Southeastern USA Road Trip Itinerary

For my 23rd birthday, my now husband and I decided to head out on a road trip through the Eastern United States and the Midwest. Planning this trip was incredibly fun, and I had a few specific places in mind I wanted to see, as well as show my partner for the very first time. To see my planning process for the trip, check out my article here. Otherwise, here is my itinerary for our 2-week southeastern USA road trip!

Our road trip route planned with **Roadtrippers**!

First Stop: Florence, SC

At the time, we lived in Sarasota, FL, about an hour south of Tampa. Starting here, we took off and drove 8 hours straight through multiple states to our first destination: South Carolina. This area has loads of incredible hiking trails through the forests nearby. Unfortunately, the trails during our trip were inaccessible due to recent hurricane Florence swept through the area. However, we planned to stop in the city of Florence, visit a close friend, and explore as much of the area as we can! We ended up touring incredible local restaurants and thrift stores.

Second Stop: Washington, DC

Historical Washington DC is next on our list. While this city can be expensive, we stayed with a local near the metro to keep our costs low and visited free museums and monuments throughout the city. This is one of the few destinations that we filled with pre-planned activities! Over the next 2 days, we visited two Smithsonian museums, multiple historical monuments, and a local art gallery that was recommended to us by a friend.

For tours and other activities in Washington DC, check here!

Third Stop: Gatlinburg, TN

The beautiful, mountainous city of Gatlinburg is our next stop on our southeastern US road trip, and one of my favorite destinations in the United States. Here, we splurged a bit on a cabin in the mountains and surround ourselves with nature. We stayed two days: one day we devoted to hiking and seeing wildlife, the other devoted to exploring neighboring Pigeon Forge. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have so many fun things to do that we immediately started planning our next visit as we left! I suggest checking out Airbnb for secluded cabins at a cheaper rate. It’s where we booked ours! Click here for a discount on your first stay!

Fourth Stop: Evansville, IN

My hometown! We spent the next few days on this trip devoted to visiting the second largest festival in the country, the Fall Festival! This packed street fair is a food lover’s dream. Hundreds of food carts are set up with everything you could possibly think of. Deep-fried everything (and I mean everything!), fresh corn and veggies, and even brain sandwiches for those brave enough. While here, we also explored local caves and found hiking spots to see the colorful fall leaves. I also highly suggest checking out the Bourbon trail and Audobon State Park in neighboring Kentucky.

Fifth Stop: St. Louis, MO

I specifically chose St. Louis for 2 reasons: The City Museum and Imo’s Pizza. The City Museum is a 10-story former factory filled with handmade objects made for climbing and exploration. Founded and run by artists, this whimsical jungle gym contains secret passageways, a 10-story climbing area, and a slide that spans every floor of the building! After climbing for the day, we headed to Imo’s Pizza, one of my favorite pizza spots in the country. Whether you’re a kid or adult, I highly suggest visiting the City Museum!

Sixth Stop: Nashville, TN

Nashville is the next stop on our road trip, home to country music, awesome BBQ, and of course, Jack Daniel’s. The Jack Daniel’s Distillery is located near Nashville and offers tours that, of course, involve tasting whiskey straight from the barrel. For tour dates and prices, check here!

Seventh Stop: Atlanta, GA

After sleeping off the booze from the day before, Atlanta is our final stop on our southeastern USA road trip. As we will be here in October, The Walking Dead tour seemed like a perfect end to our trip. Most of the show is filmed in Atlanta! We will meet our group at the Walking Dead Cafe, and head out to visit filming sites. The tour is even led by an extra from the show! Check here for tour times and dates.

The final 8-hour stretch back home was of memories from our recent trip. Many of our days on the trip are not thoroughly planned out, which leaves room for adventure and spontaneity! My tip for anyone traveling is to not over plan. Let the trip work itself out rather than forcing it. The best way to execute the perfect southeastern USA road trip itinerary is to just experience this part of the country! By keeping your eyes open, you’ll discover some incredible food, activities, and destinations along the way. For more information, check out my long car ride survival guide here!

Need to rent a car for the road trip? Check out Skyscanner’s car rental comparison site here!

Did I miss anything spectacular in these cities? Let me know!