One of the things I liked about living in Upstate South Carolina was that the mountains, beach and big city were all accessible on a day trip. That is true to an extent in Birmingham but the distances are a bit longer. A day trip to Atlanta is certainly do-able. I suppose a day trip to the beach or mountains can be done as well but it’s a lot more comfortable if you take an overnight stay. I’ve been on all of these roads many times but have never done it on a single trip. This trip plan will allow you to hit the states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina while meeting the strict standards for all 5 states. If you are not from this area, I recommend Atlanta as a starting point because you can get a direct flight in or out from pretty much anywhere.
Day 1- Leave Atlanta via I-20 W towards Birmingham. Stop at Cheaha State Park just off I-20 and hike to the highest point in Alabama. From there, it’s less than 90 minutes to Birmingham. Try to time it so you can get to Vulcan Park around sunset.
Day 2- Leave Birmingham via I-59 N to Chattanooga. There are several hidden gems on the way including Noccalulu Falls in Gadsden and Little River Canyon/DeSoto State Park near Ft. Payne. If you have time, Cloudland State Park just across the Georgia line is worth a stop. There are plenty of options in Chattanooga, but I recommend the Incline Railway, Pt. Lookout and Rock City. Again, if you can time your arrival for sunset, it can be awesome.
Day 3- Leave Chattanooga and pick up US-64 E into North Carolina through the Nantahala Forest. When you get to Robbinsville, you have 2 options. US-129 is a beautiful drive but the Cherohala Skyway to Tellico Plains, Tennessee is even better. At any rate, when you get to Maryville, the road that you need to take is US-441 through the Great Smoky Mountain NP from the tourist town of Gatlinburg to Cherokee back in North Carolina. Clingman’s Dome, the highest point in Tennessee, is not far out of the way. If you have small children, you may want to take a day in Dollywood.
Day 4- Pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway at its starting point in Cherokee. Stop at Mt. Mitchell, which is the highest point east of the Mississippi as well as Grandfather Mountain in Linville. Exit the Parkway and cut north to Roan Mountain on the Tennessee border. It’s a scenic 90-minute ride to Asheville from there.
Day 5- Leave Asheville via I-26 S but eventually pick up US-276. Caesar’s Head will give you a nice welcome into South Carolina. From there, downtown Greenville is a good place for a stop, but I would recommend Table Rock and the Lake Country on US-11 towards Clemson. Feel free to tour the campus. Pick up US-76 W back into Georgia and stop at the state’s high point at Brasstown Bald. Either US-19 or I-575 S will be a nice scenic ride back towards Atlanta. You can catch your flight home the next day or do some touring in the city. Plenty to see and do.
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