Road trip out of Atlanta for 16 days in July - any hints or tips

[EnidAlexandraRollins]

Obviously it is going to be crazy hot but nonetheless the flights are booked and we now need to put an itinerary together. We need to have 3 nights in Austin and I would really like to visit Nashville and New Orleans. I am aware that this is a fair amount of driving but we’re not totally put off by that...

Budget is relatively flexible - would like a mix of different types of accommodation though from top luxury to a random motel here or there. Will be travelling with an 11 yr old and 14 yr old.

Any ideas or tips?

Can't offer any suggestions, but interested to know what comes up as I would like to do this part of the US soon. Where are you flying from? Also, you mention staying in Austin. Is that Austin, Texas? Just wondering as I have seen some really good deals to fly from my nearest airport direct to Houston.

We've just done a four corners road trip and I loved it.

Flying from LHR. Business reason for flying to Atlanta as opposed to Houston!

And yes - I mean Austin, Texas. So, plenty of driving but we did Canada a few years ago with a whole heap of driving and we're the kind of weirdos that quite like it! We may end up doing Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans in a car and then just doing a quick flight to Austin for a few days to see the friend that will never forgive me if I don't go and see her! Only just started planning so don't really know what's viable at the moment.

I will watch with interest. Only interesed in Houston as Singapore Airlines do some good prices for a direct flight from Manchester. Way less than flights to Atlanta, even including car hire. I like driving in the US, the distances seem to take less time to cover than here. We're going to California next year, but already thinking about what to do next!

This is do-able as a Roadtrip if you don't mind some long drives. I would do Atlanta-Montgomery-New Orleans-Houston- Austin-Dallas- Memphis- Nashville- Atlanta. Some distances are probably too long for a day but you can pick random places en route to stop.

Use Roadtrippers.com to plot a route. It'll give you times and estimate fuel costs.

Great tip re: Roadtrippers. Thanks.

Austin friend says Dallas ain’t all that - what’s your view? You think it’s worth a stop?

Actually I'm not a fan of Dallas either, it's just a convenient stop on that route. I'm sure you'll find somewhere more interesting to stop. I didn't love Houston either but I did love the Space Centre!

Hi, we did a similar road trip in April.
Atlanta to Nashville
Nashville to Memphis
Memphis to Dallas.
Flew to Vegas.
Vegas to Grand Canyon
Vegas home.
We went for 15 days, a lot of driving, but loved it, Nashville was absolutely amazing, great vibe.

Gaylord Opryland Resort. Nashville google for pics.

We are staying at Fort Worth instead of Dallas, might be worth a look to see if it suits you

Thanks everyone and thanks for the Nashville PM aday

Houston and Dallas are boring (though Singapore airlines worth it) Fort Worth in Dallas is worth it too though! LOVED Austin, go to Black's bbq. St Louis isn't too far from Nashville although probably out of the way you're going but on my bucket list! San Antonio is only an hour from Austin and worth a visit. I recommend Lockhart in between the 2 for a good gun range.

We once did Washington DC, Nashville,. Memphis, Sanchez, new Orleans, Montgomery, atlanta and really enjoyed it. Washington- Nashville was a long drive though but the rest was fine. Did it in July/ August and the heat was bearable. We particularly liked Washington and Nashville. Atlanta was fine but just for a couple of days. Never warmed to new Orleans but it was definitely worth seeing.
There are also Savannah and Charleston in Georgia worth seeing.

I would go north to the Great Smoky Mountains and then explore sites around Roanoak and maybe go into Virginia. There are lots of old buildings and villages plus historic sites to see and its a total change from Atlanta. Way better then chasing your tail around numerous cities just to tick them off.

There are also Savannah and Charleston in Georgia worth seeing.

Such an understatement, they're lovely! We've done the drive along the Blue RIdge Parkway and into the Shenendoah Valley, beautiful, I've got such itchy feet at the moment reading these.
If I had to go so Dallas I would also add on a trip to San Antonio.