Louisiana to Georgia By Way of Tennessee
The Deep South is one of the best areas to travel to if you are looking for a legendary road trip. Start in New Orleans—the birthplace of jazz—and end in Atlanta, a cosmopolitan city brimming with Southern charm. Every destination listed is within comfortable driving distance of one another, so you’ll need a working vehicle to get from one spot to the next. Keep safe on your trip with international health insurance.
Fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
To get started, you’ll want to hop a plane to New Orleans. Commonly referred to as the Big Easy, New Orleans is known for its laid-back, party atmosphere. You’ll probably be greeted with a live band at the airport, and the fun only continues from there. The French Quarter is the most historical part of the city and home to Jackson Square and the ever-famous Bourbon Street. This is where the party’s at, and if you stroll the street at night, you’ll be thoroughly entertained. The neighborhoods of the Marigny and Bywater are adjacent to the French Quarter and also home to great restaurants and clubs. Plan on eating a lot of traditional Creole cuisine, staying in a historic hotel and popping into a jazz club for the full experience.
Memphis, Tennessee
Your next stop is Memphis, about 5.5 hours from New Orleans on I-55. You’ll pass through the Mississippi Delta on the way to the home of Elvis Presley. Visiting his former home of Graceland should be on your bucket list. You’ll also want to drive through Main Street and perhaps hop on one of the old-school trollies spanning the city. You can also visit one of the last remaining drive-in cinemas at Malco Summer Drive-In.
Nashville, Tennessee
Keep heading northeast from Memphis for about three hours to Nashville, home of modern western and country music. A lot of the more popular country and western artists began their careers in Nashville, so you might be able to see some blossoming stars at open mic nights at various local spots. After all, that’s why it’s home to the Country Music Hall of Fame, not to be missed. You can even check out the entertaining musical comedy at the Doyle and Debbie show. You’ll also find that Nashville is home to some of the best food and drink spots. After all, Tennessee is whiskey country. Take a local distillery tour before hitting the road.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The majority of the trip thus far has been to urban areas, but the Great Smoky Mountains are worth taking a detour for. You can get out of the car and stretch your legs while hiking through beautiful and lush forests and climbing up to amazing waterfalls. Another reason to consider stopping in this national park is that it’s conveniently located near the halfway distance point between your beginning and end destination.
Atlanta, Georgia
The final destination for your Deep South road trip is the “Big A” or the “ATL.” Atlanta is well-known for being the birthplace of one of the most iconic figures in American history: Martin Luther King Jr. Plan to visit his birth home at the Martin Luther King National Historic Site. Another spot not to miss during a stop in Atlanta is Piedmont Mark. This is essentially what would be considered Atlanta’s Central Park. You’ll find lots of exciting events and festivals throughout the year there and throughout the city.
