This Southeast USA travel guide has everything you need to know about Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The southeast is known for Bluegrass, Jazz, and Country music, French and Cuban influences along the Gulf of Mexico, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Whisky and Bourbon, and iconic cities like Charleston, Savannah, and New Orleans.
Fall is the best time to visit the Southeast. Temperatures and humidity are lower, there are no school breaks during these months, so crowds will be less, and the fiery-colored fall foliage will take your breath away.
The days will be mild, and you’ll want a layer for the mornings and evenings. If you’re in the mountains in late-October or November, you’ll need warmer layers for the whole day. This will still be swimsuit weather along the Gulf of Mexico or in Southern Florida, though the water will be cold.
Winter isn’t the best time to visit the Southeast. The temperature will be cold enough (with high chances of rain, but rarely snow) to make you want to stay indoors. But outdoor activities are what the Southeast is known for.
The two exceptions for visiting the Southeast in the Winter are:
Skiing in the higher elevations of Virginia and West Virginia
Miami and the Florida Keys. Temperatures will still be pleasant (almost warm) here.
This is a great season to visit because cultivated gardens and wildflowers will be in bloom, and lush foliage will have returned to the forests and National Parks. The weather can still be cold in the evenings and mornings in March and early April in the higher elevations, but for the most part, you’ll want shorts and short-sleeves during the day.
To steer clear of the increasing crowds, avoid popular Spring break weeks from mid-March to early April.
Prepare yourself because Summer will be hot and humid, and you’ll need plenty of bug spray for the mosquitos. Because of school summer breaks, crowds will also be at their peak, especially at the beaches.
But don’t let this scare you away from visiting in the summer. This is also when some of the best festivals in the Southeast occur, such as the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, Key West Pride, Bonnaroo, Charleston Carifest, and the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival in North Carolina.
Biscayne National Park in Florida
Dry Tortugas National Park in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida
Everglades National Park in Florida
Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee
Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina
Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas
Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky
Shenandoah National Park in Virginia
Blue Ridge Parkway through Virginia and North Carolina
Highway 276 through Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina
Kentucky Bluegrass Backroads
Ozark National Forest on the Pig Trail Scenic Byway
Seaside Loop in Florida
The Overseas Highway through the Florida Keys
Taste your way through the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Visit the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina
Swim in the Florida Keys
Take a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River
Swim with manatees
Hike in the Smoky Mountains
Visit the Jack Daniels Distillery in Tennessee
Peach Cobbler
Fried Chicken
Shrimp and Grits
Fried Green Tomatoes
Low Country Boil
Chicken Fried Steak
Fried Catfish
Beignets
Gumbo
If you want large cities, I recommend Nashville, Miami, New Orleans, or Charleston. For national parks, head to The Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah, or New River Gorge. If you want beaches, then I suggest the Florida Keys, Destin, or The Outer Banks. For food and culture, taste your way across the Monticello Wine Trail, drive the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and visit St. Simons Island.
Every state in the Southeast USA has incredible cities, national and state parks, and scenic drives. Florida is the most-visited state in the Southeast USA for beaches and amusement parks. Tennessee and North Carolina are the most-visited states for hiking and outdoor adventures.
No matter what kind of trip you want to have, you can find the perfect destination in the Southeast USA!
Epic places to visit in the Southeast USA:
1. The Great Smoky Mountains
2. Miami
3. New Orleans
4. Savannah
5. Charleston
6. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail
7. Dry Tortugas National Park
8. The Monticello Wine Trail
9. The Outer Banks
10. The Florida Keys
The best weekend getaways in the Southeast USA are:
1. Georgia’s Golden Isles
2. The Great Smoky Mountains
3. Charleston, South Carolina
4. Miami, Florida
5. The Florida Keys
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
7. Destin, Florida
8. Chattanooga, Tennessee
9. Savannah, Georgia
10. Highlands, North Carolina
Yes, getting away for a short trip is worth it! Short getaway vacations are good for your mental health and allow you to travel on a budget. It can be rewarding and exciting to explore destinations close to home for a couple of days. You could even have a staycation in your hometown if you want a break from work without having to pack a suitcase.
Destinations in the Southeast USA that can be explored in a couple of days are:
1. Savannah, Georgia
2. Georgia’s Golden Isles
3. The Great Smoky Mountains
4. Nashville, Tennessee
5. Asheville, North Carolina
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
The best girlfriend getaways in the Southeast USA are:
1. Charleston, South Carolina
2. Nashville, Tennessee
3. Miami, Florida
4. New Orleans, Louisiana
5. Savannah, Georgia
The best road trips and scenic drives in the Southeast USA are:
1. Kentucky Bourbon Trail
2. Blue Ridge Parkway through Virginia and North Carolina
3. Highway 276 through Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina
4. Ozark National Forest on the Pig Trail Scenic Byway
5. Seaside Loop in Florida
6. The Overseas Highway through the Florida Keys
Ways to travel the Southeast USA on a budget are:
1. Tour your own city on a staycation
2. Camp
3. Go to off-the-beaten-path destinations
4. Visit less popular beaches
5. Stay with friends or family
6. Book hotels with travel reward points
7. Travel during the off-season
8. Take a weekday trip
This Southeast USA travel guide is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own. Some of the links in this Southeast USA travel guide are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
June 9, 2020
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