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Self Drives > Southern USA

Southern Rhythms

Self Drive Tour: Inclusive Car, Standard or Upgrade Accommodation
Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights or 13 Days / 12 Nights
Start/Finish: Atlanta / Atlanta or Orlando

01 Apr 2024 - 31 Mar 2025

  • Enjoy great food and music in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz.
  • Explore Atlanta’s role in the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement in the city’s museums.
  • Walk Nashville’s Music City Walk of Fame, honoring country performers of national reputation.
  • Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, located on Nashville’s Music Row.
  • Embark on the ultimate rock ‘n roll experience at Elvis Presley’s Graceland.
  • Walk down Beale Street for a taste of the music Memphis makes today.
  • Explore Mississippi’s capital city, Jackson, the City with Soul.
  • Find serenity in Pensacola, where blue skies meet the emerald-green water of the Gulf.
  • Visit Tallahassee, Florida’s capital city, nestled in the Red Hills bioregion of Florida’s Panhandle.
  • Explore Savannah’s beautifully preserved historic neighborhoods.
  • Stroll down Charleston’s quaint alleyways or trot through the streets in a carriage.
  • Option of two tours ending in either Atlanta or Orlando; refer to Tours 1 and 2 in the itinerary.

Admission fees not included

Pre-pay and save!

Book the Access Pass and take advantage of savings at the must-see activities along your drive route. Includes:

  • Graceland Tour and Admission
  • Steamboat Natchez Dinner Jazz Cruise
  • Court of Two Sisters Jazz Brunch
  • Savannah Hop-On, Hop-Off Trolley tour

ATLANTA - ARRIVAL 

Day 1: Arrive in Atlanta. Pick up your car and proceed to your hotel. 

ATLANTA 

Day 2: Enjoy a day in Atlanta, which started as a railroad junction in the 1830s and quickly became the transport hub of the South. Its strategic importance was a large part of the reason it made such an inviting target for General Sherman’s Union Army, which razed it during the Civil War. Visit Fairlie-Poplar, the African American Panoramic Experience, Grant Park, or the Atlanta History Center. 

ATLANTA - NASHVILLE 

Day 3: Along the way, stop to see the Chattanooga “Choo Choo” train. In Lynchburg, tour the legendary Jack Daniel’s whiskey distillery. Proceed to Nashville in the evening. 

Driving Distance: 245 MI / 392 KM 

NASHVILLE - MEMPHIS 

Day 4: Soak up the sounds of the country music capital by visiting the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Experience the South’s tumultuous history at the Tennessee State Museum. Leave the city early enough to arrive in Memphis for a late dinner. 

Driving Distance: 209 MI / 334 

MEMPHIS - VICKSBURG 

Day 5: Explore the birthplace of the blues by taking in a performance in one of the entertaining Beale Street blues bars. Drive out for a tour of Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland; see the original bomber, Memphis Belle; or take the monorail to Mud Island. 

MEMPHIS - VICKSBURG 

Day 6: Today, visit Vicksburg National Military Park, which commemorates the campaign, siege, and defense of Vicksburg in 1863. There are over 1,300 monuments, markers, and plaques, a 16-mile tour road, and a national cemetery, the nation’s largest burial site of Civil War Union soldiers and sailors, with graves totaling over 17,000. 

Driving Distance: 217 MI / 349 KM 

VICKSBURG - NATCHEZ - BATON ROUGE - NEW ORLEANS 

Day 7: Enjoy a drive through Natchez and Baton Rouge, the heart of the old South, en route to New Orleans. New Orleans’ unique geography, sandwiched between Lake Pontchartrain and the mighty Mississippi River, shaped the flavors of the only cuisine native to North America. 

Driving Distance: 189 MI / 304 KM 

NEW ORLEANS 

Day 8: The Big Easy is a melting pot of European culture and Southern charm. Stroll through the French Quarter and admire its distinctive architectural styling, then experience the festive frenzy on Bourbon Street. Steamboat river tours on board restored paddleboats are a great way to experience the mighty Mississippi. 

NEW ORLEANS - PENSACOLA 

Day 9: Drive from city life to beach blankets. Relax on the white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and enjoy a swim in the warm blue waters of the Atlantic Coast. Wander through Pensacola’s Seville District or head to the beaches of Santa Rosa Island. 

Driving Distance: 188 MI / 301 KM 

PENSACOLA – TALLAHASSEE

Day 10: Travel along the Gulf Coast through the untouched wildlife preserves and natural habitats that dot the landscape. Fishing villages and the Emerald Coast provide ample distractions along the way. Sprinkled with southern charm, Tallahassee’s landscape mixes antebellum architecture and modern innovation. 

Driving Distance: 196 MI / 314 KM 

TOUR 1:

TALLAHASSEE - SAVANNAH 

Day 11: Historic Savannah is home to some of the South’s most beautifully restored houses. Take a relaxing afternoon walk and picnic in one of the many green parks throughout the city. 

Driving Distance: 301 MI / 484 KM 

SAVANNAH - CHARLESTON 

Day 12: Charleston truly represents the grandeur and elegance of the South. Gorgeous tree-lined avenues add to the charm of the antebellum architecture. 

Driving Distance: 105 MI / 168 KM 

CHARLESTON - ATLANTA 

Day 13: Leave South Carolina’s coast and head back inland on your return trip to Atlanta. 

Driving Distance: 290 MI / 467 KM 

ATLANTA DEPARTURE 

Day 14: Return your car to the airport before your departure flight.

TOUR 2: 

TALLAHASSEE - ST. AUGUSTINE 

Day 11: Head into the heart of Florida and take in the beautiful and unique scenic landscapes. 

Driving Distance: 203 MI / 326 KM 

ST. AUGUSTINE - ORLANDO 

Day 12: Drive due south to one of the world’s most exciting entertainment complexes. There are a wide variety of cultural attractions and elegant dining opportunities near Downtown Orlando, in addition to the many theme parks in the surrounding area. 

Driving Distance: 104 MI / 167 KM 

ORLANDO – DEPARTURE

Day 13: Return your car to the airport before your departure flight.

Inclusions

  • Accommodation as specified.
  • Compact rental car for 13 or 14 days*, inclusive of unlimited mileage, LDW loss damage waiver, theft protection, waiver (zero excess), 1 million USD liability cover (EP/SLI), local sales tax, airport surcharges/fees, homeland security fee, customer facility charge, and mechanical assistance.
  • Includes one-way drop-off fee in Orlando*
  • Sightseeing as per itinerary
  • Admission to attractions, where applicable.
Exclusions

  • International or Domestic flights
  • Meals, admissions, and/or optional tours unless specifically mentioned as being included in the itinerary.
  • Items of a personal nature, i.e. telephone calls, laundry, liquor, etc.
  • Use of hotel rooms before or after normal check-in and check-out times and resort fees, if applicable
  • Tolls, ferries, and parking fees

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