Chicago round trip

[stuarta]

Hi guys,

I'm looking at booking a holiday and a roundtrip Chicago roadtrip at the end of August for 10 full days

So far we've planned to drive down to Nashville for a couple of days via Lynchburg with a stopover in potentially Louisville and maybe a trip to Dollywood. Then onto Memphis and back up through St Louis.

Not really knowing the area (normally do west coast) are there any sights we should see or roads to use? I think Dollywood might be out due to cost but anywhere in the Great Smokey mountain area we should think about?

Thanks and look forward to suggestions.

[AZBuck]

Welcome back.

The first thing to note is that while ten days may seem like a lot, a full four of those days will be taken up with driving a fairly direct route through the places you mentioned. If that ten days also includes flying days, then you're down to just four days (maybe a little more) for actually doing stuff. So the first thing you'll want to do is get your destinations laid out in the most efficient order. That would be Chicago, Pigeon Forge, Lynchburg, Nashville, Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago.

Now, besides the cities which I assume you've looked at and know what you want to do there, where/what else might be worth a stop? In Kentucky, Mammoth Cave would probably top my list. If you do decide to visit Mammoth Caves, there is a small two-car ferry across the Green River that might interest you. I'd also try to include some of the Appalachians by using US-441/US-74 from Pigeon Forge to Chattanooga and then continue on I-24/TN-55 to Lynchburg.

In addition there are more Civil War battlefields in the southeastern portion of this trip than you can shake a stick at. So let us know what, if any, interest you might have in visiting a few.

Two last places where I'd recommend at least a short stop. First, seeing as how you're from the west coast, is New Madrid (pronounced 'New MAD-rid') just off I-55 on your way between Memphis and St. Louis. This is the site of the largest earthquake to be recorded in the United States (1811). And second, Hannibal, MO might not be too big a detour.

AZBuck

[stuarta]

Thanks for the update. At the moment we are looking at the following

Sat 26 - land lunchtime
Sun 27 - Chicago
Mon 28 - Louisville
Tue 29 - Pigeon Forke
Wed 30 - Pigeon Forke (might be dropped)
Thu 31 - Nashville (via Lynchburg)
Fri 1 - Nashville
Sat 2 - Nashville
Sun 3 - Memphis
Mon 4 - Memphis
Tue 5 - St Louis
Wed 6 - Chicago
Thu 7 - Fly home

City wise, I'm not sure although we do have a book to read but the wife is desperate to do Nashville mainly. New Madrid sounds interesting. I think Dollywood is probably going to be out of the picture due to the costs and how much we would actually use the park but keen to do anything else that might be in the area.

[DonnaR57]

Actually, in Pigeon Forge, you are going to be just north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Yes, it's one of the most popular US National Parks, just because of its proximity to so many other populated places (east coast), but might be worth your while.

Bear in mind that the first weekend in September is the Labor Day Weekend here in the US. You may find that lodging will be slightly higher priced that weekend, and roads may be more congested.


Donna

[AZBuck]

There is, of course, lots more to do in Pigeon Forge than just go to Dollywood. That's true of areas around most major amusement parks. There's also plenty to see and do in Nashville and Memphis. Also in the Pigeon Forge area, and during your travel time frame, is the annual Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival, while Memphis' music scene is more Blues oriented than Country.

AZbuck

[Midwest Michael]

Looking at your plans, are you locked into Chicago as your starting/ending point?

Chicago is a great city, but it really just seems a long way away from everything else you're planning to do. Chicago to Louisville is a 5 hour drive, and then you're another 5 hours onto Pigeon Forge. You're basically doing the same thing on the way back - 5 hours from Memphis to St Louis then another 5 hours onto Chicago. Not that any of those are a problem, but they aren't going to leave you much time to see things in either place.

It might be a better use of your time just to fly into Nashville and do a loop from there. Start by heading out to Lynchburg and Pigeon Forge - see Smokey Mountains NP and perhaps drive some of the Blue Ridge Pkwy. Head back across Kentucky (Bourbon Trail?) to Louisville, Mammoth Cave, and continue onto St. Louis, before going down to Memphis and back to Nashville.

That's a very rough outline, and what you have would work, it just seems like Chicago is an odd place to use as your base when the majority of what you want to see is in Tennessee.

[stuarta]

Ok thanks and Chicago was only as the cheapest airport to land at. I was tempted by Indianapolis as a petrol head but guess there isn't much to see? The main points would be Memphis, Nashville and Lynchburg and not even bothered by St Louis, it was just a case of passing by on the way back.

I've just checked and flying to Nashville is only around £150 each which we could save in fuel and other accomodation costs and just circle the southern area.

Although just noticed Nashville hire cars are about £200 more than from Chicago as well.

[DonnaR57]

I've just checked and flying to Nashville is only around £150 each which we could save in fuel and other accomodation costs and just circle the southern area.

Although just noticed Nashville hire cars are about £200 more than from Chicago as well.

Think of the savings in time driving, and in gasoline/petrol costs, when trying to make your decision about where to fly into. Also, realize that if you fly into Chicago's O'Hare, you'll have to negotiate a bit of city driving when you first set out. Chicago is a pretty large city, and O'Hare is located on the northwest side.


Donna

[glc]

You also have toll roads around Chicago.

You can check airfares and car rentals in Memphis, St. Louis, Knoxville, and Louisville.

[stuarta]

Can't see to get direct flights from UK to Memphis or St Louis unfortunately