Brits driving from Chicago to Miami

Two Englishmen in their mid-thirties - old college buddies - have been given 'pink tickets' by their wives for a two week road trip in the US. Very exciting!

We're thinking about the last two weeks in April this year (08).

And we've settled on Chicago to Miami (via Louisville , Memphis and Atlanta ideally), and wondered whether any forum members had good advice on great roads, siteseeing and fun stopovers (party places) en route.

Also, we'd like to do the trip in a cool, head-turning rental car. I've spotted the Hertz Fun collection (Shelby Mustang, Hummer etc), but they don't seem to offer them for one-ways - only bog-standard models.

Thanks,

BobbyPacket

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

Just a few of the many stops possible along your route include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Mammoth Cave, and Tupelo (if Graceland is why you're going to Memphis). Memphis is also a great party town with many good blues and jazz joints, particularly along Beal Street. For smaller pub-style stops along the way check out what are called micro breweries in the States. Unfortunately, specialty cars are just that and unlike the bog-standard types they can't just be transferred form one location to another. The hire companies also wouldn't like how many miles you'd have to put on it to get it there either.

AZBuck

Hi guys, sounds like a great trip! What are your interests apart from scenic drives?

If you think you'll love Memphis (be sure to visit the Lorraine Motel for a real contrast to the over-the-top glitz of Graceland) then you really should do a small detour to Nashville after you leave there. I can thoroughly recommend an evening enjoying the sights and sounds of Broadway and would suggest you spend at least a couple of hours in the fabulous Tootsies Orchid Lounge. In Bowling Green KY you can visit the National Corvette Museum before heading over the road to the factory where you can do the fascinating factory tour (reservations required - cost $5 each). The Jack Daniels Distillery is in nearby Lynchburg TN and they also do a very interesting factory tour. (no reservations required - cost $free).

Chattanooga is actually quite a cool little town and a real nice place to spend an evening. A great vibe around the place and some nice chilled bars and restaurants. They have a fantastic aquarium which you may or may not be interested in (I wasn't but went anyway and thoroughly enjoyed it!) and the fantasticly touristy Ruby Falls which offered a really good fun tour. Completely different to the presentation of the cave tours at Mammoth Cave National Park but still very much worth a stop. I really enjoyed it.

I also liked Birmingham AL which had a lot of history to soak up. Very though provoking. Near Birmingham you will find the huge Talladega Superspeedway which just happens to be hosting one of the most spectacular races to be found anywhere in the world on April 27 - tickets are still available - if you could push your trip back a week I would seriously recommend you hitting that race. Even if you're not a racefan then you'll love the sights, sounds and sensations created by 43 cars racing past at 200mph. Not to mention the crowd. You have to do it!

Through into Atlanta - why not take in a game at Turner Field - and then south towards Miami. Why not stop at the Museum Of Aviatiom at Warner Robins Air Force Base? There is free entry and you can easily spend a whole day there exploring.

So much to see and do along that route. Come back and let us know a little more about your interests and I'm sure there'll be some more suggestions forthcoming.

Based on personal experience, if you like varied scenery and like to roadtrip USA style I'd nudge your compass a bit and go Chicago to Las Vegas, north route down and route 66 back. Driving Chicago to Miami is very similiar to driving London to Glasgow and lets face it Vegas is the ultimate "let loose destination". I do this trip every year from Toronto Canada in a muscle car and the scenery in the desert still blows me away every time.

Thank you for all the advice so far. This is a great forum.

You've hit the nail on the head with suggestions about car museums, race tracks, distilleries, Graceland (and surrounds), great bars, restaurants and music venues.

We're just experience junkies, and will throw ourselves into the local culture, booze and parties!

We will definitely try to co-ordinate the trip with major sporting events: motor racing, football (your American version, rather than our soccer!), golf, baseball, hockey etc. When do the seasons run?

I appreciate the suggestion about Vegas, but we've both been there a few times (love it, of course!) and want to try something new. Though I'm slightly concerned about Livetodrive's suggestion that Chicago-Miami is like London-Glasgow!

Just to give something back... The UK's top motoring programme Top Gear recently set out to find the best driving road in Europe, and settled on Davos to Stelvio (through Northern Italy). That's our next stop - classic Alpine scenery, twisting roads, high bridges etc. Think the opening scenes of the original Italian Job film. Will have to be done in an Alfa Romeo (or Maserati or Ferrari if I win the lottery) for true authenticity, methinks.

I honestly think it'll be as far removed from driving London - Glasgow as it possibly could be. I wouldn't worry about that too much. Of course there may be stretches or areas which aren't as great as others but, hell, it's still 100% different to driving through Rotherham, Barnsley, Sheffield, Birmingham and the like ;)

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Originally Posted by BobbyPacket

We will definitely try to co-ordinate the trip with major sporting events: motor racing, football (your American version, rather than our soccer!), golf, baseball, hockey etc. When do the seasons run?

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ALMS: March to October
Champcar: April to November
IRL: March to September
MLB: April to September
MLS: April to November
Nascar: February to November
NBA: November to April
NFL: September to December
NHL: October to April

Anyone care to add any others?

Craig, you left off the post seasons on your list.

NFL playoffs run into January.
MLB playoffs take place in October. MLB also has spring training games in March in Florida and Arizona.
NBA and NHL both are playing into June.

You might also want to include major college sports.
NCAA football runs from September to November, with bowl games in Dec/Jan
NCAA Basketball starts in November and ends with march madness
NCAA Hockey starts in October and ends with the frozen four in late March/early April.

If you are traveling in late April, I'd have to think that a baseball game will be your best bet. Since you are starting in Chicago, a game at Wrigley Field would be about the perfect setting. It should also be pretty easy to find a basketball or hockey game during your trip. Major football is done for the year, although I believe Arena League Football (a minor league version of US Football, played indoors on a basketball court sized field) would be an option if you wanted to see something that is like American Football.

Saving me a lot of research, guys. Many thanks.

And UKCraig - I might just make that trip through Rotherham, Barnsley, Sheffield, Birmingham etc one day... if I lose a bet!

Having said that, I spent a great night in Birmingham just before Christmas in bar just off Broad Street called Mitchu. The city is a lot smarter than it was a decade ago, when I last spent a night out there.

All, upon review proposing an alternate destination was perhaps a little rude. Chalk it up to infatuation with the desert or possibly brain cell damage from muscle car exhaust fumes. This trip is shaping up so well I might do it again myself this summer. A couple of additional suggestions I would add are the Volo classic car museum just south of Chicago and the Floyd Garret Muscle car museum in Pigeon Forge Tennesee and the incredible Cavern tours. Depending on your route, there is an excellent two lane twisty road that takes you through the smokey mountains. Depending on your sensibilities, you may want to make Pigeon Forge a morning visit as it is still classified as a "Dry Town". A wonder in itself in this day and age but there are no bars, I do believe that they may now allow wine/beer to be sold in restaraunts. The irony is that Tennessee is the birthplace of the world famous Jack Daniels sipping whisky! Funny story, I restored a Dodge Challenger similiar to the one used in the movie Vanishing point that I use for roadtrips. When we arrived in Pigeon Forge after traversing the Smokies we did the Cavern tour parked the car and walked away from the motel to find a cold beverage. Two hours of walking later, still no cold beverage and I learned all about the "Dry Town" way of life. A few hours rest and we headed out on the open road again missing the car museum. Guess whats in the museum but the "Vanishing Point" Challenger used in the movie. Duh!

Great thread guys! I may well steal some of the ideas listed here for our trip which should encompass some of the areas mentioned.

Great stuff!

Should get around to booking our flights and rental car this weekend. Can't wait!

Thanks for the rethink, Livetodrive and the motor museum tips.

We're both petrol-heads, so we'll definitely pay them a visit.

And we're both booze-hounds, so we'll be avoiding the dry town!

What's everyone's concensus on accommodation for our trip in mid to late April? Should we just find motels and B&Bs along the way (any reason why there wouldn't be plenty of vacancies?), or would it be worth pre-booking some hotels (maybe in the bigger towns and cities).

We'll probably aim to complete a minimum daily mileage, and probably have some target towns and cities, but we quite like the idea of being flexible and simply staying over in places that take our fancy.

In Cave City, by Mammouth Cave, there is a great old Americon motel where you can sleep in a teepee. That is an experience. However, bring your own booze in as it is a dry county. As I found out too late.

Nearby, in Bowling Green is the National Corvette Museum.

I normally adopt a seat of the pants approach to booking lodging when I'm on the road and overall I've had pretty good luck. I like the spontaneous approach. If I were travelling with my wife I would probably be more concerned but with two guys travelling you don't mind compromising motel standards for convenience. I think you'll be fine. Question for you and anyone else who happens by this post I could use some input on. Over the last few years I've restored a few muscle cars that I really don't want to sell, but can't really justify keeping. If I were to work out the business logistics, would "roadtrippers" like yourselves be willing to pay a reasonable rental fee to use a 1973 Dodge Challenger, 1968 Charger or a 1970 Mustang Mach 1 to use for the experience. The cars are restored and dependable but they are not concourse correct show cars so I'm thinking of a basic daily rate with no mileage restrictions. This post is the best market research I've got so please be candid with your input. The business would base in Toronto, but delivery to major cities is not a big issue. What thinks you all??

Livetodrive - I think you may have stumbled upon a great business opportunity for classic car rental. I have been unable to find anything 'interesting' to rent for a one-way trip. Hertz do a range of Fun cars, like the Shelby Mustang, Hummer etc, but not for one-ways. And even then, I'm sure many of us would rather take to the road in something more distinct.

Get yourself a well SEO'd website to advertise your cars (and maybe others - you could act as a broker) worldwide to road trippers and I think you'd get good custom.

Of course there is the logistics of delivery and collection to consider (plus insurance, breakdown cover etc), but you'd be offering something special, so people will pay a premium.

Let me know how you get on.

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Originally Posted by Livetodrive

Over the last few years I've restored a few muscle cars that I really don't want to sell, but can't really justify keeping. If I were to work out the business logistics, would "roadtrippers" like yourselves be willing to pay a reasonable rental fee to use a 1973 Dodge Challenger, 1968 Charger or a 1970 Mustang Mach 1 to use for the experience. The cars are restored and dependable but they are not concourse correct show cars so I'm thinking of a basic daily rate with no mileage restrictions. This post is the best market research I've got so please be candid with your input. The business would base in Toronto, but delivery to major cities is not a big issue. What thinks you all??

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We regularly have people pop in here who are looking for classic American cars to do roadtrips in. And we are unaware of anyplace like this to refer them to. Let us know the details when you get your business up-and-going so we can pass the information along.

That is such a good idea. I generally come over from England once a year and do a big road trip. An available classic car for rental would be cool. I always rent a Mustang convertible, which just makes any trip that much better :-)
I was fortunate at the time of my first trip (Route 66 Chicago to LA) in that Budget were offering a free one -way deal, which helped a lot. The one way charges can add a lot to the overall cost and I have subsequently only made round trips. I looked at the Auto Driveaway option, but the minimum daily mileage would seem to restrict the itinerary.

I am over on April 8th, routing Houston-New Orleans- Hwy61 to Memphis-Forth Worth-Midland-Big Bend-Austin-Houston.

Guys if you are starting in Chicago, breakfast at Lou Mitchell's is a must.

I generally pre-book my first night in the US, so at least you have something to put on the immigration form and then just find places as I go. Super 8 motels are good and reliable and are everywhere.

If I can help further, give me a call

Have a great trip

Best Regards

Roger

Judy,

Thanks so much for the offer, if you don't mind I'll hold you to it once I get the details worked out. As predicted, the insurance aspect of this venture is really the only challenge. Getting appropriate coverage is not an issue, getting coverage while keeping it financially viable is something different altogether. Regardless, I've got my insurance folks working on it. More than just the business aspect, when this comes together it will allow people to share in an experience that I personally treasure, roadtripping in a classic car is a truly unique experience as you tend to attract like minded people wherever you go. Lastly, after spening hundreds of hours restoreing the cars, they look so sad couped up in the garage!

Thanks again
Livetodrive

Roger,

Thanks for the vote of confidence, hopefully by the time you are ready to roll next year I'll be able to provide you with something worthy. The only reservation I have about this business venture is that the legend of classic American muscle cars may have exceeded their attributes. By that I mean the cars themselves are a handfull to drive, loud and have blind spots you can lose a tractor trailer in. Then again that may be the allure, anyone can drive a new car around right?