Bucket-List: Two Weeks Road-Tripping The Southeastern US

The Southeastern US is stunning with warm weather and delicious food. Why not take two weeks and drive your way through it.

Follow this guide for a two-week journey through the South East US. Bring an appetite and your desire for adventure.

Day 1: Raleigh NC

Make sure to stop by The Pit for some BBQ. Located in the center of Raleigh, It's a great way to start this trip off right. The Pit serves authentic whole-hog, pit-cooked barbecue, and is a staple of the local cuisine.

The Pit

Address - 328 West Davie St Raleigh, NC 27601
Cost - $$
Menu

Day 2: Wilmington NC

Willmington Offers its parks and its beautiful historic district, Wilmington is worth a visit. Trails End Park is right beside a protected stretch of docks.

Driving Distance - 129 miles, 1hr and 54 minutes from Ralegh.

For something good to eat, check out the Rooster & the Crow for some delicious traditional southern food. It opened in 2019 in the historic Chandlers Wharf Building.

Address - 225 S Water St Suite G & H, Wilmington, NC 28401
Contact - 910-399-4780
Cost - $$
Menu

Day 3: Congaree National Park in South Carolina

Lush with biodiversity, the Congaree National Park is the largest intact piece of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern US. There are hiking, camping, and canoeing options available as well as much sightseeing.

Driving Distance - 205 miles, 3 hours and 14 minutes from Wilmington NC

For food, If you aren’t planning on staying the night at the campsites then you will probably head over to Columbia. Check out Johnson's Restaurant, it's a perfect hole-in-the-wall burger joint for this journey.

Address - 5200 Monticello Rd, Columbia, SC 29203, United States
Contact - 803-735-1622
Cost - $-$$
Menu

Day 4: Savannah GA

You can explore the City Market, relax in a cafe at Forsyth Park, or perhaps look around the American Prohibition Museum. There is much to do in Savannah Georgia.

Driving Distance - 164 Miles, 2 hours and 24 minutes from Columbus

For Dinner try the Olde Pink House. They do a delicious mix of southern food and American Seafood.

Address - 23 Abercorn Street Savannah, GA 31401
Contact - 912-232-4286
Cost - $$-$$$
Menu

If you have time to grab lunch in Savannah, then go check out Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room. It's 30$ per person and you are sat at a table of ten. A full southern meal will then be served to your table, so bring an appetite and prepare to eat.

Address - 107 West Jones Street Savannah GA 31401
Cost - $30
Menu

Day 5: Tallahassee FL

Tallahassee has a plethora of outdoor activities available. You can go mountain biking or cycling, you can rent kayaks, go hiking, fishing, or even golfing. You could even visit the Florida Highwaymen to view the art collection.

Driving Distance - 240 miles, 4 hours and 35 minutes from Savannah

Take some time to grab some breakfast in Tallahassee, visit The Bada Bean. It's an American-style cafe and brunch place. Wendy took ownership of a little coffee shop in 2007 and has greatly expanded on the dining options

Address - 2500-B Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Contact - (850) 562- 2326, admin@thebadabean.com
Cost - $-$$
Menu

Day 6: Mobile AL

Mobile Alabama has multiple parks worth exploring including Mobile’s Battleship Memorial Park where you can walk the decks of battleships. There are also GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mobile Carnival Museum.

Driving Distance - 243 miles, 3 hours 32 minutes

For dinner go and check out Wintzell’s Oyster House. Part of a three-hundred-year-old historic landmark on Dauphin Street in Mobile, Wintzell’s has been serving the area for 75 years.

Address - 605 Dauphin Street Mobile, AL 36602
Contact - (251) 432-4605
Cost - $$
Menu

Day 7: New Orleans day 1

When you arrive in New Orleans make sure and stretch your legs a bit with a walk down Garden Street or perhaps by Jackson square. Take in the sights of the city but then it will be time for food.

Driving Distance - 144 miles, 2 hours 8 minutes

For your first night, check out Olde Nola Cookery for some good creole cooking. There will likely be a line here but it will be worth the wait.

Address - 205 Bourbon St. New Orleans, LA, 70130
Contact - (504)525-4577
Cost - $$-$$$
Menu

Day 8: New Orleans day 2

During your full day in New Orleans you will want to fuel up with a breakfast of coffee & beignets at Cafe du Monde, stroll around Jackson Square, shop along Decatur Street and in the French Marke, explore the French Quarter, and if you have the time shop along Magazine Street in the Garden District

Driving Distance - None

You will want to enjoy dinner at Cafe Amelie on Royal Street to enjoy some classic food in a beautiful atmosphere. After this wander over and enjoy the nightlife of Bourbon Street or Frenchmen Street.

Address - 912 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116-2702
Contact - (504)412-8965
Cost - $$-$$$$
Menu

Day 9: Jackson MS

Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Eudora Welty House, and Garden are all worth a visit. You are looking for something a little bit out of the city then LeFleur's Bluff State Park might be the destination for you.

Driving Distance - 188 miles, 2 hours 50 minutes from New Orleans

For food go to The Pig & Pint. The name describes the restaurant quite well. Stop by for some BBQ pork and a nice cold pint.

Address - 3139 North State Street Jackson, MS 39216
Contact - (601)326-6070
Cost - $$-$$$
Menu

Day 10: Birmingham AL

In Birmingham, you can spend your time in the city at the Vulcan Park and Museum, Birmingham Zoo, Oak, or even the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. You can also venture a little out of the city to Mountain State Park to enjoy a bit of nature.

Driving Distance - 237 miles, 3 hours and 30 minutes from Jackson

Give Chez Fonfon a shot for a French-style dinner. They do everything well but make sure to give their oysters a shot.

Address - 2007 11th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35205
Contact - (205)939-3221, info@fonfonbham.com
Cost - $$-$$$
Menu

Day 11: Atlanta GA

In Atlanta you can find 90-minute trolley tours, but if you’re not feeling that after all the driving then maybe you would want to check out the Botanical gardens or Georgia Aquarium. Martin Luther King Memorial History Site and Piedmont park are good options too.

Driving Distance - 147 miles, 2 hours ad 13 minutes from Birmingham

To mix things up foodwise, go try Bangkok Station. They are a high-class Thai restaurant that prepares the food using Thai heirloom methods and recipes.

Address - 550 Pharr Road Northeast, Atlanta
Contact - (404)-343-4665, info@bangkokstationthaifood.com
Cost - $$-$$$
Menu

Day 12: Francis Marion And Sumter National Forests

You can enjoy a bike ride through the trail system here or paddle and fish your way through the Chattooga River. You can also ride horses through certain trails and even ride an ATV or dirtbike.

Driving Distance - 202 miles, 3 hours and 6 minutes from Atlanta

If you are looking to eat outside the park, then little ways south is the town of Newberry. I place to try there is Zesto Drive-In. It is a place with some great burgers and shakes.

Address - 2720 College St, Newberry, SC 29108-2138
Contact - (803)321-2466
Cost - $

Day 13: Charlotte NC

With places as varied as the Billy Graham Library and the Nascar Hall of Fame, there’s something for everyone. You can visit the BB&T Ball Park, or even visit the Levine Museum of the New South.