Nashville, then Memphis, then Vicksburg

[2_Retired]

DH and I (just recently retired!!!) are planning a trip this June (3 weeks or so) to NC (Asheville) Tennessee (Nashville and Memphis), then down the Mississippi River towards Vicksburg, Ms. (No New Orleans this trip!!!) Will be in a 32' Class A with a toad. Suggestions on which route to take (Civil War sites are of great interest) and where to camp? Are totally unfamiliar with the area and would appreciate "must see" and "don't miss" suggestions as well. Thanks.

[down_home]

Someone else mentioned Cchattanooga. Coming from NC on I40, or 19 etc take I75, in Chattanooga south on I75, north Ga. Look for Hwy 2 exit and go west to Hwy 72 through Ft Oglethorpe Ga. Most all the old Ft Oglethorpe Ga is gone but some buildings remain. There may be a museum but I don't know. Go on through to Chickamauga Nat'l Battlefield. Nice museum and lots of monuments, cannons, an 2 old cabin reconstructions and so on. Reverse course to I24 in Chatt.

Should havve suggest Holiday as first stop for night for Battlefield and Tn Aquarium.

Stay at Holiday Park Rv park in east Ridge off I I75 south and go see
Tn Aquarium, in Chatt.
Reverse course onto I75 short way and on to I24and west toward, Murfresboro, exit to Stones River, reverse and onto I24 turn 840 west and proceed.

Or get off I24 at 172 and take Hwy 72 Memphis Hwy to Huntsville and on to Memphis, or get on Natchez Trace at Cherokee, Al and go to Natchez instead of Mufreesboro portion of trip.

Going to Nashville and Opry, go on to the Briley Pkwy and toward Opryland, CW and RV Parks near CW. Either one or three is good.
Adjust from there. I dout here is a road I haven't traveled in Tn an Alabama and Ga and so on. There are many good routes but fragmented and impeded by small towns etc. have fun

[hermy]

X2 on the carnton plantation. Incredible History in the Franklin area. Recommend having lunch at a little combination grocery store/restaurant in Franklin, also. Can't remember the name but ask around- it's well known in Franklin. Also agree on the Ameristar casino/campground. Good spot.

[rcpilot731]

A lot of good suggestions, but I have one important one. DO NOT STOP IN MEMPHIS - just drive through it without stopping. We lived in Memphis for over 20 years and we moved the day I retired. There is no where in Memphis that I would consider safe, especially for someone that does not know the area. When we have to travel that way we go straight through non stop. Tunica is a great place to stay. The camp is cheat but very nice.

Have a fun trip.

[2_Retired]

Thanks to everyone for the good advice and excellent ideas. I'm printing it all out as I type this so I can get really busy on planning our trip! Might just skip Memphis. Have to do more thinking. We're not into Elvis and not sure how much is there we would be really interested in doing or seeing. Plan on going to Shiloh (forgot to list it!!) and DEFINITELY going to Vicksburg. Again, thanks for the ideas.

[Laman]

I am going to echo what Executive said. Being a Civil War Junkie I have' been to many battleground sites around the South but Vicksburg is by far my favorite, allow as many hours as possible for the driving tour, definetly go inside the visitor center and see the displays and don't miss the resurrected Union gunboat display, fascinating.

As far as the Ameristar it is convenient but it is the only campground I have ever had to move twice before I found a level enough site and it wasn't that great. There are some level sites, scout before you check in and tell them what site you want.

[down_home]

South of Nashville, in Murfreesboro is Stones River. Civil War battlefield.
Back up to 840 and across. Watch for signs leading to to Natchez Trace. Great Drive, if you go part or all the way to Natchez. If going toward Memphis get off the Natchez, at Cherokee, Alabama and follow Hwy 72 west on to Memphis then go across River and Take I55, I think down. The River Road runs that far south I think but we've not had the opportunity to travel it.

Alternate. In Cherokee go east to Huntsville and the Space center. Reverse and go back through Cherokee and on toward Memphis.

You can stay on 840 to I40 and go west many miles, to Loretta Lynn's place, reverse and get on the Trace from there. You can, of course continue on to Memphis. Loretta Lynn's has two campgrounds. the better one with full hookups is up the hill. It is tight or was for us. The other campground, is further down and has water and electric on grass and may be soft. It fills up when when is doing shows or just for the weekends.
The Natchez is slow speed but seems way faster. Take fishing equipment and stop, at the lake. There are several really excellent pull outs with mounds and old sections of the Trace, an inn and so on. The only RV campgrounds that will handle a MH are near Tupelo, Miss so look for ones, not too far afield first. The couple,NP camp grounds that are on the Trace are primitive and too tight and dirt.
Haven't stayed at Sawyer but the neighborhood is not what you want. The KOA across the river is nice but near a RxR. They even have a rental car available or did. The trendy BBQ places, in Memphis are down allies etc and ....
Tried a couple, of them, long time ago. I think I would have a taxi take me to them.

Alternate. Once, in Nashville, take I24 west to Land Between the Lakes, in Ky. Lots to see.
Go south, look, at the map. I've forgotten the road number and hit I40, Loretta Lynns and east to the Natchez Trace.

[fatmanobx]

I just got back from Vicksburg and I have stayed at the Ameristar Casino Camp ground every time I go down that way. Full hookups with cable and wifi and nearly all of the sites are pull through. Not fancy, nice pool, but across the road from the Mississippi River. Price 22.50 a night.. Lots to see in Vicksburg so plan as much time as you can..

[edm3rd]

If you're returning to Asheville, I would suggest a "loop" trip. Do Asheville, Knoxville, Nashville/Franklin, Memphis, then US 61 to Tunica, and south to Vicksburg. For return, do Natchez Trace Parkway north east to Tupelo, then north to Shiloh National Military Park (very near the point where Tenn,Miss, and Alabama share a border). For something offbeat, visit the Buford Pusser Museum in Adamsville (Walking Tall movie), less than 10 miles from Shiloh. Take US Hwy 64 east and rejoin the Natchez Trace back to Nashville or continue on 64 to Chattanooga.

BTW, don't depend on the Memphis trolley. It covers 3-5 miles along the waterfront, with one spur toward the center of the city, awaiting future development.

[rockhillmanor]

B's Bunch wrote:
Come to Chattanooga on the way to Nashville. Lot of Civil War memorials Lots to do there also, Larry

Just beware of the 7% grade in Chattanooga! I drive 2 hours out of my way coming down to Florida to avoid THAT road!

[B_s_Bunch]

Come to Chattanooga on the way to Nashville. Lot of Civil War memorials Lots to do there also, Larry

[Luv_Campin]

The place with the cemetery in Franklin, TN he's referring to is Carnton Plantion. Really interesting.

[navybanker]

Check out the Franklin (just south of Nashville) area for civil war sites especially the plantation with Confederate cemetery. Ft. Donelson is near Dover, Tennessee. Parkers Crossroads is also near Shiloh so you could stay at the CG at Parkers Crossroads and visit it along with the battle site of Parkers Crossroads (Nathan Bedford Forrest). There isn't much there (Crossroads)but interesting. If you go to Vicksburg, you must visit Natchez Mississippi to see the antebellum houses.

I also recommend visiting Andrew Jackson's Hermitage while in the Nashville area.

[Executive45]

While visiting Memphis, we stayed at Harrahs in Tunica. You can park right downtown at the welcome center and take the trolleys all around the city. It's across the river from Mud Island.

In Vicksburg, if you stay at Amistar, the sites are somewhat unlevel so plan accordingly. Nice park and close to everything though. There's park across the street so don't miss that.

A "must see" is the NPS park in Vicksburg. It's stated as a 17 mile driving tour. We spent a good eight hours on that 17 mile trip. Fascinating stuff but really sad too.....well worth the trip. Geezer card gets you free admission. Be sure to stop by the welcome center BEFORE going on the tour. They have a CD you can check out to assist as you go on the tour....here's a link.... Clicky

Enjoy the trip, keep an eye on the weather as heavy rains tend to flood the campgrounds fronting the Mississippi....Dennis

[rvten]

There is a lot in Memphis are.
Mud Island. The Peabody hotel and Duck parade every day.
Good Memphis eating. Rib's, rib's rib's.
Tom Sawyer is not fancy. But as posted. Watching the river traffic is very relaxing.

Vicksburg. Stay at the Amaristar Casino RV PK. Great eating at the casino's. Plenty of Civil War places to visit.

Two Rivers in Nashville is the cheapest. Take the Trolley around. Save $$ parking at the Opry Land Hotel.

Look up the Natchez Trail. Runs from Nashville down to Vicksburg. Further if you want.
Only on CG on it and one gas station. But plenty of places off the route. (This would be out of your way, going to Memphis. Just a side trip idea)