An 18-day reversed Southern road trip via Texas, Galveston, Memphis, and Nashville
Estimated cost
Estimates generated at planning time — your actual costs may vary.
Day-by-day itinerary
Natural Bridge State Park
Woodland trail beneath a monumental limestone arch
Local Roots Restaurant
Seasonal Southern cooking in historic Grandin Village
Mill Mountain Star
Panoramic overlook beneath Roanoke's illuminated star
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, Curio Collection by Hilton
Historic downtown hotel with convenient sedan parking
Blue Ridge Parkway - Linville Falls Visitor Center
Short forest trails to dramatic gorge viewpoints
The Pedalin' Pig
Relaxed barbecue stop near the High Country
Romare Bearden Park
Uptown green space framed by Charlotte's skyline
Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown
Comfortable Uptown base near restaurants and parks
Tallulah Gorge State Park
Deep gorge with suspension bridge and rim trails
Universal Joint Clayton
Casual burgers and regional beer in a converted garage
Ponce City Market
Food hall and rooftop attractions in a landmark factory
Hotel Indigo Atlanta Downtown, an IHG Hotel
Stylish downtown hotel near major city landmarks
Georgia Aquarium
Huge marine exhibits including whale sharks
Mary Mac's Tea Room
Classic Atlanta institution for Southern comfort food
Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail
Urban trail linking murals, parks, and lively districts
SkyView Atlanta
Downtown observation wheel with sunset skyline views
Hotel Indigo Atlanta Downtown, an IHG Hotel
Second night in the same convenient downtown base
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice
Powerful open-air memorial examining racial terror
Central Restaurant
Contemporary Southern restaurant in a historic warehouse
USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park
Historic battleship, submarine, and military aircraft
The Admiral Hotel, Mobile Downtown
Historic downtown hotel near Mobile's evening scene
Bellingrath Gardens & Home
Estate gardens filled with Gulf Coast plants
The Blind Tiger Biloxi Beach
Casual seafood overlooking Mississippi Sound
Jackson Square
Landmark French Quarter square beside St. Louis Cathedral
Cochon RESTAURANT
Cajun cooking centered on Louisiana ingredients
Cambria Hotel New Orleans Downtown Warehouse District
Modern Warehouse District hotel outside Quarter congestion
Buffalo Bayou Park
Urban trails and skyline views beside the bayou
C. Baldwin, Curio Collection by Hilton
Comfortable downtown hotel near Buffalo Bayou
McKinney Falls State Park
Limestone swimming holes and creekside hiking trails
Hays City Store & Ice House
Hill Country grill known for burgers and Tex-Mex
The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Gardens
Hilltop sculpture garden with broad sunset views
Inn of the Hills Hotel & Conference Center
Established Hill Country hotel with easy surface parking
Hill Country State Natural Area
Rugged trails through classic Texas ranch country
Old Spanish trail
Long-running cowboy-town cafe serving Texan classics
The Alamo
Historic mission central to the story of Texas
San Antonio River Walk
Landscaped riverside paths through downtown
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
Historic downtown hotel directly beside the River Walk
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
UNESCO-listed Spanish missions linked by trails
The Cove
Casual sustainable burgers and Texas beer
Japanese Tea Garden
Stone bridges, shaded paths, and a waterfall garden
Tower of the Americas
Observation deck overlooking the city and Hill Country
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
Second night at the central River Walk base
Coopers Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que
Classic counter-service Texas barbecue
Cameron Park
Riverside trails and limestone bluffs above the Brazos
AT&T Stadium
Home of the Dallas Cowboys and a major stadium-tour stop
Live! by Loews - Arlington, Texas
Modern hotel within the stadium entertainment district
Fort Worth Stockyards
Historic cattle district with Western architecture
Heim Barbecue on the River
Popular barbecue beside the Trinity River
Fort Worth Water Gardens
Modernist pools and dramatic cascading water
Six Flags Over Texas
Large amusement park with major roller coasters
Live! by Loews - Arlington, Texas
Second night beside Arlington's entertainment venues
Space Center Houston
NASA exhibits and tram tours of Johnson Space Center
T-Bone Tom's
Texas grill serving steaks, barbecue, and seafood
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier
Gulf-front rides extending over the water
The Tremont House, Galveston, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Historic hotel in the walkable Strand district
Moody Gardens Attractions Theme Park
Rainforest pyramid, aquarium, and educational exhibits
Gaido's
Long-established Gulf seafood restaurant on the seawall
Galveston Island State Park
Coastal trails, paddling water, and quiet beach habitat
The Tremont House, Galveston, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Second night in Galveston's historic downtown
San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site
Texas independence battlefield and towering monument
American Rose Center
Expansive gardens featuring thousands of rose bushes
The Remington Suite Hotel & Spa
Boutique suites in downtown Shreveport
Louisiana State Exhibit Museum
Regional history presented through detailed dioramas
National Civil Rights Museum
Essential civil-rights museum at the Lorraine Motel
ARRIVE Memphis
Design-focused hotel in the South Main district
Graceland
Elvis Presley's mansion and entertainment complex
Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint
Whole-hog barbecue near Lower Broadway
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Definitive collection covering country music history
John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
Cumberland River crossing with skyline views
Hyatt Place Knoxville / Downtown
Central Knoxville hotel beside Market Square
Market Square
Historic pedestrian square at the heart of Knoxville
The French Market Creperie Downtown
Casual crepes and coffee near Market Square
Mac and Bob's
Popular local restaurant known for calzones
Before you go
Local tips
- 1Reserve Graceland, AT&T Stadium, Space Center Houston, Georgia Aquarium, and the Alamo before departure.
- 2Schedule outdoor Texas activities early; September afternoons commonly remain hot and humid.
- 3Monitor Cowboys and Rangers calendars because Arlington event traffic can sharply affect hotel and parking prices.
- 4Use one garage per city in Atlanta, New Orleans, San Antonio, and Nashville, then explore compact districts on foot.
- 5Refuel before leaving Houston for Hill Country and before the rural Delta segment toward Memphis.
- 6Check Gulf tropical-weather forecasts daily from Mobile through Galveston and leave the coast early if evacuation guidance begins.
Good to know
- 1The reversed stop order creates substantial southeast-to-west and Texas backtracking compared with the original corridor.
- 2I-35 through Austin, I-10 through Houston, and the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex have severe weekday congestion.
- 3September is within Atlantic hurricane season; Galveston attractions and causeway access may close during tropical weather.
- 4Texas frontage roads can require early lane changes, and high-speed merging is common around major cities.
- 5The final Nashville-to-Knoxville transfer follows a full sightseeing day; fatigue management and a meal break are essential.
- 6State-park swimming areas may close after flooding or poor water-quality readings; obey posted notices.