6 week trip itinerary - but I have some specific questions

Your burning up 5+ days just getting through Tennessee. Unless there is some reason for hanging around that area I would try to get through as quickly as possible and save 2-3 days to use at the later destinations. Have you plotted your route out on a map? If not, do that and take a look at the places that don't make sense for this trip to streamline some of the travel and distance covered and use the time to spend in places that you will enjoy more.