Trip from Cincinnati, to St. Louis, to Memphis, and back... Help!

[WantToTravelAmerica]

Hello,

I plan to take a road trip from Cincinnati, where I live, to St. Louis, to Memphis, and then back to Cincinnati. I have about a week to take this trip and want to stop anywhere and everywhere I can in between. Are there any suggestions? I love nature, music, culture, food, anything. Also any suggested routes would be awesome.

Thanks!

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

The first two legs of this trip, assuming you're actually going to spend some time in St. Louis and Memphis, are short enough that you can eschew the Interstates and take more relaxed routes that let you see some nature, countryside, history, and find some food besides the exit ramp fast food joints. For the run to St. Louis, try US-50 rather than I-74/I-70 or I-71/I-64. That would take you by Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, Starve-Hollow State Recreation Area, andhistoric Vincennes. In St. Louis, there's the Jewel Box in Forest Park, and the St. Louis Art Museum.

From St. Louis down to Memphis, you can similarly skip I-55 and instead start with US-61 down to Ste. Genevieve and cross the Mississippi by ferry over to Illinois and then take IL-3/US-51 down to Memphis with a stop at Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge, In Memphis, Beale Street is the place for the music, of course, but be sure to pay a visit to the old Sun Studios as well.

For the drive back home, try US-79 up to Bowling Green, KY and go underground at Mammoth Cave National Park. From there US-31E is a fairly scenic drive up to Bardstown from where you can finish your trip on the Blue Grass Parkway and I-75

AZBuck

[RoadDog]

In St. Louis, definitely stop at Ted Drewe's for concretes. Plus, we like the toasted ravioli.

Driving from St. Louis to Memphis, be sure to catch some "throwed rolls" at Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston, Missouri.