Hey all,

I’ve got a 2001 M6 coupe and in celebration of finishing up my capstone for my Masters this past week, I’m looking at trying to take a road trip in my Vette.

I live in southwest OH (Dayton) and I’m looking to see as much of the southeast US as possible in 5 or 6 days, taking all backroads. I really want to enjoy the character and charm of the south, and I feel that all the backroads and small towns will do a much better job of that than the interstates. I’ve been through KY and TN but have never been much past that.

Right now I’m looking at heading down towards the Jackson area of Mississippi, through AL and GA up to Mooresville, NC (always been a big NASCAR fan) and maybe out to Wilmington to the coast and then back to OH via Huntington, WV. That’s just preliminary though, of course. My longest road trip to date in the Vette is about 900 Miles to Gatlinburg and back.

I’m looking at 5 or 6 days and about 2000-2500 miles in total.

So with all that being said, does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations for a good route (or any other suggestions) .

Oh and of course, pics are king, so I’ll try to attach a pic of my ride

 

Head southwest out of Ohio and visit the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green KY. Check and see if the Corvette plant is open for tours while your there. You can head over to Charlotte for your NASCAR visits.

Like your color choice Enjoy the ride.

 

ABSOLUTELY take a drive on the NATCHEZ TRACE!!!

https://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm

Wife and I did it on the Harley 2 years ago and it was an incredible ride. It's a 444 mile long National Park with excellent blacktop in some of the most scenic America you could ever want to see. No commercial vehicles of any kind are allowed on it, just bicycles, motorcycles, and cars. We stayed at Bed and Breakfasts the entire time and it was an incredible vacation. You pick it up south of Nashville and will take you thru Florence AL where the famed Muscle Shoals recording studio is. When we were there, Gregg Allman was finishing up what was to be his final album! It will take you right to Jackson MS.

It's considered a 5 Star drive.

Don't forget to get your "I drove the Natchez Trace" T shirt!

https://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/maps.htm

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile recreational road and scenic drive through three states. It roughly follows the "Old Natchez Trace" a historic travel corridor used by American Indians, "Kaintucks," European settlers, slave traders, soldiers, and future presidents. Today, people can enjoy not only a scenic drive but also hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping along the parkway.

 

If you get to NC you have got to ride this road. It's a blast. I've done it on two wheels, but would love to do it in the vette.

https://tailofthedragon.com/

 

If somehow you can fit it in your travels, make a trip through the Tail of the Dragon. And I second the recommendation about visiting the National Corvette Museum.

 

The Blue Ridge Parkway, onto tail of the dragon and Cherehalla (spelling?) parkway, then over to Bowling Green,

 

That sounds incredible! I’ll have to make that a part of my trip also I’ve been to the NCM a few times, so I’m alright with leaving it out this trip, but it is an awesome experience for someone whose never been!

 

Seeing as you already live there, a trip through the Air Force Museum is probably not on your agenda. That would be a must see for me if I was heading that way. Stone Mountain by Atlanta GA is impressive. See it before they blow it up!

 

Tail of the Dragon, Natchez Trace and Blue Ridge/Skyline Drive.

 

The Tail is in Pidgeon Forge, Tn.

 

I'll second that. I go to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with the Vette twice a year. I highly recommend the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Dragon, the Cherohalla Skyway and US-276 between Brevard and Waynesville. Really, any road over there can be a blast. Fast, left-right, up-down, round and round fun, fun, fun. After a few days you'll look forward to driving a straight level road.

I live it Tupelo, MS so I'm right on the Natchez Trace. It's really nice from here to Nashville but it's a sight seeing road, not a chance to wring the Vette out. Speed limits are around 50 and it's a pleasant easy drive though. From Tupelo south to Natchez I didn't think much of it though. A little dull. The drive from Tupelo thru Alabama to GSMNP is pretty boring though. 8 hours of 4 lane highway and not much to see. You can stop at the space center in Huntsville though. Chatanooga is nice - great aquarium and Coker tire gives tours of their facilities and car collection - haven't done it yet.

I lived in Wilmington for 20 years. It's really nice to visit the beach and downtown is nice. The Battleship NC is worth a 4-5 hour visit.

All of these pictures are from The Dragon, Cherohalla and Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

DO NOT SPEED ON THE NATCHEZ TRACE!! It's heavily patrolled and the fines are beyond outrageous. It's a "yankee speed trap" of the first degree!

 

55 is about as fast as anyone goes on the Trace. No reason to go faster - the northern part offers excellent scenery and lots of great places to get out and explore. I usually only see one ranger though.

Western NC is different. Lots of fast roads to play on. The Dragon can be done without ever getting out of second gear and ever breaking 45MPH. Do it early in the morning or after 5 in the evening after everyone has gone to dinner. The drive from the Dragon over the the Foothills Parkway and back to Gatlinburg is also excellent.

US-441 between Gatlinburg and Cherokee is also best done early or late in the day to avoid excessive traffic and so that you can get parking at Newfound Gap. Fontana Dam, Linville Falls and Linville Caverns, Grandfather Mountain - It's all great. Spend an evening in Gatlinburg, walk the strip, go to Ripleys Aquarium, avoid the chair lifts they're not worth it - a ten dollar ticket to the top of the space needle is much better after dark. Sugarland and Onconaluftee visitor centers are worth a stop as is Mignus Mill. If you're driving along and hear water, stop and get out. So many cool water creeks to wade in and take waterfall pictures. Spend two hours at Floyd Garretts muscle car museum in Sevierville. I could go on and on.