Arrive in Atlanta for the start of your Great Smoky Mountains & Carolina Coast self drive, collect your car and enjoy a two-night stay in Atlanta, Georgia before you hit the road. While it is the State’s capital, Atlanta still welcomes visitors with the same southern hospitality of a small town. Quaint Midtown and luxurious Buckhead neighbourhoods are filled with interesting shops and lively restaurants.

Sheraton Atlanta or similar

From Atlanta drive north into the mountains. Nestled within the Chattahoochee National Forest is the picturesque town of Blue Ridge. With more than 100,000 acres of woodlands, 300 miles of hiking trails and 100 miles of trout streams, Blue Ridge is the perfect place to get away from it all and enjoy nature.

Atlanta > Blue Ridge | 95 miles

Hampton Inn Blue Ridge or similar

As you drive toward North Carolina this morning, you will be surrounded by the natural beauty of the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains. Asheville is an inviting destination complete with architectural gems from several eras and a lively cultural scene. Here you will find Biltmore Estate, the 250 room French Renaissance style chateau built by George Washington Vanderbilt. Why not enjoy a twilight railway excursion through the Blue Ridge Mountains?

You can also visit the Cherokee Reservation to learn about this ancient culture that is the root of the Old South. There are many things to do in Cherokee; attend the breathtaking outdoor Mountainside Theatre, visit the Cherokee Museum and experience a working village with demonstrations, mask carvings and plenty more. Beyond the cultural attractions, there are many outdoor activities on offer and you will be blown away by the warmth of the Cherokee people. 

Blue Ridge > Asheville | 142 miles

Crowne Plaza Asheville or similar

Today you travel to the South Carolina Coast. Located halfway between Myrtle Beach and Georgetown and often described as ‘arrogantly shabby’, this relaxed beach community has only 200 year-round residents, but thousands of part-time residents and visitors make it their homes during the summer months. Eight elegantly rustic historic summer retreats border the Atlantic at the eastern end of Pawleys Island. Pawleys is known for its shoeless, carefree, laid-back lifestyle, here you’ll find a delightful stretch of wide beach.

Ashevile > Myrtle Beach | 284 miles

Hampton Inn and Suites Myrtle Beach Oceanfront or similar

Continue exploring the traditions of the Old South as you drive toward Charleston. See the Old South in the architecture and gardens of the many historic homes and buildings in the city, visit the shopping district of King Street in Downtown, or travel slightly outside the city where the Magnolia Plantation provides an opportunity to learn about life on a plantation and wander the beautiful gardens.

Myrtle Beach > Charleston | 98 miles

Holiday Inn Charleston Riverview or similar

Drive south to Savannah this morning. Along the way look out for Beaufort, a little town that claims nearly a hundred historic and pre-Revolutionary houses, after a stop, continue on to Savannah for an overnight stay. Southern hospitality is alive and well in charming Savannah; the Historic District has twenty-two squares and cobblestone streets that will take you back in time. Later, for some delicious southern cooking, visit the restored Waterfront area which is lined with shops and restaurants.

Optional Experience – Ghosts and Gravestones Tour
Climb aboard the ‘Trolley of the Doomed’ as we journey back in time and explore the mystery and intrigue that surround the many well-known sights and historical places in Savannah. We’ll take a fascinating look at some of the city’s most haunted sights, exposing the stories that centre upon our most famous and infamous residents. Our Gravedigger Guides will thrill and delight you with their spooky and humorous accounts of the supernatural – and perhaps you’ll experience an encounter with one of Savannah’s lost…

Charleston > Savannah | 108 miles

Doubletree By Hilton Savannah Historic District or similar

Enjoy this final day, driving south along the coast via Brunswick before heading to Jacksonville Airport for your flight home, or to your next destination.

Savannah > Jacksonville | 140 miles