The southern United States is not like anyplace else you’ll ever go. Sizzling climate, heat smiles, and arguably a number of the finest grub within the nation make up the inspiration of this distinctive area. The finest approach to get to know the South is by hitting the street!

As a observe, this free itinerary is supposed to function a information and you may comply with it in both route! Whereas I began in New Orleans, you might undoubtedly flip it round and begin off your journey in Georgia.

Whereas I’ve laid out a number of the highlights, however I feel among the best elements a few street journey is including in your personal particular stops alongside the best way! I like to make use of Roadtrippers to design the journey and map out the place my “anchor” stops are, after which discover enjoyable stops in between.

Right here’s the last word Southern USA street journey information!

Charleston Trip on Roadtrippers

Southern USA Road Trip Highlights

• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Jackson, Mississippi
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Charleston, South Carolina
• Savannah, Georgia

*When you needed to increase the journey, you might add in Atlanta, Georgia, and make your approach into Alabama. It simply is dependent upon how a lot time you could have!

As you’re planning, be certain to take a look at these 10 important suggestions on your street journey!

New Orleans, Louisiana

Kick-off your journey in New Orleans!

Since it is a lengthy stretch, you possibly can break up the drive by spending an evening alongside the best way. It’s an superior alternative to get off the overwhelmed observe and discover extra of Louisiana.

I fell in love with New Orleans after I went for Mardi Gras. Whereas I’d love to return for one more Fats Tuesday, the town is equally spectacular daily of the 12 months. Simply wandering the town, you’ll get a way of New Orleans’ complicated previous and distinctive tradition!

Prime Issues to See and Do in New Orleans

• • The French Quarter by no means disappoints
  • Get down and soiled on Bourbon Avenue or go for an upscale night on Frenchmen Avenue
  • Go to the oldest cathedral on the continent, St. Louis Cathedral, which was inbuilt 1720
  • Go to the Carousel Bar — sure, there’s a carousel contained in the bar!
  • Go on a ghost tour and study concerning the metropolis’s many legends

Prime Locations to Eat in New Orleans

Detour: Take a Bayou Tour in Louisiana

On my journey, I took a few hours to tour the Manchac swamp with Wild Louisiana Excursions! It was such a cool expertise, there was a second the place I felt like I used to be in The Pocket book.

You’ll see the logging ghost city of Ruddock that served as a passageway for historic New Orleans explorers and properly as Iberville, Bienville, Ponchartrain, and extra!

Detour: Study About Plantations

Throughout my Southern USA Road Trip, I used to be utterly awestruck by the Dwell Oaks on the entrance to Oak Alley Plantation. I’d seen loads of pictures of Oak Alley, nevertheless it was even grander in individual.

The plantation has been featured in lots of films and music movies together with Interview with The Vampire, Django Unchained, and Beyoncé’s “Déjà Vu” music video!

Whereas Oak Alley is gorgeous, it’s extremely vital to grasp what the plantations imply in a historic context and in the present day. For an in-depth look and to replicate on the atrocities of slavery and its lasting impression, make a visit to Whitney Plantation.

Jackson, Mississippi

Take I-55 North from New Orleans to Jackson – 190 miles

Jackson is the capital of Mississippi and residential to a cool arts scene, good bars and eating places, and A LOT of stay music!

Prime Issues to See and Do in Jackson

• • Spend the day exploring the Civil Battle websites and the Civil Rights Museum
  • After you have labored up an urge for food, indulge on turnip greens, cornbread, and black-eyed peas
  • Craving some spice? Go for the domestically beloved Miss-Mex (that’s Mississippi-Mexican fusion) for a culinary journey
  • Prime your day without work by exploring the numerous blues and jazz venues

Detour: Oxford, Mississippi

This full of life school city — dwelling of Ole Miss — is a enjoyable cease in between Jackson and Memphis. With the historic city sq., James Beard-winning eating places, and deep literary roots (the house of William Faulkner), this might make an awesome addition!

Memphis, Tennessee

Take I-55 North from Jackson to Memphis – 210 miles

Memphis is all about rock n’ roll and BBQ. You’ll by no means have the ability to eat at one other BBQ joint after you strive a correct Memphis-style BBQ platter. For extra enjoyable, take a look at the highest 10 issues to do in Memphis in two days.

Prime Issues to See and Do in Memphis

• • Go to the birthplace of rock music: Solar Studio
  • Watch the geese at Peabody Resort
  • Make your approach over to Elvis’ world-famous dwelling, Graceland
  • For a complete lesson on the historical past of contemporary music, go to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music
  • Get all the way down to Rendezvous for the perfect BBQ ribs in Memphis

Detour: Go to Tennessee’s Wineries

Take a pit cease at one among Tennessee’s gorgeous wineries off I-40, like Century Farm Vineyard or Crown Vineyard!

Nashville, Tennessee

Take I-40 East from Memphis to Nashville – 210 miles

For nation music followers, singers, and songwriters from all around the world, Nashville is the last word vacation spot. However Nashville isn’t simply nation music, it’s a full of life metropolis, breaking out with new companies, a dynamic meals and cocktail scene, and brilliant lights!

Prime Issues to See and Do in Nashville

• • Dwelling to the Grand Ole Opry radio present, Ryman Auditorium is an absolute must-see and, whether or not you’re a nation music fan or not, the Nation Music Corridor of Fame and Museum is a captivating spot
  • To wrap up your musical day, take a tour of Music Row and RCA Studio B
  • One of the vital gorgeous buildings in Nashville, The Parthenon is the world’s solely full-size replica of the Greek Parthenon in Athens, Greece, so plan on a while to go to the museum and artwork gallery to finish your tour
  • Take a day journey to Jack Daniel’s Distillery

Prime Locations to Eat and Drink in Nashville

• • Get drinks at The Patterson Home
  • Have an evening out at Pinewood Social. It’s a retro-style restaurant, bar, and occasional store, they usually have an especially photogenic bowling alley, out of doors patio, and views of the town skyline
  • Mas Tacos Por Favor dishes up an array of tasty tacos which can be hands-down the perfect in Nashville
  • Dig into the “New American” dishes at Rolf & Daughters, an industrial-chic restaurant with communal tables and a few fairly artful cocktails
  • Craving some Southern biscuits? Go to Biscuit Love for a correct carb-filled brunch.
  • From delicate to very spicy fried hen and iconic Southern sides, Hattie B’s Hen is the place it’s at!

Prime Photograph Spots in Nashville

• • Three Brothers Café – cool black and white patterned walled alcove
  • 12th Avenue South – I Imagine in Nashville Mural
  • Madewell Wall – Wanting Fairly, Music Metropolis
  • The Gulch – “What Lifts You” Wings the colourful mural

*There are such a lot of different murals across the metropolis and funky spots — go on a treasure hunt to search out them.

Charlotte, North Carolina

Take I-40 East from Nashville to Charlotte – 400 miles

That is over a half-day of driving, so go away early and profit from your journey day!

Charlotte is generally a enterprise and banking city, however is made up of gorgeous, historic neighborhoods, nice museums, and superior waterfront eating places!

Prime Issues to See and Do in Charlotte

• • Go to Levine Museum of the New South & the NASCAR Corridor of Fame
  • Settle down on the 29,000-square-foot Ray’s Splash Planet – this ultra-fun indoor water park is the right place to splash round on a steamy afternoon
  • See Charlotte’s high-flying previous on the Carolinas Aviation Museum
  • Pan for a little bit of gold at Reed Gold Mine

Charleston, South Carolina

Take I-77 South from Charlotte to Charleston – 211 miles

With its climate within the higher 70s within the useless of winter, Charleston is the right place for seaside lovers! It’s a quaint metropolis, however there are tons of issues to do.

Prime Issues to See and Do in Charleston

• • Get transferring and lease a motorcycle to journey throughout the well-known Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
  • Don’t miss the Angel Oak Park—one among South Carolina’s most outstanding websites—you’ll discover a large 1,500-year-old oak tree, which is a real sight to behold
  • Prime locations to remain in Charleston are the Wentworth Mansion, anyplace on King Avenue, or the Restoration Resort (they provide in-room spa companies)
  • Rainbow Row is a sequence of 13 colourful historic homes and is the longest cluster of Georgian row homes in america. It’s finest to go right here within the morning when there are fewer folks and smooth lighting.
  • Mosey by means of the Waterfront Park — a beautiful eight-acre park alongside the Cooper River.
  • The Metropolis Market in downtown Charleston is a should — even if you happen to’re simply strolling by means of (although you might simply spend all day right here). Established within the 1790s, this historic market stretches 4 metropolis blocks.
  • Need to discover a very Southern backyard meets swamp? Head to Cypress Gardens for the 80 acres of blackwater bald cypress/tupelo swamp, surrounded with each boat and foot trails.
  • When you’re taking this journey within the spring, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is brimming with azaleas!
  • To not be confused with the above, Magnolia Cemetary is price visiting, too.
  • E book a tour to get the historical past of the Gilded Age Calhoun Mansion 

Prime Locations to Eat and Drink in Charleston

• • Seize cocktails at Vendue Rooftop Bar
  • You completely should dine at Husk Restaurant (make reservations properly beforehand!)
  • Head to Callie’s Biscuit for a number of the tastiest award-winning biscuits, southern tea sandwiches, grits, and locally-inspired dishes
  • Dinner at FIG is beautiful — an elevated tackle Southern classics
  • Have dinner, or on the very least, cocktails at 5church (positioned in a former church, the inside is tremendous cool!)

Detour: Folly Seaside

Carry your bikini and lounge within the Carolina solar on Folly Seaside through the higher a part of the 12 months. Simply south of Charleston, you’ll discover Folly Seaside Pier which stretches greater than 1,000 toes into the ocean. Heart Avenue is lined with the cutest surf outlets and also you’ll discover tons of souvenirs.

Detour: Cease in Beaufort

Stroll or drive round right here. The Beaufort River wraps round this space and served as the situation for a lot of scenes from Forrest Gump and The Huge Chill. It’s midway between Savannah and Charleston and would make an awesome cease for lunch.

Savannah, Georgia

Take US-17 South and I-95 South from Charleston to Savannah – 108 miles

Recognized for manicured parks, tons of historic structure, cobblestoned squares, and tons of oak bushes coated with Spanish moss, Savannah is a picturesque cease.

Prime Issues to See and Do in Savannah

• • Head to Tybee Island for seaside vibes (about 20 minutes from Savannah). There’s tons of historical past right here too and a cute pier and pavilion.
  • Wormsloe Plantation Historic Web site is a should for pictures. Attempt to get there barely earlier than it opens to snap photographs with out of us or automobiles. 
  • Exploring River Avenue is an absolute should. A mixture of new buildings and outdated warehouses, there are tons of retailers, galleries, eating places, and pubs on this stretch of Savannah’s Waterfront
  • Forsyth Park is a big metropolis park within the historic district of Savannah. When you’re there on a summer season Saturday, there’s often an enormous farmers’ market happening!
  • Savannah is claimed to be probably the most haunted cities within the US, go on a ghost tour or haunted pub crawl! 
  • The Metropolis Market is an open-air market relationship again to the 1700s
  • Put together to search out so many goodies at The Paris Market — an enthralling boutique with an eclectic vary of antiques, housewares, and jewellery.

Prime Locations to Eat and Drink in Savannah

• • Leopold’s Ice Cream on Broughton St.
  • Have breakfast and occasional at The Collins Quarter on Bull Avenue
  • B. Matthews Eatery — for traditional and new American fare, this charming bistro in an up to date classic area is a go-to
  • Vic’s on the River for dinner — positioned in a 19th-century warehouse, you possibly can’t beat the meals or the cool inside.
  • Whereas it’s very expensive, dinner on the famed Olde Pink Home is a Savannah staple
  • Mrs. Wilkes  — Household-owned since 1943, this busy diner serves ample Southern-style breakfast and lunches at communal tables.
    
  • For a cool, darkish, and comfy vibe — go to the Mata Hari speakeasy. Heads up: it’s essential to have a key to get in! 😉
  • Jen’s and Pals is an superior martini bar with tons of martini flavors (significantly! From Bananas Foster to birthday cake)
  • The Peregrin Rooftop Bar has nice cocktails and an superior view of the town

And there you could have it, of us! My final information to a Southern USA street journey! What locations would you add to this listing? Any hidden gems? I’d love to listen to all about it within the feedback beneath!