NYC to New Orleans Family Road Trip

Hello all. My spouse and I have just decided to have family road trip from New York City to New Orleans this year. We have about a week and a half for the entire trip, including travel. We plan on having 2-1/2 days to travel to New Orleans, about 5 days in the city and another 3 days to travel back Although we've travelled south before (mostly to Columbia, SC and Atlanta, GA) we are looking for an interesting, inexpensive and fun travel experience.

We will be travelling with kids -- ages 6, 14 and 16. It would be helpful to get suggestions on:
- scenic routes to and from New Orleans
- must see places along the way
- must see places in New Orleans

If there are national parks, beaches, historic sites or other places along the way it would be great to get your suggestions.

Thanks!

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

The fact is that, by the most direct route possible, It is a good two and a half days from New York to New Orleans. So you won't really have time for sight seeing on the way down. I-78/I-81/I-75/I-59 is, however, a generally scenic route. Even adding a half day to your return drive doesn't help all that much if your really want to see much of what's between those two cities. But if you can add a fourth day, then you can look at a return trip that includes the Natchez Trace Parkway, Shiloh, Mammoth Cave, and some of the mountains of West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

AZBuck