Atlanta to New Orleans Road Trip Itinerary - 8 Places to See

What to Expect on Your Road Trip to New Orleans

Do you know road trips are the most popular forms of travel in the USA? A recent survey by the Vacationer revealed that over 206 million Americans want to take a road trip in the summer of 2022. About 18% of them are willing to take a road trip longer than 500 miles.

A road trip can be a soul-refreshing experience for people who want to explore new destinations, breathe in fresh air, meet new people, taste new foods, or spend time with loved ones.

So what is the best road trip to take in the United States?

Though there are many popular road trips you can take in the United States, the Atlanta to New Orleans road trip is special because can be done as a round trip that starts in Atlanta and covers seven popular destinations such as Birmingham, Memphis, Jackson, Nashville, New Orleans, Mobile, and Montgomery before bringing you right back to Atlanta.

The total distance of this road trip is approximately 1,419 miles and can be done in about 21 hours of driving time.

A trip itinerary provides a clear visualization of destinations to be visited and activities to be carried out at each destination and ensures you complete the trip on time without any hassles.

This article provides you with the trip itinerary needed to cover the most popular destinations you absolutely cannot miss during this specially designed Atlanta to New Orleans road trip.

Your Road Trip from Atlanta to New Orleans

Here is the list of eight destinations you absolutely can not miss during your Atlanta to New Orleans road trip (the list is in order from Birmingham to Atlanta):

1. Birmingham

2. Memphis

3. Jackson

4. Nashville

5. New Orleans

6. Mobile

7. Montgomery

8. Atlanta

If you follow a route like the one outlined below, you’re sure to hit all the spots! 

1. Birmingham

Birmingham is the second-most populous city after Huntsville in Alabama. The city is home to world-class golf trials, national parks, museums, elegant hotels, motels, and zoos.

The major tourist attractions in Birmingham are:

•  Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum:  If you are a bike lover, don’t miss visiting this museum. It has a collection of 750 vintage motorbikes displayed on walls and platforms across the building.

• Birmingham Civil Rights Institute: You must visit this museum if you want to know the history of civil rights advocates and the freedom struggles of black Americans. 

• Vulcan Park and Museum: With the largest cast-iron statue in the world, this location provides a beautiful scenic view of downtown Birmingham.

• Birmingham Zoo: If you are traveling with children, this zoo is a must-visit place in Birmingham. It is home to lions, zebras, giraffes, sea lions, and African elephants.

Other places you should not miss in Birmingham include the McWane Science Center, Birmingham Botanical Garden, and Birmingham Museum of Art.

2. Nashville

Nashville, the capital city of Tennessee, is the fourth most populous city in the Southeastern U.S. Nashville is known for its country music, and many tourists visit Nashville to attend the live performance of the Grand Ole Opry, the world's longest-running live radio show. Grand Ole Opry provides you with a unique opportunity to witness superstars playing live music. Don’t forget to visit the Grand Ole Opry’s website to check the show calendar before scheduling your road trip. If you have time, you can visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park located 3.5 hours east of Nashville. 

Nashville also has several auditoriums, art studios, and museums you won’t want to miss. A few of these are:

• The Frist Center for the Visual Arts

• Ryman Auditorium

• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

• The Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art

• The Tennessee State Museum

3. Memphis

Memphis is the second-largest city after Nashville in Tennessee. Situated along the Mississippi River, this city is known for its wide variety of landscapes, parks, museums, and cultural events.  Never miss hanging out at Beale Street if you are in Memphis because it is the location where street performers play live music.

Other points of interest in the Memphis City are:

• Memphis Zoo: It exhibits a variety of mammals, polar bears, birds, giant pandas, lions, and fishes. The zoo claims that it has 3,500 animals representing 500 species.

• Memphis Brooks Museum of Art: It is the largest fine art museum in the state of Tennessee. Its permanent collection includes work by Italian Renaissance artists, Impressionists, and others.

Other attractions you shouldn’t miss in the city are Sun Studio, Graceland, the National Civil Rights Museum, and the Peabody Ducks.

4. Jackson

Jackson is the capital city of Mississippi. The city is home to several historical sites, museums, parks, and nature trails. Some of the popular activities you can do in Jackson are kayaking in the Pearl River, cycling on Museum Trial, and visiting museums.

There are over three dozen parks in the city of Jackson. The most popular of them are Buddy Butts, Tougaloo Park, Parham Bridges Park, and Fondren Park.

If you are in Jackson with children, you won’t want to miss visiting the 30,000-square-foot playground at LeFleur's Bluff Education and Tourism Complex.

Other points of interest in Jackson are:

• LeFleur’s Bluff State Park

• The Art Garden at the Mississippi Museum of Art

• Battlefield Park

• Belhaven Park

• Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

5. New Orleans

New Orleans is the most populous city in Louisiana. Located along the Mississippi River, the city is famous for annual celebrations, festivals, creole cuisine, and jazz music. Stylish boutique hotels, vintage shops, coffee bars, restaurants, and live music concerts have made the city a popular stop during road trips.

French Quarter is a never-miss tourist destination in New Orleans.  It is home to the finest art galleries, restaurants, jazz clubs, and nightclubs. The major attractions in the French Quarter are Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the French Market, and Preservation Hall.

Other points of interest in New Orleans are:

• The National WWII Museum

• Garden District

• Audubon Zoo

• Frenchman Street

• New Orleans City Park

6. Mobile

Mobile is the fourth largest city in Alabama. Located on the Mobile River, this city is popular for cultural centers, art museums, parks, professional opera, and historic architecture.

The major museums in Mobile are:

• The History Museum of Mobile: It showcases the 300-year history of Mobile.

• The Oakleigh Historic Complex: It interprets the lives of people from the 19th Century in Mobile.

• The Mobile Carnival Museum: It showcases the history and memorabilia of Mardi Gras (Mardi Gras is an annual celebration in Mobile, Alabama).

Mobile has over 40 public parks within the city limits. The most popular is Mobile Botanical Gardens, a 100-acre flora that is comprised of several gardens, including Rhododendron Garden, Herb Garden, Longleaf Pine Habitat, Japanese Maple Garden, and many more.

7. Montgomery

Montgomery is the capital city of Alabama. Located just beside the Alabama River, the city is known for its 1,600 acres of parkland, which is maintained and operated by the City of Montgomery Parks and Recreation Department. If you are a hiker, you will love Montgomery because it offers 250-miles of natural and hard surface trails.

A few popular trails in Montgomery include:

• Black Hill Regional Park Trials

• Fairland Recreational Park Trails

• Lake Needwood Trails

• Little Falls Trail

• Upper Rock Creek Trail

Montgomery Zoo is the most visited tourist destination in the city. Spread across 40 acres, this zoo is home to more than 500 animals. Tourists in Montgomery also like to visit the Hank Williams Museum as it offers the largest collection of Williams memorabilia in the world.

8. Atlanta

Atlanta is the capital city of Georgia. As the eighth-largest metropolitan area in the United States, Atlanta is known for rolling hills, lush greenery, popular restaurants, country music, historical museums, and parks. The city is the seventh most visited place in the United States.

Did you know Atlanta has over 343 parks, including nature preserves and gardens? The popular parks you don’t want to miss in Atlanta are Piedmont Park, Centennial Olympic Park, Woodruff Park, Grant Park, and Chastain Park.

Georgia Aquarium, the world’s largest indoor aquarium, is located in Atlanta. The most notable specimens exhibited at this aquarium are whale sharks, bottlenose dolphins, beluga whales, and sea lions.

Other points of interest in Atlanta are:

• The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park

• The Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum

• The College Football Hall of Fame

• The National Center for Civil and Human Rights

• The Atlanta Botanical Garden

Explore the Deep South with a Rental from AVR

The Atlanta to New Orleans road trip is all about exploring the history of the civil rights movement, visiting museums, spending time in parks, and dining at the finest restaurants. Don’t miss the eight destinations highlighted above if you decide to embark on this road trip. If you have time, you can also explore nearby cities such as Huntsville, Vicksburg, Natchez, Biloxi, Gulf Shores, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Savannah, and Columbus, too.

When you embark on a road trip that involves a highway journey, you should choose a vehicle suited for a long trip. Search for vehicles with features like automatic transmission, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, tire monitoring system, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. 

A convertible may be the perfect choice if only four people are traveling on the trip. A passenger van that can accommodate anywhere between eight and 15 people will be an ideal choice for a larger group of people taking the journey together.

Airport Van Rental (AVR) is a family-run car rental business in the United States. Its fleet comprises sedans, convertibles, SUVs, minivans, passenger vans, and cargo vans. With 12 years of experience in the vehicle rental business, AVR has helped countless people take safe and memorable vacations.

People across the country prefer AVR as a travel partner because of our:

• Convenient pick-up and drop-off options

• 24/7 customer support

• Over a dozen rental locations coast to coast

• Ongoing discounts for AAA and USAA members

Book a rental car with AVR for your Atlanta to New Orleans road trip to make your journey hassle-free.