driving, so leave early and make the most of your travel day! Charlotte is mostly a business and banking town, but is made ...

  14. Best US Cross-country Road Trip Southern Route Itinerary

    The Best Cross-country U.S. Road Trip Itinerary: Southern Route. Where to stay, eat, and sightsee, from Los Angeles to Virginia — or vice-versa. Driving cross-country is the ultimate trip for ...

  15. An Epic 2-Week Southern U.S.A. Road Trip Itinerary

    An Epic 2-Week Southern U.S.A. Road Trip Itinerary. A Southern U.S.A. road trip is one of the most American road trips . We've been all over the United States since our last trip through the South, spending months in Louisiana and Georgia and what's considered the Deep South. While it's certainly a different world down there, especially ...

  16. 10 Fabulous Southeast USA Road Trip Ideas

    In this post you will find ten southeast USA road trip ideas: Washington DC to Outer Banks Road Trip. West Coast Florida Road Trip. East Coast Florida Road Trip. Tennessee to North Carolina Road Trip. Southern US Road Trip through North Carolina. Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip. South Carolina Coastal Road Trip.

  17. Southern Travel Ideas and Trip Inspiration

    10 Best Southern Destinations For Spotting Spring Blooms. 15 Things To Do In Lake Charles, Louisiana. Discover the best travel recommendations by states in the south, regions out of the south, and coastal areas. Plan your next road trip or weekend getaway.

  18. 10 Best Southern USA Tours & Trips 2024/2025

    Browse 107 tours from the best tour operators in Southern USA with 129 reviews visiting places like Nashville and Memphis. Compare & book now! ... I want to travel in a maximum group size of up to: 50+ people. 6. 10 people. 17. 20 people. 15. 50 people. 67. ... United States & Canada +1 833 895 6770

  19. Southern United States

    Explore true southern charm by rail. Visit some of the popular Southern charmers: New Orleans, Charleston, and Savannah, and everywhere in between. Beautiful scenery, rich history, culinary delights, musical heritage, and so much more is yours to savor during a train vacation to any of these destinations.

  20. The South's Best Travel Stops 2024

    Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, Love's Travel Stops has more than 600 locations in 42 states, and it remains a family-run company 60 years later. Aside from a huge selection ...

  21. Things to Do in Moscow, Idaho: Weekend Trip Ideas & Itinerary

    Mikey's Greek Gyros, 527 S Main St, Moscow, ID 83843, USA. Chris Pereyda/Google. Mikey's Greek Gyros is one small, hole-in-the-wall restaurant where you can enjoy some of the best gyros, sandwiches, salads, and other made-from-scratch food in the area.

  22. U.S. climate outlook for March 2024

    On February 29, CPC released its updated monthly climate outlooks for temperature, precipitation, and drought across the United States for March 2024. The temperature outlook favors well above normal temperatures across much of the central and eastern parts of the nation, with well below average temperatures favored in California and parts of ...

  23. Blockbuster blizzard is slamming California with 12 feet of snow ...

    Travel will remain "extremely dangerous to impossible" across the Sierra through the weekend, the weather service warned. Parts of major roadways like I-80 could be shut down for long stretches.

  24. Middle East latest: UK's 'patience wearing thin' with Gaza suffering

    Israeli warplanes also struck areas in al Nuseirat refugee camp and the city of Deir al Balah in central Gaza, and part of the southern city of Rafah, witnesses said. 10:19:31

  25. The April total solar eclipse will create dangerous, crowded traffic

    And "travel from Casper, Wyoming, to Denver, Colorado—normally a 4-hour trip—took 10 hours or more," according to an analysis of traffic from Transportation Research News.

  26. First 'Super Load' begins journey from southern Ohio to Licking County

    Travel north on the SR 239 Southbound ramp to SR 73/SR 104; Travel south in the Northbound lanes of State Route 73/SR 104 to US 52; Travel east on U.S. 52 in the Westbound lanes to U.S. 23 in ...

  27. Moscow Travel Guide

    China Southern. Excellent (26 reviews) Royal Air Maroc. Good (306 reviews) Gulf Air. Good (116 reviews) ... United States ... Moscow Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Moscow city guide for the best Moscow travel tips. To help you organize your Moscow trip ideas, this Moscow visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get ...

  28. United States to Moscow

    Find the travel option that best suits you. The cheapest way to get from United States to Moscow costs only RUB 31494, and the quickest way takes just 15½ hours. Find the travel option that best suits you. Rome2Rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads.