The Ultimate Deep South Roadtrip Itinerary

Driving down to New Orleans: with Kids and Dogs.

Out of Appalachia: Into the Gulf. Must see. Must do.

Sight-see and Eat your way down into Southern History.

Mapping out a fun trip South of West Virginia.

Roadtrip Roundtrip: Down and back!

At a Glance

This is a round trip-road trip. From West Virginia to Louisiana. Out of Appalachia and “down south”…and back. With lots of driving (over 2500 miles!); and also a lot of cool stops. Pre-planned and optimized. My recommendations are usually:

Budget Friendly
Family Friendly
Dog Friendly

I’ve done a similar article for “New England”. Which, I’ve been up the coast quite a few times. I’m pretty familiar with that stretch.

The Ultimate New England Roadtrip Itinerary

However, this would be my very first time in Louisiana and Alabama. I’ve only visited a snippet of Mississippi; across the bridge in Memphis. I was on a riverboat casino in Tunica, MS back in 2012. After this trip, I’ve got three states left!

47 out of 50 states!
Alaska, Hawaii, and North Dakota

Road Trip from Appalachia through the Deep South… and back!

Day 1: Pigeon Forge, TN

Huntsville, AL

Meridian, MS

Day 2: Slidell, LA

New Orleans, LA

Day 3: New Orleans, LA

Day 4: Edgard, LA

Dauphin Island, AL

Newnan, GA

Day 5: Atlanta, GA

Cumberland Valley, TN

Murfreesboro, TN

Day 6: Louisville, KY

Cincinnati, OH

Morgantown, WV

This trip was pre-planned; but, it was my first time in this area. Safety concerns were concerning in certain places. I’ve scoped out the best of the best, so.. you can get your rest. It’s an adventure!

Travel smart.

Stick together.

Safety is key.

Without numbers, it’s not safe.

The deep south is rich in history and heritage. That “east coast feel” disappears along with the mountains. They’ve got different birds, and different trees. Truly, you will meet the nicest and friendliest people in the South. Talk to ’em, ask questions.. They’ll give you all the details.

Pigeon Forge, TN

Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg is a popular vacation spot for a good reason. There’s lots of great shows, restaurants, and family friendly things to do. Along with hiking and nature galore.

Top 10 Must Do in Pigeon Forge

Sevierville Buc-ee’s to be dethroned as world’s largest convenience store

Since my last vacation in Pigeon Forge in 2022: Buc-Ees has been completed, and now the second largest convenience store in the world. 120 Gas pumps, $8.99 brisket sandwiches, and beaver nuggets! Y’all need to experience Buc-Ee’s!

From Buc-Ees, you could head onto to Parkway and vacation around Dollywood. Or… Get back on I-40 West, and cut down south.

Huntsville, AL

We left Morgantown, WV at midnight, with plans to arrive at “Space Camp” by 10 am. We arrived at 8:45am CST!

The deep south is a different time zone

Getting into the city Huntsville, I could see the US Rocket Center. Driving and seeing a rocketship from my car: I was getting even more excited to explore!

See the Timeline of the Great Space Race. Since the end of WWII; the skies have become an arena. General admission is $30. The Museum features spacecrafts, robots, and all things extraterrestrial. The day pass includes all exhibits and rides. Yes, there are “zero gravity” experiences to be had here!

“Space Camp” is suitable for all ages. Children 4 and under attend for FREE. Dogs are not permitted, but kennels are available.

Meridian, MS

It’s a moving Roadtrip! After driving through the night, and exploring space camp through the day.. We needed to figure out a good place to stay.

Meridian feels like a safe place. It’s a good halfway point between Alabama and Louisiana. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Drury Inn. For long drives, this particular chain is a great for crashing. They provide continental breakfast AND dinner! We checked in, and then did the 5:30 “kick back”. A great way to end the day!

Slidell, LA

From Meridian, you can be on the Gulf Shores in less than three hours. Getting into Louisiana: I began to notice how different things are. In life and death: THIS is a different way of living.

Bayous and Swamplands

Homes on high stilts

Graves above ground

Between how the land is, and how the flooding would be.. I thought “Man.. These folks are OG Top-Tier Rednecks”. And I meant that in the most respectful way. Whatever the challenge, I feel like they’d deal and tell a good story later. Like, kudos to these folks!

The ecosystem is completely different, as well. Visiting the Cajun country during Christmas-time: It was almost crawfish season, and the alligators weren’t around. The humidity never left. There was the thickest damp cold wetness in the air.

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the Honey Island @Cajun Encounters. For $30, we enjoyed a two hour ride through the Old Pearl River. Our guide was super informative. We learned all about alligators, murder birds, and limpkins (they’ve migrated from South America in the last ten years) .

He was was a great boat captain and got us through the dark murky waters. 5 stars.. I would go back!

New Orleans

New Orleans has been on my bucket list since Hurricane Katrina. Seeing the aftermath, the before/after photos. Even at 16 years old, I thought this looked like a neat city.

We drove over Lake Pontchartrain on I-10: then I began smelling coffee. This is quite a long bridge, at five miles. A few miles up shore is Causeway Bridge, the longest in the world. It’s 24 miles!

New Orleans serves as the main roasting and packaging hub for Folgers.

“It’s like Boston mixed with Las Vegas”

First impressions.. Driving into the city. Seeing the old buildings, and the spaghetti streets that “go around”. The palm trees and party-vibes feel like Las Vegas.

We checked into our hotel @Four Points By Sheraton on Bourbon Street. The valet parking was seemless. Check in was easy. Our room was adequate for the city.

We began our first trek down Bourbon Street. Out of every building was music. As we headed down Toulouse, into Canal: I started to get an idea of the land. Live music everywhere! The nightlife was lit!

“The City of Revelry”

“3 for 1” Happy Hour

Yard Long Daquaris

Big Easy, Speak Easy..

The prevalence of alcohol is EVERYWHERE. Especially right on Bourbon Street where we stayed. As a middle-aged tourist; I didn’t want to roam the streets after 10pm. For most millenials, that’s our bedtime!

Is New Orleans a good place to take kids?

I asked several locals this question. Most answered “It depends”. I would say yes.. But, with careful planning. I definitely want to come back! I promise to bring kids and dogs next time. In a different hotel, in a different part of the city (away from Bourbon Street).

Is New Orleans dog friendly?

It’s a very dog friendly city. Dogs everywhere!

In comparison to NYC (I visited right before Christmas) : NOLA is bustling with more kids and dogs. Less crowds.

Family Friendly Things to do in New Orleans:

Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise
$30 pp and WORTH IT!

For families, you could definitely spend two nights here, maybe three. That’d be adequate time to see most everything.

New Orleans must-do list:

Cafe Du Monde
- Coffee & Beignets. Trumpets loudly in the background.
Central Grocery
- OG MUFFULETTAS since 1906!
Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise
WWII Museum
New Orleans Streetcars
- Get a “All day Jazz Pass” for $3
French Market
JAM NOLA
Cajun Encounters

Home of the Original Muffuletta
This $32 sandwich easily feeds FOUR!
@Central Grocery

A great way to spend an afternoon!
@French Market

Check out the Christmas lights
@Roosevelt New Orleans

Is New Orleans safe?

You gotta take in all the good, and all the bad. There’s some really unique music, food, and culture. But, there’s seedy spots and we were involved in some sketchy situations. It’s a neat city to explore! However, be mindful and stick together. Stay safe!

Edgard, LA

Whitney Plantation

“The Plantation every American should visit”

I was born and raised in West Virginia: along the banks of the Potomac River. My hometown changed hands 14 times during the Civil War. The railroad was the prize.

Right along the Mississippi river, the fields are flat. History has a different interpretation in this area. Season after season, the crops grew and they were harvested. Labor was the prize.

Cotton, tobacco, sugarcane

Looking into the fields and visiting the plantations: It was like jumping into a living history book. As I walked through the grounds, and read the stories.. I got a slight idea of how life was. For both sides. Right in the middle of it all, in today’s times.

Who benefits from movement?

Slavery is immigration.

Force is disgusting.

We all labor to eat.

In this life, it’s our duty to care and be responsible. Fear and force is not the way. Do the right thing.

“The time is always right to do what is right”

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

St. John the Baptist Parish

On the way out of Whitney Plantation we came across a marker with along with a big beautiful church.

In West Virginia, and other surrounding states: there’s towns and areas sectioned off in “counties”. In Louisiana, they’re called “parishes”.

This church was actually constructed in the 1900’s.

I’ve seen older churches. But, the graveyard right next to the church was fascinating. I’d never seen multi-generational “family tombs”. Imagine being buried with your great-great-great grandparents. The list of names, and the years between the hyphen.. I was fascinated!

There’s two hundred years between many burials in the *same spot.*

Dauphin Island, AL

Picture it.. New Year’s Eve. You gotta have plans to ring in the new year. The original event (in Lafayette, LA) got canceled. We needed a good “plan C”. New Orleans seemed too crazy at night. So.. We planned to go to The Moon Pie Drop in Mobile, AL.

I’ve never seen the Gulf. We headed to “Pelican Peninsula” to go to the beach. The gulf is much different than the Atlantic, or the Pacific Ocean. Or even the Great Lakes.

Dig this site here!

The water is strangely very calm. However, I’m not sure if I’d swim around this particular spot.

We got a little bit of southern beach time and began heading Northward. We reserved a hotel in Mobile, nearby the Moon Pie Drop. Upon arrival, with police presence and somebody being arrested by the lobby. We got checked in, and went to our room. There was someone in there! Went back to the lobby and asked for a refund. This area felt extremely unsafe. I would NOT recommend staying in Mobile.

Newnan, GA

“Plan D”

Alabama had some strange-bad vibes. We had pre-planned to go to Coca-Cola in Atlanta. At this point, I wanted to get the heck out of Alabama and get into Georgia.

I could feel the climb. I began seeing the mountains in the night shadow. Right into Alan Jackson territory, along the Chattahoochee River. Thirty minutes South of Atlanta, in the suburbs. We found a Comfort Inn.

And it was comforting. The area seemed safe. Back into the Eastern time zone as well! We spent New Year’s Eve in the hot tub, then watched the NYC ball drop on television.

Safe and happy!

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta has been on my bucket list for years. I’ve been wanting to visit World of Coca-Cola, Olympic Park, and The First Chick-fil-A.

The first morning of the New Year.
*I’m glad to be here!*

Zach Brown “Chicken Fried” playing loudly in the background. Blue clear sky and sunshine. Strangers smile and say hello. A few strike up casual conversation.. We felt so welcomed to be in Atlanta!

Legit.. I’d come back here. It feels like a good long weekend city. Go to a few places. Spinnanight or two, and explore the area!

Atlanta Bucket List things to do:

The Varsity
- Saw this on the Food Network.
Georgia Aquarium
- Biggest in the USA!
Go to Stone Mountain
Go to shop & eat in Decatur. Maybe look into festivals?

World of Coca-Cola

I’m here to tell you that World of Coca-Cola was like, a giant version of the one at Epcot. Much, much more detailed. Learning the history of how a pharmaceutical company made this product. How the image has transformed the world.. Well, I still like my diet coke.

Admission is $30 pp. Which, seemed steep. But it was cool and we got lots of free samples from all over the world. Know your limits.

Dwarf House

I’m a major foodie. And I love Chick-fil-A, especially on Sundays. The OG Chick-fil-A has been on my bucket list. We were in the area at lunch time, it was time to go!

It’s a small museum, with a few playground things for kids. One side is a restaurant (45 minute wait). The other side is fast-food (no line).. We chose the quickest option.

The fast-food menu offered more than your average Chick-fil-A. We split a 30 piece. I had to try the Sweet Potato souffle! They also had “hot brown” on the menu.. I’ll come back to that later.

Cumberland Valley, TN

We left Atlanta with food in mind. One of things we planned to do was go to In N Out. The stretch between Atlanta and Nashville is about 3 1/2 hours. It begins getting twisty and windy. The Appalachian Mountains are here again. We crossed this point, a few days ago on the way down!

Right halfway between is Chattanooga, TN. Some of the billboards we saw were giving me next-vacation ideas..

Cumberland Valley TN Bucket List Things to Do:

Ruby Falls
- Tallest underground waterfall and deepest underground lake in the US.
Lodge Cast Iron Museum
Rock City
- It looks like an enchanted fairytale!
Lookout Mountain
- See seven states from this spot!
Little Debbie Park

I’ll definitely be back to this area. It seems kitschy and fun!

Murfreesboro, TN

We’re East coast mountain people. I’ve seen the West coast, and been to the other side a few times. I like good food.. Which, this entire side of the US is lacking one really good thing. In Tennessee and Texas, you can get In-N-Out Burger. This is the easternmost closest location.

This location also opened two weeks prior to our visit. We had to wait in line for an hour and a half. It was worth the wait for a neopolitan shake and double-double animal style.

We stayed at a hotel nearby, in the shopping district of Murfreesboro. It felt like a very safe suburb of Nashville. In the trajectory of I-40 / I-65. Tomorrow’s plans were Louisville for the Caverns!

Louisville, KY

“Drive-Thru Cave Christmas Lights”

It’s a three hour jaunt from Nashville to Louisville. Right through the middle of Kentucky: passing through Mammoth Cave. We saw the National Corvette Museum and Dinosaur World.

I’d also love to spend more time in this area. So many caves and state parks to explore! Maybe go to the Kentucky Derby. I’ll wear a fancy hat, while drinking a mint julep. But.. For today, I’m driving through a CAVE!

Admission is $50 per car. Buy tickets online to save money. It is well worth it! Likely cheaper than any other family caving excursion. Most caves I’ve visited are around $20 per person.

The inside of the cave was HUGE. I was driving in it for about 45 minutes at 2-3 mph. The LED lights were done so beautifully! And there were unique themes around every turn, and in each corner.

If I were to make a list of “coolest things I’ve ever done”.. Lights Under Louisville would be on the top of the list!

Louisville, KY Bucket List Things to Do:

Wagner’s Pharmacy
- Hot Brown, Derby Pie, and linimint.
Louisville Mega Caverns
- Happiest place underground!
Waverly Hills Sanatorium
Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory
Ark Encounter
Kentucky Toyota Factory Tour

Get the Hot Brown @Wagners Pharmacy, and buy some horse linimint afterwards.

Oh! And try the Derby pie!

Kentucky is filled with so much to do. It’s a beautiful state, and the people are so nice. Overall, it’s quirky and full of many surprises. I especially enjoyed my visit Red River Gorge.

WV Adventures & Roadtrips: Red River Gorge, KY

Cincinnati, OH

One of my favorite places to visit is Jungle Jim’s. The Eastgate location is bigger, less classic.. The Fairfield location is a tiny bit smaller and more retro.

This is “Food Lovers Paradise”. You can find anything from any country, and every decade. Go to the German aisle for spaetzle, browse the millions of bottles of hot sauces. Find candy from your childhood.. Egg nog, kangaroo meat, and all the flavors of chips, and teas. It’s all here!

Cincinnati isn’t far from West Virginia. In fact, we make the day trip almost yearly. It’s just over four hours. It was nice to be almost home!

This was such a fun trip. We got to see and do so many things we’ve never knew about! It was exotic to see plantains growing in the US. A whole list of birds and trees we’ve discovered. So much raw real history we’ve learned about.

Vacation memories.

Stories to tell.

Unforgettable places.